Cicek: Both Turkey And TRNC Have Done Everything In Their Power

ANKARA - Turkish Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek has said, ``both Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have done everything in their power to reach a lasting solution.``
Holding a press conference following meeting of the Council of Ministers, Cicek said on Monday, ``both Turkey and the TRNC have done everything in their power to reach a lasting solution. They supported United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan`s plan for the solution. Neither Turkey nor the TRNC are responsible for continuation of the insolubility.``
Upon a question on the report of United Nations Secretary General Annan about Cyprus, Cicek said, ``Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul could not attend today`s meeting due to his program in Egypt. The issue will be taken up in detail at another meeting to be held with his participation.``
``We think that it was an important report. There are very important expressions about efforts of the Turkish side. Both Turkey and the TRNC have done everything in their power to reach a lasting solution. They supported United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan`s plan for the solution. Neither Turkey nor the TRNC are responsible for continuation of the insolubility,`` he said.
Cicek told reporters, ``now the international community should take some steps. International isolation against Turkish Cypriot people should be lifted. The report is of importance to this end.``
He added that NATO Summit and the meeting of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to be held in Istanbul in the coming days, would constitute a significant opportunity to explain the Cyprus issue.
(UK-AÖ) 07.06.2004