ANKARA - The Greek Cypriot side should also respond to the good will shown by Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey on Cyprus issue, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on private TGRT tv channel late on Monday.
Stating that Turkey and Greece had good relations, Erdogan said that if the sides were to attain the desired result in talks to solve Cyprus issue, relations between Turkey and Greece would reach the highest level.
Erdogan said that they considered that the process on Cyprus issue on the island was ''one of the stations'' and stated, ''we hoped that we could have a result here. But desired result did not come out. But it at least gives a direction to the second phase, it is a light.''
Recalling that the second phase of Cyprus negotiations which would be made in Switzerland would end with a meeting in which he would participate, Erdogan said, ''we hope that we will reach the desired result there. But those results cannot be reached by feelings. This issue has a past. We should carry this past to the future in the best way.''
Erdogan said that Greek Cypriot side should respond to the good will that Turkey and TRNC showed on Cyprus issue and noted, ''if Greek Cypriot side does not show this response, it will be difficult to reach a result. First of all, the primary law issue should be solved, otherwise we cannot reach a result. We look at the whole of a picture. We are going to Switzerland with this understanding. This is the frame, it is impossible for us to go out from this frame. We hope that there will be a solution that will be accepted by both sides.''
When asked whether or not a result would come out from the quartet conference, Erdogan said, ''we do not use the expression (that Denktas is an obstacle in front of the solution.) Denktas has to be at the negotiation table on this issue. We started negotiations together with Denktas and we should finish them with him. It is not important whether or not it will finish in a positive way. When I said that I did not lose my hope, I maintain my expectation. I will maintain it till I go.''
(EÖ-AÖ) 23.03.2004