ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held telephone conversations with U.S. President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Releasing a statement, the Prime Ministry Office stated on Friday Prime Minister Erdogan held a telephone conversation with President Putin earlier in the day.
Informing President Putin on recent developments in Cyprus following last week's twin referendums in the island, Prime Minister Erdogan stressed that results of the referendums revealed that Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) had displayed an attitude in favor of solution.
Emphasizing that Turkish Cypriot people's desire to integrate with the whole world should be supported, Prime Minister Erdogan added, ''I believe that the Russian Federation, a permanent member of United Nations Security Council having sound and special relations with Turkey, will try to do its utmost to support efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue.''
Later, Prime Minister Erdogan telephoned U.S. President Bush.
Erdogan thanked President Bush for his sound support and constructive contributions to Turkey's efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue before May 1, 2004.
Stressing that an important opportunity was missed because of rejection of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan by the Greek Cypriot side, Erdogan said that Turkish Cypriot people should not be unjustly treated any longer.
''Now, it is the time for integration of Turkish Cypriot people with the whole world. I believe that the United States will continue supporting us to this end,'' Prime Minister Erdogan added.
(UK-AY) 30.04.2004