DUZCE - Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said on Saturday that they favored solution of Iraqi problem without war, stressing that, ''an Iraqi war will not add anything Turkey, the United States, Iraq and to the region. However, war is the preference which should be thought in the end.''
Yakis, who visited Duzce Mayor Ruhi Kurnaz, pointed out that, ''following the summit in Copenhagen, we said 'set a date for us at the end of the year 2003. They set end of 2004 to start full membership negotiations. Even the closest countries had said 2008 could be set as the date.''
Yakis said, ''if the Enlargement Report which will be prepared in October 2004 is issued as Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen criteria, then a decision would be taken to start negotiations at the end of 2004. Despite this, we want to overcome our deficiencies till August 2003 without waiting for 2004.''
Yakis said, ''the Enlargement Report which will be issued in October will base on the developments till August 2003. Thus, we will do our best to make this a report in which Turkey fulfilled all the criteria. We took that day as target.''
Stressing that the war would not add anything to Turkey, United States, Iraq and the region, Yakis said, ''absolutely, war is the last thing which should be thought in the end. Everything should be done to prevent war. A war causes many people to die. To this end, we favour solution of problem without war.''
Yakis said the news reports which appeared in media claiming bargainings were not right, adding that, ''this is a wrong impression created by media. Such a bargaining is not on Turkey's agenda.''
He said what was on the negotiation table was that: we should first of all try the United States give up the idea of war. 'We know the region. Don't make war here. This is our first target. If the United States enters the war despite all our advises, than we should determine the way we should act how to preserve Turkey's national interests under conditions of war.''
Yakis said Turkey would do what its national interests requires.
''There will be an economic loss during this war. We thrust ourselves first of all. If we can not get rid of the economic difficulties as the United States is our ally, and as our cooperation will be damaged with the Untied States, we say, 'we suffered economic losses because of you. You should support us to overcome those difficulties,'' Yakis pointed out.
Speaking about Cyprus question, Yakis said the U.N. plan, which is called as the Annan Plan, envisaged referendum on Cyprus issue.
Yakis said, ''if an agreement is reached till February, then there should be a referendum in both sides of Cyprus in March as a requirement of this agreement.''