Gul Holds Telephone Conversations With Powell, Straw, Verheugen, Fischer And Cowen

ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has hold a series of telephone conversations to change the Cyprus regulations of the European Union (EU) Commission in line with requests of the Turkish Cypriot side.
Sources told the A.A correspondent on Monday that Gul had held telephone conversations with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, Foreign Minister Brian Cowen of EU Term Minister Ireland, and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
During the conversations, Gul said that Turkish Cypriot side's requests should be taken into consideration in the regulations which were expected to be given their final shape on April 28.
Gul also held a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.
During the conversation, Powell told Gul that the Turkish Cypriot side had taken giant steps in the Cyprus negotiation process, and the United States would maintain its support.
Highlighting importance of lifting of the international isolation against Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Gul asked the United States to support them to this end.
Meanwhile, Ankara welcomed the statement approved by the EU General Affairs Council to assist economic development of TRNC.
Diplomatic sources said that EU's expressing its regret over results of the referendum in Cyprus, and the EU's shedding light to financial aid to TRNC were important developments.
(UK) 26.04.2004