ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the discretion pertaining to U.S. loan worth of 8.5 billion U.S. dollars was at Turkey, and noted that, ''we can use it or not''.
Erdogan and Czech Republic's Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla replied questions of reporters after the joint news conference.
A journalist said, ''European Union (EU) made a statement and said Turkey would be in the position of occupier in case a solution could not be found in Cyprus till 2004'' and asked about the views of Spidla on the issue.
Spidla said Czech Republic favored solution of this question, noting that they respected proposal of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. He said they wanted solution of the problem in a way to satisfy both sides.
When a journalist said, ''Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok said they were not informed about condition for north of Iraq and the details in the 8.5 billion U.S. dollars loan. What will you do if U.S. wants us to withdraw our military existence there? Why was this agreement signed if it would not be implemented because of this item?'' Erdogan replied, ''Iraq and loan are separate issues. Moreover, it is included in the protocol that the loan has no connection with dispatch of soldiers. All our efforts at the time being under the basis of humanitarian aid are is an outcome of joint studies.''
Erdogan added, ''we have also many times stated that we did not prepare a budget basing on the loan. It is wrong to speak about those as if the budget was linked with 8.5 billion U.S. dollars.''
Concerning Cyprus, Erdogan said, ''Turkey's attitude toward Cyprus is clear. Cyprus issue is not connected with the EU. Cyprus is not among Copenhagen political criteria.''
(AY-AÖ) 02.10.2003