KAYSERI - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said, ''the sides will start discussing very important issues under Cyprus negotiations as of Tuesday.''
Gul attended the 10th Local Media Training Seminar organized jointly by the Directorate General of Press and Information and the Kayseri Governor's Office on Saturday.
Replying to questions of journalists, Gul said, ''the sides will start discussing very important issues under Cyprus negotiations as of Tuesday. We hope that both sides would exert efforts sincerely to reach an agreement. Otherwise, Turkey and Greece will participate in the negotiation process to reach a compromise. If they fail, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan will take action. However, Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples will make the final decision. Then, parliaments will make a decision.''
Noting that both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus had pursued a conciliatory policy from the very beginning, Gul said, ''problems should be overcome to provide a peaceful atmosphere in the island. I mean to say that when a united Cyprus is declared, the two communities in the island should be brought together with least problems.''
''The period of bloodshed ended in the island. Now, all problems should be resolved peacefully. Meanwhile, some reasons can prevent the sides from reaching an agreement. For instance, both sides or one of them could reject the agreement in referendum. In that case, we will assess what could be done,'' he added.
(UK-MS) 21.02.2004