DENKTAS: WE CALL FOR SUPPORT FROM ISLAM AND TURKISH WORLD FOR PEACE ON CYPRUS
LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Tuesday thanked to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the initiatives he launched about TRNC during his visits to Malaysia and Pakistan. Denktas also called for support from Islam and Turkish world for peace on Cyprus.
Responding to the questions of reporters about the calls of Prime Minister Erdogan to Islam world regarded with the TRNC, Denktas said, ''in case the world considers the facts on Cyprus, this would help formation of two sovereign states and two equal partnership on Cyprus.''
Stating that Greek Cypriots continuously try to put OIC under pressure, Denktas said, ''whenever this organization convenes, either they launch activities in the lobbies or send delegations of several countries which are actually Christian. They exert intense efforts. I appreciate the efforts of Prime Minister Erdogan.''
When asked how he evaluated the support expended by prime ministers of Pakistan and Malaysia to TRNC, Denktas said, ''we are pleased over this. We appreciate it. They always expend support but we need to take a further step. They should help us to take this step if they really want to help compromise. As long as the world says 'there is only one legal government, and that is Greek Cypriot government, we don't recognize the other' the Greek Cypriots would do what they wanted to do for 40 years. The Greek Cypriots will sit at negotiation table for tactical reasons.''
Denktas said former Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides said their tactic was to show the Turkish Cypriots as the intransigent side, and that this was something easy in a world which recognized them.
Denktas said they wanted this support from the Islam world and the Turkish world, stating that they wanted this for peace.
Responding to a question about statements of EU Commission for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, currently holding contacts in the Greek Cypriot side, about EU membership of Cyprus, Denktas said, ''I will not have much argument if he said Greek Cypriot side would be taken. But he said Cyprus would be taken. Of course, Cyprus would not be taken, only Greek Cypriot side will be taken.''
Pointing out that there was the right in 1960 agreements that Cyprus could not be a member of any place without Turkey, Denktas said it was a mistake to take Greek Cypriot side to the EU under the name of Cyprus.
Denktas said this was one of the reasons of why Cyprus question could not be solved, adding that, ''we can not annul a right which provide Turkish-Greek balance and which make our rights valid with our own signature. We don't have right and authority to remove this right. This is our debt to our people. This is our assignment to Turkish people and Turkey.''
DENKTAS: I CAN NEVER ACCEPT AN AGREEMENT TO BE MADE WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ANNAN PLAN
Denktas said that he did not agree with the views that the plan presented by United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan did not have any alternatives and added that he could never accept an agreement to be made within the framework of Annan plan.
Speaking to TV8 television channel, Denktas evaluated the words of U.S. State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston's about Annan plan.
Denktas said that they explained Weston for many times that Annan plan was against the interests of the Turkish side and had many shortcomings.
However, Weston assumed an oppressive attitude, Denktas noted. He said that that move of Weston was an indicator that he considered U.S. interests over interests of Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.
Denktas pointed out that he would continue to defend the realities and he was determined not to make their freedom pressed under feet.
Cyprus could not join a European Union (EU) without Turkey under the 1960 treaties, Denktas stated.
Denktas said that the Greek Cypriot-Greek couple applied to the EU to deteriorate Turkish-Greek balance on Cyprus and to own whole Cyprus.
Accession to EU without Turkey would mean pushing Turkish Cypriots under authority of the Greek Cypriots and donating the geopolitic rights of Turkey on Cyprus to Greece, Denktas said.
Denktas underlined that 1960 treaties would be taken as basis in future agreements.
He was asked to do what he could not do legally and could not accept in respect with the national case, Denktas said.
Denktas noted that he could never accept an agreement to be made within the scope of Annan plan.
TRNC opened border gates and the Greek Cypriots who visited TRNC saw the realities, Denktas stated.
Denktas said that the Greek Cypriots wanted an agreement to be reached especially on the issue of compensation.
It was wrong of Weston to consider the Greek Cypriot government as the ''legal government of whole Cyprus'' although the Greek Cypriot people saw the realities, Denktas said.
Denktas noted that ''they should not wait a rightful move from the Americans in such a case.''
Addressing U.S. President George W. Bush, Denktas said, ''we want right from you, we expect justice.''
Denktas reiterated that they were ready for partnership as a sovereign nation and said that they could not waste Turkey's rights on Cyprus within the scope of Annan plan.
Asked if the views that ''negotiations would resume in September'' came onto the agenda during his meeting with Weston, Denktas said that he was not mentioned about a new plan.
When asked what his message to Ankara would be before Weston's visit, Denktas said that Ankara knew about all details and issues discussed during his meeting with Weston.
Denktas said, ''Ankara wants peace. We also want peace and compromise. But, we don't want peace by being throttled. Can they make an agreement with another sacrificing their rights and freedom? They can't. We see what they are doing to protect their rights, freedoms and sovereignty. Don't we have same rights? We are defending this. We defend everything which are defended by the whole world as right, freedom and democracy.''
When he was recalled that he would meet with EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen the following morning, Denktas said, ''Verheugen will say whatever he has said so far. There is a situation that they put forth as opening. The Greek Cypriot leadership has clearly stated that these openings are openings for the Greek Cypriot administration.''
Emphasizing that the Greek Cypriots wanted Turkish Cypriots to use Greek Cypriots ports but such a thing was not possible, Denktas said that export from Greek Cypriot ports would never be permitted.
Denktas stated that if there was any exporter who wanted to use Greek Cypriot ports, they would ban him/her and warned that occurrence of such situations could mean closure of doors gradually.
The EU thought of giving Cyprus to Greece and giving Turkey Mytilini or a base in Karpaz to solve Cyprus issue, Denktas said.
Denktas noted that the EU did not see Turkish Cypriot people as equal to the Greek Cypriots and wanted them to be under the domination of the Greek Cypriots.
''Leave us alone and we become good neighbors. Leave us alone and we become partners who trust each other. We have opened the doors. Confidence can be built slowly and people can know about each other,'' Denktas said.
Denktas pointed out that opening of border gates helped compromise in Cyprus, adding that ''the EU unawarely obstructed a compromise by taking sides beside the Greek Cypriot administration.''

(AY-AÖ-BRC) 17.06.2003