PM Erdogan: We carry our good will stance on Cyprus issue

Erdogan, who attended Spring Summit of the European Union (EU) in Brussels, returned to Turkey.

Upon the question of a reporter on quartet Cyprus conference which was continuing in Switzerland, Erdogan said that the process sometimes had some negativities. He added, "however, these can be overcome by negotiations. Both our Foreign Minister and our technocrats have overcome such difficulties with the negotiations until now and they continue to do so. But, we, as Turkey, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are showing all our good will approach. We carry on our good will approach. We will continue to do so until the end."

"I had a chance to meet with Caramanlis in Brussels yesterday night.

We had a tete-a-tete meeting and I saw that he also had the same good will approach. I hope that we will preserve our good will in the process which will start in Switzerland on Monday and conclude the process with an

agreement by reaching a common opinion," said Erdogan.

"WE HAVE EXPRESSED IN BRUSSELS HOW TURKEY PUTS MAASTRICH CRITERIA INTO PRACTICE IN ECONOMY"

Erdogan said, "we have expressed in Brussels how we put Maastrich Criteria into practice in economy each day and we have given information about our studies on Lisbon targets."

Erdogan, who attended Spring Summit of the European Union (EU) in
Brussels, told reporters at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport that they participated in the spring meeting of the European Council in Brussels with Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and some deputies. Noting that they also had the chance to hold bilateral meetings, Erdogan said that they evaluated developments about the EU, Cyprus issue and terrorism in those meetings.

Noting that they also attended a meal hosted by European Liberal democrats group, Erdogan said that they evaluated activities for starting negotiation process for the EU on December 2004 and the recent developments in Kosovo, Iraq and Palestine.

Erdogan said that they have met with French President Jacques Chirac this morning and added that they have taken up Turkey-France bilateral relations besides Turkey-EU relations.

Erdogan said that they had the chance to take up quartet Cyprus conference with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen and added that he also met with EU Foreign Policy and Defense Chief Javier Solana. Noting that they mainly discussed terrorism issue with Solana, Erdogan said that they had the opportunity to evaluate comprehensively the terrorist activities in Madrid and Kosovo and the terrorist activities which occurred in Turkey on November 15 and 20 and also recent developments in Afghanistan, Iraq and Middle East.

Erdogan said, "we have expressed in Brussels how we put Maastrich Criteria into practice in economy each day and also we had the chance to give information about our studies on Lisbon targets."

When a reporter asked whether or not an agreement which would be reached in Cyprus would take place in primary law of the EU, Erdogan said that activities were continuing on this issue at EU Commission.

Erdogan said that the EU Commission had preparations to meet the expectations of Turkey.