Gul: Cyprus Talks And Turkey's E.U. Membership Are Not Related To Each Other

KAYSERI - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said that Cyprus talks and Turkey's European Union (EU) membership were separate issues.
Asked whether the schedule that the EU would give to Turkey at the end of the year could be made earlier if Cyprus talks ended positively, Gul said, ''it depends on talks, I can't say anything. These two do not have any connection.''
Reminded of some EU spokesmen's ''criticisms against the jurisdiction regarding the DEP case, Gul said, ''everybody can say anything he or she wants in Turkey. However, the jurisdiction is independent.''
(MS-UK) 22.02.2004