ANKARA - People who opposed Annan plan should make experts examine the plan without considering internal politics, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul told reporters on Thursday.
Replying to a question on referendums which would be held in Cyprus on April 24, Gul said that people could not reach anywhere with rhetoric of heroism claiming the final Annan plan was worse than Sevres Treaty. He noted that people who made those statements did not read either Sevres Treaty or current documents.
Gul said, ''everyone has to make a serious analysis with great responsibility'' and noted that everyone could reach and read the final Annan plan and the part which should be read was the main agreement. He stressed that supplements of Annan plan included technical issues.
''Everyone should make assessment with great responsibility and decide accordingly. (Greek Cypriot leader Tassos) Papadopoulos also said almost same things with whatever I said in the parliament. He said that sovereignty will not be given to Turkish Cypriot side, but Greek Cypriot side will also give up its sovereignty. Thus, I call everybody to make experts examine the final Annan plan without considering internal politics and rhetoric of heroism. If they say that they will reach better points than what is foreseen in the plan in the future, they should say 'no'. If they think that they will not be able to catch this opportunity in the future, they should say 'yes' to it,'' he said.
Gul stated that they thought that acting with the final Annan plan would be to the benefit of Turkish Cypriots.
Gul reiterated that they would respect results of referendum.
(EÖ-AÖ) 08.04.2004