NEW YORK - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met on Thursday with Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the foreign minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Gul is currently in New York to participate in the U.N. General Assembly meetings.
TRNC Foreign Minister Ertugruloglu told reporters after the meeting that, ''we met as the joint defenders of a joint fight. We discussed the process of Cyprus question. We saw that we are in full consensus of opinion. We reiterated that the policy we will cover is clear.''
Speaking about the statements of Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos where he had made in the U.N. meeting, Ertugruloglu said, ''statements of a fierce EOKA supporter from the U.N. rostrum show what kind of a diplomacy shame we are face to face. This person, who is an enemy of the Turks, can speak about rights and law from the U.N. rostrum because of the illegal status which international community granted to Greek Cypriot side for years.''
Ertugruloglu said, ''everybody knows who Papadopoulos is. He is a person who is the owner of money laundering operations. He is a fierce enemy of Turks.''
Reiterating that fundamental changes should be made in Annan plan, Ertugruloglu said there was not much to do in case the basis, on which the plan was settled, remained the same.
(AY-AÖ) 26.09.2003