Gul: Everybody Should Behave Carefully About Cyprus Issue

ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Sunday that not only Turkish side but also everybody should behave carefully about Cyprus issue.
Prior to his departure for Poland, Gul told reporters that an important and critical meeting was about to start in New York.
Gul said that both Turkish and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) delegations were going to talks with good will.
''We are going to New York with good will in order to ensure lasting peace in the island taking Annan plan as reference and considering facts in the island. We believe that talks will resume within the scope of this good will and they will be concluded before May 1,'' Gul said.
Gul stated that everybody who were concerned about Cyprus issue should make every kind of contribution to a solution.
Underlining need for a compromise, Gul hoped that the other side had taken steps for a compromise as Turkish side had done.
Gul said, ''we hope a result will be reached this time and lasting peace will emerge in the island.''
Noting that TRNC delegation had left for New York on Sunday, Gul said that Turkish delegation would fly to the United States on Monday.
Gul added, ''there is no doubt that everybody should behave carefully about Cyprus issue. Nobody should expect moves from only the Turkish side. United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General, the Greek Cypriots, Greece and all the concerned sides should make every kind of contribution and extend every kind of assistance to reach an outcome this time.''
When he was reminded about news that the U.N. did not want TRNC President Rauf Denktas' adviser for constitution Mumtaz Soysal in TRNC delegation, Gul said that such things were not possible.
Gul said, ''delegations have advisers and are comprised of people who provide logistic support. Who will join talks and who won't is certain.''
Upon questions on news that Turkish and TRNC delegations would each bring letters to New York, Gul said that it was not possible to explain details about issues closely concerning Cyprus talks on the eve of such an important meeting to take place in New York.
Gul added, ''this is for the benefit of neither Turkey nor TRNC. But, we have seen that everything will occur in a transparent atmosphere. Of course, everything will be transparent, but diplomacy have some hidden sides. And, everybody should be careful about it. As interests of Turkey and TRNC are in question, everybody in this country should be careful about these issues.''
(BRC-AÖ) 09.02.2004