Erdogan: Withdrawal Of Troops From Cyprus Is Out Of Question

DAVOS (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Turkey is trying to take steps according to the status quo in Cyprus. ''Withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus is out of the question for the time being. We are acting on basis of our rights arising from previous agreements,'' said Erdogan.
     Erdogan answered questions from Turkish journalists at Davos' Rinaldi Hotel.
     In response to a question on whether the delay in the ratification of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will negatively affect the relations, Erdogan told that there are no problems in relations with the IMF. ''We will get together with IMF's Deputy Director Anna Krueger tomorrow. Preliminary works must be completed prior to meetings with the IMF,'' remarked Erdogan.
     Erdogan went further by saying that the Turkish economy is moving in the right direction. ''The stock exchange (of Istanbul) broke a new record today,'' reminded Erdogan.
     Asked whether the EU screening process will coincide with the beginning of accession talks, Erdogan replied that their previous expectations were based on the assumption that right after the screening process the negotiations would begin. ''If we can make a decision about the Ankara Agreement, negotiations would begin on October 3rd. Screening takes place between experts, not politicians. We are making preparations to start accession talks on October 3rd.''
     In response to a question pertaining to the comments made by Deputy Chief of Turkish General Staff General Ilker Basbug on Cyprus and the comment that ''the decision not to withdraw troops was taken in consultation with his government,'' Erdogan said that Turkey has taken the process that began last year here to a certain point on April 24th.
     ''Our interlocutors have not completed their homework. If correct steps were taken after the point reached at Burgenstock, there could have been many steps taken by both Turkey and Greece. Pulling out troops from Cyprus is currently out of question. Turkey is ready to do its part when all parties respect mutual agreements. As Turkey, we will say 'yes' to a fair and permanent solution in Cyprus. However, we refuse to say 'yes' to whatever is presented.''
     (ES-MS)
2005-01-27