ISTANBUL - Discussions on Cyprus issue should be made on the island instead of Turkey, Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Tuesday.
Arinc told reporters that he did not think it was right to include Turkey in those discussions when road map for Cyprus was being implemented.
''If a discussion is to be made on this issue, it should be made in Cyprus where 'yes' and 'no' votes will be cast in the referendum,'' Arinc said.
Asked if his invitation to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas to make a speech at the Turkish parliament contradicted Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that 'Denktas should say what he wants to say about Cyprus issue in the island', Arinc said that a Cyprus process had started in New York, continued in the island, and was expected to end on April 24 as the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus was put to simultaneous referenda in the island.
Arinc recalled that Turkish government had initiated that Cyprus process with successful initiatives and stressed that those initiatives of Turkey which would lead to a fair and lasting peace in Cyprus was a success which should be appreciated.
Denktas joined talks in New York and Cyprus but refused to go to Switzerland, Arinc stated.
Arinc said, ''two sides will hold simultaneous referenda on the island as a part of the plan on April 24. I think April 24 is a very important day. Our kinsmen living in TRNC will either say 'yes' or 'no' to the plan and they will decide on the plan. Everybody should respect to the decision of Turkish Cypriot people. This referendum will not be held in Turkey. It will be held on the island. If majority of people vote 'yes' to the plan in the referendum, it will be turned into an agreement in the end.''
After that simultaneous referenda in the island, a new process would start for ratification of the agreement by the Turkish parliament under the Constitution, Arinc noted.
Arinc said that however, it would be a short process.
''Our deputies will vote on either to ratify or to reject this plan. The final process will take place at the Turkish parliament. When the road map is being implemented, I don't think it is right to include Turkey in discussions on Cyprus issue. This is my personal view. Everybody living in Turkey and Cyprus knows more or less about Cyprus issue. They know how this plan was given its final stage. They know pluses and minuses of this plan. But, if a discussion is to be made on this plan, it should be made in Cyprus where 'yes' and 'no' votes will be cast in the referendum. Turkish Cypriot people should decide on their vote freely and with their strong will,'' Arinc added.
Delegations from TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece held meetings in Buergenstock, Switzerland from March 24 to 31 in order to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of Annan plan. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis joined the negotiations between March 29 and 31.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented his final plan to the parties at the end of the negotiations on March 31.
This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides on April 24.
(BRC-AY) 13.04.2004
ISTANBUL - Discussions on Cyprus issue should be made on the island instead of Turkey, Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Tuesday.
Arinc told reporters that he did not think it was right to include Turkey in those discussions when road map for Cyprus was being implemented.
''If a discussion is to be made on this issue, it should be made in Cyprus where 'yes' and 'no' votes will be cast in the referendum,'' Arinc said.
Asked if his invitation to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas to make a speech at the Turkish parliament contradicted Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that 'Denktas should say what he wants to say about Cyprus issue in the island', Arinc said that a Cyprus process had started in New York, continued in the island, and was expected to end on April 24 as the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus was put to simultaneous referenda in the island.
Arinc recalled that Turkish government had initiated that Cyprus process with successful initiatives and stressed that those initiatives of Turkey which would lead to a fair and lasting peace in Cyprus was a success which should be appreciated.
Denktas joined talks in New York and Cyprus but refused to go to Switzerland, Arinc stated.
Arinc said, ''two sides will hold simultaneous referenda on the island as a part of the plan on April 24. I think April 24 is a very important day. Our kinsmen living in TRNC will either say 'yes' or 'no' to the plan and they will decide on the plan. Everybody should respect to the decision of Turkish Cypriot people. This referendum will not be held in Turkey. It will be held on the island. If majority of people vote 'yes' to the plan in the referendum, it will be turned into an agreement in the end.''
After that simultaneous referenda in the island, a new process would start for ratification of the agreement by the Turkish parliament under the Constitution, Arinc noted.
Arinc said that however, it would be a short process.
''Our deputies will vote on either to ratify or to reject this plan. The final process will take place at the Turkish parliament. When the road map is being implemented, I don't think it is right to include Turkey in discussions on Cyprus issue. This is my personal view. Everybody living in Turkey and Cyprus knows more or less about Cyprus issue. They know how this plan was given its final stage. They know pluses and minuses of this plan. But, if a discussion is to be made on this plan, it should be made in Cyprus where 'yes' and 'no' votes will be cast in the referendum. Turkish Cypriot people should decide on their vote freely and with their strong will,'' Arinc added.
Delegations from TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece held meetings in Buergenstock, Switzerland from March 24 to 31 in order to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of Annan plan. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis joined the negotiations between March 29 and 31.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented his final plan to the parties at the end of the negotiations on March 31.
This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides on April 24.
(BRC-AY) 13.04.2004