Turkey-eu Jpc Co-chairman Says Everybody Wishes To Reach An Agreement In Cyprus

ISTANBUL - Everybody wished that an agreement would be reached in Cyprus, Turkey-European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk said on Sunday.
Speaking in a meeting on ''Turkey on the road to EU: economic, socioeconomic and cultural effects'' held in Istanbul, Lagendijk noted that everybody also wished that two peoples in the island would cast positive votes to United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus in the simultaneous referenda to be held on April 24.
Lagendijk expressed thought that everybody should appreciate efforts of Turkish government to solve Cyprus issue.
Because, he noted, the Turkish government had brought the issue to a situation which would balance both interests of Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.
Lagendijk stated that Turkish government had been very determined to solve the issue and made majority of people have confidence in its initiatives to find a fair solution in Cyprus.
Everybody was asking him what would happen if Turkish Cypriots said ''yes'' and the Greek Cypriots said ''no'' to Annan plan, Lagendijk said.
Lagendijk noted that the answer to that question was very open and clear for him.
Turkish Cypriots should be awarded for their brave steps, sanctions should be lifted and giant investments should be made in Turkish Cypriot side, Lagendijk stated.
Lagendijk said that Turkey should not be punished in case of failure on an agreement in Cyprus because it had done its best for a settlement.
And, Turkey should not be punished just because the Greek Cypriot side said ''no'' to the plan, Lagendijk stated.
Lagendijk added that Turkey's membership should be evaluated, taking into consideration if it had met all criteria when EU was taking its decision on whether or not to open entry talks with Turkey.
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.
(BRC) 18.04.2004