ANKARA - Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas did not inform him about his decision not to go to Switzerland to attend the four-party conference, and he learned it on television.
Prior to the 10th term meeting of the Turkish-German Co-operation Council at the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Gul told reporters on Thursday, ''I watched President Denktas as he was saying that he would not go to Switzerland to attend the four-party conference on television. President Denktas and I held talks a day before. However, he did not tell me anything about his plan. The Turkish delegation in Cyprus also did not have any information. We will hold further talks in the coming days. These are the matters to be carried out by holding consultations. We all should exert great efforts to protect rights of Turkish Cypriot people by taking into consideration their future.''
''Such rhetoric of heroism do not lead anyone to any consequence in such issues. I told the same thing to those delivering speeches in open spaces. The Cyprus issue should be taken up seriously and in long-term. The current stage entails us to do so,'' he said.
Stressing that they would do everything in their power, Gul added, ''in order to protect the future of Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey's interests in the best way, we should exert great efforts and hold perpetual consultations.''
(UK-AÖ) 18.03.2004