TURKISH PRESIDENT CALLS FOR SETTLEMENT OF ANACHRONIC POLITICAL CONFLICTS

PanARMENIAN.Net
03.10.2007 18:11 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The settlement of anachronic political conflicts in
the European geography and in its periphery is a must for the future
security, stability and welfare of Europe," Turkish President Abdullah
Gul said in his address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe.

"Cyprus remains the oldest unresolved conflict in Europe. The overall
settlement of this conflict could have been achieved during the
simultaneous referenda which were held on the island on 24 April
2004 on the UN settlement plan. However, that chance was missed due
to the rejection of the plan by the Greek Cypriot side," he said.

"Had this opportunity been seized then Cyprus now could have been a
reunified island and represented as such in this Assembly. Isolations
imposed on the Turkish Cypriots would have been lifted. The Turkish
and Greek Cypriot property issues would have been resolved. The
military presence of Greece and Turkey would have reached an agreed
solution. A negotiated settlement in Cyprus would have transformed
the eastern Mediterranean into a hub of regional cooperation between
Turkey, Greece and island of Cyprus. Nevertheless, Turkey remains
fully committed to a political settlement: A settlement which will
ensure the reunification of the island under the auspices of the
good-offices mission of the UN Secretary-General, based on the long
established UN parameters. I recognize the presence of two elected
representatives of the Turkish Cypriot people among you. I seize
this opportunity to thank the Parliamentary Assembly for taking this
modest but meaningful step in helping to ease the political isolation
of the Turkish Cypriots," Gul said.