LEFKOSA (A.A) - 31.05.2002 - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Friday that Turkey expended full support to President Rauf Denktas of the Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in direct talks, pointing out that they supported a solution formula, revealed by the TRNC, based on two states.
Cem arrived in TRNC to take the honorary doctorate given to him by Girne American University.
Speaking at Ercan Airport, Cem said he would make evaluation with TRNC President Denktas and government officials during his stay.
''It is clear that we are going through important days,'' Cem said pointing out that direct talks, which may constitute an important turning point in future of TRNC, are taking place under the leadership of Denktas.
Cem said Turkey's approach on the issue was very open, stressing that, ''as the government we expend full support to Denktas. We also support solution model of the TRNC administration, based on principle of two states and which should be approved and adopted by the two nations on Cyprus.''
''Yesterday, we discussed the issue in Turkey. In National Security Council (NSC), we have once again expressed our support together with our president,'' Cem pointed out.
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that he talked to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on the phone before the National Security Council (NSC) meeting and that he told Ecevit that he would go to Cyprus. Cem said that he brought the greetings of Prime Minister Ecevit to TRNC people and he got Ecevit's support and approval once again about the continuation of the common spirit between Turkey and TRNC.
Noting that TRNC and Turkey are always together and they will continue to be so in the future, Cem said that it was not time to make correct estimations in this period, but Turkey and TRNC would be more powerful at the end of this period and they would take steps together for the common future.
When a reporter told Cem that the Greek Cypriot administration overreacted and mentioned about the possibility of a ''hot incident'' after the decision of TRNC which extended its territorial waters from 3 to 12 miles, Cem said that TRNC took a decision which was within the scope of its own authority. Cem said that TRNC's extending its territorial waters to 12 miles was a correct decision, adding that the things which others say concern them, not him.
Upon another question, Cem said that his coming to TRNC following yesterday's NSC meeting was just a coincidence.
TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said in his part that he was happy to see Cem in TRNC, adding that the visit of Cem will increase the trust of TRNC people.
Cem who will attend the dinner to be hosted by TRNC President Rauf Denktas in his honor this evening, will attend the ceremony to be held in Girne American University on Saturday where he will be presented the honorary award.
Cem will leave TRNC on Sunday.