Gul: Government Will Make Final Decision On Cyprus

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that the government would make the final decision on Cyprus issue.
Gul and his German counterpart Joschka Fischer held a joint press conference following their tete-a-tete meeting and meeting between Turkish and German delegations.
Foreign Minister Gul said that Cyprus issue would be taken up in the meeting of National Security Council (NSC) to be held on Friday.
Recalling that NSC was not a decision making organ, Gul noted that a decision on Cyprus issue would not be taken in NSC meeting.
Gul said that it was normal to discuss Cyprus issue in NSC meeting and NSC could make some recommendations.
Stating that the final decision would be political, Gul said that the government would make the final decision on Cyprus issue.
Gul stated that all concerned institutions in Turkey were working to reach a broad consensus.
The government would exert efforts for solution of Cyprus issue after NSC meeting, Gul said.
Gul pointed out that Turkey was ready to fulfil its responsibilities in order to resume Cyprus talks.
Turkey supported good will mission of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General and Cyprus talks based on Annan plan, Gul recalled.
German Foreign Minister Fischer recalled that he had met with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan before he came to Ankara.
Fischer said that finding a solution to Cyprus issue in the possible shortest time would create a positive atmosphere.
He did not bring any message from Annan to Turkey, Fischer noted.
Fischer said that important details of Cyprus issue would be taken up in meeting to be held between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Annan in Davos.
(BRC) 21.01.2004