Erdogan: We Can't Protect Turkish Interests In Island (cyprus), If We Insist On Insolvability Policies

ANKARA (AA) - ''We can't protect Turkish interests in the island (Cyprus), if we insist on insolvability policies, continue to be passive, and act with psychology of self-defense,'' Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
     Addressing the Parliamentary General Assembly before vote on 2005 fiscal year budget draft law, Erdogan said that Turkey had seized a great opportunity on the road to European Union (EU) membership on December 17th,
     ''This decision is a historic opportunity for not only Turkey but also for the EU to lay the groundwork to bring together different cultures,'' he said.
     Erdogan noted that with the decision made at the December 17th Brussels summit, an important step was taken to slow down conflicts and raise hopes for world peace.
    
     -MOST IMPORTANT ACQUISITION-
     The outcome of the December 17th summit put forth an obvious vision for Turkey's 41-year membership target, Erdogan said.
     ''The most important acquisition we obtained from this summit is to get a clear date to start membership negotiations, not to have a secondary decision, and to set the target (of negotiations) as full membership,'' Erdogan noted.
     Recalling that a satisfactory result came out of the summit thanks to sincere efforts of both parties, Erdogan said, ''everybody should have asked himself/herself what could have happened if a result contrary to our expectations had come out of this historic summit and if we had returned home without winning a negotiation date.''
    
     -THE MOST UNJUST CRITICISM-
     Erdogan said that the most unjust criticism they were facing was related with Cyprus problem, and noted that his government considered Cyprus as a national cause, and had many times stated that they would not condone any initiative which would overshadow interests of the Turkish Cypriot side.
     Not only the statements they made but also official statements made after December 17th openly said that the decision to extend the Customs Union so that it would include ten new EU members would no way mean recognition of the Greek Cypriot side, Erdogan recalled.
    
     -SITUATION OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS-
     Pointing to the statement United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan made at the Security Council after April 24th simultaneous referenda held in Cyprus, Erdogan said, ''in his report, Annan made all the world hear about the situation of Turkish Cypriots. There is no reason to press on Turkish Cypriots or isolate them. The report calls for end of practices which prevent development of Turkish Cypriot side and isolate them. It stresses that a lasting peace in Cyprus should be based on political equality and partnership, and lays the responsibility of failure in solution plan on the Greek Cypriot side. It says that the Greek Cypriots rejected not only Annan plan but also a solution.''
     Erdogan added, ''moreover, the Secretary General strongly criticizes the stance of the Greek Cypriot side during and after the negotiations, and draws attention to the behaviors of the Greek Cypriot leadership which contradict with their promises before the negotiations. He stresses and welcomes constructive attitude of Turkey and Turkish Cypriot side before, during and after the negotiations. This means that this diplomatic evaluation was registered in the UN Security Council records. If this had continued as thought in The Hague, maybe we would not come to today's conditions.''
     PM Erdogan stated that his government supported every effort exerted within the framework of good offices of UN Secretary General.
     ''In coming days, we will actively join searches for a solution which take partnership as the basis and which foresee equality of two parties in the island under the UN umbrella. We expect the EU to contribute to this process,'' Erdogan said.
    
     -RELATIONS WITH UNITED STATES-
     Erdogan said that relations with the United States based on partnership continued multi-laterally.
     Recalling that tension that escalated between two countries in the first half of 2004 due to Iraq crisis was overcome, Erdogan said that two countries should continue their relations, taking into consideration their mutual sensitivities.
     Noting that some loathsome incidents had occurred in Iraq after the operation of the coalition forces led by the United States, Erdogan said, ''it is our right to expect our ally to show maximum sensitivity about such incidents, deeply affecting our nation. And, we express our sensitivities to the U.S. administration in various grounds. I believe that our sensitivities will be taken into consideration and Turkey's importance for providing peace in the region will be understood better.''
    
    -REFORMS-
     Stating that they had made significant reforms to make Turkey a country of democracy and freedoms, Erdogan said, ''these were steps we have taken not only to modernize our country but also to become an EU full member. It is one of our prior targets to make Turkey a model country in regard to democracy and freedoms and to raise the living standards of our people.''
     Noting that Turkey was excluded from the list of torture control of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) this year, Erdogan said that there had not been anyone convicted of intellectual crime after legal arrangements.
     (BRC-MS)
2004-12-28