ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said that they expected the European Union (EU) to make positive contributions to the negotiation process in Cyprus.
Gul met on Thursday with Foreign Minister Brian Cowen of current EU Term President Ireland.
Diplomatic sources quoted Gul as telling Cowen at the meeting that they expected the EU to make positive contributions to the negotiation process in Cyprus.
During the meeting, Gul informed Cowen on recent developments on the Cyprus issue.
Meanwhile, Cowen said that if the positive atmosphere in Cyprus continued, the EU General Affairs Council would give place an expression in the statement of its meeting to be held next month to express its appreciation over efforts of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue.
Cowen said that they would make all kinds of contributions to comply a possible agreement to be reached in Cyprus with the EU law.
Meanwhile, Cowen informed Gul on the EU Troika's visit to Southern Asia.
Gul met with Cowen, who stopped by Ankara for fuel supply as he was returning from his visit to Afghanistan and Pakistan, at Ankara's Esenboga Airport.
Ben Bot, the foreign minister of the Netherlands, the next EU Term President, and EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten were also expected to stop by. However, Bot and Patten returned to their countries from Islamabad due to their intense program.
(UK) 19.02.2004