BRUSSELS - Many countries had sympathized with Turkey as compromise was reached in Cyprus negotiations in Buergenstock, Switzerland and thus, two sides in the island had paved the way for simultaneous referenda, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday.
Gul, who is in Belgian capital Brussels to attend the informal meeting of NATO defense ministers, held a press conference in which he said that participants from other countries had expressed support of their countries to Turkey for its attitude towards Cyprus issue.
Delegations from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece joined quartet Cyprus conference in Buergenstock, Switzerland between March 24 and 31 in order to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Greek counterpart Costas Caramanlis joined the four-party meetings as of Monday.
Negotiations ended on March 31 as Annan presented his final plan to the parties. This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides in the island on April 24.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul said that he thanked the United States and Britain, who helped the two sides in Cyprus negotiations.
''Everything possible has been included in the agreement. And, we don't see any threat,'' Gul stated.
Gul noted that legal guarantees had been provided.
Asked what would happen if the Greek Cypriot side said ''no'' to the plan in the referendum, Gul said, ''in this case, Turkish Cypriot side will have a very legitimate ground to protect its rights in the whole world.''
Gul stated that everybody would respect to the result of the simultaneous referenda to be held in the two sides in the island on April 24.
Everybody had seen that the Greek Cypriot side had concerns about possible results of the separate referenda in the island, Gul said.
Gul said, ''it is not easy to block Turkey's path.''
Pluses and minuses of Annan plan would be discussed, Gul pointed out.
Gul said, ''what I want is recognition of an independent Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), its being a U.N. member. But, we have seen that this can't be true. Everybody will consider whether it is good to continue the current status quo or say 'yes' to the plan.''
All the world had seen constructive approach and good will of the Turkish Cypriot side, Gul stressed.
Gul stated that he had got the signs that the European Union (EU) would exert effective efforts in the Greek Cypriot side.
He invited EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen to Switzerland, where four-party Cyprus negotiations were held, Gul said.
Gul noted that Verheugen did not join negotiations. Stating that Verheugen's presence in Switzerland was good, Gul said that some important changes could be made in Annan plan after discussing issues like recognition of Turkish as official language in the EU and economic assistance with him.
Expressing belief that Turkey was closer to EU full membership negotiations, Gul said that Turkey would show EU that necessary constitutional amendments were made and reforms were put into practice.
Gul added, ''when EU is a matter of course, there is not any problem like Cyprus. Turkey has solved this issue.''
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul, who went to Brussels on Thursday, held bilateral meetings with U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot and Luxembourgian Foreign Minister Lydie Polfer earlier on Friday.
Gul will proceed from Brussels to the Netherlands on Saturday.
(BRC) 02.04.2004