Buluc: There Is No Change In Cyprus Policy

ANKARA - Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc said on Wednesday that there is no development in Cyprus that can be considered as change of policy in Cyprus.
Upon a question about the discussion on whether the Cyprus policy of Turkey has changed or not, Buluc said that the Ministry aims to inform the public opinion and that they are in a serious and professional effort to this end. Buluc said that the focus on only one word or sentence of his comprehensive responses to the questions asked to him shows that the mentioned efforts were not evaluated well.
Noting that Turkey always favours a just and permanent solution in Cyprus, Buluc said that ''there is no change in our target of foundation of a new partnership which will protect the existing peace atmosphere in Cyprus, the active and effective guarantee of Turkey on Cyprus, which will maintain the Turkish-Greek balance, which will accept the sovereign equality of both sides on the island, and which will be based on compromise.''
Buluc said that the negotiations in Cyprus until the end of February in close consultation with TRNC President Rauf Denktas have to continue in order to give a new chance to negotiation process, adding that the proposals of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan have been found negotiable by the Turkish Cypriot side and that Turkey shared this view. Buluc said that regulations in line with the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot side are necessary on certain parts of these proposals for an agreement to come out until Feb. 28.
''The attitude of the Turkish side during the coming negotiation process has been determined within the scope of the negotiation with TRNC President Rauf Denktas and TRNC officials. Except that, there is no development in question which can be described as policy change. Turkey supports the negotiation process to find a lasting question to Cyprus question and efforts of Denktas,'' he said.
Responding to questions of journalists about the rally held in TRNC yesterday, Buluc said that TRNC is a democratic state and it is natural for the public opinion to put forward their preferences in a democratic way.
Buluc said that it is Rauf Denktas as the TRNC President and the chief negotiator to make the assessment, adding that ''Mr. Denktas is a president and leader who has so far harmonized the will of the nation and leadership responsibilities in the best way. We have no doubt that he will continue to do so in the future.''