ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the European Union (EU) should accept that Turkish side was taking steps on Cyprus issue with good intention and stated that Greek Cypriot side should also be convinced of taking similar steps with good intention.
Erdogan and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer discussed Cyprus, Turkey's EU process and Iraq issues in their meeting.
Sources quoted Erdogan as saying that Turkey has showed its good intention on solution to the Cyprus issue from the very beginning and noted that it took positive steps for a lasting and fair solution.
Stressing that there were three basic factors concerning the issue, Erdogan listed ''bizonality, principle of equality and preservation of guarantor state status of Turkey and Greece'' as those factors.
Erdogan said that not only concerned sides, but also Europe would get benefit from solution and noted, ''EU should accept that Turkish side has been taking steps on Cyprus issue with good intention. Greek Cypriot side should also be convinced of taking similar steps with good intention.''
Noting that in case Turkey accession talks with the EU did not start at the end of 2004, this would cause a situation beyond disappointment in the country, Erdogan said that it would not be possible to explain it to Turkish people.
Erdogan said that their determination on fulfillment of reforms would continue irrespective of result at the end of 2004, stressing that Copenhagen political criteria would form a very important infrastructure to the benefit of Turkish people. Erdogan noted that they would not take any backward step.
Stating that he was very pleased with Germany's support to Turkey's EU process, he said that they welcomed German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and Fischer's encouraging statements on the issue.
Underlining that Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen political criteria in its EU process, Erdogan said that now, they reached the level of implementation.
Erdogan said that nongovernmental organizations and people fully supported the government and stated that Turkey showed that it would make contributions to the Union, not bring any burden.
Underlining the importance of European Commission's 2004 Progress Report, Erdogan said that demographical size and geographical location of Turkey which were brought onto the agenda from time to time could be overcome.
(EÖ-AY) 22.01.2004