DAVOS - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to appoint a mediator trusted by both sides to resolve the Cyprus issue.
Addressing journalists following his 45-minute meeting with United Nations Secretary General Annan, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''Mr. Annan told us that he would assess our proposal. Meanwhile, Turkey has not proposed any name to act as mediator.''
Pointing out that they accepted the plan of Annan as a reference, Prime Minister Erdogan said that referendum could not be resorted as long as the sides could not reach a compromise over the solution.
Stressing that he had held a quite positive meeting with Annan, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''as it was mentioned in the statement of yesterday's meeting of the National Security Council, we clearly announced that we have been supporting the good-will mission of United Nations Secretary General Annan. We also noted that we, as Turkey, will maintain our good will till the end. We do not consider insolubility as a solution. Turkish side should be definitely involved in the negotiation process. We will make the necessary request to the Turkish Cypriot side to this end as the guarantor country. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has been displaying its good will so far.''
Erdogan said, ''we wish that a solution would be reached in Cyprus before May 1, 2004 by appointing a mediator rapidly.''
Erdogan said, ''we told Mr. Annan that a mediator from a country which was proved to be impartial in politics, should be appointed. This mediator should be trusted by the two sides in the island.''
''United Nations Secretary General Annan told us that he would courageously assess the proposal. He said that Turkey's statement has encouraged him and if the sides also welcomed the proposal, efforts to find a solution would become easier,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we hope that we will find a solution to the Cyprus question before May 1, 2004 by recording rapid developments in this process. We want the sides to come to a conclusion till May.''
When asked, ''if the Greek Cypriot side accepts to resort to referendum for the plan, will Turkish side accept it?'' Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''if a compromise is not reached, referendum cannot be brought onto agenda.''
Responding another question, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''there is not any pre-condition for referendum. Referendum will be made on the text of the compromise. Therefore, the sides should reach a compromise first of all. A referendum should be made on the text of this compromise before May 1, 2004.''
Replying another question, Erdogan said that he had not proposed any name for mediator.
Sources said that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, and former NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson were among the persons considered by the Turkish side as mediator.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan partook in a luncheon hosted in his honor by Goldmen Sachs firm's President Victor Halberstadt.
(UK-MS) 24.01.2004