ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Monday that TRNC had a democratic state structure, the elections would be held in a transparent environment and that nobody had the right to cast shadow over the elections.
Gul issued a statement and responded to questions before leaving for Austria.
When reporters reminded Gul about the statements of TRNC President Rauf Denktas who said he would continue fighting by getting the support of the Anatolian people, Gul said that ''Anatolian people is behind him and the Cyprus cause.'' Noting that Denktas should get the support of Turkish Cypriot people, Gul said that Cyprus was not a cause which was ignored.
Upon a question asking his view about voicing of certain hesitations about the December elections in TRNC, Gul underlined that TRNC had a democratic state structure and that everything was carried out in transparency and openness.
Gul said that ''there is no need for such concerns. Like the elections were earlier held in an honest and open way, this will be the case this time, too. No body has the right to cast shadow over the elections.''
When asked his view about the demand of Turkmens for a ministry within the Iraqi council structure, Gul said that Turkey believed that everybody in Iraq had to be represented in the best way and reminded that the structure of the cabinet was not announced yet.
Giving information about his contacts in Austria, Gul said that Turkey attributed importance to develop its relations with this country in all dimensions, reminding the successful visit of Prime Minister Erdogan to Austria last July.
Gul said that he would meet with Austrian Foreign Minister Ferrero-Waldner, Austrian Parliament Speaker and Chancellor in the first two days of his visit. Gul added that he would come together with Turkish businessmen in Austria during the Turkey-Austria Business Council meeting. Gul said that he would take up bilateral relations and Turkey-EU relations during his contacts, adding that he would visit U.N. Office in Vienna on the third day of his visit and attend meetings on the agreement on prohibition of nuclear tests.
Gul will also visit International Atomic Energy Agency and meet with its chairman Mohamed el Baradei.
(Öª-AÖ) 01.09.2003