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Erdogan and Gul to go to Brussels with a Cyprus file in their bag


Turkish mainland daily HURRIYET newspaper (15.12.04), reports under banner headlines "Cyprus File in the bag" and says that there are two days for Turkey´s 41 year long European Adventure to come to a happy ending.

On 17 December, reports HURRIYET, the EU leaders will give their historic decision regarding Turkey´s starting of accession talks.

The paper then reports that today Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will leave for Brussels to attend the Summit deliberations. It reports that a tough diplomatic battle will be waged to the very last moment and in case it is deemed necessary, there is a Cyprus File in Erdogan´s and Gul´s bag which will be put on the negotiation table.

HURRIYET reports that the file was prepared with the help of important institutions, of which one is attached to the Prime Minister's office.

HURRIYET goes on and reports that this file includes two papers.

The first paper writes that in case the EU insists on its point Ankara will sign the harmonization protocol not with the EU council that represents 25 member countries but with the Netherland, that is the EU term president. With this arrangement Turkey will be able to by-pass Cyprus. If the EU accepts this, the document will be signed by Turkey´s Erdogan and Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende.

Subtitle: 2nd Paper, Reservations to the Greek Cypriots

The paper goes on and reports: "Following this, Turkey, as it did in Rome during the EU Constitution signing ceremony, will submit an appendix which will be the text of the reservation that Turkey will be putting regarding the Republic of Cyprus.

In this paper, HURRIYET says it will be stressed that unless a comprehensive settlement is reached within the good-offices mission of the UN Secretary-General in the Cyprus problem, Turkey will not recognize politically the Greek Cypriot side.