ANTALYA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Sunday that he had seen great sympathy and determination about Cyprus issue in Gymnich-Informal European Union (EU) Foreign Ministerial meeting held in Ireland.
Gul, who held bilateral meetings with his British, French, German and Irish counterparts in Ireland, evaluated his visit to A.A.
Noting that the official agenda item was Iraq, Middle East and Kosovo at working lunch held on Saturday with foreign ministers of EU member countries, Gul said that he also brought Cyprus issue onto agenda and discussions were made on Cyprus during the meeting.
Gul said, ''Turkey's position and position of two sides in the island before separate referendums in Cyprus were taken up in the meeting. What should be done if both sides say ''yes'' or north of the island says ''yes'' and the south says ''no''? Those were discussed comprehensively. This was the main agenda item of the meeting and it was as if the meeting was held for this issue.''
''It was stressed that if Turkish side says ''yes'' and Greek side says ''no'', then while Greek Cypriot side is entering EU it will be necessary to revise the regulations which will be applied to Turkish side and not to punish Turkish side. And, Turkish side should not be punished by initiatives which will be launched in case of a negative development. I expressed this in the meeting and other ministers extended great support,'' noted Gul.
He said that revising everything and the alternatives and the attitude of the EU in such a meeting before the referendums, although it was not planned, was very beneficial.
When asked about which possibility EU ministers were thinking of, Gul said that everybody certainly thought it was a historic opportunity and the plan should be accepted.
But, he said, if a result foreseen by surveys occurred, Turkish side should not be behaved unjustly. He added that he saw great sympathy and determination during the meeting, noting that ministers said they would be responsible to Turkish side and they could not ignore it.
Noting that if expected result came out of simultaneous referenda in the island, the EU might think of lifting embargoes and limitations on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Gul said, ''we want all of these possibilities to be revised.''
Gul said that EU, the United States and other countries would continue to work on Cyprus issue one week before the referendums.
Also, he noted, there were nothing left for the Turkish government to do for the sake of the island. He added, ''because we have explained everything. We have said we will respect to the result. Everybody knows what we think and what we see in favor of Turkish side.''
U.N. Secretary General Annan presented his final plan to parties at the end of Cyprus negotiations in Buergenstock, Switzerland on March 31.
This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in TRNC and Greek Cypriot side on April 24.
Gul left Turkey for Ireland to attend the Gymnich meeting on Friday. He attended the groundbreaking ceremony of a ceramic factory to be constructed by Turkish Eczacibasi Holding in Arklow together with Irish Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche.
Roche and Gul discussed recent developments in Cyprus issue prior and after the ceremony.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul later attended a reception hosted at Turkey's Embassy in Dublin.
On Saturday, Gul met with his Bulgarian, British, French and German counterparts who all attended Gymnich-Informal European Union (EU) Foreign Ministerial meeting in Ireland.
Gul touched on issues concerning two countries during his meeting with Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Solomon Pasi.
In his meeting with British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Michel Barnier, and German Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer, Gul discussed Turkey's European Union (EU) perspective and recent situation in Cyprus.
Gul said that Turkey expected to get a date to start full membership negotiations with the EU at the end of 2004 and therefore, Turkey was fulfilling its obligations.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul reiterated Turkey's demand that United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of Cyprus problem which would be put to simultaneous referenda in Cyprus on April 24 should be considered EU's primary law.
Gul stressed that Turkey was definitely against any delay in simultaneous referenda to be held in Cyprus.
Turkish Foreign Minister Gul later attended working lunch hosted as a part of the informal meeting of EU ministers.
Gul returned to Turkey late on Saturday.
(GC-BRC) 18.04.2004