ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that they were expending efforts to reach a solution that satisfied both sides in Cyprus.
''I hope that this issue would be solved at a satisfactory point on February 28. We are expending great efforts but also the other side should expend same efforts.''
Prime Minister Gul attended a lunch banquet hosted in his honor by the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) in Istanbul on Thursday.
Speaking at the meeting, Gul said that Cyprus was among the most important issues on the agenda.
Stressing that his government's attitude towards the Cyprus issue was a little bit different from the attitude of previous governments, Gul said, ''unfortunately, a perception has appeared in the world that 'insolubility is Turks' solution so Turks consider insolubility a solution'. It is a different issue whether or not we deserved this but there is such a perception. So our government's attitude is 'insolubility is not solution'. Consequently, our intention is to sincerely expend efforts to reach a solution that satisfies both sides in Cyprus.''
Noting that there was a concrete plan, Gul said that talks were under way under this plan.
''However, I want to say clearly here that we don't think it right to give up everything by believing that 'we solved the issue'. At this point, both sides, the United Nations and all countries that are directly or indirectly interested in the issue should know that this should reach a point of mutual satisfaction.''
''To this end, we are sincerely carrying out works and we continue our negotiations within this framework. I hope that this issue would be solved at a satisfactory point on February 28. As I have said that we are expending great efforts but also the other side should expend same efforts,'' Gul added.
PRIME MINISTER GUL SAYS TURKEY TO DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO COME CLOSER TO EU
ISTANBUL - Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Thursday that they would continiously keep on agenda the European Union issue and they would do what was necessary to come closer to the EU.
Gul said that the government wants to fulfil the Copenhagen political criteria and Maastricht economic criteria, adding that ''I believe that the result will be positive after we fulfill these criteria and we can start negotiations earlier than 2004.''
Addressing the meeting of the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD), Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that everybody benefits from the studies and reports of TUSIAD. ''I closely monitor the studies of TUSIAD about EU. We appreciate and support these studies,'' he said.
Prime Minister Gul said that the government wants to cooperate with the opposition party in the parliament and opposition parties outside the parliament, and all non-governmental organizations.
Gul stated that Turkey made good use of Copenhagen Summit which was held on December 12, 2002 and noted, ''of course, all of us wanted better results. But it was a turning point for Turkey's relations with the EU. Turkey's starting negotiations with EU in the end of 2004 was taken under agreement at the summit.''
Gul noted, ''we, as the government, will keep this issue on the agenda and do our utmost on the issue.''
Recalling that the government had submitted two reform packages to the parliament and the first package had been passed from the parliament before Copenhagen Summit, Gul said, ''the second one was in the commission. The parliament is about to pass the second package. We are giving right to be re-tried to our citizens with this package. Turkish courts will re-examine the decisions which were sent back by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).''
''We want to fulfil two criteria; Copenhagen political criteria and Maastricht economic criteria in Turkey. I believe that the result will be good after we fulfil those criteria. We will do our utmost till the very end. Our government will exert utmost efforts to prepare 2003 assessment reports and this efforts will continue,'' Gul stated.
Gul noted, ''we will do our work which is under our initiative. I believe that we can start negotiations before 2004, if we continue to act with that understanding. I think that it depends on us.''