ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that efforts were underway to delay the referendum, ''I will say we will not consent to this,'' he noted.
Gul left for European Union (EU) Term President Ireland to join informal ''Gymnich'' meeting of foreign ministers of EU member and candidate countries.
Speaking at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure for Ireland, Gul said he would convey his views regarding Cyprus at the meeting.
Asked what his message would be on Cyprus, Gul said mechanism that was formed earlier still continued, noting that simultaneous referendums would take place on Cyprus on April 24.
Gul said delay of the referendums would not be right, and noted that, ''efforts are underway to delay the referendum. I will say we will not consent to it.''
Gul said he would convey the EU foreign ministers that Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) favored a solution based on mutual respect and interest.
Replying to a question about recognition of TRNC, Gul said this was an issue that would be discussed after referendums and by taking into consideration the outcomes of the referendums.
Gul said in case Turkish Cypriot side vote ''yes'' and Greek Cypriot side vote ''no'' in the referendum, there was no other way but lifting of embargoes firstly and later recognition of the TRNC.
A journalist reminded Gul the statement of TRNC President Rauf Denktas that the U.N. put forward a new amendment proposal, he said a serious amendment to Annan plan was not in question.
Gul said both sides would launch initiatives to overcome spelling mistakes in the plan, if there is any, yet noted that anything that would change the structure of the plan was out of question.
TRNC President Denktas, who addressed the Turkish Parliament on Thursday, had said the U.N. Secretary General put an article to the plan and removed Turkey's right of intervention.
Gul said Ireland meeting aimed at making foreign ministers exchange views on daily issues unofficially and at a free atmosphere.
Gul said Turkey for the first time had attended last year's meeting as a candidate country and upon the invitation of former Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.
Gul said the meeting would start Friday evening with the participation of EU foreign ministers and continue with the participation of candidate countries Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Gul said Kosovo, Iraq and Middle East would be discussed at the meeting.
Foreign Minister Gul said he would also join a ceremony to lay the foundation of Vitra-Tiles ceramics factory of Eczacibasi Holding, stressing that this factory was important as being the first Turkish investment in an EU member country.
Gul said, ''as some circles claim that Turkey would be a burden on the EU in economic sense, recent studies indicate that economic interests of both sides would be in question.''
DENKTAS: ''ATTEMPTS TO POSTPONE REFERENDUM ARE UNACCEPTABLE''
Acting Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has criticized statements claiming that the TRNC would be recognized if the Turkish Cypriot side votes ''yes'' and the Greek Cypriot side votes ''no'' in the referendum on April 24, adding, ''as long as the United Nations does not annul its relevant decision, recognition of TRNC will be out of question. Also, attempts to postpone the referendum are unacceptable.''
Replying to questions of journalists about yesterday's statement of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Denktas said on Friday, ''we should not deceive each other. Some claim that TRNC would be recognized if the Turkish Cypriot side votes 'yes' and the Greek Cypriot side votes 'no' in the referendum. As long as the United Nations does not annul its relevant decision, recognition of TRNC will be out of question. In that case, we can only have a ground to launch initiatives for lifting of embargoes imposed on TRNC.''
''Our people will make their decision on April 24. Then, we will act in line with their preference. However, the Greek Cypriot side will also launch initiatives to prevent us from reaching our targets,'' he said.
Denktas called on Turkish Cypriot people to act with common-sense and without forgetting the fact that Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples would continue to live on the same island after the referendum.
He noted that his Democrat Party (DP) would announce its attitude about the referendum later in the day.
Acting Prime Minister Denktas stressed that attempts to postpone the referendum were unacceptable.
(UK-AY) 16.04.2004
ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that efforts were underway to delay the referendum, ''I will say we will not consent to this,'' he noted.
Gul left for European Union (EU) Term President Ireland to join informal ''Gymnich'' meeting of foreign ministers of EU member and candidate countries.
Speaking at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to his departure for Ireland, Gul said he would convey his views regarding Cyprus at the meeting.
Asked what his message would be on Cyprus, Gul said mechanism that was formed earlier still continued, noting that simultaneous referendums would take place on Cyprus on April 24.
Gul said delay of the referendums would not be right, and noted that, ''efforts are underway to delay the referendum. I will say we will not consent to it.''
Gul said he would convey the EU foreign ministers that Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) favored a solution based on mutual respect and interest.
Replying to a question about recognition of TRNC, Gul said this was an issue that would be discussed after referendums and by taking into consideration the outcomes of the referendums.
Gul said in case Turkish Cypriot side vote ''yes'' and Greek Cypriot side vote ''no'' in the referendum, there was no other way but lifting of embargoes firstly and later recognition of the TRNC.
A journalist reminded Gul the statement of TRNC President Rauf Denktas that the U.N. put forward a new amendment proposal, he said a serious amendment to Annan plan was not in question.
Gul said both sides would launch initiatives to overcome spelling mistakes in the plan, if there is any, yet noted that anything that would change the structure of the plan was out of question.
TRNC President Denktas, who addressed the Turkish Parliament on Thursday, had said the U.N. Secretary General put an article to the plan and removed Turkey's right of intervention.
Gul said Ireland meeting aimed at making foreign ministers exchange views on daily issues unofficially and at a free atmosphere.
Gul said Turkey for the first time had attended last year's meeting as a candidate country and upon the invitation of former Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.
Gul said the meeting would start Friday evening with the participation of EU foreign ministers and continue with the participation of candidate countries Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Gul said Kosovo, Iraq and Middle East would be discussed at the meeting.
Foreign Minister Gul said he would also join a ceremony to lay the foundation of Vitra-Tiles ceramics factory of Eczacibasi Holding, stressing that this factory was important as being the first Turkish investment in an EU member country.
Gul said, ''as some circles claim that Turkey would be a burden on the EU in economic sense, recent studies indicate that economic interests of both sides would be in question.''
DENKTAS: ''ATTEMPTS TO POSTPONE REFERENDUM ARE UNACCEPTABLE''
Acting Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has criticized statements claiming that the TRNC would be recognized if the Turkish Cypriot side votes ''yes'' and the Greek Cypriot side votes ''no'' in the referendum on April 24, adding, ''as long as the United Nations does not annul its relevant decision, recognition of TRNC will be out of question. Also, attempts to postpone the referendum are unacceptable.''
Replying to questions of journalists about yesterday's statement of President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Denktas said on Friday, ''we should not deceive each other. Some claim that TRNC would be recognized if the Turkish Cypriot side votes 'yes' and the Greek Cypriot side votes 'no' in the referendum. As long as the United Nations does not annul its relevant decision, recognition of TRNC will be out of question. In that case, we can only have a ground to launch initiatives for lifting of embargoes imposed on TRNC.''
''Our people will make their decision on April 24. Then, we will act in line with their preference. However, the Greek Cypriot side will also launch initiatives to prevent us from reaching our targets,'' he said.
Denktas called on Turkish Cypriot people to act with common-sense and without forgetting the fact that Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples would continue to live on the same island after the referendum.
He noted that his Democrat Party (DP) would announce its attitude about the referendum later in the day.
Acting Prime Minister Denktas stressed that attempts to postpone the referendum were unacceptable.
(UK-AY) 16.04.2004