ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the persons who launched the terrorist attacks were identified rapidly, and studies about the external connections of the incident continued.
Speaking to TV8 private tv channel, Erdogan also referred to Cyprus issue. Noting that TRNC and Turkey took all the positive steps to date and those steps would continue, Erdogan said that one of those steps was about the closed Maras region and another one was opening border gate to free trade. Erdogan stated that the Greek Cypriot side didn`t have a positive attitude, adding that TRNC had always showed a positive attitude about Cyprus issue. ``We will continue our positive approach,`` he said.
Certain steps would be taken in north Cyprus after the elections, said Erdogan, stressing that one of them was water project and the other one was energy project. The difficulties of TRNC in water and energy would be solved and they would try to make north Cyprus an investment region, Erdogan said.
Noting that a big majority of people in TRNC regarded Turkey as the motherland, Erdogan said that ``Turkey has rights over Cyprus stemming from agreements. It is not possible to give concessions from those rights.``
``Certainly efforts will be launched to get a result in the period between Dec. 14-May 1. But if a unilateral approach is wanted from the Turkish Cypriot side, this will be wrong. Both sides have to make sacrifices.``
Referring to the visit of Iraqi Governing Council`s Term President Jalal Talabani to Ankara, Erdogan said that Talabani asked Turkish contractors to take a role in economic, commercial reconstruction of Iraq.
Erdogan said Turkish officials told Talabani that Turkish contractors were powerful and that they had almost 50 billion dollars of business volume abroad.
``Since the war Turkey sent food to Iraq, every day 2,000-3,000 lorries carry food stuff to Iraq. In addition to food and medicine aid, Turkey also meets energy need of Iraq,`` he said. Erdogan noted that water could also be given to Iraq in the near future, adding that ``if there is a mutual trust, the future will be better. We don`t consider ourselves separate from Iraq, there are neighbourhood rights and we have relatives. The difficulties in Iraq can also take place in Turkey.``
Erdogan said Talabani also conveyed his sensitivity about the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK, adding that he was pleased with it.
(Öª) 19.11.2003