Erdogan: Foreign Ministry Carried Out Its Studies On Cyprus Issue In Full Agreement With General Staff

ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday that Foreign Ministry has carried out its studies on Cyprus issue in full agreement with General Staff and stated, ''there is not any different approach at that point.''
When he was reminded that he held a meeting with Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok on Monday and asked whether or not Foreign Ministry's studies on Cyprus issue disturbed military, Erdogan said that news stories in Tuesday's papers were ''made-up''.
Erdogan said that Foreign Ministry would make necessary statement on the issue and noted that the government made their statements and took steps on some issues by exchanging views with constitutional institutions and nongovernmental organizations so far. Stating that Foreign Ministry has carried out its studies on Cyprus issue in full agreement with the General Staff from the very beginning, Erdogan said that there was not any different approach on the issue at that point. Erdogan said that the issue was not in the way as reflected by the press and stated that national compromise was reached on every issue. He added that Foreign Ministry would make necessary statements on the issue.
Erdogan said that General Staff and he assessed the latest developments on Tuesday and noted that there was not any different policy on Cyprus issue that Turkey considered a national cause. Stating that there could be some differences on procedure from time to time, but there was not any differences on the fundamental principle, he noted that no one should try to show as if it was different.
Stating that 2004 year would be a very different year for Turkey, he said that if press gave accurate information on issues, Turkish people's confidence in the future of the country would be further improved.
FOREIGN MINISTRY BRIEFS PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN ON CYPRUS ISSUE
Gul and Foreign Ministry bureaucrats briefed on Tuesday Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Cyprus issue.
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin, Ambassador Deniz Bolukbasi and officials of Cyprus Department of the Ministry were also in attendance in the ongoing briefing.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Gul had informed members of the Council of Ministers about initiatives of the Foreign Ministry about Cyprus issue in the new period.
The Foreign Ministry released a statement earlier in the day in which it said that preparations which would help Turkish side determine its position in Cyprus talks continued.
In its statement, the Ministry had noted that it was holding necessary consultations and making necessary evaluations.
The statement of the Foreign Ministry had pointed out that the result of preparations would be presented to political authority and senior authorities of the state.
After the preparations were submitted to the authorities, TRNC President Rauf Denktas and other officials in TRNC were foreseen to be invited to Ankara to make a common evaluation, the statement had added.
FOREIGN MINISTRY THINKS OF INVITING DENKTAS AND OTHER TRNC OFFICIALS TO ANKARA
Foreign Ministry said that Turkey thought of inviting Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and other TRNC officials to Ankara.
A statement of Foreign Ministry said that international community had some initiatives and expectations about resumption of Cyprus talks.
The statement noted that finding a lasting and fair solution to Cyprus issue through talks was the common wish and target of Turkey and TRNC.
''Preparations which will help Turkish side determine its position in Cyprus talks continue. We are holding necessary consultations and making necessary evaluations. This process continues,'' the statement said.
The statement pointed out that the result of preparations would be presented to political authority and senior authorities of the state.
After the preparations were submitted to the authorities, TRNC President Rauf Denktas and other officials in TRNC were foreseen to be invited to Ankara to make a common evaluation, the statement read.
The statement added that news and evaluations published in the press did not reflect the real situation.
(BRC-AÖ) 30.12.2003