Erdogan: I Will Not Proceed To Greek Cypriot Side

RIZE - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he would not proceed to the Greek Cypriot side during his visit to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Responding questions of journalists about news stories claiming that he would proceed to the Greek Cypriot side during his visit to TRNC, Prime Minister Erdogan said that he did not have such a plan.
Prime Minister Erdogan will leave for TRNC on Saturday to attend the ceremonies to be held to mark the 20th anniversary of foundation of TRNC.
GUL: ANY PROPOSAL REGARDING PASSAGE OF ERDOGAN TO GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE IS OUT OF QUESTION
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that there was not any proposal regarding passage of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Greek Cypriot side during his visit to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
When asked whether or not any proposal was made regarding passage of Erdogan to Greek Cypriot side during his visit to TRNC, Gul said, ''this is really saddening. This is out of question. This was not thought and discussed.''
Replying to a question whether or not Turkey would launch new initiatives about Cyprus, Gul said elections would take place in TRNC soon, stressing that, ''Turkey and TRNC will exert every kind of sincere efforts to find a solution to Cyprus question after the elections. Preparations are underway in this respect.''
When Gul was reminded the news reports that Maras would be opened to settlement before the elections, and that number of soldiers would be reduced in stages, Gul said, ''it is impossible to know where those news reports stem from.''
When reminded that United States, during the OIC meeting held in September, had sent a letter to member countries not to recognize TRNC, and that he had also received one of those letters, Gul said, ''something like this happened. But this is a past event.''
Replying to a question about decision of Council of Europe about Loizidu, Gul said this was a multidimensional issue, stressing that studies were underway.
(UK-AY) 14.11.2003