LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Wednesday that right of people who get Greek Cypriot passport to vote in the TRNC should be discussed and researched.
Speaking at a meeting, Denktas said, ''what Greek Cypriots are saying, 'those who come to us and get our passport are the people who are against Denktas and will vote to destroy his politics in elections'. Now a legal situation appears. What is the right of people who have two passports in general elections? You can't make election in the Greek Cypriot side with Greek Cypriot passport. If you do it, you accept being minority there when you get that passport. Besides, how much do you have the right to vote in our side with a Greek Cypriot passport in your pocket? We have to discuss and research this. I don't say, 'it happens this or that way' but a thing appears after every step. And what appears strengthens us.''
Stressing that accession to the European Union (EU) without an agreement meant degeneration of rights and acceptance of minority status and Greek Cypriots' right to return, Denktas said that they wanted to join the EU by standing on their feet, not by being dragged.
''We do have our own state and we will continue exerting efforts to make an agreement on principle of states. We saw what an agreement on a written paper meant,'' he said.
Stating that there were two national peoples in Cyprus, Denktas said that there were an agreement between the sides on living in two separate geographies and restriction of Greek Cypriots in the north regarding the issue of property.
Stressing that Turkish Cypriots were living their most powerful days and this should not be forgotten, Denktas said, ''If the EU wants whole Cyprus, it is obliged to know who Turkish Cypriots are and what they want, otherwise, it would be obliged to take only half of the island.''
(MS-AÖ) 03.07.2003