Cyprus Press and Information Office: Occupied Northern Cyprus
July 14 2005

Gul confident that Turkey will start accession negotiations while
40,000 Turkish troops are occupying EU territory and violating the
human rights of EU citizens

Ankara Anatolia news agency (12.07.05) reported from London that the
Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Abdullah Gul sees no risk
regarding the start of full membership negotiations between Turkey
and the European Union (EU), on October 3rd.
After having a breakfast with investors in British capital of London,
Gul told a press conference that Turkey had adopted all required
reform laws, and therefore, expected that the entry talks will start
as scheduled.

Touching on terrorism, Gul said that fight against terrorism was the
common responsibility of all countries, and stressed that a joint
platform should be established to combat it.

“Terrorism is a severe crime committed against humanity, and
therefore we strongly condemn it,” said Gul.

Commenting on attacks on some mosques in London after last week’s
bombings, Gul said: “This is another kind of violence. Islam has
nothing to do with terrorism. Terrorists may be Muslim, Christian,
Jew or members of some other faith. Religion and terrorism cannot be
considered together. So, we should condemn terrorism altogether.”

Regarding the Armenian genocide, Gul said that Turkey had opened up
all its archives, including military ones, to all foreign scientists,
and stressed that even a single document proving the Armenian
allegations could not be discovered.

Mr Gul has been awarded an honorary doctorate degree from the British
Exeter University today. Gul was awarded the degree due to his
solution-seeking approach in international matters and his
contribution to human rights and democracy in domestic policies.

“The award I have received today will help me increase efforts for
regional peace and a better world,” said Gul.

In his acceptance speech, Gul pointed out that in the upcoming years
cooperation against military clashes, poverty, terrorism, fanaticism,
religious and ethnic discrimination, racism, discrimination against
Muslims, deadly viruses, drug and human trafficking will be
essential.

Condemning the attacks in London last week, Gul stressed that such
incidents (as in London) will only motivate nations to cooperate
against global threat of terrorism.

Moreover, Ankara TRT 1 Television (12.07.05) broadcast that Mr
Abdullah Gul, has disclosed that Turkish and Armenian diplomats are
holding talks to solve the problems between the two countries. He
said: Our only aim is to ensure peace in the Caucasus.

After receiving the honorary doctorate from Exeter University in
Britain. Gul spoke to TRT as follows:

A dialogue has been going on for some time. That is not new. The
dialogue is sometimes held at the ministerial level. Our only aim is
to ensure peace and stability in the Caucasus, to ensure that the
problematic issues are resolved in a way agreeable to all sides.

Asked if Britain was upset by the fact that Turkey would issue a
declaration saying it does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus when
signing the additional protocol, Gul said that Jak Straw did not tell
him anything of the sort during their meeting in Bosnia and
Herzegovina.

He did not tell me such a thing. Of course we are in close contact
these days because Britain is term president. We talk with Foreign
Secretary Straw frequently. Our colleagues convey our views to their
counterparts. The issue calls for close consultations, Gul said.