ANKARA - Turkish government spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek has said that the clear source of the insolubility in Cyprus has come out with the referenda, adding, ''it is absolutely the Greek Cypriot side.''
Holding a news conference after Monday's Turkish Council of Ministers meeting, Cicek said that the meeting mainly focused on developments about Cyprus.
Cicek said that rejection of the most ever comprehensive and most ever serious resolution plan which had been developed upon efforts of the U.N. Secretary General and leading countries and organizations of the international community and initiative of Turkey in recent period, by Greek Cypriots meant missing of an important opportunity. ''Turkey regrets it,'' he noted.
''The referenda held for the first time in Cyprus have created a new situation. The international community and all relevant institutions have to make proper evaluation of this situation. The U.N. Secretary General's comprehensive solution plan targeted a balanced compromise in Cyprus before May 1, 2004 and the island's European Union full membership with a new partnership structure and as a whole on May 1. It was the demand and expectation of Turkey and international community. Results of referenda have clearly shown that the Greek Cypriot side is against a new partnership, compromise, accession to the European Union as a whole and living together with Turkish Cypriots,'' he said.
''Besides, the clear source of the insolubility in Cyprus has come out with the referenda. It is absolutely the Greek Cypriot side. We hope that international organizations and members of the international community would not allow the Greek Cypriot side to exploit the Cyprus issue and European Union membership,'' Cicek stressed.
''As for the European Union side, it is clear that results of the referenda have created a quite contradictory situation. It accepts membership of the Greek Cypriot side which said 'no' to unification of the island and resolution while it excludes the Turkish Cypriot side which displayed a will of accession to the European Union, unification of the island by resolving the issue under expectation of the international community,'' Cicek added.
CICEK: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD NO MORE ALLOW GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION TO INSIST ON ITS CLAIM THAT IT ALSO REPRESENTS TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE
Calling on the Greek Cypriot political leadership and international community to first of all give up imposing unjust embargoes and restrictions on Turkish Cypriot people in the wake of the twin referenda on the island, Cicek said that result of the referendum in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) had proven Turkish Cypriot people's desire to integrate with the world.
Stressing that nobody had the right to no more isolate Turkish Cypriot people in international field, Cicek said, ''the international community should immediately undertake its responsibilities for the Turkish Cypriot people who live within a pluralist democratic structure that respects human rights. The international community also should no more allow the Greek Cypriot administration to insist on its claim that it were the representative of also the Turkish Cypriot side.''
''As it is known that Turkey which contributes to development of peace and stability in international field and its region has set European Union full membership as a strategic target. Moreover, Turkey is a country which attributes importance to development of its relations with its neighboring countries and makes progress with this objective. With this respect, Turkey will exert sincere efforts to further improve its relations with Greece. We expect that also Greece will properly evaluate this newly emerged situation in Cyprus,'' he said.
Cicek stressed that their motherland Turkey would continue standing by the TRNC and Turkish Cypriot people.
Noting that they were sure that Turkish Cypriot people would be in unity and solidarity, Cicek said that Turkey would continue fulfilling its responsibilities for prosperity and wealth of Turkish Cypriot people.
Cicek thanked U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, U.N. officials and relevant countries for their efforts.
Asked about comments from the EU on the Cyprus issue saying that 'it was too optimistic to believe the Turkish Cypriot side completely fulfilled its duties' and Turkey should pull back soldiers symbolically after May 1, 2004 and recognize the Greek Cypriot side, Cicek said, ''nobody needs to look down on referenda results. Both Turkish Cypriot people and the government of the Republic of Turkey have done their best. Those who made promise to people before referenda should keep it. Besides, there is no need to develop pretexts. The situation is clear.''
''We think that we have fulfilled our responsibilities. Turkish Cypriot people have exerted every possible effort and shown a positive result. Everybody should accept this fact,'' he said.
(MS-AY) 26.04.2004
ANKARA - Turkish government spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek has said that the clear source of the insolubility in Cyprus has come out with the referenda, adding, ''it is absolutely the Greek Cypriot side.''
Holding a news conference after Monday's Turkish Council of Ministers meeting, Cicek said that the meeting mainly focused on developments about Cyprus.
Cicek said that rejection of the most ever comprehensive and most ever serious resolution plan which had been developed upon efforts of the U.N. Secretary General and leading countries and organizations of the international community and initiative of Turkey in recent period, by Greek Cypriots meant missing of an important opportunity. ''Turkey regrets it,'' he noted.
''The referenda held for the first time in Cyprus have created a new situation. The international community and all relevant institutions have to make proper evaluation of this situation. The U.N. Secretary General's comprehensive solution plan targeted a balanced compromise in Cyprus before May 1, 2004 and the island's European Union full membership with a new partnership structure and as a whole on May 1. It was the demand and expectation of Turkey and international community. Results of referenda have clearly shown that the Greek Cypriot side is against a new partnership, compromise, accession to the European Union as a whole and living together with Turkish Cypriots,'' he said.
''Besides, the clear source of the insolubility in Cyprus has come out with the referenda. It is absolutely the Greek Cypriot side. We hope that international organizations and members of the international community would not allow the Greek Cypriot side to exploit the Cyprus issue and European Union membership,'' Cicek stressed.
''As for the European Union side, it is clear that results of the referenda have created a quite contradictory situation. It accepts membership of the Greek Cypriot side which said 'no' to unification of the island and resolution while it excludes the Turkish Cypriot side which displayed a will of accession to the European Union, unification of the island by resolving the issue under expectation of the international community,'' Cicek added.
CICEK: INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD NO MORE ALLOW GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION TO INSIST ON ITS CLAIM THAT IT ALSO REPRESENTS TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE
Calling on the Greek Cypriot political leadership and international community to first of all give up imposing unjust embargoes and restrictions on Turkish Cypriot people in the wake of the twin referenda on the island, Cicek said that result of the referendum in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) had proven Turkish Cypriot people's desire to integrate with the world.
Stressing that nobody had the right to no more isolate Turkish Cypriot people in international field, Cicek said, ''the international community should immediately undertake its responsibilities for the Turkish Cypriot people who live within a pluralist democratic structure that respects human rights. The international community also should no more allow the Greek Cypriot administration to insist on its claim that it were the representative of also the Turkish Cypriot side.''
''As it is known that Turkey which contributes to development of peace and stability in international field and its region has set European Union full membership as a strategic target. Moreover, Turkey is a country which attributes importance to development of its relations with its neighboring countries and makes progress with this objective. With this respect, Turkey will exert sincere efforts to further improve its relations with Greece. We expect that also Greece will properly evaluate this newly emerged situation in Cyprus,'' he said.
Cicek stressed that their motherland Turkey would continue standing by the TRNC and Turkish Cypriot people.
Noting that they were sure that Turkish Cypriot people would be in unity and solidarity, Cicek said that Turkey would continue fulfilling its responsibilities for prosperity and wealth of Turkish Cypriot people.
Cicek thanked U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, U.N. officials and relevant countries for their efforts.
Asked about comments from the EU on the Cyprus issue saying that 'it was too optimistic to believe the Turkish Cypriot side completely fulfilled its duties' and Turkey should pull back soldiers symbolically after May 1, 2004 and recognize the Greek Cypriot side, Cicek said, ''nobody needs to look down on referenda results. Both Turkish Cypriot people and the government of the Republic of Turkey have done their best. Those who made promise to people before referenda should keep it. Besides, there is no need to develop pretexts. The situation is clear.''
''We think that we have fulfilled our responsibilities. Turkish Cypriot people have exerted every possible effort and shown a positive result. Everybody should accept this fact,'' he said.
(MS-AY) 26.04.2004