ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that Turkey would like to carry on constructive, transparent and analytical policies.
Speaking at private CNN Turk television channel, Gul said that Turkey was continuing activities about Cyprus issue with the concerned states and institutions and added that the United States and Britain supported Turkey and exerted great efforts.
Gul said, ''we need the support of these countries again. We need their support not because they shall take side with us, but to reveal the rightful side.''
Noting that a new period had started in Cyprus issue, Gul said that what should be done from now on was to try to save Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from economic isolation and then political isolation.
Noting that he had positive expectations, but he could not guarantee anything, Gul said, ''these things are not solved instantly, it is necessary to work on them.'' Noting that Turkey would like to carry on constructive, transparent and analytical policies, Gul said, ''it is necessary for us to see responses to our moves in order to continue these policies.''
Regarding Russia's attitude about Cyprus, Gul said that economic and political relations with Russia had improved recently.
It was the first time that Russia was informed about Cyprus issue, Gul stated, adding, ''thus we are also informing them and we want them to do the right thing.''
When asked what Turkey's attitude would be if Greek Cypriots wanted to open embassy in Turkey as ''Greek Cypriot Republic'' and whether they would be considered an interlocutor in such a situation, Gul said that Turkey would consider Greek Cypriots as interlocutor like other European Union (EU) member countries during ministerial meeting, in commission and other meetings.
When asked whether Greek Cypriots would be in an effort to prevent Turkey's EU membership in December, Gul said that Greek Cypriots would not have the strength to do that and they would not be allowed to do so.
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side voted U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in simultaneous referenda held on April 24.
Sixty-five percent of Turkish Cypriots voted ''yes'' to the Annan plan while 35.09 percent voted against the plan in the simultaneous referenda. A total of 75.83 percent of the Greek Cypriots said ''no'' to the plan while 24.17 of them voted ''yes.''
The rate of participation in the referendum was 84.35 in TRNC and 96.53 percent in the Greek Cypriot side.
The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) of the European Union (EU) took on Wednesday measures to ease economic isolation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with changes it made to Cyprus regulations.
The measures taken by COREPER, comprised of permanent representatives of EU member countries in Brussels, facilitate sale of goods produced in TRNC, which have been subject to embargoes so far, in EU market across the Green Line.
EU justice and interior ministers ratified Cyprus regulations which were defined as a ''first step'' to end isolation of Turkish Cypriots.
THERE ARE DIFFERENT VIEWS IN EUROPE TOWARDS TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP
Gul said, regarding EU-Turkey relations and the attitude of French President Jacques Chirac, that there were different views within Europe. He added that they knew that German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder announced that they would be locomotive in this issue and France had taken steps more slowly and by thinking.
Gul recalled that Chirac considered Turkey's membership would take 10-15 years and said that ''Turkey could become an EU member in 10-15 years'' was a right forecast.
Noting that France said ''yes'' to starting of membership negotiations with Turkey, Gul said that it was a positive approach when French image was taken into consideration.
(GC-BRC) 01.05.2004