ANKARA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ambassador in Ankara Ahmet Zeki Bulunc has said that Turkish side would not be the party that destroyed Cyprus negotiations.
Labor Party (IP) Ankara Office Chairman Nusret Senem and an accompanying delegation visited Bulunc on Tuesday to present files including nearly forty-one thousand signatures they collected in last six days in Ankara as a support to TRNC President Rauf Denktas.
Speaking at the meeting, Bulunc thanked Senem for their support to the national Cyprus case, stressing that continuation of the Turkish existence in Cyprus and protection of Turkish Cypriots' basic rights would be possible only by Turkey's support.
Noting that TRNC President Rauf Denktas had been expending efforts to reach a compromise based on realities in Cyprus, Bulunc said, ''we have been maintaining a joint policy with the Republic of Turkey. President Denktas follows the developments under this policy.''
Stressing that Cyprus talks had started upon the initiative of the Turkish side, Bulunc said that Turkish side would fulfil its responsibilities in negotiations that would start on February 19 by protecting its good will.
''Compromise is impossible with only one side's will,'' Bulunc said and added that Turkish side had made an important proposal during talks in New York, stressing that the European Union (EU) and the United States should develop new policies regarding the Greek Cypriot side.
Noting that the Greek Cypriot side should accept and digest ''an equal Turkish community'', Bulunc said that the EU should take the Turkish side's good will into consideration against its policy of ''accepting the Greek Cypriot side's membership even if there would not be a compromise''.
''Turkish side will not be the party that destroys the Cyprus negotiations. Third countries have important responsibilities in these talks,'' he added.
Meanwhile, IP Ankara Office Chairman Senem said that Turkish people had always stood by their kinsmen in Cyprus, adding, ''we want Mr. Denktas to know that we support him.''
(MS-AÖ) 17.02.2004