Well Barry...

[gamavor]

...who can fool only those alike!

 

Have Fun!

 

Daily Press Briefing

 

U.S. Department of State

Tom Casey, Acting Spokesman

Washington, DC

August 2, 2005

 

INDEX:

 

TURKEY

 

Support for Turkey's EU Bid

Terrorist Organization PKK

U. S. Relationship with Turkey

 

CYPRUS

 

U. S. Position on Cyprus / Annan Plan / Flights from Azerbaijan /

Easing of Economic Isolation for Turkish Cypriots

 

AZERBAIJAN

 

Secretary Rice's Meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

 

QUESTION: France has reported to have said, Turkey, can I get into

the EU until it ends its occupation of Cyprus. Are you on the same

page with the French on that?

 

MR. CASEY: Well, Barry, I think --

 

QUESTION: I know it's a European grouping, but you can have an opinion.

 

MR. CASEY: Well, I think as you know, Barry, we have a longstanding

history of support for Turkey's EU bid. We continue to support Turkey's

goal of acceding to the EU. Although, of course, we aren't a member

of the EU and this certainly is a decision for the European Union

itself to make.

With regard to Cyprus. As our friend Mr. Lambros certainly knows,

our policy on this is well known. We have not changed our views on

that. We certainly want to see a resolution of the differences on

Cyprus resolved. And we still believe that the way forward on that

is under the basis of the Annan plan and what we're working for in

Cyprus right now is for both sides to come back to the Secretary

General in response to his suggestion that they come up with some

ideas for how to move that process forward.

 

QUESTION: Well, the stalemate continues. The troops remain. It sounds

as if the French have another approach that might move things along

they hope, I suppose. The U.S. is just going to wait for the two

sides to get together again, right?

 

MR. CASEY: Well, Barry, I mean, I think we need to remember where

this process was. The Annan plan went forward. It was voted on by

both communities on Cyprus. Because one community rejected that plan,

that was what we frankly thought was a positive, good plan and an

opportunity to resolve the issue. At this point, conversations continue

between the Secretary General, between his representatives and leaders

in Cyprus. We certainly have our contacts with both communities as

well. And again, what we are doing is encouraging them to respond

to the Secretary General's offer to come up with some suggestions to

move forward. But at this point, it's up to those parties to try and

respond to those proposals and see how we can move forward.

 

QUESTION: On Cyprus?

 

MR. CASEY: On Cyprus? Sure.

 

QUESTION: Azerbaijan has recently opened the flights to the northern

part of the island and the Greek side is very dissatisfied. They're

threatening with retaliation of opening flights to the occupied

territories of Azerbaijan. Where does the U.S. stand on all of this?

 

MR. CASEY: Well, I really don't have anything for you on the specific

flights. That's obviously a bilateral issue. And I'd leave it to

the Azeri Government to comment on it. I think you know our policy

is that we continue to support the easing of the economic isolation

of the Turkish Cypriots and that's the policy we're pursuing with

response to the north.

QUESTION: A bilateral between who -- Azerbaijan and --

 

MR. CASEY: And Cyprus.

 

QUESTION: The Government of Cyprus.

 

MR. CASEY: Yeah. It is not -- it's not an issue. It's not an issue

for us.

 

QUESTION: But if the Government of Cyprus objects, where does that --

 

MR. CASEY: Again, I'd leave it to the Government of Azerbaijan,

the Government of Cyprus.

 

QUESTION: But you don't mean bilaterally with Northern Cyprus?

 

MR. CASEY: No.

 

QUESTION: Okay.

 

QUESTION: (Off-mike).

 

MR. CASEY: Our position on Cyprus has not changed. Our position

on recognition has not changed. I think I anticipated the

question. (Laughter).

 

QUESTION: Mr. Casey, you have to clarify between the Government of

Cyprus and of Azerbaijan -- or what? Between Azerbaijan and what?

 

MR. CASEY: Her question was that the Government of Azerbaijan has

instituted flights that other governments in the region have objected

to that. That is a matter between those other governments and the

Government of Azerbaijan to work out. I do not have an official

U.S. comment on it.

 

Let's move around. Yeah.

 

QUESTION: Do you have anything on Secretary Rice's meeting this

morning on Azerbaijani Foreign Minister?

 

MR. CASEY: I have a more of a preview than a readout. The meeting

was just concluding as I came out here. So in terms of the preview --

 

QUESTION: They're going to (inaudible).

 

MR. CASEY: They were -- what they were planning on talking about

was a number of bilateral issues. We certainly were going to thank

the Government of Azerbaijan for its assistance in the global war

on terror. Understand that Azerbaijan does have military forces in

Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo. We are also going to stress and talk

about the importance, as we always do in our conversations with the

Azeri Government, of the parliamentary elections in November and the

importance of those elections meeting international standards. And we

certainly expected the subject of Nagorno-Karabak to come up as well.

 

QUESTION: Interfax is quoting the Kyrgyz Government as saying

Secretary of State Rice will travel to Bishkek to attend the August

14th inaugural. And I know how reluctant she is to travel, but is

it possible she might be going there for the inaugural and combine

it with a vacation, possibly?

 

(Laughter.)

 

MR. CASEY: Well, I don't have any announcements to offer you in terms

of travel, Barry, but I'm unaware of any plans for her to travel at

this time.