ANKARA (AA) - Mumtaz Soysal and Sukru Sina Gurel, former foreign ministers of Turkey, commenting on the ongoing meeting of the European Council in Belgian capital of Brussels, said, ''entering a process full of impositions and giving up Turkey's stance on Cyprus within this framework will mean betraying rights of Turkish people''.
Soysal and Gurel held a joint press conference in which they said, ''as we have learned that full membership negotiations will be open-ended and an expression implying that special status may be granted to Turkey can be used (in the resolution), we would like to state that we consider problematic the participation of Cyprus in an EU, of which Turkey won't be a full member, under this or that name and/or reunified or divided.''
''Turkey will make a big mistake if it accepts EU's considering Cyprus as the only sovereign state covering the entire island and sits on a table for full membership negotiations under these circumstances. In these days when some circles talk about reviving the Annan plan for settlement of Cyprus problem, we should state that this plan has become invalid since one of the parties rejected it. Turkey should put forth its own plan as soon as possible instead of waiting for being subject to initiatives of others,'' Soysal and Gurel added.
On the other hand, Soysal, in his part, said that Turkey would face a very bad situation in case a step of no return was taken regarding Cyprus problem.
Stressing that an attitude which might mean ''recognizing'' the Greek Cypriot administration should not be assumed, Soysal added, ''we should insist on 'not recognizing'' in every stage. Keeping silent without saying this word, will also mean recognition in international law.''
(BRC-A)
2004-12-17