ANKARA - Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said on Saturday that the decision taken at the Copenhagen summit should be considered a starting point, and Turkey should continue its determined efforts to reach its targets about the European Union (EU).
Speaking to reporters, Baykal said, ''we see that the issue has a very complicated future full of new problems. However, it is our responsibility to oppose it boldly. We will do what is necessary. The power, opposition and whole Turkey, we should try to make use of the picture in front of us.''
Noting that Turkey should continue its determination in EU membership, Baykal said, ''we should be insistent and determined to open accession negotiations before 2004. There is a little chance of doing this.''
Stressing that Copenhagen decisions had put forward an important picture also about the Cyprus issue, Baykal said that the Cyprus issue had started not be a criterion regarding relations between Turkey and the EU.
''For us, this is a pleasing development in regard to Turkey-EU relations. So far, there have been two different communities, languages, religions and state structures in Cyprus. Now, there is also two different international status. The division in Cyprus has been deepened and reached a new point,'' he said.
''At Copenhagen, the EU decided that European laws and judiciary won't function in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Thus the EU judicially accepted division in Cyprus. This is a new and very important point. Works which should be done after this point are very important. First of all, embargoes imposed on the TRNC should be immediately lifted. The TRNC should be rapidly stripped off an international exclusion and discrimination status. Turkey should work with determination to this end,'' he said.
Baykal stressed that if the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot administration that would join the EU early in 2003 couldn't reach a compromise by February 28, then the TRNC should be treated and recognized as a different identity.
Noting that the EU should open a new membership process with the TRNC, Baykal said, ''it would be good if they reach an agreement. However, it is unfortunately not realistic to hope that agreement which couldn't be reached at the moment would happen by February 28 after Greek Cyprots join the EU. So there is a little possibility of reaching an agreement by February 28.''
Stressing that a negotiation process for the TRNC's EU membership should start immediately, Baykal added, ''now they tell us, 'there is not any obstacle. Membership negotiations start in 2004 and you join the EU after a reasonable period'. What will happen after we join the EU? Greece is a member, Greek Cypriot side is a member and I hope that Turkey would be a member. What will happen to the TRNC if they fail to reach an agreement? Does anybody have the right to exclude Turkish Cypriots?''