ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked late on Monday European Union (EU) countries to take concrete steps to solve problems of Turkish Cypriot people instead of appreciating steps and attitude of the Turkish side.
Erdogan, who hosted dinner in honor of ambassadors of EU member countries to Turkey, said that Turkey had fulfilled its responsibilities in Cyprus issue.
Cyprus issue was not among Copenhagen criteria, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan noted that Turkey focused itself on getting a date to start full membership negotiations with the EU in December 2004.
Asked by the Austrian Ambassador to Turkey if Turkey would prefer recognition of Cyprus Turkish State or renegotiation of United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, Erdogan said that Turkey had taken risks after the quartet conference held in Davos and was behind its word.
Erdogan said, ''you accepted a party which said 'no' to the EU. There is nothing more we can do under these circumstances.''
Annan openly put forward the realities in the report he presented to the UN Security Council, Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan said, ''everybody appreciates us, but this appreciation doesn't help find a solution to problems of Turkish Cypriot people. We want concrete steps instead of appreciation.''
TRNC and Greek Cypriot side started negotiations in Cyprus on February 19. As there were some issues which remained unsolved during the negotiations, a quartet conference took place among TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece in Buergenstock, Switzerland from March 24 to 31.
UN Secretary General Annan filled in the blanks of an agreement between two parties in the plan he unveiled in Buergenstock on March 31.
Two sides voted this plan in simultaneous referenda in the island on April 24. While majority of the Turkish side voted in favor of the plan, the Greek Cypriot side rejected it. Therefore, the plan was not put into practice.
As majority of Turkish Cypriot people voted 'yes' to the plan, TRNC wants the international community to lift embargoes and end isolation of its people.
(BRC-AÖ) 08.06.2004