Gul: We Want President Denktas To Carry Out Negotiations

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said, ''we want President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to carry out negotiations after the new government is formed.''
Speaking at a program on the private CNN-Turk TV Channel on Sunday, Gul said, ''President Denktas has become a symbol in TRNC. We want him to carry out negotiations after the new government is formed in TRNC as the leader of Turkish Cypriot people.''
''We are trying to reach an agreement protecting the existence, future, rights and interest of Turkish Cypriot people. We believe that negotiation process is necessary to this end,'' he said.
Highlighting importance of taking mutual steps in efforts of finding a lasting solution to the Cyprus question, Gul said, ''if an agreement is not reached despite all sincere efforts of Turkey, no one can criticize Turkey.''
(UK) 04.01.2004