ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday night that Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) should not escape from the negotiation table, adding that ''there is no serious difference of opinion about Cyprus issue.''
''There are certain different views about the procedure. Officials in Foreign Ministry and General Staff continue their studies,'' told Erdogan to a private channel.
Erdogan stated that Cyprus was not the precondition for Turkey's EU membership. Noting that the solution of Cyprus problem was both a vital issue of Turkish Cypriots and also a national cause for Turkey.
''We must have an urgent and lasting solution there. Neither TRNC nor Turkey should escape from the negotiation table. We trust ourselves, we are right. If we sit at negotiation table, we believe that we will get the result we want,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan stated that the existing developments were not as exaggerated as by some circles, and that there were more positive developments. These positive developments should not be ignored as this was not to the interest of those living in TRNC, Erdogan said.
Erdogan said that Foreign Ministry carried out an intensive study on Cyprus issue noting that the thing that would come out as a result of those studies would be turned into a road map.
When asked if there was a difference of opinion among state officials about accepting Annan plan as the basis and if the General Staff shared the same view with the government, Erdogan said that ''I don't see a serious difference of opinion about the issue. There are some different views about the procedure. For the moment, our officials in Foreign Ministry and General Staff continue the studies. We will discuss the issue in National Security Council's monthly meeting. After these negotiations, we will have prepared the road map. Insolubility is not a solution, we will solve the problem. When I tell this, I don't mean to only give concessions without getting anything.''
Upon a question about Cyprus and EU membership of Turkey, Erdogan referred to the statements of EU Commission President Prodi, noting that ''Mr. Prodi stated that the solution of Cyprus issue would help EU's starting negotiation process for Turkey, but it was not a precondition.''
Erdogan stated that it was not possible to make concessions of bi-zonal structure in Cyprus, adding everybody had to accept that.
Erdogan stressed that everybody should also accept the guarantor rights of Turkey for a lasting solution in Cyprus, adding ''the guarantor rights of Greece should also be accepted. There is no disagreement about this issue.''
''Turkey has to strengthen its place in EU or in European continent, it is not possible for Turkey to stay outside. Both Turkey and EU have things to gain through Turkey's membership. There is no meaning in isolating Turkey from Europe. If we get our place in this family, we will get stronger. Turkey, as a Muslim country, will carry the harmony among civilizations, rather that clash among civilizations by its membership to the EU,'' he said.
Answering another question, Erdogan said that dispatching of soldiers from Incirlik base was not in question. ''The U.S. rotates its soldiers in Iraq. It will replace approximately 60,000 of its soldiers. This is the thing done, no other thing is in question.''
Erdogan added that General Staff and Foreign Ministry were informed about the issue.
(Öª-BRC) 16.01.2004