ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late on Monday that a new process would start in Cyprus.
Addressing a private television channel, Erdogan said, ''this process will either be two separate states or a United Cyprus Republic as stated in the (UN Secretary General Kofi) Annan plan.''
Answering a question with whom Turkey would negotiate the extension of the protocol so that ''it would include Cyprus'' till October 3rd, 2005, Erdogan said, ''there is nothing like an extension. We will have talks with the European Commission. We will discuss the requirements of the Ankara Agreement as a necessity of the 19th paragraph. We will debate what Turkey should do as a requirement of this agreement. We will reach a compromise with the Commission on many articles. At the same time, the Commission will naturally discuss several matters with the Greek Cypriot side.''
Asked if the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) would make use of the Customs Union as the Greek Cypriot side, Erdogan said, ''the situation of the north is different than that of the south regarding Customs Union. North is a member of neither the Customs Union nor the EU. If both parties (in Cyprus) had voted 'yes' in the April 24th simultaneous referenda, this process would have been over now. But, it's not so. Now, a second process will begin. That is, the south and the north will take steps for a new peace process.''
Upon a question if he was launching a new settlement process, Erdogan said, ''it can begin. This process will either be two separate states or a United Cyprus Republic as stated in the Annan plan.''
-ANNAN PLAN IS NOT ON AGENDA AT THE MOMENT-
Asked if Annan plan was still on the agenda, Erdogan said, ''no, it is not. The south opposes to the Annan plan. But, neither the north or the south, or Greece, Turkey and Britain can't say 'it's over' to the Annan plan. The plan wrote that it would be excluded from the agenda if both parties did not vote 'yes' in April 24th simultaneous referenda. So, it has been dropped.''
Answering a question if the plan could be brought forward again, Erdogan said, ''we think such a thing will be beneficial for resumption of the peace process.''
Erdogan said that Turkey would be pleased if the UN was involved in the process.
Asked if non-solution of the Cyprus issue was a ''disadvantage'', Erdogan said, ''it is politically wrong to comment. I can neither say 'yes' nor 'no'. All these are matters we will solve through negotiations. We should sit at the table with 'win-win' understanding. We need to solve it. We need to find a fair and permanent solution. Otherwise, this won't be an island of peace.''
Erdogan, answering a question on when the solution process would begin, said, ''within 2005. There will be elections in the TRNC, and then the south will hold elections. The result of these elections are important. But, we don't need to wait for the results of the elections. We will start talks with the European Commission as of the beginning of 2005.''
Asked if Turkey wanted to solve the issue before beginning of its accession negotiations, Erdogan said, ''of course, there will be a road map. And, we will work in line with this road map.''
(BRC-MS)
2004-12-21