Turkey Believes That Referendums Should Be Held On Time, And That Everyone Should Respect For Will Of Two Peoples In Cyprus

ANKARA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has stated, ''Turkey believes that the referendums should be held in Cyprus on time, and that everyone should respect for will of the two peoples in the island.''
Releasing a statement on Tuesday, the MFA said, ''Turkey will be loyal to its commitment to abide by the schedule envisaged by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. We expect all relevant sides to fulfil their commitments. Turkey believes that the referendums should be held in Cyprus on time, and that everyone should respect for will of the two peoples in the island.''
Recalling that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent a letter to United Nations Secretary General Annan on April 6 saying that Turkey had accepted holding referendums in Cyprus on April 24, the MFA noted that Britain and Greece, the other guarantor powers, had also agreed on the date.
Pointing out that a multi-lateral agreement was in question, the MFA stressed that it was impossible to deviate or postpone the agreement with any ground.
Emphasizing that the sides had reached an important stage in their efforts to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue after United Nations Secretary General Annan submitted his final text to them in Switzerland on March 31, the MFA added that the plan would be put to vote in referendums to be held both in the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriots sides on April 24 in line with the agreement.
(UK) 13.04.2004