ISTANBUL - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Saturday that it was the common target and wish of governments of both Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue.
Gul delivered a speech on developments in Turkish foreign policy in a conference held by One Eurasia Foundation and Eurasian Strategic Researches Center in Istanbul.
Foreign Minister Gul said, ''we have the political will to help find such a solution till May 1, 2004.''
Gul pointed out that election held in TRNC in December 2003 and the government formed after that showed that democratic institutions were settled in that country.
Turkey continued its support to good will mission of the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General, Gul stated.
Gul said that Turkey was determined to revive Cyprus talks process.
Concerned authorities of Turkey had increased its preparations which would help determination of the attitude of Turkish side in the negotiation process in coordination, Gul noted.
Gul said that everybody had accused TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Turkey of not finding a solution to Cyprus issue so far.
''This image has changed in the last one month. Everybody will see in coming days who in fact wants insolubility,'' Gul said.
Gul stated that both the past and the future should be analyzed in a realistic sense to find a lasting and fair solution to Cyprus issue.
Noting that insolubility in Cyprus was for the benefit of neither Turkey nor TRNC, Gul said that everybody should work for solution of the issue.
Gul recalled that a process was being experienced in Turkey outside Turkey's will and the Greek Cypriot side would become a European Union (EU) member.
All those issues should be taken into consideration when trying to find a solution, Gul stated.
Gul said that Cyprus talks would resume on the basis of Annan plan.
There were some issues in Annan plan which should be changed, Gul noted.
Gul pointed out that they should negotiate those issues in order to make them acceptable.
Objections of the Greek Cypriot side were more than that of Turkish side, Gul said.
Gul stressed that they would sit sincerely and exert efforts for a solution which would satisfy both sides.
Nobody could tell anything to Turkish side if the issue could not be settled due to intransigent attitude of the other side, Gul said.
Gul emphasized that the Greek Cypriot side was thinking that it was joining EU and therefore assuming an attitude to gain time.
Foreign Minister Gul hoped that the Greek Cypriot side would also assume a compromising attitude, see their former mistakes and work for a satisfactory solution.
''If this doesn't happen, we can never say 'yes' to anything which we don't believe and which will annihilate Turks there in the long term,'' Gul said.
Asked if Greece's ideal to rule whole island and make Turks a minority in the island continued, Gul said that ''they were also uneasy about insolubility.''
Gul stated that Turkey expected positive contributions of the United States and EU to a settlement.
Turkey would preserve its rights in the island till the very end in case of a possible insolubility, Gul said.
Gul added, ''everybody has accused Turkey and Rauf Denktas so far. Such an image has been created. This image has changed in the last one month. Everybody will see in coming days who in fact wants insolubility. We will join negotiations in order to reach a sincere solution not for only image. We will exert efforts for solution of the issue by mutual understanding even if we don't become EU member. However, neither the United States nor EU should expect us to say 'yes' to things we don't believe.''
(BRC-AY) 18.01.2004