ANKARA - Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed on Monday belief that positive relations between Turkey and Greece would continue after the elections held in Greece.
Erdogan told reporters that opposition party New Democracy seemed to win the elections in Greece with 6-7 points ahead of PASOK according to results they had received.
He had spoke to New Democracy leader Costas Caramanlis and PASOK leader George Papandreou last week before the election was held, Erdogan recalled.
Erdogan said, ''As Turkey, we had positive relations with not only the government, but also the opposition in Greece before the election. I don't think that our relations will be negatively affected by the result of the elections. I think that these positive relations will continue after the elections. As I have said before the elections, I am planning to visit Athens as soon as possible after March 28 local elections in Turkey.''
According to the schedule, a negotiation process would start in New York on March 22 which would be attended by guarantor states to solve Cyprus issue, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan expressed belief that the newly-formed government would get the vote of confidence till March 22.
''We want our government and the newly-formed Greek government to conclude Cyprus process with positive contributions and without causing any gap in negotiations. In case of failure in this process, (United Nations Secretary General Kofi) Annan will have to fill in the gaps as a requirement of the Cyprus talks schedule. We will see pros and cons and results of efforts of Annan. I hope that elections in Greece will make a positive contribution to this process,'' Erdogan added.
Parliament elections was held in Greece on Sunday.
(BRC-AÖ) 08.03.2004