Baykal: Gov’t should thank Greek Cypriots

"The government should thank Papadopoulos and the Greek Cypriots. If they had approved the UN plan, we would then have seen the dangerous side of the plan by experiencing it," said Baykal while replying questions from press as he was leaving a meeting in Ankara.

Characterizing the government’s Cyprus policy as a very dangerous step, Baykal said, "A plan that would have negative outcomes if it had been implemented has been defeated thanks to the decision by the Greek Cypriots."

"The government has been making very dangerous attempts in its foreign policy. The first of these was its attempt to drag Turkey into a military operation in Iraq. That was prevented by our opposition to the government’s decision. The second one was the government motion on troop deployment in Iraq that was passed on October 7. That time Turkey was saved after the U.S. withdrew its proposal from Turkey. And now, the third dangerous step of the government has been prevented by the Greek Cypriots. The government should thank them," Baykal went on to say.

‘Outcome is not a collapse of Denktas’s policy’
Replying to a question on whether Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas should resign, Baykal said that the result of the referendum was not a collapse of Denktas’s policy.

"On that point, people should not make statements that would cause controversy. What Turkish Cypriots should now do is to join hand-in-hand. There are many points that Denktas could contribute," he said.

Baykal noted that from now on there were two important targets in Turkish foreign policy, adding the first of one was preparing grounds for international recognition of northern Cyprus and the second was making necessary decisions for Turkey’s bid to start accession talks with the EU by the beginning of next year.

"These two should be carried out simultaneously. The outcome of the referenda has brought an opportunity to Turkey to realize these two targets," Baykal noted.