ANKARA - Turkish government was responsible for launching the necessary process in order to make United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan`s final plan official, the National Security Council (NSC) stressed on Monday.
A statement released at the end of the NSC meeting pointed out that ``it was Turkish government who was responsible for and decide on launching the necessary process in order to make Annan plan official.``
The statement noted that ``participants stressed that in case the process began, Turkey should be careful when exerting efforts in order not to have any problems in Turkish presence in the island, Turkey`s status as guarantor state, and the principle of bi-zonality.``
Stressing the need to continue monitoring developments in implementation of guarantees given to Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the statement said, ``the NSC evaluated in detail the text which was released at the end of the Cyprus negotiations held in Buergenstock, Switzerland in the light of issues taken up in the NSC statement issued on January 23, 2004.``
The statement went on saying, ``when the whole Annan plan which was shaped up in Switzerland is examined, we have seen that it hasn`t met all our demands although it has some positive points. And, we have seen that problems may be faced in implementation of the plan. Therefore, the concerned governments should carefully study all elements of the plan in regard to Turkey`s and TRNC`s national interests since this issue has sensitivity for both Turkey and TRNC.``
``Therefore, we stress importance of making a possible solution on the island the primary law of the European Union (EU). We also emphasize that we should monitor de facto implementation of guarantees given to Turkey and TRNC in the negotiation process. We point out that it is the government who is responsible for launching the necessary process to make Annan plan official. We also stress that in case the process begins, we should be careful when exerting efforts in order not to have any problems in Turkish presence in the island, Turkey`s status as guarantor state, and the principle of bi-zonality.``
The NSC which met on January 23 also focused on Cyprus issue. The NSC summit released at the end of the meeting said that Turkey continued to support the good-will mission of U.N. Secretary General Annan and reiterated Turkey`s political determination to reach a solution in the island through negotiations, taking facts in the island and Annan plan as reference.
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side started Cyprus negotiations in the island on February 19 in order to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of Annan plan.
Delegations from TRNC and Greek Cypriot side held meetings in Buergenstock, Switzerland from March 24 to 31 with participation of delegations from guarantor powers Turkey and Greece. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis also joined the meetings between March 29 and 31.
U.N. Secretary General Annan presented his final plan to the parties on March 31.
This plan will be voted in simultaneous referenda in the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides on April 24.
(BRC) 05.04.2004