Gul: Turkey And Greece Will Make Necessary Contribution To Cyprus Talks

ANKARA - Turkey-European Union (EU) Troika meeting held in Ankara ended on Monday.
The meeting lasted more than four hours.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, EU Term President Ireland's Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, next EU Term President the Netherlands' Foreign Minister Ben Bot and EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen attended the meeting.
EU Council Secretary General and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana also participated in the meeting.
Initiatives to be exerted in coming days as a part of Turkey's EU accession process was taken up in the meeting.
Regional and international issues concerning both Turkey and EU were also discussed in the meeting.
Following the meeting, Gul and the other participants held a joint press conference.
Gul said that political consultations between Turkey and EU were often being held since Helsinki Summit.
Turkey-EU relations were reviewed and progress recorded in relations was examined in those meetings, Gul stated.
Gul noted that he and EU officials had the opportunity to review in detail whether or not political criteria required to start Turkey's full membership negotiations at the end of 2004 had been met and put into practice by Turkey.
Stating that he had informed EU representatives about developments in Cyprus, Gul said that he and EU representatives took up not only Turkey's EU process, but also some regional and international issues in their meeting.
Gul pointed out that he and other participants discussed Iran, Afghanistan, Middle East process and Southeast Caucasus in their meeting.
Political consultations would continue in coming days, Gul stated.
Replying to a question about possible effects of results of parliamentary elections in Greece on Cyprus process, Gul said that Greek people made their decision and added that he hoped that the new government would be formed in Greece as soon as possible.
Gul stated that two important leaders in Greece approached positively to Cyprus process and did not make Cyprus process a tool for elections.
''If two sides can't solve the issue till the deadline and if we have to exert efforts for a solution, Turkey and Greece will join the talks in the highest level and make the necessary contribution to the process,'' Gul added.
IRISH FM COWEN CONFIRMS RESOLUTION ON TURKEY TAKEN AT 2002 COPENHAGEN SUMMIT
Cowen said that the meeting was fruitful and they took up Turkey-EU relations as well as many issues like Iraq, Afghanistan, Middle East, Iran and Caucasus.
Drawing attention to importance of the Troika meeting which took place before EU summit to be held in December, Cowen said that as EU, they had confirmed the resolution taken at the 2002 Copenhagen Summit saying that ''EU had committed to open entry talks with Turkey without any delay when Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen criteria.''
Cowen stated that the most important factor for starting full membership negotiations with Turkey was the progress in reform process.
Noting that EU had welcomed developments recorded so far, Cowen said that implementation of reforms in every field was of vital importance.
Cowen pointed out that EU supported role of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan in Cyprus issue and called on sides to continue efforts to contribute to a solution on basis of Annan plan on the ongoing negotiation process.
Stressing importance of accession of a united Cyprus to EU, Cowen expressed his view that Annan plan was the only way of accession of a united Cyprus to EU, which would be to the interest of two sides in Cyprus, EU and Turkey.
Cowen said that they had assured Gul that EU was ready for adjusting an agreement to be reached in Cyprus with EU principles, adding that they were also ready to be in contact with Kofi Annan to serve that aim.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, EU Term President Ireland's Foreign Minister Brian Cowen, next EU Term President the Netherlands' Foreign Minister Ben Bot and EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen attended the Turkey-EU Troika meeting.
EU Council Secretary General and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana also participated in the meeting.
GUL: POWELL PHONED ME AND TOLD ME THAT UNITED STATES WAS AWARE OF THE ISSUES TO WHICH TURKEY ATTACHED IMPORTANCE ABOUT IRAQ
Gul said that it was a difficult issue and many studies were done due to that reason. Noting that Turkey had also views about the issue, Gul said that he had earlier wrote to Powell about those views of Turkey. Gul remarked that Powell called him on the phone just before the news conference and gave him information about the interim constitution signed the same day.
''We hope that Iraq can protect its stability, and lasting peace and democracy can be installed in Iraq within its territorial and political unity,'' said Gul. Gul stated that Turkey would continue to do its utmost to this end, adding that ''when we deem necessary, we will continue to make suggestions in the most effective way.''
Gul stated that a representative from the U.S. administration in Iraq would come to Ankara soon and give detailed information about the constitution, adding that Powell told him that the United States was aware of the issues to which Turkey attached importance and his country would continue to give importance to those issues.
Meanwhile, diplomatic sources said that Gul sent a letter to Powell about the interim constitution in Iraq last night, and Powell called Gul today during the EU Troika meeting and said that he read and examined the letter carefully. Noting that he would send one representative of the U.S. administration in Iraq to Ankara soon, Powell told Gul that he examined the interim constitution, there was no need to worry at this stage as it was an interim document. Noting that there was time to prepare the real constitution, Powell said the United States would attach importance to views of Iraq's neighbours at that preparatory stage and would be in close cooperation with them.
GUL: WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT TO CHANGE AN AGREEMENT TO BE REACHED IN CYPRUS A FEW YEARS LATER
Gul said, ''what is important is an agreement to be reached in Cyprus. We hope an agreement will be reached before May 1. And, this agreement should no way be changed in the future. We want an assurance for this. How can this be done? This is a legal issue. Experts are working on it. I am sure they will find a method. What is important is not to change this agreement a few years later, and to close the ways of changing that agreement.''
When he was recalled about the uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot side in ongoing Cyprus talks, Gul said that everybody did his best for the solution of the issue and everybody preferred a solution that two sides would reach in the island by compromise.
Drawing attention to importance of Greek Cypriots' taking the issue seriously and taking steps for a solution, Gul said, ''everybody should be serious.''
Recalling that a process in which more important issues would be taken up in Cyprus talks would start this week, Gul noted that the EU and the United Nations (U.N.) encouraged both sides to record progress in talks.
VERHEUGEN: EU TAKES SERIOUSLY WISHES OF TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE ABOUT DEROGATIONS
Verheugen said that the EU took seriously the wishes of the Turkish Cypriot side about derogations.
When reminded that the Turkish side was insistent on making derogations in an agreement to be reached in Cyprus, which would give privileges for Turkish Cypriots, be a part of EU primary law, Verheugen said that they were aware of that demand of the Turkish side and they took it seriously.
Verheugen stated that the EU was evaluating the political and legal results of a solution in Cyprus and they would take up this issue at the level of experts. Verheugen stated that the only thing he could confirm at that stage was to make the provisions of a possible agreement in Cyprus harmonious with the EU laws as they promised.
When asked if it was possible to pass the derogations from the EU countries' parliaments, Verheugen said that there were different ways of harmonization due to the character of the issue.
Stressing that a solution in Cyprus could not be against the principles on which the EU was founded, Verheugen listed those principles as democracy, rule of law, respect to human rights and protection of minorities.
Verheugen said that the first choice within the scope of harmonization methods was making conditional arrangements for a certain time period, the second one was forming flexible condition arrangements and lastly permanent derogations could be put forward. Verheugen said that permanent derogations could be put forward only in very exceptional cases and in that case the derogations should be legally unchallengeable.

(Öª-AÖ) 08.03.2004