ISTANBUL - Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has said, ''discussions over the Cyprus issue were beneficial. I regretted that differences of opinion in the society have deepened and reached distressing dimensions from time to time during the discussions.''
Speaking at a conference at the War Academies in Istanbul, President Sezer said on Wednesday, ''we have come to a real turning point on the Cyprus issue for the first time. The public opinion is deeply interested in the Cyprus issue. There has been very comprehensive and lively discussions over the issue. These discussions were quite beneficial.''
''All these views, which were expressed over the Cyprus issue, maybe the greatest, most important and most vital problem of the Turkish foreign policy, have taken their place in the memory of our nation. Now, the history will assess it in the future. It should not be forgotten that the history's judgment is certain, determinative and merciless,'' he said.
President Sezer pointed out, ''I want to express my regret that differences of opinion in the society have deepened and reached distressing dimensions from time to time during the discussions. I am quite sure that each individual and each section in Turkey want a fair and lasting solution for Cyprus. The differences of opinion stemmed from the method of reaching the solution namely the document known by the public opinion as United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's Plan. While a part of our people have adopted this method and the Annan Plan, the others expressed their concerns and suspicions about it. It will be appropriate to suppose that beginning point of the both sides stemmed from good-will.''
Stressing that the sides were standing on the point of making a critical decision about the Cyprus issue like in the years of 1878, 1960 and 1974, President Sezer said, ''we cannot ignore the importance of the current stage and the heavy responsibility it brought forth. Decisions to be made and steps to be taken will not affect only our generation, but also the next generations in an unreturnable way. Therefore, we should consider skeptical and critical approaches to the plan naturally. We should remember that the plan was improved several times as a result of these criticisms and suspicions.''
''Today, there are still some unsatisfactory elements in the plan for the Turkish side. In fact, even defenders of the plan do not accept them. Actually, all targets and consequences may not be acquired in a negotiation process. However, we should discuss whether or not acceptance of a result under all situations and conditions will conform to the concept of national interests. Also, the possibility of corrosion of acquisitions through several international judicial systems or loosing them completely in the course of the time needs a serious examination,'' he said.
President Sezer said, ''the statement released after the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on January 23, 2004, stated that a consensus was reached on benefits and necessity of launching initiatives to revive the negotiation process in Cyprus. The NSC reiterated its determination to reach a fair solution based on the facts of the island through negotiations by taking the Annan Plan as a reference.''
''Although presentation of the document to approval of the two communities after blanks that may appear in case the two sides fail to reach an agreement are filled in by the U.N. Secretary General, was not adopted at the NSC meeting, it was understood from the U.N. Secretary General's letter of invitation to talks and from the Davos minutes that this matter was accepted by Turkey. Thus the sides have entered a process of no return about the Cyprus issue,'' the President said.
''In the final version of Annan's plan that is going to be put to referenda, several restrictions (derogations) have been imposed on Greek Cypriots' rights to travel to the Turkish Cypriot side, settle and purchase properties in the Turkish Cypriot side, which are all accepted in favor of the Turkish Cypriot side. However, these restrictions (derogations) are not for an indefinite period of time. Since restrictions (derogations) could automatically end at the end of the processes envisaged in the plan, there is also a possibility of their annulment by the European Union Court of Justice or European Court of Human Rights due to their incongruity to European Union basic law or rules of European Convention on Human Rights as a result of Greek Cypriots' individual applications after accession of Cyprus Republic to the European Union after both sides vote 'yes' in referenda,'' the President stated.
President Sezer stressed that derogations should be incorporated to the EU primary law to stay in effect after Cyprus's accession to the EU.
Sezer said, ''apart from this, it is hard to speak about legal validity of commitments given by the European Commission, adaptation act, and guarantees.''
Sezer said in case the Plan is accepted by the both sides, it would be appropriate to put the agreement into force after the derogations are approved by the parliaments of the EU member countries and become a part of the EU basic law.
''Thus, the EU member countries will pass through a test whether or not they sincerely want solution of Cyprus question.''
Sezer said, ''we know that Turkish Cypriot people who live under difficult conditions for years on the island have expectations for a solution. They are rightful expectations. Turkish people also share and support their expectations. We wish the end of this period would yield the most beneficial results for TRNC people and Republic of Turkey.''
''WE BELIEVE THAT TURKEY'S TAKING AN ACTIVE PLACE IN ESDP WILL MAKE ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL SECURITY AND EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS''
Sezer said, ''we believe that Turkey's taking an active place in the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) will make additional contributions to positive development of regional security and European Union (EU) membership process.''
Sezer said, ''NATO, which has been exerting great efforts to develop its existing capabilities against the risks and threats of the 21st century, has been living through the biggest transformation process of its history. NATO has been maintaining its efforts to adapt itself to the changing security atmosphere post Cold War era.''
''In its transformation process, NATO has given up its understanding of having forces based on threats, and developed a structure based on security. NATO aims to form a smaller, but modern, highly-skilled, mobile and self-sufficient force. As a result of the rebuilding process, the Alliance's contributions to efforts to preserve stability and to provide global security in the axis of Europe-Atlantic are expected to increase. NATO has reached an advanced stage in its process of forming a force that will be able to intervene in crisis in any place in the world in a short period of time under the international legitimacy,'' he said.
President Sezer said, ''Turkey has made influential contributions to formation of the force called as 'NATO Response Force'. Turkey has undertaken leadership of land unit of NATO Response Force between October of 2003 and June of 2004. With participation of seven new members in NATO, creating of a lasting security zone extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea is quite pleasing.''
Pointing out that NATO had been implementing an intense co-operation program with the member countries to the Partnership for Peace (PfP) initiative, President Sezer said that Turkey played a key role in this process due to its traditional close ties with the Caucasus and the Middle Eastern countries.
Recalling that Turkey would host NATO Summit in June, President Sezer said that the relations between NATO and the EU would be high on the agenda of the summit.
''The Alliance is determined to expand NATO-the EU strategic partnership, one of the key elements of security of Europe-Atlantic region. Turkey's influence in NATO will increase as NATO's security role is widened,'' he said.
Recalling that the EU had developed a joint security system called ESDP in order to form an international political power in parallel with its progress in the economic integration and to intervene in crises in which NATO could not take place as a whole.
''We believe that Turkey's taking an active place in the ESDP will make additional contributions to positive development of regional security and European Union (EU) membership process,'' he added.
(UK-AY) 14.04.2004
ISTANBUL - Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has said, ''discussions over the Cyprus issue were beneficial. I regretted that differences of opinion in the society have deepened and reached distressing dimensions from time to time during the discussions.''
Speaking at a conference at the War Academies in Istanbul, President Sezer said on Wednesday, ''we have come to a real turning point on the Cyprus issue for the first time. The public opinion is deeply interested in the Cyprus issue. There has been very comprehensive and lively discussions over the issue. These discussions were quite beneficial.''
''All these views, which were expressed over the Cyprus issue, maybe the greatest, most important and most vital problem of the Turkish foreign policy, have taken their place in the memory of our nation. Now, the history will assess it in the future. It should not be forgotten that the history's judgment is certain, determinative and merciless,'' he said.
President Sezer pointed out, ''I want to express my regret that differences of opinion in the society have deepened and reached distressing dimensions from time to time during the discussions. I am quite sure that each individual and each section in Turkey want a fair and lasting solution for Cyprus. The differences of opinion stemmed from the method of reaching the solution namely the document known by the public opinion as United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's Plan. While a part of our people have adopted this method and the Annan Plan, the others expressed their concerns and suspicions about it. It will be appropriate to suppose that beginning point of the both sides stemmed from good-will.''
Stressing that the sides were standing on the point of making a critical decision about the Cyprus issue like in the years of 1878, 1960 and 1974, President Sezer said, ''we cannot ignore the importance of the current stage and the heavy responsibility it brought forth. Decisions to be made and steps to be taken will not affect only our generation, but also the next generations in an unreturnable way. Therefore, we should consider skeptical and critical approaches to the plan naturally. We should remember that the plan was improved several times as a result of these criticisms and suspicions.''
''Today, there are still some unsatisfactory elements in the plan for the Turkish side. In fact, even defenders of the plan do not accept them. Actually, all targets and consequences may not be acquired in a negotiation process. However, we should discuss whether or not acceptance of a result under all situations and conditions will conform to the concept of national interests. Also, the possibility of corrosion of acquisitions through several international judicial systems or loosing them completely in the course of the time needs a serious examination,'' he said.
President Sezer said, ''the statement released after the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on January 23, 2004, stated that a consensus was reached on benefits and necessity of launching initiatives to revive the negotiation process in Cyprus. The NSC reiterated its determination to reach a fair solution based on the facts of the island through negotiations by taking the Annan Plan as a reference.''
''Although presentation of the document to approval of the two communities after blanks that may appear in case the two sides fail to reach an agreement are filled in by the U.N. Secretary General, was not adopted at the NSC meeting, it was understood from the U.N. Secretary General's letter of invitation to talks and from the Davos minutes that this matter was accepted by Turkey. Thus the sides have entered a process of no return about the Cyprus issue,'' the President said.
''In the final version of Annan's plan that is going to be put to referenda, several restrictions (derogations) have been imposed on Greek Cypriots' rights to travel to the Turkish Cypriot side, settle and purchase properties in the Turkish Cypriot side, which are all accepted in favor of the Turkish Cypriot side. However, these restrictions (derogations) are not for an indefinite period of time. Since restrictions (derogations) could automatically end at the end of the processes envisaged in the plan, there is also a possibility of their annulment by the European Union Court of Justice or European Court of Human Rights due to their incongruity to European Union basic law or rules of European Convention on Human Rights as a result of Greek Cypriots' individual applications after accession of Cyprus Republic to the European Union after both sides vote 'yes' in referenda,'' the President stated.
President Sezer stressed that derogations should be incorporated to the EU primary law to stay in effect after Cyprus's accession to the EU.
Sezer said, ''apart from this, it is hard to speak about legal validity of commitments given by the European Commission, adaptation act, and guarantees.''
Sezer said in case the Plan is accepted by the both sides, it would be appropriate to put the agreement into force after the derogations are approved by the parliaments of the EU member countries and become a part of the EU basic law.
''Thus, the EU member countries will pass through a test whether or not they sincerely want solution of Cyprus question.''
Sezer said, ''we know that Turkish Cypriot people who live under difficult conditions for years on the island have expectations for a solution. They are rightful expectations. Turkish people also share and support their expectations. We wish the end of this period would yield the most beneficial results for TRNC people and Republic of Turkey.''
''WE BELIEVE THAT TURKEY'S TAKING AN ACTIVE PLACE IN ESDP WILL MAKE ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO DEVELOPMENT OF REGIONAL SECURITY AND EU MEMBERSHIP PROCESS''
Sezer said, ''we believe that Turkey's taking an active place in the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) will make additional contributions to positive development of regional security and European Union (EU) membership process.''
Sezer said, ''NATO, which has been exerting great efforts to develop its existing capabilities against the risks and threats of the 21st century, has been living through the biggest transformation process of its history. NATO has been maintaining its efforts to adapt itself to the changing security atmosphere post Cold War era.''
''In its transformation process, NATO has given up its understanding of having forces based on threats, and developed a structure based on security. NATO aims to form a smaller, but modern, highly-skilled, mobile and self-sufficient force. As a result of the rebuilding process, the Alliance's contributions to efforts to preserve stability and to provide global security in the axis of Europe-Atlantic are expected to increase. NATO has reached an advanced stage in its process of forming a force that will be able to intervene in crisis in any place in the world in a short period of time under the international legitimacy,'' he said.
President Sezer said, ''Turkey has made influential contributions to formation of the force called as 'NATO Response Force'. Turkey has undertaken leadership of land unit of NATO Response Force between October of 2003 and June of 2004. With participation of seven new members in NATO, creating of a lasting security zone extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea is quite pleasing.''
Pointing out that NATO had been implementing an intense co-operation program with the member countries to the Partnership for Peace (PfP) initiative, President Sezer said that Turkey played a key role in this process due to its traditional close ties with the Caucasus and the Middle Eastern countries.
Recalling that Turkey would host NATO Summit in June, President Sezer said that the relations between NATO and the EU would be high on the agenda of the summit.
''The Alliance is determined to expand NATO-the EU strategic partnership, one of the key elements of security of Europe-Atlantic region. Turkey's influence in NATO will increase as NATO's security role is widened,'' he said.
Recalling that the EU had developed a joint security system called ESDP in order to form an international political power in parallel with its progress in the economic integration and to intervene in crises in which NATO could not take place as a whole.
''We believe that Turkey's taking an active place in the ESDP will make additional contributions to positive development of regional security and European Union (EU) membership process,'' he added.
(UK-AY) 14.04.2004