We can give a certain rate of land in Cyprus
Prime Minister Erdogan, who is currently paying an official visit to the United States, attended a conference at Boston’s Harvard University on "Democracy in the Middle East, Pluralism in Europe and Perspective of Turkey".
Upon a question about the Cyprus issue, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "Turkish Cypriot people live in 36 percent of Cyprus. We can give a certain rate of land. As guarantor state, we can make a proposal, and the TRNC displays an attitude to this end. Finding a solution to the Cyprus issue is more important."
Responding another question about Turkey’s European Union (EU) membership process, Prime Minister Erdogan referred to the concept of clash of civilizations, and said, "the EU should accept Turkey’s membership since Turkey is in favor of a compromise among civilizations. Turkey’s membership to the EU will be beneficial for both sides."
Upon a question about Turkey’s human rights records, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "Turkey has adopted a series of adjustment laws under its efforts to fulfill Copenhagen criteria. Our government has been maintaining its determination to this end."
When asked about request of Kurdish groups in northern Iraq for formation of a federation on the basis of ethnicity, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "a divided structure based on ethnicity will lead Iraq to its end. Such an initiative will not strengthen Iraq. On the contrary, it will divide Iraq."
Upon a question about allegations of so-called Armenian genocide, Prime Minister Erdogan said, "according to our point of view, we should leave such issues behind and concentrate on the future. In fact, historians should deal with such issues. Turkish historians also claim that Armenians massacred Turkish civilians in the past. I want to stress that Armenian patriarch lives in our country, and he has the opportunity of holding talks with government officials. Armenians living in Turkey are not put pressure. I am in favor of freedoms. I advocate protection of their religious belief."
