ANKARA - Delaying simultaneous referenda to be held on United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan in Cyprus on April 24 was against the ''framework, parameters and philosophy of the plan'', Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said on Wednesday.
Tan told the weekly press briefing that basic philosophy of Annan plan was founding a new partnership state in Cyprus and making the United Cyprus Republic a member of the European Union (EU) before May 1.
Road map initiated for Cyprus in New York and continued in Buergenstock was in practice at the moment, Tan said.
Tan stated that Turkey was committed to that road map and its responsibilities stemming from that road map.
Turkey would fulfil its commitments and responsibilities during the solution process as it did prior to the solution, Tan said.
Tan noted, ''it is our most natural right to expect concerned parties to fulfil their responsibilities in the same way.''
The question which would in fact be asked to Cypriot people in the simultaneous referenda was whether or not they accepted to join EU as a united island on May 1, Tan pointed out.
Tan said that it would be meaningless to ask the same question after May 1.
Two sides in Cyprus passed their laws on referendum, Tan noted.
Tan stated that talking about delay of simultaneous referenda in the island was totally against parameters of the Annan plan.
''We think that postponement of the simultaneous referenda is against the framework and philosophy of the Annan plan,'' Tan said.
Asked if Turkey had launched an initiative against the Greek Cypriot side in the EU, Tan said that Turkey had fulfilled all its obligations so far and reiterated that it had committed to the road map for Cyprus.
Tan stated that Turkey would act similarly during the solution process.
''We expect all the concerned parties to be aware of their responsibilities and take action accordingly,'' Tan added.
U.N. Secretary General Annan presented his final plan to the parties at the end of Cyprus negotiations in Buergenstock, Switzerland on March 31.
This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot side on April 24.
Greek Cypriot communist AKEL party had made a call last week to the U.N. to delay the simultaneous referenda scheduled to be held in both sides in the island on April 24 for a few more months.
(BRC-AY) 14.04.2004
ANKARA - Delaying simultaneous referenda to be held on United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan in Cyprus on April 24 was against the ''framework, parameters and philosophy of the plan'', Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said on Wednesday.
Tan told the weekly press briefing that basic philosophy of Annan plan was founding a new partnership state in Cyprus and making the United Cyprus Republic a member of the European Union (EU) before May 1.
Road map initiated for Cyprus in New York and continued in Buergenstock was in practice at the moment, Tan said.
Tan stated that Turkey was committed to that road map and its responsibilities stemming from that road map.
Turkey would fulfil its commitments and responsibilities during the solution process as it did prior to the solution, Tan said.
Tan noted, ''it is our most natural right to expect concerned parties to fulfil their responsibilities in the same way.''
The question which would in fact be asked to Cypriot people in the simultaneous referenda was whether or not they accepted to join EU as a united island on May 1, Tan pointed out.
Tan said that it would be meaningless to ask the same question after May 1.
Two sides in Cyprus passed their laws on referendum, Tan noted.
Tan stated that talking about delay of simultaneous referenda in the island was totally against parameters of the Annan plan.
''We think that postponement of the simultaneous referenda is against the framework and philosophy of the Annan plan,'' Tan said.
Asked if Turkey had launched an initiative against the Greek Cypriot side in the EU, Tan said that Turkey had fulfilled all its obligations so far and reiterated that it had committed to the road map for Cyprus.
Tan stated that Turkey would act similarly during the solution process.
''We expect all the concerned parties to be aware of their responsibilities and take action accordingly,'' Tan added.
U.N. Secretary General Annan presented his final plan to the parties at the end of Cyprus negotiations in Buergenstock, Switzerland on March 31.
This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot side on April 24.
Greek Cypriot communist AKEL party had made a call last week to the U.N. to delay the simultaneous referenda scheduled to be held in both sides in the island on April 24 for a few more months.
(BRC-AY) 14.04.2004