ERDOGAN MEETS WITH JOURNALISTS: ''WE WANT CYPRUS ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE MAY 1''
ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that the government wanted Cyprus issue to be sorted out before May 1.
Erdogan held a breakfast meeting with reporters at the State Guest House in Ankara the same day.
''We can only be kinfolks with TRNC President Rauf Denktas. We work together on Cyprus issue,'' said Erdogan.
Erdogan said that he needed such a meeting with reporters due to developments in Cyprus, adding that after the end of the first preliminary talks on Cyprus issue, which continued for two days, the next period in negotiations until March 22 had great importance both for Turkish Cypriot side and also for Greek Cypriot side. ''We wish these negotiations to be resulted and finished in a desired way in that period. If this is not the case, the new process in which Annan will invite Turkey and Greece will start and continue until March 29. If no desired result was taken from that process, the remaining part will be finished by Mr. Annan and the plan will be made ready for referendum,'' Erdogan said.
Prime Minister Erdogan stated that very different interpretations could be made on this issue and that this was natural, adding that ''we believe in the necessity of information process about the things that need to be done by Turkey, as the guarantor country with its government, opposition, non governmental organizations, and media and we will talk to reporters in that regard.''
''Sometimes it is shown by the press as if we are opponents with Mr. Denktas. This is not true, we can only be kinfolks. We work together with Denktas from the beginning,'' Erdogan said.
Prime Minister Erdogan stated that they wanted the Cyprus issue to be resolved before May 1, adding ''as you know the first step of the negotiations which we expected to start on the island was taken in the meeting which we made with Mr. Annan in Davos. But before the meeting with Annan, we held a summit in Turkey and we determined a road map for us. We told both Mr. Annan and Mr. Bush that we thought of taking a step within our road map and by taking Annan plan as the reference and we believed negotiations should start and that the Turkish side would not withdraw from the negotiation table. We even told them that TRNC would be one step ahead of the Greek Cypriot side. We, as Turkey, still believe in that and we want this issue to be resolved before May 1.''
''What will TRNC gain here? What do the high interests of Turkey necessitate? We must focus on that. First of all, TRNC is a state which is only recognized by Turkey. But the Southern Cyprus does not have such a problem as it is recognized internationally. Even if we want it or not, Southern Cyprus will become a full member of EU in May 1. If an agreement is reached before May 1, northern Cyprus will have the chance to access to the EU as a united Cyprus Republic by integrating with southern Cyprus, meaning it will also be a state in the international society. Today, Southern Cyprus is accepted as a state in the international society. Therefore, Northern Cyprus, as a state will share that state structure.''
Erdogan said, ''I cannot personally imagine the value of being recognized as a state. You cannot have that value easily. You catch such a value. From now on, international community can make investment in north of Cyprus (TRNC). International events will be held in TRNC. Turkey has recognized it. But, we cannot put it into practice in every field. Let me give an example. We cannot hold a match in TRNC and vice versa. But, you have to hold the matches in south of Cyprus. Otherwise, you isolate yourself from the world. We cannot and should not disregard those things. When all those things are done, we cannot assume an attitude saying 'everything will be mine'. We should resolve this issue according to a ''win-and-win'' understanding.''
Erdogan said, ''we should not be the side leaving the negotiation table on this issue. If a side is to leave the table, this side should be the Greek Cypriot side.''
''We should reach success on this issue together. We, as Turkish side and Mr. Denktas, should not create an impression as if we are escaping from negotiations or leaving negotiation table in world public opinion. We also have good-willed approach to good will mission in the Annan plan. Undoubtedly, it has some parts which can be discussed and parts which can be changed. We aim at bi-zonality to be strengthened. We aim at our guaranty rights to be improved and also aim at the map to have smoother border line, not a border line with zigzags. Those issues are main goals. If success is reached in these issues, a very important step will be taken for next generations in Cyprus.''
ERDOGAN: ''FORMATION OF UNITED CYPRUS REPUBLIC IS IDEAL SCENARIO FOR US''
Erdogan, who replied to questions of reporters after breakfast meeting with journalists, said, ''I am again particularly saying that use of Turkish language in EU meetings is a very very important step.''
Speaking about the statements made to public in negotiation process, Erdogan said, ''the sides can agree and make a joint statement, this is something different. However, I think it is not right to make serious and detailed statements about the contents.''
When asked what was the worst scenario for Cyprus and about preparations of Turkey for this, Erdogan said, ''first of all, formation of a United Cyprus Republic is the ideal scenario for us. You become a state. It is a republic which is totally isolated from the world and deprived of many rights with the embargoes that were imposed. This has a cost for Northern Cyprus in humanitarian sense and as a state. It also has a cost for Turkey. It will be Northern Cyprus which will totally get rid of this and which will take a very big step.''
Erdogan said, ''I am again saying that use of Turkish language in EU meetings is a very important step. The flag and the national anthem can already be accepted. If the bizonality and guarantor rights are strengthened there, and if the map is smoothened, the result that will be obtained there will be for the benefit of TRNC. Of course, there are discussions on migration and properties. The sides should deal with these in detail. Of course, it may be a period when difficulties are experienced. I think the future will be very good.''
Erdogan said, ''when you say what could be the worst thing, I can say that the worst thing would be failure in those what we have told. I mean failure in strengthening of bizonality and guarantor rights. Map's formation in another sense. Of course, failure in overcoming those will create problems. We have reservations there. We have conveyed them to Mr. Annan and Mr. Bush.''
When asked what would be the position of Turkish Cypriots if the Greek Cypriot side opposed to Annan plan in the referendum, Erdogan said that ''accession of Greek Cypriot to EU on May 1 is not related to that. When we asked the same question to them: What will happen to the 40-year embargo, they told us that 'there is no other way than solution'. This is what has to be. Turkey will show its rightfulness once again and the Turkish side will prove itself. We acted by taking Annan plan as the reference. In addition to that, we've accepted the good offices of U.N. Secretary General and acted in that way. We continued our studies with concerned persons in the United States and the EU. We will continue our studies in the same way.''
''You requested us not to write about the content of the negotiations in Cyprus. Do you propose us not to cover the statements of Mr. Denktas in his news conferences?'' asked journalists to Erdogan who said that ''certainly, I don't have the right to say that. I sincerely tell you that we expect the same sensitivity about this issue from both sides in Cyprus. We expect this from Mr. Denktas, Mr. Talat, Mr. Serdar Denktas and from the Greek Cypriot side in the same way. Similar statements are also issued in the Greek Cypriot side. But please see that, neither Turkey nor Greece is involved in such a thing. In my opinion, the sides' issuing such serious statements regarding the content of the negotiations to the press at the moment is wrong.''
ERDOGAN: TURKEY DETERMINED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN CYPRUS ISSUE
Erdogan said that the Cyprus issue was a de facto issue, it didn't have any relation with Turkey's accession to the EU and that the EU was not involved in the negotiation process in Cyprus.
Prime Minister Erdogan said that the negotiation process and issue of EU membership were confused with each other, adding that ''if Cyprus issue is resolved, the EU can facilitate and encourage starting of this process. Mr. Prodi and Verheugen told this many times. But even if it is resolved or not, we should show our good will, make our studies and prepare our road map about Cyprus issue.''
Erdogan said that Turkey's expressing its views about detailed issues without discussion of the basic issues could negatively affect the negotiation process and weaken its power... ''If we are willing to get a result, we should evaluate the whole picture and our acquisitions. If we get into details much, we also urge the other side to do the same thing. If both sides start to assess their profits-losses too much, we can't get any result.''
When a journalist told Erdogan that members of the terrorist organization PKK frequently held demonstrations in the Greek Cypriot side and that the Greek Cypriot side became the shelter of this organization, Prime Minister said that ''if we have set up a joint platform both with the EU and the United States in September 11 process to fight against terrorism, we should also put forward a joint attitude to warn countries that shelter terrorism. If I receive damage from terrorism today, it will obviously hit somebody else tomorrow. Terrorism does not have a time, address and interlocutor.''
Erdogan said, ''Southern Cyprus should not make such a mistake. They may suffer from the same difficulty tomorrow. In fact, you know what kind of troubles the terrorist organization in Greece caused for Greece.''
Stating that fight against terrorist organization brought serious financial burden on Turkey and that around 40,000 people lost their lives because of terrorism.
When asked about his concrete expectation from the talks, Erdogan said, ''I can state it in one sentence. We expect them to solve the question without leaving any problem After March 22.''
Replying to a question about legal process, Erdogan said the plan should pass through the referendum and approved by the Parliament.
When a journalist asked whether or not he could make an estimation for solution in Cyprus, Erdogan said, ''this is policy. It will not be right to make any estimation. Many things may change in 24 hours. It is wrong to make estimations in politics. As the government, nation and TRNC, we have focused on the solution. We are resolved to succeed.''
Erdogan said, ''according to public surveys carried out in TRNC, most of the people want solution of this problem to a great extent. From now on, it is the duty of the TRNC administration to solve this question.''
(Öª-AY-AÖ) 25.02.2004