BRUSSELS - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels on Thursday to attend Intergovernmental Conference to be held within the scope of the European Union (EU) summit.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Parliamentary EU Adjustment Commission Chairman Yasar Yakis, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy leader Saban Disli, Foreign Affairs Advisor and Istanbul deputy Egemen Bagis and Adana deputy Omer Celik also arrived in Brussels with Erdogan.
Erdogan, who will attend the luncheon which will be hosted by Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and bring together European liberals, will have a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday evening.
Gul will meet with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen tomorrow.
Erdogan and Gul will return to Turkey on Saturday after the conference during which EU Constitution draft will be taken up.
ERDOGAN TO MEET WITH HIS IRISH COUNTERPART AHERN
Erdogan will meet with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern later on Thursday.
Irish Prime Minister will take over EU Term Presidency from Italy on January 1, 2004.
ERDOGAN: WE DON'T FAVOR STATUS QUO. AND WE NEVER SUPPORTED A 'GIVE AND GET RID OF' POLICY EITHER. EU IS IN A POSITION TO CONVINCE GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION
Erdogan said that they did not favor status quo in Cyprus, and noted that, ''we never supported a 'give and get rid of' policy either. EU is in a position to convince Greek Cypriot administration.''
When journalists asked Erdogan what would be messages of Turkey to EU, Erdogan said Cyprus did not have any connection with particularly political criteria, and that he had stated this in the past. Erdogan said he had also stressed that ''there was a de facto situation.''
Erdogan said, ''it is not possible to leave this relation aside. Greek Cypriot administration should be convinced by the EU and their positive approach to this issue should be provided.''
When journalists stated that there was pressure on TRNC prior to the elections, Erdogan said, ''what we will insist on is that this pressure put on TRNC should also be put on Southern Cyprus. It is also wrong to discuss this as a pressure.''
Erdogan said, ''if we are to be a mediator, if we are sincere and if we are looking for a solution, it should be known that there are two separate religions, languages and sides. This should be accepted. There are two separate states. We have always stressed the necessity that those should be accepted. You can not leave those aside. You can not disregard those. If it is to negotiate Annan plan, we have stated that we did not favor refraining from negotiation of the plan. However, the plan have positive and negative sides. All those should be evaluated. The sides should approach the issue with making concession. A solution can be reached in case the sides can reach consensus on a mutual point.''
Erdogan said they never accepted status quo, and that, ''we never favored a 'give and get rid of' policy. We said insolubility is not solution. The target should be a just and lasting solution.''
(GC-AY-AÖ) 11.12.2003