ANKARA - Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek has said, ''Turkey wants a new process to start about the Cyprus question. Turkey wants the Cyprus question to be resolved. Turkey has always maintained its good-intention efforts so far, and will continue to do so in the future.''
Holding a press conference following the meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday, Cicek said about Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas' designating Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat to form the new government, ''democratic process has been progressing in TRNC. The democratic tradition envisages to designate the political party which was ranked first in the elections, to form the new government. President Denktas' designating Talat to form the new government shows that democracy has institutionalized in TRNC. It is a very pleasing development.''
''Taking into consideration the connection of the Cyprus question with Turkey, a multilateral work should be carried out for this new period. The relevant sides including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and President Denktas of TRNC have already made statements to this end,'' he told reporters.
Cicek said, ''Turkey wants a new process to start about the Cyprus question. Turkey wants the Cyprus question to be resolved. Turkey has always maintained its good-intention efforts so far, and will continue to do so in the future.''
He added that activities were related on the details of a new opening if it could be put forth. He noted that Prime Minister Erdogan would give details tomorrow, adding that an evaluation could be made after the briefing to not allow wrong evaluations.
When asked whether President Ahmet Necdet Sezer made an invitation on holding a summit about Cyprus issue at Cankaya Presidential Palace, Cicek said that no invitation was needed for this issue. He added that this issue was very important for Turkey, noting that Cyprus issue had always been in the agenda of Turkey including its security, past and future and would continue to be on the agenda.
He said that holding meetings on such an issue was normal and Turkey was already concerning with Cyprus issue closely, adding that they were aware of the importance of the date May 1, 2004, thus all the world should know the good will efforts of Turkey and TRNC while entering to this process.
(GC-UK) 29.12.2003