Yalcinbayir: Turkey Does Not Deviate From Basic Principles On Cyprus Issue

ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir said on Wednesday that Turkey has some basic principles while determining its Cyprus policy, adding that Turkey did not and will not deviate from those principles.
Yalcýnbayir who delivered a speech in a panel discussion entitled ''Cyprus, Problems, Solutions in February 28 Process'' held by Baskent University, said that 1959-1960 agreements took the rights of Turkish Cypriots under guarantee but some people who considered those rights too much started actions to harm the balances of the agreements three years after signing of those agreements.
Noting that three principles which constituted bases of Turkey's Cyprus policy are ''strategical importance'', ''prosperity and security of Turkish Cypriots'' and ''protection of balance in Turkish-Greek relations in the Mediterranean'', Yalcinbayir said that those principles have not changed throughout the history. He added that new policies can be prepared according to changing conditions but Turkey never deviated and will not deviate from those principles.
Recalling that Turkish Cypriot side defends the idea of foundation of the new partnership state by two sovereign and equal states, Yalcinbayir said that this idea is the updated form of Turkey's principles.
Yalcinbayir said that United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan is discussed intensively both in Cyprus and Turkey, and he emphasized the importance of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in strategical and security aspects. He added that this importance increases when Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP) and pipelines are taken into consideration.
Noting that Annan Plan adopts multi-cultural structure instead of bizonal structure in Cyprus, Yalcinbayir said that the current situation in the island is not appropriate for the implementation of this idea.
Yalcinbayir said that Annan Plan is formed on European Union (EU) system instead of 1960 system and if Turkish-Greek balances are considered, EU system can be implemented only if Turkey accesses in EU.