ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who also acts as leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), has said, ''the world public opinion appreciated Turkish side's diplomatic performance during the Cyprus talks in New York, the United States. I believe that this historic development will take its place in the golden pages of the history of Turkish diplomacy.''
Speaking at the parliamentary group meeting of the AK Party on Tuesday, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''preparatory works carried out by Turkey, President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the TRNC government have yielded their results at last. The sides have reached a ground of compromise during the Cyprus talks in New York. We all hope that the historic step taken in New York will constitute the beginning of a process of reaching a fair and lasting solution in the island. We believe that the current point will pave the way for a new and brilliant future both for Turkey and the TRNC.''
Prime Minister Erdogan noted, ''we are aware of that the negotiation process is about to begin, and there is an intense negotiation traffic ahead of all relevant sides. We will maintain our preparatory works for the negotiation process with the same sensitivity. As we said on numerous occasions, Cyprus is our national case, and we pay the utmost attention to the Cyprus issue.''
''The world public opinion appreciated Turkish side's diplomatic performance during the Cyprus talks in New York, the United States. All institutions of our state, President Denktas and the TRNC government, who acted in this process with determination and understanding, have a great role in this achievement,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan thanked President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President Rauf Denktas of TRNC, General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok, the TRNC government, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and the other members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prime Minister Erdogan also thanked Turkish media for its sensitivity about the Cyprus issue, and called on media organs to maintain their sensitivity.
Reminding that the sides had pledged to negotiate the Annan Plan till March 22, Prime Minister Erdogan said that the negotiations would start in Lefkosa on February 19.
Erdogan said that if there were any points which could not be understood by March 22, U.N. Secretary General Annan would bring sides and guarantor states; Turkey and Greece together in search for compromise.
''If there is any issue which could not be solved by March 29, U.N. Secretary General Annan will make a final document by using his own authority. The document will be put separately to referendum in both sides on April 21,'' Erdogan said.
Erdogan noted that this method which aimed at reaching an agreement by May 1 was a mechanism which was developed by Turkish side upon the demand of Annan.
Stating that Turkey and TRNC would continue to extend constructive support to Annan from now on, he said that a satisfactory solution for both sides in Cyprus should be the basic goal for settlement of a lasting peace on the island.
Erdogan said that Turkey expected international community to encourage Greek Cypriot-Greek side to be more constructive and support Turkish Cypriot side's constructive steps.
Stressing that Turkish Cypriot side reached a better point now than yesterday, Erdogan said that Turkish side implemented their strategy which aimed at being one step ahead of the other side at the negotiation table.
(UK-EÖ-AÖ) 17.02.2004