PRAGUE - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday, ''attitude of the European Union (EU) about the Cyprus question is contradictory. I do not think that heads of state and government of member countries to the EU have been acting sincerely.''
President Sezer who is currently in Czech Republic to attend the summit meeting of heads of state and government of NATO members, held a press conference.
Speaking at the press conference, President Sezer said, ''the EU members have an expectation about the Cyprus question. However, we cannot meet this expectation in a short period of time. The direct side of the Cyprus question is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). According to my point of view, our launching an initiative as an indirect side will not be correct. The solution plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan comprises of more than 150 pages. Therefore, no one can tell anyting before examining the plan in detail. I do not think that President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC has detailed information about the plan due to his health problems. His statement is more important. I expect him to make a statement after holding talks with Turkish officials.''
''I stressed on numerous occasions, that there has not been any connection between Turkey's full membership to the EU and the Cyprus question. The EU members have recognized it. Because, they told the Greek Cypriot side, one of the direct sides of the Cyprus question, that it would become a full member of the EU even if the question is not solved. It is a contradictory to say that the EU would set a date for opening of accession talks after finding a solution to the Cyprus question. It is not a fair attitude. I believe that the EU should remove this contradictory,'' he said.
Sezer went on as saying, ''I asked the heads of state and government whom I talked to whether or not they wanted solution of Cyprus question to set a date for Turkey's full membership to the EU or for the solution of Southern Cyprus to the EU. I could not get a response from them. To this end, I can not understand why they put forward Cyprus question as a condition. Heads of State and Government, in private meetings, pointed out that there are not any drawbacks or difficulties regarded with setting a date for Turkey's accession to the EU, and that they supported Turkey. They say some other countries would constitute an obstacle for this. Those countries, which were reported to constitute an obstacle, in face to face talks pointed out that there was no problem for them, but that some others disrupted it. I don't think they are sincere.''
Sezer said he did not find any connection between the date that would be set for Turkey in Copenhagen and the European Security and Defense Policy, and that he either did not find a connection between those and Cyprus issue.
Pointing out that Turkey was in a positive approach, Sezer said, ''it is our right to expect the same positive approach''.
Responding a question Sezer said both the opposition and the ruling parties were in consensus for Turkey's accession to the EU.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''Britain, Spain and Italy have been fully supporting to set a date at the European Union (EU) Copenhagen summit for opening of accession talks with Turkey.''
President Sezer noted that important decisions had been taken at the summit with the aim of further strengthening the Alliance.
''NATO which will expand with the participation of seven countries, will increase its strategical depth. Turkey that has been supporting the open door policy, defends that Southeast European countries should also join NATO,'' he said.
Referring to the decision taken at the summit, President Sezer told reporters, ''Turkey has been carrying out necessary works to contribute to the Rapid Response Force. Turkey notified NATO that it was determined to develop its capabilities in many fields.''
Referring to the relations between NATO and the EU, President Sezer said, ''Turkey has been supporting development of the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) since the very beginning. Turkey will assume a productive attitude for overcoming the difficulties about the ESDP. If the EU assumes the same productive attitude, a solution can be reached in a short period of time.''
Mentioning the decision taken by NATO heads of state and government about Iraq, Sezer said, ''Turkey in every opportunity points out that Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity should be preserved. We sincerely expect Iraq to make a constructive cooperation with the U.N., will not leave a need for a military intervention, and start a process which will put an end to the difficulties it has been suffering for years.''
Sezer said, ''it is our most sincere wish that Iraq would cover a positive attitude and lift possibility of a military intervention,'' and added that, ''we believe that in case an obligation for a military operation appears, this should take place under the basis of international legitimacy and an agreement.''
Briefing about his bilateral contacts with the heads of state and government in Prague, Sezer said, ''we have discussed Turkish-EU relations in bilateral meetings. I stressed that Turkey focused on Copenhagen criteria. I stressed the importance of the steps taken by Turkey to meet Copenhagen criteria and which have the quality of historical transformation.''
Sezer said, ''I stated that the joint target of the ruling and the opposition in the newly established parliament was full membership to the EU. I stressed that an appropriate date should be set in line with our expectations to start accession talks with the EU in 2003. I said uncertainty in Turkish-EU relations would continue and a new division will be created in Europe in EU's enlargement process in case this wish of Turkey is not realized.''
Sezer said that the presidents and prime ministers whom he met with appreciated the importance of Turkey's progresses in the last one and an half years and he added that they stated that they are not sure whether the results of Copenhagen will suit Turkey's expectations.
Noting that British, Italian and Spanish prime ministers support Turkey about the negotiation date, Sezer said that the Prime Minister of Denmark stated that they will continue exerting efforts for having a reasonable result in the summit meeting.
Sezer said that the contacts which they will hold in Germany next week are also important.
Sezer departed for Turkey after the press conference.