Erdogan: We Have Not Given Any Assurance To Anybody About Cyprus Issue

ANKARA - Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said late on Monday that they had not given any assurance or promise to anybody about Cyprus issue.
Erdogan, who responded to questions at a program broadcast on private Kanal D channel, said that they were in favour of solution of the issue with reciprocal self-sacrifice.
The government was doing its best related with Cyprus at the moment, Erdogan noted.
Erdogan said that they had stated that United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus was negotiable.
There were ugly speculations about the issue in Turkey, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said, ''we are saying reciprocal self-sacrifice not concession. Cyprus issue can be solved with reciprocal self-sacrifice.''
They should never think of a referendum for solution of Cyprus issue, Erdogan pointed out and noted that this would be very troublesome.
Erdogan said that it would be very good to solve Cyprus issue till Februry 28, 2003.
Pointing out that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas did not much contradict with the Cyprus policy of AK Party, Erdogan said there was not of lack harmony, stressing that there was no need to put pressure on Denktas.
Erdogan said Cyprus policy of AK Party and Turkey's traditional Cyprus policy were not in parallel.
''I will not think of a mentality like 'give and get rid of'' Erdogan said they favored a solution based on mutual sacrifice.
Pointing out that they did not give assurances to anybody regarded with Cyprus issue, Erdogan said, ''we said we favor continuation of negotiations and that B plan was not acceptable.''
When asked what would be their preparations while going to 2004 Copenhagen Sumit, Erdogan said a decision has been given to make one of specialty commissions of the Parliament to work as ''Integration With EU Commission''. He said a unit would be formed within the party to work in this direction.
Erdogan said they would be in an effort to improve relations with Russia, China, and the Middle East countries in foreign policy following their studies regarded with the EU. Erdogan also said they would pay visits to those regions, noting that they would be in an effort to improve economic relations with those countries.
Erdogan said no promise was given to the United States about possible U.S. operation against Iraq, adding that, ''we are in a position to take into consideration relations of Turkey with the Islam world after the war.''