Cem: We Will Never Allow Any Unfair Treatment Against Turkish Cypriots

BRUSSELS, March 26 (A.A) - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Tuesday, ''Turkey will never allow any unfair treatment against Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus. I clearly conveyed this message to our interlocutors in Europe.''
Cem who is currently in Brussels to attend a conference organized by the Turkey-Europe Foundation and to hold a series of contacts with the European Union (EU) officials, held a press conference to inform journalists on his meetings with EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen and with EU's Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana.
Noting that these meetings had focused on Cyprus question, Cem said, ''we have been trying to explain the Cyprus question to everyone.''
''I informed Verheugen and Solana on the initiatives of President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). I think that my explanation contributed to the EU's well-understanding of the issue. I told them that we had been doing our utmost with good-will. I said that Turkish Cypriots did not give up their rights stemming from the agreements on the island. We expect the two nations to form a partnership state as two founder states, to discuss the issue of authority among three guarantor states, two founder states, and the partnership state.''
Noting that he had criticized the EU's some attitudes during his contacts, Cem told reporters, ''We belive that the EU is encouraging the Greek Cypriot side's intransigent attitude by its certain attitudes. The EU has not only a moral, but also a legal responsibility. The EU said that an agreement in Cyprus was favorable but this is not a precondition for Greek Cypriot side's membership to the EU. It said that the EU would consider all related factors while deciding on Cyprus' membership. These statements had caused the reaction of the Greek Cypriots at that time. The EU made a commitment to consider the efforts of both sides to reach a compromise while deciding on the membership of the Greek Cypriots. That means that if the Greek Cypriot side turns down all the positive initiatives of the Turkish Cypriot side and fails to make a contribution to the efforts to make an agreement, and if the EU says 'Well it's ok, such things happen', and approve the Greek Cypriots' membership, that would be a violation of the Helsinki Agreement. This is what we discussed and we'll continue to talk about it.''
''We don't want to start a fight,'' Cem continued. ''We only want the Greek Cypriot side to share the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot side to reach a logical solution.''
''We want a solution that could be acceptable for both sides. Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are working to attain this result. We don't make threats, but everyone should know that we won't allow injustice to be done against Turkish Cypriots. Turkey cannot allow Turkish Cypriots to become a minority on an island under the sovereignty of Greek Cypriots. Turkish Cypriots would not allow this to happen either,'' Cem said.
Cem said that Verheugen could have made some wrong statements, adding that he believed Verheugen was also working for a solution in Cyprus.
Cem indicated that during his meeting with Solana he discussed the Cyprus issue into detail.
''I see that the more we explain the more progress we can record for a peaceful solution. I explain that everybody will suffer loss if a solution is not found. I say that they should not have a question mark like what Turkey can or cannot do. What Turkey will do is very clear. There are decisions of the parliament. If they prefer a unilateral way, Turkey will use its rights stemming from agreements. Everybody knows this. There should not be any hesitation. I explained these. We have discussed what can be done to enable this process to reach a positive point,'' he said.
''Denktas has really a very rationable, constructive and compromising approach. Everybody should see this. And it is our duty to make everybody see this. In some circles of the EU, it is stressed that 'southern Cyprus will be a member even if the Cyprus issue is not solved' but I think that this is made in an unnecessary way. I mentioned this clearly. My interlocutors in Europe have never said that the TRNC's solution method is illogical, wrong and infeasible. They keep saying 'we wonder whether or not the Greek Cypriot side will accept'. That's why, they are also obliged to attribute importance to what the Turkish side will accept or won't accept,'' he said.
''The Turkish side has put forward a rationable and feasible model appropriate to everybody's reason, sense and logic. There is a legal infrastructure in Cyprus. Within framework of this infrastructure, Denktas's approach is very rationable. I say that 'tell me if there is a flaw and shortcoming and let's discuss it with this regard'. They do not make such objections,'' he said.
''The result is good. Even if it enters a deadlock, we win it as a result of our current policy. If it ends with a solution, we gain more. We want solution,'' Cem added.
SOME CIRCLES IN EU SHOULD GIVE UP ACTING LIKE COLONIALIST GOVERNORS
Speaking at the press conference, Cem said, ''I complained about some EU circles' acting like colonialist governors. I told it before. We witness examples of this attitude from time to time. I have been complaining about it. Some can do this in order to satisfy their own voter groups. We face negative approaches on many issues. The resolution adopted by the European Parliament about so-called Armenian genocide is an example. I object to this. I hope that these EU circles will give up their attitude of colonialist governors.''
Noting that the EU discussions had recently become ''too emotional'', Cem told reporters, ''there have been some misunderstandings. During my meeting with EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement, we have reached a compromise to put the situation in an order.''
Noting that Turkey-EU Partnership Council would convene in April, Cem said, ''we expect the EU to explain its clear view during the Sevilla Summit.''
Cem said, ''I am in favor of Turkey's taking steps on the EU path. Taking of these steps will make us more stronger. I believe that Turkey can fulfil these. Concerns are concerns of all of us and I share them. It is important to take into consideration the rightful concerns about abuse of freedoms that will be brought and to take measures against them. We should not be afraid of freedoms, but it is necessary to take measures to prevent abuse of freedoms. It is necessary to put objective rules of law which aim to prevent abuse. The approach of 'I don't take measures so I restrict freedoms' has been left behind the modern age.''
Noting that Verheugen and he had taken up phases of progress in Turkey's relations with the EU in 2002 and the process and discussed what could be done, Cem said, ''there will be Sevilla, Brussels and Copenhagen summit meetings soon. Our target is the opening of accession negotiations or determining of its date.''
''It is mentioned that negotiations would start with fulfilment of political criteria by Turkey. Actually, it should happen exactly in this way. Any hitch is out of question,'' Cem said.
Noting that economic relations and commercial issues had also been discussed, Cem said, ''we determined the expectations about Turkey-EU relations in 2002 period within a compromise. We affirmed Turkey's will to be a EU full member and EU's will to accept Turkey's full membership.''
Stating that EU High Commissioner Javier Solana and he had discussed the Middle East issue in detail and analysed the changing strategical balances in the world after September 11, Cem said that they had also taken up issues like possible developments in Afghanistan and Turkey's role and Central Asia while Solana had evaluated the EU-OIC Joint Conference in Istanbul by saying, ''he saw that an environment which serves understanding and peace in the world was formed after the conference.''
During his contacts, Cem said that terrorist organizations should be defined correctly by the EU and receive a treatment it deserves.
Cem was told by a reporter that PKK was defined as a terrorist network in a smuggling and corruption file of the EU Commission opened against a number of U.S. cigarette companies. In this file it was stated that the PKK made great amounts of money from cigarette smuggling. Cem said ''If such a definition was made in an EU file, we should work to make the EU include this organization in the list of terrorist organizations.''
Turkey's Permanent Representative in the EU Ambassador Nihat Akyol also confirmed that the file presented by the EU Commission in the United States pointed to the PKK's link to cigarette smuggling and the details were being investigated.
Cem later left Belgium for Turkey.