Gurel: Change In Cyprus Policy Is Out Of Question

ANKARA (A.A) - 31.05.2002 - State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said on Friday that a change in Cyprus policy was out of question.
Gurel, who held a press conference, responded to questions about the European Union (EU) and Cyprus.
''It is not possible for me to touch on the agenda of the National Security Council (NSC) meeting. But, I can say what we think about Cyprus as the government and a state policy. Inclusion of Greek Cypriot administration to the European Union (EU) as if it was representing whole of the community on the island is against national interests and international agreements. Cyprus can only become an EU member synchronically with Turkey and after a comprehensive solution is found,'' Gurel said.
Gurel added, ''It is not possible for Turkey to accept other possibilities. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had announced how we accepted the candidacy status. In a letter sent to EU term president when Helsinki criteria were set, how Turkey interpreted the resolutions was notified. Turkey noted that Cyprus could never and no way be linked with Turkey's candidacy process. This is also valid today.''
Responding to a question about the increase in territorial waters of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from 3 to 12 miles, Gurel said that TRNC was a sovereign state.
Gurel noted that TRNC could increase its territorial waters as much as it wanted but in a way that it would not have any conflicts with other states.
Nobody could react to this, Gurel stated and said that this reaction was a reaction to TRNC's existence.