Cem: Cyprus Problem Should Be Solved Before The End Of 2002

BERLIN, Jan 8 (A.A) - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Tuesday that Cyprus problem should be solved before the end of the year 2002.
Speaking to German ''Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung'' newspaper, Cem said a change process has been experienced since August 1998 following the confederation proposal of Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
Stressing that Denktas's attitute in inviting Clerides was a positive step, Cem said, ''we have created a better platform for reciprocal understanding.''
''It is very hard for the communities on Cyprus to find a joint solution because of objective reasons,'' Cem said, adding that ideologies and global developments caused people to distance themselves from each other instead of integration.
Pointing out that stressing of ethnical values became a fashion, Cem said, ''I have always been against such kind of developments in respect to philosophical and political means. However, this is a fact which exists.''
Stating that there were two different peoples, two different cultures and religions were existing on Cyprus, Cem said people from different religions lived apart from each other even in European countries.
Cem said Turkey, being a guarantor country on Cyprus, exerted efforts to reach a solution which will please the two communities, adding that, ''the two leaders on Cyprus should have a joint vision and should cover a joint target for the future of Cyprus to improve dialogue on Cyprus.''
Stressing that Turkey improved relations to a great extend with all its neighbours, Cem said, ''only Armenia continues its hostile attitute against Turkey and also continues to occupy Azerbaijan. If Armenia takes a positive step, of course we will respond positively.''
Cem said every negative development in Iraq would have a negative effect on Turkey, noting that the U.S. administration wanted to oust Iraqi administration. Cem said Turkey's priority was preservation of Iraq's territorial integrity.
Reiterating that Turkey could send soldiers to Afghanistan, Cem recalled that the Turkish Armed Forces was carrying out contacts with the U.S. and British officers at the time being.
Speaking about Turkey's EU membership, Cem said, ''what is important is to have a political will and good will. Turkey has both of them. The amendments to the Constitution prove this. What is important more than fully abiding by the Copenhagen criteria, is the creation of a positive process to start talks.''
Cem said lifting of capital punishment was intensely discussed in Turkish public, pointing out that, ''I wish a change will take place in this respect. The capital punishment has not been carried out in Turkey in the past 20 years.''

''CYPRUS AND NEW INTERNATIONAL ATMOSPHERE'' CONFERENCE TO TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY 11
''Cyprus and New International Atmosphere'' conference, arranged by Bahcesehir University, will take place in Lefkosa on January 11.
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will address the opening of the conference.
Denktas will meet the Greek Cyriot leader Glafcos Clerides the same day.
Bahcesehir University issued a written statement and said the conference, which will be jointly held by Cyprus Turk Airlines (KTHY), will start in Lefkosa Ataturk Culture Center at 9:30 local time on January 11.
The written statement said the conference will have a very important function as of its subject and timing.
The statement said the conference will be comprised of three main themes:
''The first section will be on 'Cyprus Within the Scope of International Relations' the second section will be ''Cyprus Problem in Judicial Framework'' and the third theme will be on ''Media and Cyprus''.
The written statement said the last section of the meeting would focus on the function of media on Cyprus problem.