TOKYO - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, ''I do not want to make any statement about Cyprus during my visit to Japan. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has been dealing with the issue.''
Holding a press conference at Tokyo's New Otani Hotel after his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister Erdogan said on Monday, ''earlier in the day, I met with Japanese Prince Tomohito Mikasa. Prince Mikasa is deeply interested in Turkey. Later, I met with Mitsubishi Firm President Kojima. During the meeting, we discussed issues such as tube-tunnel, bridge, foodstuff and ship construction.''
''I was received by Emperor Akihito Mikasa of Japan. During the meeting, I thanked Emperor Mikasa for his sincere interest in Turkey. I also met with Itochu Company President Niwa. As you know, Itochu Company has several investments in Turkey. After holding talks with Ihi Company President Mototsugu Ito, I met with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi. We discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and Japan in detail. We want to further improve our economic, cultural and commercial relations with Japan. We will seek for ways to remove the foreign trade deficit between the two countries. Recent developments in the Middle East and the other regional problems were also brought onto agenda of the meeting. We discussed the Iraq issue and acts of terrorism in the world,'' he said.
Erdogan told reporters that he had invited Prime Minister Koizumi to Turkey.
''During the meeting, we referred to three Japanese citizens who have been taken hostage in Iraq. Although it was earlier announced that the Japanese citizens would be released within 24 hours, any development did not occur. The Japanese side recalled us that Japanese people who were abducted in Iran in 1985, were saved and taken to Japan by a plane of the Turkish Airlines (THY). A documentary film was shot in Japan about the event. We are ready to do everything in our power to rescue Japanese citizens. We will convey our intelligence to Japanese officials,'' he said.
When asked whether or not Turkey would act as a mediator, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters, ''there is not any state as an interlocutor. We do not know who has taken Japanese citizens hostage.''
Upon a question, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''previously 70 percent of Japanese people was opposed to Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq. Now, 70 percent of Japanese people is in favor of dispatch of Turkish soldiers. According to our point of view, it is the United States which should overcome the problems in Iraq.''
Refraining from responding to questions about the Cyprus issue, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''I do not want to make any statement about Cyprus during my visit to Japan. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has been dealing with the issue. The Cyprus issue is not the only matter of Turkey. Anybody cannot make any progress with a monopolist understanding. The important thing is to settle a system.''
(UK-AY) 12.04.2004
TOKYO - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, ''I do not want to make any statement about Cyprus during my visit to Japan. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has been dealing with the issue.''
Holding a press conference at Tokyo's New Otani Hotel after his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Prime Minister Erdogan said on Monday, ''earlier in the day, I met with Japanese Prince Tomohito Mikasa. Prince Mikasa is deeply interested in Turkey. Later, I met with Mitsubishi Firm President Kojima. During the meeting, we discussed issues such as tube-tunnel, bridge, foodstuff and ship construction.''
''I was received by Emperor Akihito Mikasa of Japan. During the meeting, I thanked Emperor Mikasa for his sincere interest in Turkey. I also met with Itochu Company President Niwa. As you know, Itochu Company has several investments in Turkey. After holding talks with Ihi Company President Mototsugu Ito, I met with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi. We discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and Japan in detail. We want to further improve our economic, cultural and commercial relations with Japan. We will seek for ways to remove the foreign trade deficit between the two countries. Recent developments in the Middle East and the other regional problems were also brought onto agenda of the meeting. We discussed the Iraq issue and acts of terrorism in the world,'' he said.
Erdogan told reporters that he had invited Prime Minister Koizumi to Turkey.
''During the meeting, we referred to three Japanese citizens who have been taken hostage in Iraq. Although it was earlier announced that the Japanese citizens would be released within 24 hours, any development did not occur. The Japanese side recalled us that Japanese people who were abducted in Iran in 1985, were saved and taken to Japan by a plane of the Turkish Airlines (THY). A documentary film was shot in Japan about the event. We are ready to do everything in our power to rescue Japanese citizens. We will convey our intelligence to Japanese officials,'' he said.
When asked whether or not Turkey would act as a mediator, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters, ''there is not any state as an interlocutor. We do not know who has taken Japanese citizens hostage.''
Upon a question, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''previously 70 percent of Japanese people was opposed to Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq. Now, 70 percent of Japanese people is in favor of dispatch of Turkish soldiers. According to our point of view, it is the United States which should overcome the problems in Iraq.''
Refraining from responding to questions about the Cyprus issue, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''I do not want to make any statement about Cyprus during my visit to Japan. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has been dealing with the issue. The Cyprus issue is not the only matter of Turkey. Anybody cannot make any progress with a monopolist understanding. The important thing is to settle a system.''
(UK-AY) 12.04.2004