Cicek: We Have Good Intention About Finding A Solution To Cyprus Question

ANKARA - Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said on Monday, ''we have good intention about finding a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus question.''
Holding a press conference following the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, Cicek said, ''the foreign policy was high on agenda of the meeting. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul informed members of the Council of Ministers on his visits to Azerbaijan and Iran. Turkey attributes great importance to its relations with neighboring countries. We have been expending efforts to base our bilateral relations with neighboring countries on a sound, lasting and sincere ground.''
Noting that recent developments in Cyprus were also taken up at the meeting, Cicek told reporters, ''the parliamentary elections were held in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on December 14, 2003 in an atmosphere of peace and democracy. The new government of TRNC was formed a few days ago.''
''We have good intentions about finding a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus question by taking into consideration the facts in the island. We have been expending efforts to this end. As Turkey and TRNC, we want some steps to be taken till May 1, 2004. We have been trying to display our good intention to the whole world. The National Security Council (NSC) will assess the developments at its next meeting. Later, necessary steps will be taken. Turkey's expectations were put forward earlier. The negotiation process will be maintained on the basis of the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. Actually, the plan does not have any unknown elements,'' he said.
When asked, ''it was claimed that negotiations over the Annan plan could take a long time. Will the negotiation process end till May 1, 2004?'' Cicek told reporters, ''we have been trying to do our utmost. We want to complete the process till May 1. However, it is a process which has been continuing for the last 40 years. We all know that it is quite difficult to take a decision.''
''I want to stress once again that both Turkey and TRNC are determined to find a solution to the Cyprus question. However, unilateral efforts will not be enough to solve such a long-standing question. Mutual steps should be taken,'' he added.
(UK-AY) 12.01.2004