Erdogan: We Consider Annan's Solution Plan Discussible In General

LEFKOSA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday, ''there are some satisfactory and unsatisfactory points in the solution plan which was presented to Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. However, we consider the plan discussible in general.''
Erdogan paid a visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to hold a series of contacts.
He held a brief tete-a-teTe meeting with TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu at the Gecitkale Airport.
Addressing journalists following the meeting, Prime Minister Eroglu said that they welcomed Erdogan's visit to the TRNC.
''We have been carrying out works on the Cyprus question. We are pleased with Erdogan's visit to the TRNC in a period in which we will have come to the stage to take important decisions. As you know, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer designated Abdullah Gul to form the new government. We hope that the new government would be formed as soon as possible,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Erdogan expressed his pleasure with paying a visit to the TRNC.
Noting that he could not meet with President Rauf Denktas due to his health problems, Erdogan said that he had held a telephone conversation with President Denktas and conveyed his best wishes to him.
''Each citizen of the TRNC acts as a President Denktas. I hope that President Denktas will recover and return to his duty as soon as possible. I want to stress that we are in favor of a solution protecting existence case of our Turkish Cypriot brothers. The Cyprus question which could not be solved for 40 years, should reach a solution now. Such a solution is necessary for existence case of Turkish Cypriot people. This question will be solved with mutual self-sacrifices. However, only one side's making all self-sacrifices is not fair at all,'' he said.
Erdogan told reporters, ''we are in favor of a solution assuring that the two sides will live on the island in peace and that bitter experiences of the past will not occur again. Before and after the general elections, we have given the message that the AK Party targeted the European Union (EU) full membership and is determined to take all necessary measures to become a full member of the EU. We consider Turkey's EU full membership the most important project after foundation of the Republic. We asked support of our European friends to prapare Turkey's transition process into the EU full membership. However, we cannot give up existence case of the Turkish Cypriots for the sake of Turkey's EU membership. But the Cyprus question should reach a solution which does not ignore this existence case.''
Stressing that the President, all political parties and non-governmental organizations had been in a full consensus of opinion about Turkey's EU full membership, Erdogan said, ''we aim at reaching the living standards of the industrialized countries. Turkey is determined to protect the existence case of the TRNC.
Referring to the solution plan which was presented to the sides on the island by United Nations Secretary General Annan, Erdogan said, ''it is not possible to take an immediate decision about the plan due to President Denktas' illness and authority vacuum in Turkey. There are some satisfactory and unsatisfactory points in the solution plan. However, we consider the plan discussible in general. Undoubtedly, there are some points in the plan to which we object. But, the most important thing is to develop a constructive approach. According to our point of view, beginning of negotiations on the plan will be the biggest contribution to the existence case the Turkish Cypriots. Negotiations should resume after President Denktas recovers, and a solution should be reached for peaceful atmosphere on the island.''
Stressing that the solution should be based on the existence of two equal and sovereign founding states, Erdogan said, ''these two sovereign states should form joint state and join the international community as a partnership state.''
''Our priority is to get a date from the EU for opening of accession talks at the Copenhagen Summit in December. I call out world leaders, let's make this beautiful island a paradise of tourism inspiring peace to the whole world. Turkey has fulfilled Copenhagen political criteria basically. And the AK Party is determined to put into practice all necessary reforms as soon as possible. EU's giving synchronic date for opening of accession with both Turkey and Cyprus, it will make a great contribution to regional peace. Success of Muslim Turkey and Cyprus half of which is comprised of Muslim population, will constitute an important model for other Muslim countries,'' he said.
Responding a question about the schedule in Annan's plan, Erdogan said, ''this schedule is impossible for us. President Denktas has still been receiving medical treatment. And, a government has not been formed in Turkey yet. Negotiations cannot resume in such a period.''
Responding a question about his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece, Erdogan said, ''there is not a certain agenda. But, the meeting will focus on Turkey's EU full membership.''
Recalling that Greece would undertake EU term presidency next period, Erdogan said that the Cyprus question would be taken up at the meeting.
Erdogan added that Turkey and Cyprus should be given a synchronic date for opening of accession talks.