ISTANBUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he respected Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, adding, ``however, Turkish Cypriot people have put forward an opinion. I don`t know how Mr. Denktas would evaluate it.``
Asked whether there could be a new referendum in southern Cyprus, Erdogan said, ``it is held once and it ends. Actually, the U.N. Secretary General said he would not be a part of such a thing again.``
Replying to a question which said, ``there is information that there are statements in the United States and European Union that there can be several proposals for lessening of embargo on the TRNC, opening of the airport to international flights and sale of goods brought to the TRNC to foreign countries. What do you think about it? Have your received any message?`` Erdogan said that leaders and foreign ministry officials of several countries had made statements during the process before the referenda. We think that it is the thing that should be among our expectations,`` he said.
Asked what he thought about statements of TRNC President Rauf Denktas who said, ``there is no reason for his resignation as expected results were gotten``, Erdogan said, ``I respect Mr. Denktas. However, I explained my opinion on the referenda. The people of the TRNC have put forward an opinion. I don`t know how Mr. Denktas will evaluate it.``
Asked whether they had received any positive or negative reaction from Annan or the EU, Erdogan said that he had not received any reaction so far.
Asked what the TRNC`s good will would bring in, Erdogan said, ``it is not a thing that has limits. We will clearly see what it is going to bring in in coming period. We believe it will bring in much.``
Asked whether they would wait for results of international developments or there were things they were planning to do beginning on next Monday, Erdogan said their steps would not stop. ``We will give much of the support we have given so far to the TRNC.``
Noting that the TRNC had a particular meaning and place for Turkey, Erdogan said that they would finish all projects in the TRNC and do what was necessary to bring Turkish Cypriots to a different point.
Asked whether bizonality would increase after referenda, Erdogan said, ``at the moment, it is wrong to claim that such a thing has happened. However, the TRNC is actually a state. It exists as a state. If the Annan plan had been accepted, two founder states would have formed a federal state. Now United Cyprus Republic was not formed.`` Asked whether Turkic republics and Islamic countries would recognize the TRNC, Erdogan said it was too early to comment on it.
Stressing that recognition of the TRNC was up to those countries, Erdogan said, ``I mean to say that there is no any obstacle or situation that prevent those countries from recognizing the TRNC. Azerbaijan can make such a decision. It is its parliament`s most natural authority and right. And when it makes such a decision, the TRNC does not say why it took such a decision.`` Asked whether he would attend the EU meeting in Ireland on Monday, Erdogan said that they had not yet discussed who would participate in the meeting.
(MS) 24.04.2004
ISTANBUL - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he respected Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas, adding, ``however, Turkish Cypriot people have put forward an opinion. I don`t know how Mr. Denktas would evaluate it.``
Asked whether there could be a new referendum in southern Cyprus, Erdogan said, ``it is held once and it ends. Actually, the U.N. Secretary General said he would not be a part of such a thing again.``
Replying to a question which said, ``there is information that there are statements in the United States and European Union that there can be several proposals for lessening of embargo on the TRNC, opening of the airport to international flights and sale of goods brought to the TRNC to foreign countries. What do you think about it? Have your received any message?`` Erdogan said that leaders and foreign ministry officials of several countries had made statements during the process before the referenda. We think that it is the thing that should be among our expectations,`` he said.
Asked what he thought about statements of TRNC President Rauf Denktas who said, ``there is no reason for his resignation as expected results were gotten``, Erdogan said, ``I respect Mr. Denktas. However, I explained my opinion on the referenda. The people of the TRNC have put forward an opinion. I don`t know how Mr. Denktas will evaluate it.``
Asked whether they had received any positive or negative reaction from Annan or the EU, Erdogan said that he had not received any reaction so far.
Asked what the TRNC`s good will would bring in, Erdogan said, ``it is not a thing that has limits. We will clearly see what it is going to bring in in coming period. We believe it will bring in much.``
Asked whether they would wait for results of international developments or there were things they were planning to do beginning on next Monday, Erdogan said their steps would not stop. ``We will give much of the support we have given so far to the TRNC.``
Noting that the TRNC had a particular meaning and place for Turkey, Erdogan said that they would finish all projects in the TRNC and do what was necessary to bring Turkish Cypriots to a different point.
Asked whether bizonality would increase after referenda, Erdogan said, ``at the moment, it is wrong to claim that such a thing has happened. However, the TRNC is actually a state. It exists as a state. If the Annan plan had been accepted, two founder states would have formed a federal state. Now United Cyprus Republic was not formed.`` Asked whether Turkic republics and Islamic countries would recognize the TRNC, Erdogan said it was too early to comment on it.
Stressing that recognition of the TRNC was up to those countries, Erdogan said, ``I mean to say that there is no any obstacle or situation that prevent those countries from recognizing the TRNC. Azerbaijan can make such a decision. It is its parliament`s most natural authority and right. And when it makes such a decision, the TRNC does not say why it took such a decision.`` Asked whether he would attend the EU meeting in Ireland on Monday, Erdogan said that they had not yet discussed who would participate in the meeting.
(MS) 24.04.2004