Sezer: Extension of Ankara agreement to new EU members not to lead Turkey to leave alone Turkish Cypriots

ISTANBUL - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Thursday that extension of Ankara agreement to new members of EU by the additional protocol would not lead Turkey to leave alone Turkish Cypriots.
``Turkey can only recognise `Republic of Cyprus` when a fair and lasting solution is found to the problem and when a new partnership state where the two communities live together is set up on the island,`` Sezer said in his speech at the War Academies Conference.
Talking about Turkish foreign policy in his speech, Sezer said that the aim of Turkey which is to further get modernised and integrate with the west covers both the EU and US. ``Turkey`s relations with one of them is not the alternative of its relations with the other, the relations with EU and US complement each other. Turkey isn`t in a situation to prefer one of them to the other. The thing that must be done is to continue this strategic dialogue with both of them by finding new common targets and basis,`` Sezer said.
Noting that the developments in Iraq closely concerned Turkey, Sezer said that the Turkish state was determined to protect the lives of Turkish citizens in Iraq. Sezer said that a broad-based democratic government in which all the peoples of the Iraq are fairly represented should be founded, and that Kirkuk should maintain its place in Iraqi territorial integrity and political unity. Sezer stressed that the existance of the terrorist organisation PKK/Kongragel in north of Iraq was a matter of uneasiness for Turkey, and that the US should fulfil its responsibilities in this regard.
Sezer said that Turkey was ready to take initiative to further improve the Middle East peace process if the sides ask Turkey for such help.
Reminding of his visit to Syria next week, Sezer said that he would have the opportunity to discuss both bilateral relations and also regional developments during that visit.
Referring to Cyprus issue, Sezer said that Greek Cypriots didn`t only reject Annan plan, but also the solution in the island, as it was also put forward in the report of UN Secretary General.