Erdogan: Turkey And T.R.N.C. Have Put Forward Their Good-will

BOSTON - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, ''Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have put forward their good-will about finding a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue.''
Responding questions of journalists at Boston's Charles Hotel prior to his departure from the United States, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we can display a positive approach on the issue of territory in our efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. We could cede a certain amount of territory in order to draw a straight line.''
''These are regarded with the negotiation process. As I said earlier, the most important thing is to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. Good-will is necessary to find a solution. However, unilateral good-will cannot resolve anything. Both sides should display their good-will. Turkey and the TRNC have put forward their good-will about finding a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue. If the Greek Cypriot side assumes a similar attitude, the TRNC will be one step ahead of it. As one of guarantor states, we are determined to resolve the Cyprus issue,'' he said.
When asked whether or not it was the decision of the government to cede a certain amount of territory for a solution, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''all these issues will be taken up in detail during the negotiation process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the General Staff and all TRNC officials discussed these issues in detail. Meanwhile, I want to stress that the sides in Cyprus should not waste time any longer.''
Referring to fight against the terrorist organization of PKK in northern Iraq, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we could not yield results of the Re-association Law yet. We targeted to resolve the issue with the Re-association Law. However, our positive step has not received the same positive reaction. Now, we will join the efforts of forming a joint platform to fight against international terrorism. The terrorist organization of PKK, which claimed nearly 40 thousand people in Turkey, has taken shelter in northern Iraq. The United States has included the Kongragel, the continuation of PKK, in its list of terrorist organization. It is a very pleasing development.''
(UK) 01.02.2004