Erdogan: We Are Deeply Distressed That The Security Council Has Yet To Endorse Report Of Annan

NEW YORK (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday, ''we are deeply distressed that the UN Security Council has yet to endorse the report of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan about Cyprus.''
Holding a news conference after his meeting with UN Secretary-General Annan in New York with the issues of Iraq, the Middle East, the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative and UN reform efforts on their agenda, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''Mr. Annan and I had the chance of evaluating the recent developments in Cyprus and recent visit of UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).''
''UN Secretary-General Annan expressed his appreciation about the Turkish Cypriots' 'yes' vote to his plan in the referendum of April 24th, 2004, and our support to the process in the island,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters, ''a new process started after the Greek Cypriot side joined the EU on May 1st. Mr. Annan prepared a report on May 28th including his recommendations about elimination of political and economic restrictions and barriers on the TRNC, and his call to the EU-member states to extend support to the TRNC. However, the 15-nation Security Council has failed to act on the report. We are deeply distressed that the Security Council has yet to endorse this report. This inability to reach a decision raises question marks about the credibility of the Security Council. It is finally time for them to make a decision.''
Describing the recent direct visit of U.S. congressmen to the TRNC as a politically positive step, Prime Minister Erdogan recalled that British businessmen had also paid a constructive visit to the TRNC.
''We believe that beginning of direct flights to the TRNC will be quite meaningful in this period. Direct flights will also have a quality of warning against the Greek Cypriot side,'' he said.
Erdogan stressed that Ankara expected a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement in the island.
IRAQ
Referring to the issue of Iraq, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''preparatory efforts have still been under way for the new Iraqi constitution. Turkey will continue supporting Iraq in this process.''
''We expect the new Iraqi government not to make the same mistake as ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in Kirkuk. The city belongs to whole Iraq and all Iraqi people. The current Iraqi government seems to think that the city should not belong to any ethnical group,'' he said.
Prime Minister Erdogan reiterated that Turkey attributed great importance to territorial integrity of Iraq.
TURKEY-SYRIA RELATIONS
As for recent developments between Syria and Lebanon, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''I informed Mr. Annan on developments in the bilateral relations between Turkey and Syria. I told him that Turkey conveyed its views about democratization, human rights, rule of law, fight against terrorism, security and prosperity to Syrian authorities.''
TURKEY'S DEMAND OF NON-PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP TO UN SECURITY COUNCIL
Recalling that the reform efforts had been under way in the UN, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''Turkey requests to be a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period of 2009 and 2010. We held talks with authorities of several countries, and all of them extended their support to Turkey's non-permanent membership. Turkey has not had such a membership since 1961. We hope that out initiative will yield positive results.''

2005-06-10