ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said on Friday about ongoing Cyprus talks in New York, the United States, ''the European Union (EU) cannot become a side of the Cyprus issue. Its inclusion in Cyprus negotiations is unacceptable.''
Gul told reporters, ''the EU cannot become a side of the Cyprus issue. Therefore, its inclusion in Cyprus negotiations is unacceptable.''
Gul told reporters, ''as you know, the talks have been continuing in New York. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan will make a proposal to the sides today. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has displayed good-will and a clear and honest attitude. I suppose that the whole world has seen it.''
Stressing that the issues concerning with the EU should not be misunderstood, Gul said that technical works had been continuing to this end.
Recalling that European Commission President Romano Prodi had asked some questions to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to Turkey, Gul said, ''the EU cannot become a side of the Cyprus issue. Its inclusion in Cyprus negotiations is unacceptable. If the EU is included in the negotiation process, other institutions' participation in the process will be brought onto agenda. And such a situation will lead to a another deadlock. We are quite sure that United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan will take all these into consideration. I want to stress that we do not have any attitude against the EU. Consultations between Turkey and the EU have already been continuing on many issues. However, these consultations are totally different. They contradict with parameters put forward by United Nations Secretary General Annan.''
Gul expressed his hope that the talks would continue without any deadlock and negotiation process would be resumed in Cyprus soon.
When he was reminded that the EU Commission earlier announced that it did not want to be involved in the process, Gul told reporters, ''the EU Commission made such a statement since it is aware of all these developments. United Nations Secretary General Annan has also held consultations with the EU Commission. Therefore, the EU Commission knows that its inclusion in the process would not be right.''
When asked whether or not talks in New York had risen his hopes to find a solution to the Cyprus issue before May 1, 2004, Gul said, ''of course. We have been telling from the very beginning that both sides should be patient and display their good.''

TURKISH SIDE NEGATIVE TOWARDS EU'S DIRECT INCLUSION TO CYPRUS ISSUE
Turkish side is not positive towards the suggestion of Greek Cypriot side and Greece asking for the European Union's (EU) inclusion to solution process of Cyprus issue.
Diplomatic sources noted that Cyprus process had been carried on within the scope of the United Nations for 40 years and thought that inclusion of EU to solution process would be a radical step that would change parameters of 40 years.
Recalling that Turkey was on the eve of starting negotiations with EU, sources said that Turkey was not an enemy or opponent of EU.
Noting that the United States either did not take part in the process as a side and it only provided contribution, sources said that contacts on technical level have already been continuing with EU and EU could make contribution to the process within that scope.
Sources said that even EU was not ready to accept the suggestion of Greek Cypriot side and Greece.
Sources said that the suggestions of Turkish side were considered constructive, reasonable and feasible, adding that the suggestion of Turkish side was expected to take place in the joint statement that would be presented to the sides by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

TRNC SIDE RECEIVES ANNAN'S STATEMENT
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) side has received the statement of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan which he wrote to overcome the deadlock in ongoing Cyprus talks in New York, the United States.
President Rauf Denktas and his aides have begun evaluating the statement.
Sources said that Turkey might consider the statement positive.
Diplomatic sources speaking on condition of anonymity said that inclusion of the European Union (EU), which was proposed earlier by Greece, was not taken place in the statement.
The statement was also conveyed to the Greek Cypriot side.
The sides will give their response to United Nations Secretary General Annan within two hours.
Meanwhile, TRNC delegation will be ready at the United Nations Headquarters at 17.00 Turkish local time while Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal will hold a press conference at the Turkish House.
United Nations Secretary General Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto will also hold a press conference at 17.30 Turkish local time.
De Soto is expected to brief journalists on the latest developments in the Cyprus talks.
(AA) 13.02.2004