Yakis: Solution In Cyprus Should Take Into Consideration The Fact Of Two Peoples And Two States

LEFKOSA - Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said on Sunday that there are realities on the island which are based on two separate peoples and two separate states, adding that ''the efforts for peace should take into consideration these facts.''
''A solution should accept the equal sovereignty and political equality of both sides and maintain the bi-zonality,'' said Yakis in his arrival in TRNC.
Speaking at Gecitkale Airport, Yakis said that he paid his first visit abroad to TRNC, adding that he would evaluate the developments regarding Cyprus problem in his contacts with TRNC government officials.
Yakis said that Turkey appreciated and supported the negotiations to bring a safe future to Turkish Cypriots and the latter's constructive attitude. ''Turkish Cypriot side wants peace, they wish a just and lasting solution, but this does not mean that a sacrifice will be made from the indispensable rights of the Turkish Cypriot people,'' Yakis said.
Yakis said that Turkish Cypriot people fight for rights, law and justice for a period of 40 years, adding that ''neither the Turkish Cypriot side, nor Turkey is the side which is responsible of the Cyprus problem. Those who are responsible are the ones who don't abide by the international agreements. Turkish Cypriots try to set up its future on the basis of equal status, political equality and sovereignty rights today. While protecting the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people, the TRNC leadership proposed its solution methods with a constructive attitude to the negotiation table and it signed the agreements that had earlier been reached.''
Underlining the fact that there were realities on the island which were based on two peoples and two states, Yakis said that the efforts for peace in Cyprus should take these realities as the basis and they should be based on equal sovereignty, political equality of both sides and bi-zonality.
Yakis said that Turkey supported the efforts of the Turkish Cypriot leadership for reaching a just and lasting solution, adding that ''therefore the proposals of the U.N. Secretary General will continue to be negotiated. The rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people will continue to be protected...The effective guarantee of Turkey and the Turkish-Greek balance will be maintained.'' Yakis said that a solution which can't be accepted by Turkish Cypriots can't be signed.
Calling on the Turkish Cypriot people, Yakis said that ''we want you to feel safe. Turkey will continue to support Turkish Cypriots as a requirement of both of its responsibilities stemming from agreements and responsibilities to its Turkish Cypriot people. Turkey won't permit Turkish Cypriots who went through dark and painful days to return to those days again.''
Upon a question about the tension between AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and TRNC President Rauf Denktas, Yakis said that the support of Turkey to TRNC continued. ''It is not appropriate to discuss the issue through the press, we are very much close to each other and the channels of dialogue between us are open,'' Yakis said.
TRNC Foreign and Defense Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu said in his part that the visit of Yakis to TRNC in a period in which the Cyprus problem went through a critical period is very meaningful.
Yakis also spoke to the press before leaving Ankara and stressed that Cyprus is still a national cause.
When asked which issues would be taken up in his meetings with Denktas, Yakis said that ''the method of carrying out the negotiations is the most important issue at the moment. Our friends at the technical level were in consultation, now the level will be upgraded to that of ministers. My visit takes place in a period in which the negotiations about Cyprus are intensive. But this is not only related to these negotiations. This is my first visit abroad as the Foreign Minister. This is a tradition of the Turkish Foreign Ministers. In this respect I pay my first visit to TRNC.''

DENKTAS RECEIVES FOREIGN MINISTER YAKIS
Yakis said that Turkey and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus do not have difference of view and Turkey supports the attitude of TRNC President Rauf Denktas in Cyprus negotiations.
Denktas said that he was pleased that Yakis started his first bilateral contacts in TRNC. He said that he hoped that they would make a beneficial study.
Yakis said that the attitude of Turkey in Cyprus issue was determined together by officials in Turkey and officials in TRNC. He added that there cannot be a difference in the views which were formed together.
Noting that they, as government, do not consider Cyprus question only as the problem of 200,000 Turkish Cypriots, Yakis said that Cyprus question is the problem of Turkey as well and it is Turkey's national issue.
Referring to the demonstrations held in TRNC recently, Yakis said that an approach which is against the attitude of TRNC President Rauf Denktas regarding Annan plan came out during these demonstrations. ''We think that the reason of that is also the dissatisfaction caused by economic difficulties seen both in Turkey and in Cyprus,'' Yakis said. Yakis remarked that ''an image as if everybody went to demonstrations due to Annan plan has been created, the government in Turkey does not think it true.''
Yakis said that the government strongly supported the attitude of TRNC President Rauf Denktas in the talks, adding that the Turkish Cypriot side would do its best to result the negotiations with an agreement.
''If an agreement is not reached in the end, we think that the responsibility of that will be that of the other side, not of the Turkish Cypriot side,'' Yakis said.
When a journalist said ''does the discourse of AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan about Cyprus make Foreign Ministry and you uneasy?'' Yakis said the government was in close cooperation with TRNC officials at all levels and that they would directly tell the things to each other directly, not through the media.
When asked if he brought a special message from Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and AK Party leader Erdogan to President Rauf Denktas, Yakis said that ''I bring the message that our government backs the attitude of the Turkish Cypriot attitude regarding the Cyprus issue.''
The interdelegationary meetings will be held after the meeting. Foreign Minister Yakis and the accompanying delegation also met with TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu the same day. After wrapping up his contacts Yakis will leave the island this evening.