Gul: ”If the Greek Cypriots hadn't rejected the 2004 peace plan, today there would be no Turkish soldiers on Cyprus”

If the Greek Cypriots hadn't rejected the 2004 UN peace plan, today the soldiers Turkish stationed on Cyprus would have withdrawn, said President Abdullah Gul yesterday. In an interview with Euronews TV, Gul stated that everyone, including the European Union, knows that Turkey isn't opposed to a solution on the island. Asked about the terrorist PKK, Gul said, "Until now the Kurdish regional government in northern Iraq has refused to do what is necessary, but I'm pleased to say during our meetings with them over the last few months they realize that these terror groups are bad news for them as well." He added, "Those who want to fight to the death and not give up their weapons, then our military must tackle that and fight these people to the end."