MENSUR AKGUN: ARMENIA IS BETTER THAN TURKEY FOR EU

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 7 2006

Though Turkey has offered to open a port and an airport, it was
possible for Greeks to accept this offer. Because, according to their
view point, their recognition by Turkey side is more important than
opening the port and airports," the executive director of Turkey
economic and Social Studies Foundation, one of the main specialists
of Turkey in EU told the APA Turkey bureau.

He said that Greeks tries to rescue from the restriction of Annan
plan. Greeks consider that they will be able to make Turkey adopt
it in the period when EU membership process continues. Turkey is
fair to settle this problem in the frame of EU. But Greece part of
Cyprus insists to solve this problem in the frame of EU. " Mensur
Akgun also said that he does not believe that Turkey will step back
on Cyprus problem.

"The problem will be settled in the frame of UN. The problem will
continue if EU does not lift the isolation policy applied to Northern
Cyprus republic. I do not believe that Turkey will step back, though
EU delays some issues in the discussions with Turkey," he said.

Mensur Akgun stressed that Cyprus problem does not detain Turkey’s
EU membership.

"Turkey will not be the member of EU early than 10 years. That is
why EU can discuss the issues concerning Turkey’s membership," he said.

Saying that Karabakh and Cyprus conflicts are alike, Akgun stressed
that UN resolutions on both conflicts did not find its settlement.

"Security Council has several resolutions concerning Nagorno
Karabakh conflict. No-one, even EU does not put pressure on Armenia
for execution of the resolutions. It has two reasons. First, Armenia
is not a country willing to be member of EU, second, EU has special
sympathy to Armenia. No-one can deny that Armenia is better than us
for EU," he said.