ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul left on Tuesday for the United States to accompany Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Gul replied to questions of reporters about Cyprus process prior to his departure.
Upon a question about discussions on mediator for Cyprus issue, Gul said that he could not reveal a name yet, but there were some suggested names.
Gul said that a person, who had political effect beyond his technician level and had the support of his state and to whom both sides would show respect, would ease things.
When asked what his message would be about Cyprus issue during his meetings in the United States, Gul said that Turkey took a new position about Cyprus issue and added that Turkey wanted a solution to be reached until May 1 and negotiations to start in order to carry on activities by taking Annan Plan as reference. Noting that Turkey had taken initiatives for this, Gul recalled that Turkey had demands from the United Nations Secretary General within that scope.
Gul said, ''I hope Greek Cypriot side and Greeks do not remain behind these demands of Turkey and negotiations start soon and both sides exert every type of sincere efforts for solution before May 1.''
Noting that support of important countries was needed for this, Gul said that one of those countries was the United States.
Gul said that they called for a person who would speed up and ease the negotiations and provide a just mediation within that scope.
Gul added that they called for a person who would speed up negotiations and would have a role to solve locked negotiations when necessary.
Gul told reporters that policy that Turkey pursued about Cyprus issue for the last one week had many repercussions in the world.
Gul said that not only the United States, but also the United Nations (U.N.) and European Union (EU) were optimistic about Turkey's attitude.
''Those who have had negative opinion about Turkey and those who have tried to cause the image that Turkey is the uncompromising side have seen how wrong they are,'' Gul noted.
Gul stated that Turkey had fulfilled its responsibilities and the world was aware of it.
Touching on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposal to discuss Annan plan in chapters not as a whole, Gul said that it was a call which had showed move of Turkish side to facilitate the process.
Gul recalled that Annan plan was comprised of thousands of pages and said that a referendum could be held on important issues and efforts could be exerted on the remaining issues later.
That proposal showed how serious and sincere Turkish side was about a solution in Cyprus, Gul stressed.
Asked if reaching a compromise was necessary for a referendum, Gul said that it would be right to firstly reach a compromise.
Gul said, ''if the Greek Cypriot side says it will do this, Turkey won't stay behind.''
Foreign Minister Gul stressed that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas would exert efforts for a solution.
But, Gul said, Denktas had stated that it would be difficult to find a solution to Cyprus issue till May 1.
Gul pointed out that everybody knew that the process would be difficult and said, ''Turkish side is fulfilling its duties to achieve the difficult. Denktas didn't say that this issue is difficult and that it should be left aside.''
Replying to a question about reactions of Greece, Gul said that Turkey's stance was very obvious.
Gul said, ''they can ask U.N. Secretary General what we have talked about. Stance of Turkish side is clear and obvious.''
(AA) 27.01.2004