ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that compensation regarding decision of Council of Europe about Loizidou case would be paid in case the problems were solved mutually.
Gul spoke to journalists at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before leaving for Sweden.
When journalists reminded Gul the decision of Council of Europe delegates committee that Turkey should pay financial compensation to Greek Cypriot woman Titiana Loizidou till November 19 under the decision of European Court of Human Rights, he said mutual studies were underway, and that talks continued both in Ankara and Strasbourg. He said those talks should reach a result.
Gul said what Turkey expected from the talks was that the cases, which were pending before ECHR, not to be discussed immediately, and to be postponed for sometime more and that applying to ECHR should not turn into a way of solving the issue.
Recalling that a mechanism was set up in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) regarding the issue, Gul said, ''some steps have been taken regarding completion of process in Cyprus. However there are still some problems. We will pay the compensation in case a mutual agreement can be reached regarding those difficulties.''
When asked whether or not reaching a compromise was in question till Wednesday, Gul said, ''Wednesday is not so important for us.''
Replying to a question about the situation of Turkish engineer abducted in Afghanistan, Gul said very serious studies were carried out regarding the issue, noting that they exerted all necessary efforts to rescue the engineer.
Briefing the journalists on his scheduled visit to Sweden, Gul said this invitation had been made by former Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, who was killed in an attack. Gul said Turkey attributed importance to ways of dialogue to improve the bilateral relations which gained momentum in the recent years.
Gul said Turkey's membership process to the European Union (EU), NATO-EU relations, Iraq and the Middle East as well as bilateral relations would be discussed during his visit.
(AY) 18.11.2003