U.S. President Bush Very Pleased With Turkey's Attitude On Cyprus Issue

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Wednesday that the United States was pleased with Turkey's attitude on Cyprus issue and quoted the U.S. President George W. Bush as saying that ''it is a very important step. You have changed image of Turkey.''
Gul chatted with reporters at a reception which was hosted by Turkish Ambassador in Washington, D.C. Faruk Logoglu in honor of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Stating that Turkey's attitude on Cyprus issue was clear, Gul quoted Bush as saying that Erdogan changed image of Turkey and what the government did was very important in his meeting with Erdogan. Gul said that Bush also noted that he hoped that the other side would assume a similar approach.
Upon a question on the United States' support to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership, Gul said, ''the United States's support to this issue is sincere.''
Gul said that his bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell today was in his normal program and scheduled earlier and noted that it was not true that this meeting was scheduled especially for Cyprus. Stressing that what Turkey wanted in Cyprus was a ''strong assistant'', Gul said, ''result should be taken in negotiations. Mediator is U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. But Annan may not always be included in negotiations.''
Replying to questions on the United States's attitude on relations with Armenia, Gul said that a progress or advance could be possible before the NATO summit which would be held in June. Stressing that there was need for rapprochement between Azerbaijan and Armenia for progress, Gul said that Turkey had a diplomacy concerning those problems.
Upon questions on the issue that U.S. Department of State could bring some judicial issues to the agenda, Gul said that they had preparations on those issue.
Meanwhile, sources in Washington, D.C. said that Bush would ask Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to show will for a solution in Cyprus by sending a letter to him.
Diplomatic sources said that the United States's pressure intensified on Greek Cypriot-Greece side after Turkish side's initiatives.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan earlier said that they expected Greek Cypriot side to show political will for solution on the basis of the Annan plan.
(EÖ-AÖ) 29.01.2004