The International Crisis Group (ICG) has asked Turkish Prime Minister

[The System]

Published: Wednesday 15, 2005

http://www.zaman.com/?bl=internation...50615&hn=20705

The International Crisis Group (ICG) has asked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding what can be done to solve the Cyprus issue.

An ICG delegation and famous speculator George Soros reportedly held a meeting with Erdogan and asked the Prime Minister about the Cyprus issue. "We need to do something in Southern Cyprus. What can be done for this?" the ICG delegates asked. Erdogan in return explained that Turkey has taken steps for peace on the Island. Everything that is possible has so far been done, as far as the Turkish side is concerned, the Prime Minister said, "We have also paid the price of taking these steps." He reiterated the Turkish support for the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan's efforts as well, and Erdogan gained support for lifting embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The ICG members promised to voice support for the TRNC on every platform. Turkey is a constructive country when faced with a crisis, say Soros and his think team, and they also expressed a willingness to cooperate with Turkey.

During a television program in which Erdogan was asked about his meeting with Soros, he confirmed that they had exchanged views on Iraq, Syria, and the Middle East: "They have reports to prepare as well. They proposed support regarding Cyprus and will prepare a new report now. They wanted to see our expectations in regard to this report." State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, State Minister and Chief Negotiator to the EU Ali Babacan, Minister of Finance Kemal Unakitan, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) Deputy leader Saban Disli and Erdogan's foreign policy adviser and AKP Istanbul Deputy Egemen Bagis also attended the meeting with the ICG delegation.

Ankara