IT IS WRONG TO SAY 'ANNAN PLAN DOES NO GOOD TO CYPRUS AT ALL'. IT IS ALSO WRONG TO SAY 'I ACCEPT IT COMPLETELY'

TASHKENT - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that it was both wrong to reject or accept Annan plan completely.
Erdogan told reporters, ''my thought about Annan plan is clear since the beginning. We have not defended any view that rejects completely the Annan plan. We said Annan Plan 'can be discussed'' and we said 'the sides should come together to discuss Annan Plan. Today, we have said the same thing. Something positive for Turkish Cypriots can be negative for Greek Cypriots and visa versa. I think that a decision must be given by discussing the issues on which agreement is reached and not, and a step must be taken accordingly. I told this Mr. Denktas as well. I told it to Prime Minister, even Serdar Denktas. Of course, what we had listened during election campaigns were completely on opposite direction. Because the atmosphere during election campaigns were as if the elections were being held as a referendum for the plan. For me, this has weakened the campaign. Because the people in Northern Cyprus should not be put into such a narrow frame. It should have been more different and comprehensive. An election targeting issues of Cyprus having priority should have been held. Positive and negative views on Annan Plan should have been put forward as well. For me, it is wrong to say 'Annan Plan does no good to Cyprus at all'. It is also wrong to say 'I accept it completely'. But Northern Cypriots made a very good preference. 'Neither this nor that' they said. They said you will put heads together and solve the issue.''
Noting that he followed the statements of TRNC President Rauf Denktas, Erdogan said he did not know what would emerge from the searches Denktas was making with political party leaders to form a government.
Underlining that Turkish Foreign Ministry was also continuing its efforts for solution of the issue, Erdogan said they will see how they can help TRNC after they complete their evaluations.
ERDOGAN: ''IF YOU PUT CYPRUS IN FRONT OF US BY CREATING A DE FACTO SITUATION IN TURKEY'S EU FULL MEMBERSHIP PROCESS, THIS WILL BE AN UGLY STANCE''
Erdogan said that they would also continue to exert efforts in Turkey's EU full membership process, adding that ''if you put Cyprus in front of us by creating a de facto situation, this will be an ugly stance.''
When he was asked if he would make any suggestions in case party leaders could not agree on a formula to form a government in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Erdogan told reporters that ''of course we will try to help them on the issue, but we do not have any authority to determine their democratic rights and authorities. We can only help and present alternatives.''
Noting that the political parties in TRNC will certainly search for a way out, Erdogan said if not, both political parties and Cyprus will suffer.
When a reporter recalled that one of the sensitive issues of Annan Plan was property, Erdogan said, ''Annan Plan in fact does not bring an optimum balance. We must find that balance firstly. 'They said they were in agreement on sovereignty issue' during our talks with Annan earlier. Then, it was revealed that it was just the opposite. Then it was said, 'translation mistake'. What is ideal here is that: The property must be separated clearly. Coming from Southern Cyprus to the Northern Cyprus and settling there and visa versa can revive bad things again. That is, there is no meaning in provoking things after 29 years.''
Erdogan said the soldier's leaving the island is also among topics of discussion.
One of the most important issues was that they tried to put Cyprus and Turkey's EU membership into the same category, Erdogan said that EU distanced itself from the approach that solution of Cyprus issue was a condition for Turkey's membership in Brussels summit. He added that there were positive expressions in the final statement of the summit.
''Copenhagen criteria must be taken as basis,'' he said, ''if you want Copenhagen criteria, you will get it. Cyprus and political criteria are different issues.''
Erdogan said they issued adjustment packages, and partially put them in practice. He said they would complete putting them in practice in 2004 as they get a date to start negotiations.
''We will continue to exert efforts in full membership process. We do not tell the EU 'accept us as full member in a certain period of time.' Accept us when we finish our work. Indeed, you will not accept us before we complete it. But if you put Cyprus in front of us by creating a de facto situation, this will be an ugly stance. That is, Cyprus must be evaluated separately.''
Erdogan also underlined that the oppression stemming from embargoes imposed on TRNC did not end for long years, and no other country in the world encountered such a treatment.
In regard to election process, Erdogan noted that they can go towards a solution as 60 days period to form a government is about to end, adding that Ankara will provide necessary assistance. Erdogan said Ankara would find ways of solution when required and certainly a decision would be given. When a reporter said that ''some people said the last word would be uttered by Ankara,'' Erdogan said, ''why were the elections held then?''
Replying a question that there were ''some traps'' in Annan Plan, Erdogan said, ''I do not consider the expression 'trap' as correct. Turkey is a member of U.N. If we evaluate the U.N. as 'an institution continuously preparing traps', then they ask you why do you stay there. We consider the mission of Secretary General with good will and we think he is good willed. We make our evaluations in detail.''
(AÖ) 18.12.2003