WASHINGTON - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign and Defense Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu criticized U.S. State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Tom Weston of losing impartiality.
Ertugruloglu, who is in the United States, told a press conference that he was not sure at what extent he represented U.S. policy towards Cyprus.
''I am not sure about whether Weston carries out a personal mission or an official policy,'' Ertugruloglu noted.
When he was recalled that Weston also participated in the meeting between Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell, Ertugruloglu said, ''Weston continues his mission. Therefore, his participation in this meeting is a regular event.''
Ertugruloglu said, ''unfortunately, Weston joined demonstrations of certain circles in Cyprus and continued his close cooperation with those who organized those demonstrations. He is no more impartial due to his statements and he considered himself in the same position with former U.N. Secretary General's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto.''
He did not want his words to be perceived as official policy of TRNC, Ertugruloglu stated.
Ertugruloglu said, ''there is nothing that will necessitate my meeting with Weston at the moment. I know what he can tell me. He knows what I can tell him.''
Policy of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul that facts in Cyprus should be taken a base if a compromise was to be reached was clear, Ertugruloglu pointed out.
Ertugruloglu said that some circles and a part of press in Turkey and TRNC consciously tried to create an atmosphere as if there was conflict between two countries.
Those circles undertook mission of certain centers, Ertugruloglu stated.
Ertugruloglu said, ''difference in Cyprus policies of TRNC and Turkey is out of question. There is a single policy. We meet and set our policy.''
''When some circles press on the button, some columnists are writing bad things about TRNC and Turkish administration. Karen Fogg team comes to the scene. Adoption of Kofi Annan plan will not help anything, but cause disaster. These columnists either have not read the plan or are not informed about Cyprus issue, Turkish-Greek relations and EU policies. Therefore, they can't understand what they read,'' Ertugruloglu said.
Ertugruloglu noted that mentioning Annan plan after EU accession deal of Greek Cypriot side had been signed showed ''ignorance and bad intention.''
Europe ''zeroed Annan plan'' with that move, Ertugruloglu said.
Ertugruloglu stated that the choice left for TRNC by the EU was ''continuation of existence of East Germany under authority of Germany and preparing end of Turkish Cypriots by joining an EU without Turkey, or not doing that.''
''Preference of Turkish Cypriot people are open. This preference will be once more proved by elections due in December,'' Ertugruloglu said.
Ertugruloglu noted that TRNC respected U.N. Secretary General Annan and believed in his impartiality.
''It is a misfortune to name this document Annan plan. We don't think that Annan has a role in contents of the plant. Those who prepared the plan are certain. There is a team including David Hannay. There can't be any compromise with this approach,'' Ertugruloglu said.
Ertugruloglu pointed out that he would proceed to New York and hold bilateral meetings with officials of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries.
He would attend luncheon to be hosted by Iranian Foreign Minister in honor of OIC foreign ministers in New York, Ertugruloglu added.
(BRC-AÖ) 26.09.2003