ISTANBUL - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Sunday that ''the European Union (EU) had understood that it made a mistake and it wanted Turkish Cypriots to help the Greek Cypriots to correct that mistake instead of correcting their own words.''
After attending ''Crans Montana Forum'' held in Geneva, Switzerland, Denktas came to Turkey.
At the airport, Denktas told reporters that they voiced critical points of Cyprus case in the meeting in which Cyprus issue was taken up.
Denktas said, ''the message we gave is very simple: A compromise in Cyprus can be reached within the framework of principles like peace, right and justice. Peace based on injustice is not possible. There is injustice in Cyprus that has continued for 40 years. Partnership was divided into two in the end of a bloody attack launched to achieve 'enosis' (union with Greece) to turn the partnership republic into a Greek Cypriot republic and two states occurred.''
Noting that reunification was wanted, Denktas said, ''reunification is possible if principles of right and justice are accepted. However, the Greek Cypriot side which demolished the partnership in the beginning to prevent rights and justice was given the title of 'legal government.' Therefore, the Greek Cypriots do no more need to form a new partnership. They are given the right to possess whole Cyprus. As long as we don't accept and yield to this, Cyprus issue can't be settled. Turkish side is shown as the guilty side since the issue is not settled. We don't yield to this injustice.''
Denktas stated that they opened the doors to fill the vacuum and to show that they were good-willed and favored peace after United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan had been eliminated.
''We wanted the two sides to know about each other because the Greek Cypriots were told that 'Turkish Cypriots were hungry, thirsty and ready to accept any agreement put forward in front of them.' The Greek Cypriots came and saw that we were standing on our feet. Therefore, conditions of equality necessary for compromise have started to come out. We have to be patient,'' Denktas said.
Denktas pointed out that 1960 treaties which protected Turkey's rights on Cyprus would slowly be removed. ''Some say that 'it is not so, guarantee will continue.' But, if there is guarantee, Cyprus can't join any organization of which Turkey is not a member. As they have accepted the Greek Cypriots, this means that they assume that this right doesn't exist. We can't accept this. We can't end the most important geopolitic right of Turkey on Cyprus with our own signature. The EU has understood it made a mistake. They want us to help the Greek Cypriots to correct this mistake instead of correcting their own words,'' Denktas said.
Referring to Annan plan, Denktas said, ''it is not on the table, we are saying that it can't be made. Because, compromise of the two sides is necessary. The Greek Cypriots put forward conditions that we can't accept for compromise and they don't accept our conditions. We can reach somewhere only by showing our determination and protecting our state.''
Denktas recalled that some views that ''Turkey would have many losses in the property and territory issue, but that loss would not be much if Annan plan had been accepted.''
''This is not correct either. We talked this issue with the Swiss experts and lawyers. What the personal rights will be after EU accession is not certain. Whatever an agreement wrote, the result that could come out of a court applied for personal rights could again sentence Turkey. Circles always think Turkey will pay compensation, but nobody is thinking that there are compensations that Turkey and Turkish Cypriots should take. We are trying to bring onto agenda those compensations which is our and Turkey's rights with a new opening,'' Denktas added.
(BRC-AÖ) 30.06.2003