ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan left for Davos, Switzerland on Friday to attend annual meeting of World Economic Forum (WEF).
Erdogan told reporters prior to his departure that he would meet with the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands which would take over the European Union (EU) term presidency. He added that he would exchange views about developments in Turkey and the world with some politicians and businessmen in Davos.
Erdogan said that those meetings would cause positive developments to happen for Turkey which took a major place in world and EU agenda.
Recalling that State Minister Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, some deputies and bureaucrats were already in Davos, Erdogan said that they would return to Turkey tomorrow and added that he would go to the United States the next day.
When recalled that Cyprus issue was discussed in the meeting of National Security Council (NSC) today and asked whether the difference of manner was removed in this issue, Erdogan recalled the statement released after the meeting and said that his statements were the same with NSC's statement and they were carrying on their activities positively.
Noting that he would meet with Annan tomorrow, Erdogan said that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas would come to Turkey on Sunday and Denktas would firstly meet with him and then with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. He added that this process would continue positively again after the meetings and TRNC would never stay behind Greek Cypriots in the solution of this issue and it would be ahead of them.
When recalled the statements that Annan Plan could be accepted as a reference in the solution of Cyprus issue and asked what he would put on table, Erdogan said that he would put forth good will.
Upon a question about suggestion for a referendum taking place in Annan Plan, Erdogan said that it was not a decision to be taken unilaterally. He added that it would be meaningless to hold referendum if sides did not reach an agreement, thus, sides should certainly reach an agreement.
(GC-AÖ) 23.01.2004