LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Monday that Cyprus question was a fairness and justice issue which had been continuing for 40 years and the European Union (EU) was playing games to correct its mistake on Cyprus.
Noting that Annan Plan was prepared for the accession of Cyprus to EU by disregarding Turkey's rights on Cyprus and TRNC was asked to support this plan by signing it, Denktas said that if they signed the plan, they would betray Turkey.
Emphasizing that international society was preventing the solution of Cyprus issue by considering Greek Cypriot administration as a legitimate government on the island, Denktas said that solution of Cyprus issue would enter in an orbit when TRNC's determination was seen and accepted. ''They will continue to follow the path they want as long as they see a possibility to reduce us to submission and drag us behind them. Only way to show them that this path is a dead-end street, is to make known our determination, our devotion and loyalty to our state, and Turkey's full support.''
After attending ''Crans Montana Forum'' held in Geneva, Switzerland, Denktas returned to TRNC on Sunday night and he said that the visit was very constructive.
Noting that they had not seen yet the necessary response from international society to TRNC's current openings, Denktas emphasized that the real target of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's Plan was to remove the most basic right which was given to Turkey in 1960 Agreements that Greek Cypriots considered non-existent and wanted to eliminate. He added, ''this is the right of Turkey to reject and prevent direct or indirect Enosis (union with Greece). We will make the biggest betrayal to Turkey if we sign this plan.''
Emphasizing that determination was the basis in national cases, Denktas said, ''to believe and confide in ourselves is the basis. It is a right not to accept everything that others give you and say 'this is the best thing for you'.'' He added that Turkish Cypriots would continue to walk on this way.
Noting that he had the chance to examine Annan Plan again with British and German jurists during his contacts in Crans Montana, Denktas said that jurists decided that ''the plan would rapidly downgrade status of Turkish Cypriots into a minority''. He added that he was pleased one more time that he did not accept this plan which was full of tricks and deficiencies.
Denktas said that a plan, which risked to remove nearly a hundred thousand people and rehabilitate them again, could not be considered as a just, fair and humane plan.
Denktas said, ''the real target of the plan is to remove the basic right which was given to Turkey in 1960 Agreements that Greek Cypriots consider non-existent and want to eliminate. This is the right of Turkey to reject and prevent direct or indirect Enosis. This plan, which is prepared to take Cyprus to EU without taking this right of Turkey into consideration, wants Turkish Cypriots to support with their own signatures the Greek Cypriots who want to violate this right. If we do this, we will make the biggest betrayal to Turkey. Because, as long as Turkey has this right, it has the right to protect us in Cyprus.''
''Taking us to the European Union by obtaining signature of Turkish Cypriots with an attitude considering this right as non-existent and acting as if they are solving Cyprus issue by saying 'we united Cyprus' in indirect ways, is evaluated only as an act attempted by the EU to correct its own mistake.
Noting that it is revealed that none of the people with whom he talked in Crans Montana knew the essence of Cyprus issue, Denktas said, ''everybody we talked do not know many things. They are evaluating us only by reading news of European press source of which are Greek Cypriots with an approach of 'legitimate Cyprus government and Turkish community'. There were people who were astonished by learning the realities and even got angry by themselves as 'why we were deceived that much'.''
(GC-AÖ) 30.06.2003