GIRNE - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that their target was a fair and lasting solution in Cyprus.
Erdogan partook in the dinner hosted in his honor by Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Addressing journalists following the dinner, Prime Minister Eroglu expressed his pleasure with hosting Erdogan in the TRNC.
''Erdogan's visit to the TRNC in a period when we should take an important decision about the solution plan of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, cheered our people up,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Erdogan congratulated the 19th anniversary of foundation of the TRNC.
Noting that recent developments in Cyprus had been pursued by Turkey, Erdogan said, ''a fair and lasting solution should be reached between the sides on the island. The political power of the AK Party will do its utmost to this end. We should take the necessary steps all together by holding consultations with the President, the Prime Minister and leaders of other political parties. Our target is acceptance of a fair and lasting solution.''
ERDOGAN: WE DEFEND FORMATION OF A PARTNERSHIP STATE IN CYPRUS
Erdogan said, ''we defend formation of a partnership state between two equal, soverign founder states.''
Addressing journalists after attending the dinner hosted in his honor by Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Eroglu said, ''we have been expending great efforts to get a date for beginning of accession talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU). We got appointments from EU member countries. We started to pay visits to them. We first paid a visit to Italy. Now, we are in Cyprus. Later, we will visit Greece.''
Erdogan said, ''the Cyprus question will be put in front of us in every platform. Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot side has recorded a certain progress in its negotiations with the EU. We defend formation of a partnership state between two equal, sovereign founding states. Then, Turkey and Cyprus should enter the EU at the same time. Otherwise, some serious problems can emerge.''
''My visit to the TRNC was planned earlier. Cyprus is a beginning after my visit to Italy. In fact, I planned to pay a visit to the TRNC before Italy. However, we changed our plans due to President Denktas' health problems. This process aims at coming to a healthy conclusion at the Copenhagen Summit for us,'' he said.
Referring to his meeting with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, Erdogan said, ''during the meeting, I stressed that Turkey should be given a date for opening of accession talks at the EU's Copenhagen Summit. Accession talks should start between Turkey and the EU during Greece's term presidency or during Italy's term presidency the latest.''
When recalled by a journalist that State Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sukru Sina Gurnel described the plan as undiscussable, Erdogan said, ''we consider Mr. Gurel the actor of a intransigent attitude. A politician cannot avoid himself from holding talks. Politics is an art of producing solutions. Those who produce problems instead of solutions have caused the difficulties in Turkey. Now, their political power has come to an end. But, they are still talking. In fact, our people have given the best response to them in the general elections on November 3. For instance, they sent me a news story published in a Greek newspaper. According to the claims, I held telephone conversations with Prime Minister Costas Simitis twice before the general elections. In fact, he called me on the phone to congratulate the AK Party's success in the general elections. These claims will be transferred to the judiciary. Because, politics cannot keep going with such slanders. It should be based on honesty. The Cyprus question could not be solved for forty years. It should be solved. However, as I said before, only one of the sides cannot be expected to make all self-sacrifices.''
Responding another question, Erdogan said, ''it can be discussable. We do not know what the other side will say. There is a solution plan presented to the sides by the United States. You do not have to accept this plan. Holding talks does not mean accepting the plan. You should not hesitate to hold talks with the other side. As Turkish nation, we have a deep political experience. We are powerful, and do not have any hesitations.''
Later, Erdogan met with Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Communal Liberation Party (TKP) leader Huseyin Angollemli, and Nationalist Justice Party (MAP) leader Kenan Akin.