SARAJEVO - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said that he was disappointed with statement of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas who earlier said, ''Turkey has sacrificed Cyprus for European Union membership''. Gul said that he did not think it right to make statements before getting information on what was discussed in a closed session.
Speaking to reporters aboard plane flying to Sarajevo for Southeast European Countries Cooperation Process Summit, Gul said that he respected Denktas's opinions but it was wrong to comment that Cyprus would be sacrificed for EU membership.
Stressing that they were trying to do the best things for Turkish Cypriots, Gul said, ''whatever the result will be, we will support Turkish Cypriots and they will always feel that their motherland stands by them. They should think about alternative if they don't like these. If their alternatives are better, they can act according to it. I fear that even the things that have been acquired would not be sought. We sincerely wish that the TRNC's flag would have waved at the United Nations alone but it was not possible. Instead of it, there is political equality by taking the other side's sovereignty.'' Gul stressed that his words were not a response to Denktas's statement.
Noting that they believed that they were successful in the Cyprus issue, Gul said that they had shared everything with the TRNC during the negotiation process.
Replying to a question about Taiwan model, Gul said that they should first of all see the result of referenda, adding, ''we have measures against all possibilities.''
Reminded of the main opposition party Republican People's Party's (CHP) criticisms that it was not informed sufficiently on the Cyprus issue, Gul said that it was a ''shame'' to make such criticisms as they had given all information they requested.
Replying to a question about the report that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented to the Security Council, Gul said that they had been working on the report and its evaluation was under way, adding, ''we are aware of our responsibilities. We want the other side to show same awareness.''
Replying a question about a meeting that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis were expected to hold on Wednesday, Gul said that the important thing was to express opinions on basis of mutual confidence.
Noting that there was sincerity between Turkey and Greece, Gul said he believed that good relations with previous Greek governments would continue also with the new Greek government. Gul said that they were informed that Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis would not attend Wednesday's meeting.
Asked whether Greece would give different message about referenda in Cyprus at Wednesday's meeting, Gul said that there were differences between the sides but they also had self-confidence to discuss them, adding, ''we don't expect any different thing. We know about everybody's opinion. We attribute importance to maintaining good Turkish-Greek relations.''
Asked whether Erdogan would many any recommendation to Caramanlis about referenda, Gul said, ''a prime minister does not make recommendation to his colleague but they only discuss.''
Replying to another question, Gul said that the new round of Turkish-Greek exploratory talks would be held in Ankara on April 26.
Asked whether talks would end until the end of the year, Gul said, ''it depends on the progress.''
Asked whether application would be made to The Hague, Gul said that first of all, talks should reach a conclusion.
Noting that security problems should be solved for development of the Balkans, Gul said that any country could not reach prosperity before security problems were solved and Turkey was trying to do it in its region.

TURKISH-GREEK QUARTET SUMMIT TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY
Turkish and Greek sides will meet in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on Wednesday prior to the referenda to be held in the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides on April 24, 2004.
Sources told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis would hold a meeting in Sarajevo under the Southeast European Countries Co-operation Process.
Turkish and Greek foreign ministers will also attend the meeting.
The Cyprus issue and Turkish-Greek bilateral relations are expected to be high on agenda of the meeting.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in Sarajevo to attend the Balkan Summit, participated in an unofficial meeting of foreign ministers.
Gul will partake in a banquet to be hosted by Prime Minister Adnan Terzic of Bosnia-Herzegovina in honor of guest ministers.

ERDOGAN IN SARAJEVO
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived late on Tuesday in Sarajevo to attend Summit Meeting of Heads of State and Government of Southeast European Countries Cooperation Process.
Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidential Council Secretary General Ante Grbic and Turkish Ambassador in Sarajevo Sina Baydur welcomed Erdogan at Sarajevo's airport.
Prime Minister Erdogan who will also hold bilateral meetings on Wednesday is expected to return to Turkey late on the same day.

CARAMANLIS GIVES FOUR MESSAGES TO TURKEY
Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis gave four messages to Turkey prior to his meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday.
Turkish diplomatic sources said on Tuesday that Caramanlis conveyed these messages through Turkish Ambassador in Athens Yigit Alpogan whom he received yesterday.
At the meeting, Alpogan informed Caramanlis on bilateral relations and Turkey's stance towards Cyprus process.
Messages of Caramanlis are as follows:
''-Turkish-Greek relations should be maintained under current good climate,
-Go-it alone policy should be adopted for Cyprus process,
-Turkish-Greek economic relations should be consolidated,
-Greece supports Turkey's EU membership process.''
Meanwhile, sources said that Caramanlis conveyed his opinion that ''real alliance relations'' should be set up between Turkey and Greece.
(MS) 20.04.2004