ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late on Saturday that Turkey favored continuation of Cyprus negotiations with participation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas.
Erdogan, who appeared on a television, said that Turkey also wanted to conclude Cyprus negotiations together with Denktas.
Stating that he would try to meet with Denktas, Erdogan said that he would speak to Denktas by phone if he was not able to meet him.
Erdogan said, ''there is not any disagreement between Turkey and TRNC administration over sine qua non conditions related with Cyprus issue. Because, we have taken every step after negotiating it with TRNC. We will naturally continue to take our further steps this way. That is, we will definitely insist on sine qua non conditions and we will never make concessions of these conditions.''
When asked about the reason why Denktas decided not to join the quartet conference to take place among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece in Switzerland as a part of ongoing Cyprus negotiations, Erdogan said, ''Denktas thinks that Greek Cypriot side is not good-willed and this side is in an effort to make use of its advantage of becoming an EU member on May 1 against TRNC. Of course, this view should be taken into consideration. But, it is not possible to solve this issue by withdrawing from negotiations.''
Erdogan said, ''if we can't see any good will when we reach the stage we may call the final stage, then as Turkey and TRNC, we will take our decision and our step during the quartet conference. That is, such issues have never bound us and can never do so. Because, we have showed our good will from the outset and will continue to do so. But if the other side don't act with good will despite all our good will, we will naturally take our decision in line with our sine qua non conditions.''
Asked about the possibility of participation of Denktas in the four-party conference, Erdogan said that Denktas was very experienced and added, ''we want to continue and complete the process together with Denktas.''
Erdogan said that he would again take up Denktas' decision not to go to Switzerland for the quartet conference and then, Turkish side would take the necessary steps.
He did not want to lose his hope about the four-party conference to take place in Switzerland, Erdogan said.
Erdogan noted that he got the impression that Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis was good-willed.
Asked if there was a crisis of confidence between himself and Denktas, Erdogan said that Denktas was elder than himself and was very experienced in politics.
Erdogan noted, ''we never want Denktas to be excluded from the ongoing negotiations. We don't want him to exclude himself either. He should continue his path. We will sit and take a decision together in the final stage of negotiations. We should decide together whether the decision is positive or negative.''
He thought that Denktas might come to Switzerland, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said that he thought of going to Switzerland on March 29 since local elections would be held in Turkey on March 28.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and bureaucrats would represent Turkey in the quartet conference to begin in Switzerland on March 23, Erdogan added.
ERDOGAN: ''WE WILL CONTINUE QUARTET CONFERENCE IN SWITZERLAND WITH SAME DETERMINATION TILL THE VERY END''
Stating that he would speak to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas by phone on Sunday, Erdogan said, ''I am still hopeful since we launched this process with Denktas. We are willing to continue and conclude the process together with Denktas.''
Replying to a question on quartet conference on Cyprus issue and the summit which was held in Turkish capital Ankara on Saturday, Erdogan said that Saturday's meeting focused on Cyprus issue and added that there was not any change in red lines and sine qua non conditions concerning Cyprus issue.
When the reporter said, ''then why does Denktas oppose? He said that he could not take full assurance from Turkish government. Is there any problem on the issue of guarantee,'' Erdogan said, ''this is the first time I hear about such an expression.''
When the reporter said that Denktas who interviewed with a newspaper said that Turkish government did not give full guarantee of Cyprus issue and they had to draw their definite red lines, Erdogan said that he thought that Denktas did not make such a statement.
Erdogan said that he would spoke to Denktas at the first opportunity today.
When asked whether or not it was possible for him to first go to Cyprus and then proceed to Switzerland with Denktas, Erdogan said that he should firstly spoke to Denktas.
''I cannot force him to go to Switzerland if he does not want to do so. This issue is very important. So, we will be in effort to conclude this issue together. We share similar views on sine qua non conditions and red lines, '' he added.
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side started Cyprus negotiations on February 19 to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of Annan plan.
If sides fail to reach a solution till March 22, a quartet conference will take place among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece.
U.N. Secretary General Annan will fill in the blanks left in the plan if participants can't reach any compromise in quartet meetings, and the text to be formed at the end of all these initiatives will be voted in referenda to be held synchronously in the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides on April 20.
TRNC President Denktas announced on Wednesday that he would not go to Switzerland to join the four-party conference which would be held as a part of ongoing Cyprus negotiations.
(EÖ-BRC) 21.03.2004