Erdogan: They Are In A Mood To Use Cyprus As A Trump

WASHINGTON - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized on Tuesday the stance of the European Union (EU) related with setting a date to open entry negotiations with Turkey and said, ''they have brought the issue to such a point that they are in a mood to use Cyprus as a trump.''
Erdogan, who had a short meeting with representatives of Jewish community in the United States, told reporters that the representatives of the community hoped that relations between Turkey and Israel would continue to improve.
The leaders of the Jewish community did not have any special demand, Erdogan said.
Erdogan noted that they were doing their best in the United States for the sake of Turkey and would continue to do so.
His meeting with U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell aimed at acquaitance, Erdogan said.
Erdogan pointed out that they took up the agenda of his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush which would take place later in the day with U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
EU, Cyprus and Iraq would be on the agenda of his meeting with Bush, Erdogan stated.
Asked if he gave a new letter to Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Erdogan said, ''no, we gave the original letter which was sent earlier. It is totally related with the first and second adjustment packages. There is nothing about Cyprus issue in the letter.''
Responding to another question, Erdogan criticized the attitude of the EU about setting a date to start full membership negotiations with Turkey and said, ''they have brought the issue to such a point that they are in a mood to use Cyprus as a trump.''
Erdogan, who touched on the statement of EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen that Turkey would not become an EU member before 2013, said, ''it is a very wrong and ugly thing. He does not have such a right. He is a bureaucrat, not a politician. He is not a man to decide. He is talking as if he is a person to make the decision.''
Asked whether bridges would be burned if Turkey was not given a concrete date, Erdogan said that their bargaining would continue till the evening of December 13 and said, ''we have to examine conjuncture of that day. That can be a possibility. Everything is a possibility.''