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Anadolu Agency
Jan 13 2005
Premier Erdogan Arrives In Turkey
ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned to
Turkey from Russia on Wednesday.
Erdogan spoke to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport.
When asked, ''Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas reacted against the supportive statements of
Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey about Cyprus issue. What
will be the next steps of Turkey and are there any differences in
approaches of Turkey and Denktas?'' Erdogan said, ''After December
17th process, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan congratulated us and
then we phoned him and said we could talk about Cyprus process. While
we were planning to hold this talk, Asian disaster happened. He is
now in the region. We want to talk with him as soon as possible.
There will not be an Annan Plan to be presented. Also, the name of
the plan is not important. The important thing is its content and
this content should include a solution. I do not believe that anybody
will oppose a plan that will include a solution. If the plan protects
interest of Turkish Cypriots and brings a just and permanent solution
to TRNC, I am sure that everybody will exert efforts for such a
plan.''
Erdogan said, ''we are talking about a just plan which will
bring permanent peace and by which both sides will win. We always say
that we support such a plan and we will continue to support. We do
not have any uneasiness about this issue.''
Upon a question about relations with Armenia, Erdogan said, ''we
have taken our positive steps towards Armenia. The most important of
these steps is Turkey's opening its door in airways. At the moment
Istanbul's Ataturk Airport is open to Armenian Airways. They have 4
flights a week to Istanbul.''
''However, we have of course some demands. It is 1923 Kars
Agreement. If they say they do not recognize it, we also do not
recognize (them). In spite of this, we say we do not want disgruntled
neighbor. We want to overcome these issues. There are places in
Karabakh which Armenia occupied. We believe that solving these issues
in a friendly way will be beneficial. We want to be hopeful about
this issue. We have always said we are ready to do what is
necessary,'' he said.
When asked his evaluations about sincere statements of Putin,
Erdogan said, ''we had a very friendly, positive and sincere meeting.
The figures between Turkey and Russia are probably the results of
that sincere meeting.''
When asked how Putin assessed the process about Turkey's EU
membership, Erdogan said, ''he is also positive about this issue and
he congratulated us. He said Turkey has passed through that process
successfully.''
While informing about his meetings in Russia, Erdogan said he
met Putin and discussed political developments in the region and took
up energy issues. ''It was a very beneficial meeting. We mainly
discussed Iraq, Middle East, Cyprus and Armenia issues and we took up
what can be done jointly in the Middle East and the region,'' he
said.
''We have taken up our bilateral relations in regional and
international aspects and we had some demands in the aspect of the UN
Security Council. He said isolations (on TRNC) are not just and they
will support Annan Plan which will be prepared about the issue. He
clearly said they are ready to exert every type of effort on this
issue,'' noted Erdogan.
Erdogan said, ''we aim to increase trade volume between two
countries which is now 11 billion U.S. dollars to 15 billion U.S.
dollars in 2005 and 25 billion U.S. dollars in 2007. Political will
exists in both countries about this issue.''
''Russian officials want to make joint investments. It is in
question to make some investments in third countries and especially
in Iraq. Also Turkish contractors may undertake new and important
roles in public projects in Russia,'' he added.
''Russian officials have very positive attitude towards Turkish
entrepreneurs. This will show what kind of developments will occur in
this issue,'' he said.
Jan 13 2005
Premier Erdogan Arrives In Turkey
ANKARA (AA) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned to
Turkey from Russia on Wednesday.
Erdogan spoke to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport.
When asked, ''Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
President Rauf Denktas reacted against the supportive statements of
Russian President Vladimir Putin to Turkey about Cyprus issue. What
will be the next steps of Turkey and are there any differences in
approaches of Turkey and Denktas?'' Erdogan said, ''After December
17th process, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan congratulated us and
then we phoned him and said we could talk about Cyprus process. While
we were planning to hold this talk, Asian disaster happened. He is
now in the region. We want to talk with him as soon as possible.
There will not be an Annan Plan to be presented. Also, the name of
the plan is not important. The important thing is its content and
this content should include a solution. I do not believe that anybody
will oppose a plan that will include a solution. If the plan protects
interest of Turkish Cypriots and brings a just and permanent solution
to TRNC, I am sure that everybody will exert efforts for such a
plan.''
Erdogan said, ''we are talking about a just plan which will
bring permanent peace and by which both sides will win. We always say
that we support such a plan and we will continue to support. We do
not have any uneasiness about this issue.''
Upon a question about relations with Armenia, Erdogan said, ''we
have taken our positive steps towards Armenia. The most important of
these steps is Turkey's opening its door in airways. At the moment
Istanbul's Ataturk Airport is open to Armenian Airways. They have 4
flights a week to Istanbul.''
''However, we have of course some demands. It is 1923 Kars
Agreement. If they say they do not recognize it, we also do not
recognize (them). In spite of this, we say we do not want disgruntled
neighbor. We want to overcome these issues. There are places in
Karabakh which Armenia occupied. We believe that solving these issues
in a friendly way will be beneficial. We want to be hopeful about
this issue. We have always said we are ready to do what is
necessary,'' he said.
When asked his evaluations about sincere statements of Putin,
Erdogan said, ''we had a very friendly, positive and sincere meeting.
The figures between Turkey and Russia are probably the results of
that sincere meeting.''
When asked how Putin assessed the process about Turkey's EU
membership, Erdogan said, ''he is also positive about this issue and
he congratulated us. He said Turkey has passed through that process
successfully.''
While informing about his meetings in Russia, Erdogan said he
met Putin and discussed political developments in the region and took
up energy issues. ''It was a very beneficial meeting. We mainly
discussed Iraq, Middle East, Cyprus and Armenia issues and we took up
what can be done jointly in the Middle East and the region,'' he
said.
''We have taken up our bilateral relations in regional and
international aspects and we had some demands in the aspect of the UN
Security Council. He said isolations (on TRNC) are not just and they
will support Annan Plan which will be prepared about the issue. He
clearly said they are ready to exert every type of effort on this
issue,'' noted Erdogan.
Erdogan said, ''we aim to increase trade volume between two
countries which is now 11 billion U.S. dollars to 15 billion U.S.
dollars in 2005 and 25 billion U.S. dollars in 2007. Political will
exists in both countries about this issue.''
''Russian officials want to make joint investments. It is in
question to make some investments in third countries and especially
in Iraq. Also Turkish contractors may undertake new and important
roles in public projects in Russia,'' he added.
''Russian officials have very positive attitude towards Turkish
entrepreneurs. This will show what kind of developments will occur in
this issue,'' he said.