ISTANBUL - Former Greek Cypriot leader George Vasiliou said on Monday that Turkish government headed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seemed to be determined to solve Cyprus issue.
Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation held an international workshop on evaluation of Annan plan on road to reaching an acceptable solution in Istanbul.
Vasiliou, who attended the workshop, told reporters that Annan plan was firstly a fair plan.
There might be some deficiencies for both sides in the plan, Vasiliou said.
But, he noted, if two sides were to sit at a table with the will to solve the issue, the issue could be solved.
Vasiliou stated that what was important to sit at a negotiation table willingly.
Stressing that late president Turgut Ozal was a Turkish leader who was close to a solution in Cyprus, Vasiliou said that if Ozal had lived today, the solution would already have been solved because Ozal had been aware of how serious the issue was.
Asked about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposal about a ''mediator'', Vasiliou said that Erdogan was an experienced leader and was aware of that it was the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan and other officials who would make the final decision, not the mediator.
George Vasiliou commented that changing the mediator would be a loss of time because time was the most important thing for both sides at the moment.
Asked what would happen if a solution could not be found to Cyprus issue till May 1, when the Greek Cypriot side would become a European Union (EU) member, Vasiliou stressed that sitting at the table with a will to solve the issue was important so that extending the duration to June instead of May would not be that much important.
Vasiliou said that therefore, extension of that period to June was not important.
Noting that he found Erdogan government's initiatives very positive, Vasiliou said that but it would not be a solution to say that EU should confirm a date for Turkey's EU membership and then we would solve Cyprus issue.
George Vasiliou said that Turkey should believe in sincerity of EU and take steps accordingly.
Former ambassador Ilter Turkmen, also speaking in the workshop, said that Annan plan would be a solution which was difficult to put into practice because it had very many details.
Turkmen said, ''we hope two sides will have more good-will thanks to the newly-created atmosphere in Turkey and Cyprus. Also, good atmosphere will gain momentum with synchronous EU accession.''
Mihalis Papapetrou, the former spokesman of Greek Cypriot government, said that two sides were face to face with a very comprehensive plan for a solution for the first time.
But, Papapetrou noted, if there was not political will, even the best solution plan of the world could not be implemented.
Papapetrou said that Annan plan was the product of a negotiation process, not beginning of such a process.
Majority of Cyprus voted for a government which accepted Annan plan, Papapetrou said, noting that it was the sign of that people in Cyprus were prepared for a solution.
A solution would be more difficult if a solution could not be found to Cyprus issue till May 1 and Turkey's EU accession would become difficult, Papapetrou claimed.
Papapetrou said that 25 parliaments in EU should consent to Turkey's membership date and asked if participants believed that Cyprus or Greek Cypriot parliament would consent to give a date for Turkey unless a solution was found to Cyprus issue.
Noting that ''nobody was an angel'' on both sides, Mihalis Papapetrou called on everybody not to be affected by the past and to behave wisely.
Papapetrou said that they had the chance to forget the past, tears and unhappiness.
Calling on everybody to give up accusing each other, Papapetrou said that they should immediately search for a solution.
Papapetrou added that sides should not miss the opportunity to walk towards better days together.
(BRC-AÖ) 26.01.2004