ANKARA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal returned from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to Turkey on Friday.
Speaking to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Baykal said, ''I met TRNC President Rauf Denktas, Premier Mehmet Ali Talat and main opposition party leader Dervis Eroglu in TRNC. We paid this visit to express our appreciation to Denktas due to his struggle in Cyprus issue.''
''We have discussed the recent situation of Cyprus issue during meetings,'' he added.
''We are about to reach an important stage of Cyprus issue. An extension protocol will be signed in October which is important regarding Turkey-EU entry talks. All officials in TRNC insist that this protocol should be signed in a way which will not allow a strengthening of isolation over TRNC,'' said Baykal.
When asked his evaluations about the statements of Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc supporting the removal of 'casus belli' (Turkey may consider Greece's extending its territorial waters to 12 miles as 'casus belli'), Baykal said, ''need to establish a balance in Aegean Sea emerged due to incidents happened in the past. Turkey cannot accept Greece's extending its territorial waters in a unilateral way. In such a situation, Turkish vessels had to take permission from Greece even to sail at Turkish ports.''
''It is known that extending territorial waters to 12 miles in a unilateral way will deteriorate the situation in the Aegean unjustly. Turkey had mentioned that such an initiative of Greece will be considered as casus belli. This stance of Turkey has prevented such a fait accompli to happen so far,'' added Baykal.