ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Tuesday that those experienced in Kosovo in recent days strengthened Turkey's several concerns regarding Cyprus question. Gul said he hoped U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan would consider those developments.
Gul replied to questions of reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure for Switzerland to join four-party talks on Cyprus.
Stating that they did not aim at a solution whatever the cost would be, Gul said he hoped Turkish and Greek Cypriots would be provided a plan which they could accept.
Gul said, ''those experienced in Kosovo strengthened Turkey's several concerns. I hope U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan will take those into consideration and in the end Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples will be presented a plan which they can accept. Turkish side will do its best for this. A solution can be reached in case the other side has the same understanding. However, we definitely do not aim at a solution whatever the cost will be.''
Foreign Minister Gul said he hoped Turkey and Greece would intervene as two motherland countries and provide formation of a permanent united Cyprus state protecting interests of both sides.
Gul said for many times they stated that there were issues which they attributed importance and that those were known by everybody, and noted that, ''we hope everybody exerting efforts to reach this agreement will take into consideration those issues.''
Pointing out that reaching a lasting peace on the island would definitely bring peace and tranquility to the region, Gul stressed that Turkey always favored peace and solution on condition that it is permanent.
Replying to questions of reporters about turning the agreement into EU primary law, Gul said the EU summit scheduled to take place between March 25-26 will constitute an opportunity for solution of this problem.
Gul underlined that all the efforts were exerted to reach a permanent agreement on the island, stating that it was the duty of everybody to preserve the agreement that may be reached.
''If the agreement we reach will be amended, then why will we exert efforts for this? We have given necessary messages and made statements for this,'' Gul pointed out.
Gul said views of the Turkish side about basic conditions did not change, noting that those conditions that have been voiced so far were the elements considered as necessary for a permanent peace.
Replying to a question if participation of TRNC President Rauf Denktas to four-way talks was in question in the coming days, Gul said, ''as far as I know, Mr. Denktas does not want to join the talks in Switzerland.''
(AY-AÖ) 23.03.2004