Yakis: We Will Continue To Extend Support To Denktas

NEW YORK - Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said on Sunday that Turkey will continue to extend support to TRNC President Rauf Denktas.
Speaking to the press after meeting with U.S. Department of State Undersecretary for Political Affairs Marc Grossman, Yakis said that ''the party to the Cyprus problem is Mr. Denktas and he will carry out everything.''
''We believe that both sides will use the opportunity window opened in Cyprus issue,'' said Yakis and noted that ''TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece are parties to the problem.''
Yakis said that the U.N. plan has parts which don't satisfy fully the parties, adding that ''if we act with good will, a consensus can be reached.''
Yakis said that it is Denktas who will decide when he will respond to Kofi Annan, adding that ''the period has ended, besides, that was not the order of the God. A few days delay won't cause any problem.''
Later Yakýs met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas.
YAKIS HAS PHONE CONVERSATION WITH U.S. STATE SECRETARY
Yakis had a phone conversation with U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell when he was in New York to visit Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas.
Sources said that Cyprus question was debated during the phone talk. The sources noted that Powell telephoned Yakis and reiterated the support of the U.S. to United Nations (U.N.) plan for Cyprus and hoped that Turkish side would give a positive reaction to the plan.
Yakis had a meeting with U.S. State Department Undersecretary Marc Grossman on Sunday and took up Cyprus question.
''COMMON STATE'' SOLUTION FOR CYPRUS
If an agreement basis is formed between TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides before EU's Copenhagen summit, EU countries are expected to admit ''common state'' in Cyprus, as mentioned in Annan plan, rather than the Greek Cypriot side to membership.
Cuneyt Zapsu, the foreign policy consultant of AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan who came to New York with Foreign Minister Yasar Yakýs and who attended the assessment meetings held with Denktas, spoke to a group of journalists.
''EU will admit Cyprus as a full member in Copenhagen summit in this or that way,'' Zapsu said adding that ''encouraging things have to be given to the sides for the negotiations to continue from now on.''
Zapsu defended the view that if an agreement basis is formed between the two sides on the island before Dec. 12, EU countries will not admit the Greek Cypriot side but the common state mentioned in Annan plan, to membership.
Zapsu said that the formation of this common state will be completed with the negotiations to be carried out between TRNC and Greek Cypriot side after Dec. 12. When the common state is formed, Turkish Cypriots will benefit from EU membership with Greek Cypriots.
Zapsu who attended the contacts of Erdogan in European countries, said that ''important developments will take place in issues of Cyprus, human rights and ESDP within the coming ten days.''
Diplomatic sources said that a response will be given to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan about his Cyprus plan within 3-5 days.
YAKIS: WE TOLD EU COUNTRIES TO GIVE US A DATE AND WE SAID THEN, WE CAN TRY MORE ABOUT CYPRUS QUESTION AND ESDP
Yakis said on Monday that they told the European Union (EU) countries ''to give Turkey a date to open entry negotiations and then, they could try more about Cyprus question and European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP).''
Yakis told reporters prior to his departure for Portugal that the maps presented together with United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus totally gave the water resources in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to Greek Cypriots.
''The border has to be re-drawn to give the water resources to Turkish side,'' Yakis said.
Yakis noted that the ''Europeans said that they could more easily make their public accept giving a negotiation date to Turkey if a right step was taken towards a solution to Cyprus question.''
''This is a political will and a political decision. We used to say that Cyprus question is not linked with Turkey's EU membership till today, but we acted with courage when we faced this issue and said, 'let you give us a date and we try more about Cyprus question and ESDP.' Thus, we put forth that we were also expecting similar things from them,'' Yakis said.
Yakis stated that the European countries did not have a common stance about giving a date to Turkey and every country was assuming a different attitude.
Drawing the attention that Guzelyurt was the only water resource in TRNC, Yakis said, ''whole of Guzelyurt, that is the center of water resources, is being given to Greek Cypriot administration in two maps presented together with Annan's plan. Since Trodos mountains and other water resources are in Greek Cypriot administration, there will be no water in Turkish side and this will cause difficulties for people who will live in TRNC. We regard sensitivity of TRNC authorities about this issue as right. The border should at least be drawn in a way to give water resources to Turkish side.''
Noting that they expected TRNC President Rauf Denktas to make a statement in coming days in which he would say that he was not closed to negotiations, Yakis said, ''then, the foreseen processes of the plan will become operational.''
Stating that ''TRNC authorities had never closed the door'', Yakis said that ''Turkey supported this stance of TRNC authorities'' and added that ''they would always be beside TRNC authorities.''