Erdogan: Fair Solution In Cyprus Should Take Into Consideration Realities On The Island

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that a fair solution in Cyprus should take into consideration the realities on the island, accept the equal sovereignty and political equality of both sides and maintain the bi-zonality on the island.
Prime Minister Erdogan received the same day TRNC Ambassador to Turkey Ahmet Zeki Bulunc and the accompanying delegation.
Erdogan congratulated the ''Peace and Freedom Festival'' of the Turkish Cypriot nation during the meeting. Noting that the Peace Operation which constituted the most important stage of the national cause, brought peace to the island, Erdogan stated that ''Turkey proved many times to the world that Turkish Cypriots were not alone.''
Erdogan stressed that Turkey would continue to be the guarantee of peace and security by being aware of its historical and humanitarian responsibilities, adding that ''I observed during my visit to TRNC last April that TRNC recorded significant progress. The success has to be praised. These developments have been ensured despite unjust embargo and restrictions on TRNC. Such kind of embargo has not been imposed to date in any place of the world. But unfortunately it is imposed on TRNC. It was not easy to come to this point. Big fights took place and people suffered a lot. In that respect a living and just solution should take into consideration the realities on the island, accept the equal sovereignty and political equality of both sides and maintain the bi-zonality on the island. The solution has to protect the security and life of Turkish Cypriots. We support the efforts launched by the Turkish Cypriot side for reaching peace and compromise.''
Erdogan said that passages between the two sides became possible in April, but the Greek Cypriot side had difficulty in giving a positive reaction to it.
''I have difficulty in understanding the seizure of the cheese and cigarettes bought by Greek Cypriots in Northern Cyprus, by Greek Cypriot officials...Or the submission of the bill to the Greek Cypriot parliament which proposed imprisonment of persons who spend night in Northern Cyprus, from one to year years...This is very interesting and funny. But Turkish Cypriots do good things now. We support them. You know following that Turkey lifted visas for Greek Cypriots. We expect the same thing from Greece. Greece should also lift visas for Turkish Cypriots.''
''We together with Turkish Cypriots will overcome all kinds of problems and impediments. I believe that all the problems we had today and we will have tomorrow are temporary as long as we stand on our feet strongly...Our most important supporter is our national unity, solidarity. Our government will ensure all kinds of support to bring prosperity to TRNC people,'' Erdogan said.

ARINC: ''WE SUPPORT TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE'S SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVES IN CYPRUS''
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Thursday that they supported Turkish Cypriot people's significant and bold initiatives in Cyprus.
Arinc received TRNC Ambassador to Turkey Ahmet Zeki Bulunc and the accompanying delegation within the scope of 29th anniversary of Cyprus Peace Operation.
Arinc said that there has been peace and tranquility on the island since July 20, 1974 and stated that Turkey would continue to be guaranty of peace and security on the island.
''A lasting and fair solution on the island should take facts in Cyprus as basis and it should depend on a compromise protecting bi-zonal structure. The solution should protect security of Turkish Cypriot people and provide people with to live peacefully,'' he noted.
Arinc said that they welcomed TRNC President Denktas's great efforts for peace and compromise.
Noting that he could not attend ''Peace and Freedom Festival'' due to his program, Arinc said that Parliament Acting Speaker Yilmaz Ates would represent him in festival in TRNC.
Bulunc said that Turkish Cypriot people who fought in order to exist reached independent and free state during the process after Peace Operation.
Stating that Turkish nation showed clearly its determination on Cyprus cause in decisions which were taken by the parliament, Bulunc said, ''we have not overcome critical process yet. But we have overcome the atmosphere which was created by Annan's plan with determined attitude of Turkey.''
Bulunc added that Turkish Cypriot people saw its future near Turkey.

DANN SAYS ANNAN'S PLAN ENLARGES TURKEY'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ON CYPRUS
U.N. Secretary General's Special Envoy to Alvaro De Soto's assistant Robert Dann said on Thursday that Annan's plan enlarged Turkey's rights and responsibilities on Cyprus.
Addressing the conference on ''Annan Plan: Dreams and Facts'' organized by Bogazici University and Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Foreign Policy Forum, Dann said that significant opportunities have emerged to solve Cyprus issue in the last three years.
Dann said that if an agreement was reached, a united Cyprus's accession agreement to the European Union (EU) could be signed.
Noting that Annan's plan should be better, Dann said that the plan gave opportunity to both sides to found a bi-zonal state on a definite point. ''A new name, a new flag...'', Dann said, adding that rights could be improved by both sides' reaching consensus at the table.
Stating that Annan's plan enlarged Turkey's rights and responsibilities on Cyprus, Dann said that its territorial integrity, security and constitutional order were taken under guaranty according to this plan.
Dann said that Greek Cypriot people approached the plan in a more positive way, but this was not so easy for Turkish Cypriot people and leaders.
Cypriot Employers' and Businessmen's Federation in Greek Cypriot side executive board member Constantinos Kittis said that Annan's plan was an important work which would bring EU membership to Turkey.
Kittis said that insolubility was not solution and added that especially TRNC and Turkey would get the most benefit from Cyprus's accession to the union. Turkey should take a brave decision for Turkish Cypriot people to reach a desired life, he said.
Stating that there should be good intentions and mutual confidence and both sides should have similar living conditions on the island for solution of problems which appeared after the island was divided, Kittis said that there should be a balanced situation.
Kittis said that public opinion accepted that there should be a solution and stated that they were also deprived of some rights.
Noting that everybody's view would be taken in solution, Kittis added that solution would be resorted to referendum.
Retired Ambassador Gunduz Aktan said that Cyprus was not a bound variable of EU and stated, ''Cyprus makes easier our accession to the union. Cyprus is a free variable. Cyprus issue has problems and solutions peculiar to itself. Solution cannot be reached by ignoring existing law. It can be reached by taking into consideration existing agreements and recognizing rights there.''
Aktan said that obligations which should be fulfilled only by Turkish side in Cyprus were created and stated, ''a new timetable appeared everyday. Turks don't like timetable. We don't abide by it. I think that we will not abide by it from now on as well.''
''Solution of Cyprus issue was made dependent on condition of Turkey's accession to the union. It is the problem which is not seen. If we are not a member of EU, it is possible for Cyprus to enter to sovereignty of the other side with respect to economy. The solution I propose is that: Greek Cypriot administration shall become member of EU temporarily. Turkish Cypriot side shall remain outside and get prepared for membership. Annan's plan shall be implemented rapidly with Turkey's membership to the union. Otherwise, Turkey's EU process can end since there is not any solution in Cyprus.''
TRNC Businessmen's Association Chairman Ozdil Nami said that they did not have any concern that ''Annan's plan would be accepted and Greek economy would put pressure on them.''
Nami said, ''what can be a better solution than Annan's plan? Where it can be? It is not known for Turkish Cypriot people. Turkish Cypriot people explained their vision for the future. Now, others should take it into consideration.''

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S CYPRUS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE WESTON SAYS EU CANNOT TAKE A BACKWARD STEP ON TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP
U.S. Department of State's special representative to Cyprus Thomas Weston said on Thursday that the European Union (EU) could not take a backward step on Turkey's EU membership from now on.
After addressing the conference on ''Annan Plan: Dreams and Facts'' organized by Bogazici University and Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Foreign Policy Forum, Weston replied to questions of TUSIAD members.
When a member said that there were some different views concerning Turkey's membership like EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen's statements on the issue, Weston said that he was personally exerting efforts for Turkey to join the union.
Weston said that even if there was not any legal condition, a point where conditions put in front of Turkey like reaching solution in Cyprus were accepted collectively by foreign ministers in the EU. He added that but closing door to Turkey would not maybe destroy EU, but it would turn the EU into a different direction, which he didn't approve.
Stating that EU could not take a backward step on Turkey's EU membership from now on, Weston said that there were some obstacles for candidacy currently.
Weston said that but taking backward step on Turkey's membership to the union would bring a big and undesired change for EU and noted that thus he believed that Turkey would be member of the union.
When asked about the priority of the Cyprus problem for the U.S. today and before September 11 incidents, Weston said that the priority was always on top during both the Clinton and Bush administrations. Weston commented that no solution was found to date, but there was no decrease in priority of Cyprus for the U.S. administration.
Upon another question, Weston recalled that Greek Cypriot side would be admitted to the EU on May 1, 2004, adding that even if no solution was found to Cyprus problem, the U.S. would continue to pursue its policy to this end after 2004.
If a solution is found and it is approved by a referendum before May 1, this will be included to the EU accession agreement, he said. If the efforts in finding a solution does not yield positive result, a hierarchial problem in respect of law can come out, because the conflicts of both societies will be sorted out in EU courts; so it will be better for two sides to reach a compromise before May 1, he commented.

GREEK AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY CHRISTIDES SAYS AN AGREEMENT IN CYPRUS WITHIN SCOPE OF ANNAN'S PLAN WILL BE A BIG SUCCESS
Greek Ambassador to Turkey Michael Christides said on Thursday that an agreement in Cyprus within the scope of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan would be a big success.
Addressing a conference on ''Annan's Plan: Dreams and Facts'' organized by Bogazici University and Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Foreign Policy Forum, Christides said that a solution should be found for Cyprus issue.
Christides said that Greek Cypriot people did not assume a collaborative attitude in their latest efforts for reaching solution and added that since they had reached their target.
Stating that most of Turkish Cypriot people wanted to share the same destiny with Greek Cypriot people, Christides said that Cyprus issue could only be solved by two communities on the island.
Christides said that Ankara and Athens should extend necessary support to the issue and encourage people on the island and stated that Greece always wanted a solution. He added that Cyprus issue still had a unique chance.
Stating that an agreement in Cyprus within the scope of Annan's plan would be a big success, Christides said that Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots would rescue themselves from uneasiness of not reaching an agreement. He added that it would contribute to further improvement of Turkish-Greek relations.
Christides said that reaching a solution on Cyprus issue would strengthen Turkey's relations with the EU and contribute to Turkey's EU membership and stated that they should return to Annan's plan which was still on the table.
Christides said that Annan's plan would be to interests of Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots.
Stating that EU should be perceived as the most important and reliable guaranty for both sides, Christides said that if a solution was found before May 2004, it would be a very big guaranty.
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry's Greece and Cyprus Department Director General Ertugrul Apakan said that a package of agreements should be formed for solution to Cyprus issue.
Apakan said that they supported the U.N. Secretary General's good will mission and noted, ''the most important point which should be underlined regarding Cyprus issue is equal status. All works which the U.N. has been doing are related to sharing of authority. A solution on Cyprus issue can be reached with equal status.''
Stating that when looking at Annan's plan, bi-zonal structure caused serious concerns to Turkish side, Apakan said that more than half of Turkish Cypriot people would face the risk of being expelled from their places.
Apakan added that uncertainty in the plan might bring such a result.

TRNC PRESIDENTIAL UNDERSECRETARY OLGUN SAYS BOTH SIDES SHOULD HAVE MUTUAL INTEREST TO REACH AGREEMENT AND PARTNERSHIP IN CYPRUS
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Presidential Undersecretary Ergun Olgun said that both sides in Cyprus should have mutual interest to reach agreement and partnership and added that if one side lost and the other side won, an agreement could never been reached.
Addressing the conference on ''Annan Plan: Dreams and Facts'' organized by Bogazici University and Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Foreign Policy Forum, Olgun said that Turkish Cypriot people in Cyprus was working for defending their interest and settlement of peace on the island.
Olgun said, ''Turkish Cypriot government's aim is a situation which will be formed by the two sides on the island. It foresees a bi-zonal and bi-communal system.''
Olgun said that common interests and a common vision was very important for a solution and noted, ''I, as a Turkish Cypriot, make no concession from my equality.''
''If we want to reach a result in negotiation process, there should be something. Both sides should have mutual interest to reach agreement and partnership. If one side loses and the other side wins, an agreement can never been reached,'' he stated.
Olgun said, ''current process does not give any hope and confidence to Turkish Cypriot people.''
Bogazici University Rector Prof. Dr. Sabih Tansal said that a fair and satisfactory solution which would be brought to Cyprus issue would bring peace, stability and economic affluence to the island and Eastern Mediterranean.
(EÖ-AÖ) 17.07.2003