Erdogan: We Are Ready To Fulfill Our Responsibilities

BUERGENSTOCK - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkish government was ready to fulfill the responsibilities envisaged by revised Cyprus plan in line with the cooperation and timetable foreseen by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Speaking at a news conference he held after Annan presented the sides the revised plan, Erdogan said Turkish government would make necessary evaluations and that the plan would be submitted to the Parliament in the foreseen stage.
Addressing Greek nation and Greek Cypriot people, Erdogan said, ''let's walk together on the road of peace that started here in Buergenstock and let's take the necessary steps together.''
ERDOGAN: ''WE ALWAYS FAVORED A PERMANENT AND FAIR PEACE''
Erdogan said that Turkey's approach to the Cyprus issue have always been on ''win-win'' approach, and noted that Turkey continued the initiative, which it started on Cyprus issue, during those negotiations.
Erdogan said ''in reality there is no losing party in the end,'' noting that they did not act basing on a mentality like ''give and take''.
Erdogan said, ''our approach is to remove the uneasiness based on years, and to start a new living process for those who live on the island under the name of United Cyprus Republic.''
Stating that negotiations in Buergenstock took place in a constructive atmosphere, Erdogan said the Turkish government wanted the revised plan to be signed by the two sides and also wanted Turkey and Greece to expend support to it, envisaged by Annan.
Erdogan said, ''however, in the end they gave up this idea basing on the understanding that it was not necessary.''
Stressing that the Turkish side has always supported a permanent and fair peace on Cyprus, Erdogan said, ''all our actions have been in accordance with this.''
Erdogan expressed pleasure that thesis of the Turkish side were defended successfully in each stage of the negotiation, and added that Turkey carried out its Cyprus policy by making necessary consultations with the related institutions of the state and by forming a collective step.
Stating that they have defended the existence case of the Turkish Cypriot people and thesis of Turkey effectively, Erdogan said there were two different nations and two different democracies on Cyprus and that a new partnership would be installed based on founder states of them.
Erdogan said they were also insistent on protection of Turkey's guarantorship and that they provided it.
Pointing out that the sides had different proposals to the U.N. within the framework of their priorities before Annan plan is revised, Erdogan said attached importance that issues which had earlier been agreed with all the institutions of the state were included in the plan.
Erdogan said the most important issues for Turkey were ensuring that the agreement would be primary law of the European Union, political equality for the Turkish Cypriot people, preserving bizonality, preserving the national unity of Turkish Cypriots, boosting prosperity in the Turkish Cypriot side, ensuring the presence of Turkish troops also after Turkey becomes a full member of the EU, protecting rights of Turkish origin people living on the island and strengthening of security and guarantees.
Stating that the concerned sides reached a common understanding presented by Annan for peace, Erdogan said this understanding was a requirement of constructive and positive atmosphere experienced in Turkish-Greek relations.
Erdogan said solution on Cyprus would help strengthening of friendship and cooperation between the peoples on Cyprus and Turkey and Greece. He said it would also strengthen peace and stability in Eastern Mediterranean.
Stressing that in face a new road map was drawn for Cyprus in Buergenstock, Erdogan said, ''now that we are ready to fulfill our responsibilities in line with the cooperation and timetable foreseen by Annan. Our government will make necessary evaluations and submit it to the Parliament in the foreseen stage.''
Erdogan said there were two different people and two different democracies on Cyprus, adding that Turkish and Greek Cypriot people would reveal their will about this plan in separate referendums, ''obviously, we will respect to the will which both Cypriot peoples would reveal in Cyprus through referendum.''
Addressing Greek nation and Greek Cypriot people, Erdogan said, ''let's walk together on the road of peace that started here in Buergenstock and let's take the necessary steps together.''
Erdogan thanked to Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis and Foreign Minister Petros Molivyatis for their efforts, noting that Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot delegations also exerted intense efforts to reach a solution.
Erdogan also thanked to Annan and his aides, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen and everybody who contributed for their efforts to reach a solution.
Erdogan said, ''I would like to address my people: 'they should not worry as they have a government which boldly defends what they want.''
When asked why he did not thank to President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Erdogan said Denktas has already been the landlord of the family and the house and that he has a special place in hearts.
(AY) 01.04.2004