Yalcinbayir: National Policy Of Turkey About Iraq And Cyprus Are Coherent

BURSA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir said on Wednesday that Iraq and Cyprus issues were of vital importance for Turkey and added, ''national policy of Turkey about these issues are coherent and in harmony.''
Responding to questions of reporters if the opposition of the General Staff to Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis' statement that 'bases and air space would be opened to the use of U.S. forces in case of a possible operation on Iraq' indicated a lack of harmony or tension in foreign policy, Yalcinbayir said that there was not any lack of harmony or tension between the civilian and military wings in foreign policy.
Yalcinbayir noted that national policy about such issues were set in the National Security Council (NSC) and it was out of question to behave in an opposite way.
The national policy set by NSC was recommended to civilian will, Yalcinbayir said.
Yalcinbayir stated, ''we are setting the national policy in the NSC and we are recommending it to the civilian will. Everybody has to abide by the decisions. Experience and knowledge of soldiers about this issue is very important for security and future of Turkey. We know that there are important initiatives and information. We will do what is necessary in the light of all these.''
Yalcýnbayýr said that ''Iraq, Cyprus are very important issues. The national policy of the country in these issues are very consistent and in harmony.''
Yalcýnbayýr said that the things that are necessary for interests of Turkey will be done regarding the Iraqi issue.
''No body should doubt about that. The U.S. are in effective dialogue with us. We give importance to supremacy of law both in internal and in international law. This is also valid for the U.N. Security Council resolutions, we hope the U.S. to take up the issue at the Security Council before taking a decision on the issue,'' he said.
Yalcýnbayýr said that the same consistency is also valid for Cyprus issue, adding that Turkey supports the attitude and behaviour of TRNC President Rauf Denktas.
Noting that the government favours negotiations, Yalcýnbayýr said that ''we don't accept an approach that does not attribute importance to negotiations or we don't accept insolubility as a solution of a problem. We should come together and talk and we search for our rights in Cyprus issue. We should also take into consideration the future of Turkish Cypriots on the island.''