LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Saturday, ''if we show patience and protect our state, we will enter the European Union (EU) path.''
President Denktas delivered a speech at the Bayrak Radio to mark July 20 Peace and Freedom Day.
''We have been celebrating the 29th anniversary of Cyprus Peace Operation. We should never forget all those sufferings we experienced. July 20 is the birthday of Turkish Cypriot people. If Turkish soldiers had not rushed to our assistance, we would have been buried in mass graves or we would have migrated from our territories. Turkish Cypriot people have endured all difficulties and displayed an unbelievable resistance. We have launched initiatives to resolve the Cyprus question as two equal sides. We have expended intense efforts to this end. However, we could not reach this target. The real responsible of this failure are those who encouraged the Greek Cypriot side by recognizing it as the legitimate government of whole island,'' he stressed.
President Denktas emphasized, ''they want us to change by accepting dominance of the Greek Cypriot side. We cannot do it. Because our right of sovereignty and our equality have not been recognized. They want to destroy Turkey's guarantee. They also want to remove the bizonality on the island. We tell those who want us to change, that the Greek Cypriot side should change first. The Greek Cypriot side should give up its claim to be the legitimate government of the whole island. It should accept that it is not the government of Turkish Cypriot people. And those who have recognized the Greek Cypriot side as the legitimate government of the whole island, should change.''
''Turkish Cypriot people have not submitted under the most difficult conditions. We have founded our own state and protected it for the last 20 years. We will never accept dominance of the Greek Cypriot side. The world should realize this fact now,'' he said.
President Denktas added, ''if we give up our state, if we submit to this trick, we will become a minority in Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot side applied to the EU unilaterally in order to destroy Turkey's interests over Cyprus. Our self-respecting struggle have been continuing in the international platforms now.''

EROGLU: JULY 20 PEACE OPERATION HAS CHANGED UNFORTUNATE DESTINY OF TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE
Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Saturday, ''July 20 Peace Operation has changed unfortunate destiny of Turkish Cypriot people. Borders of the TRNC in which we have been living freely and peacefully were drawn on July 20.''
Releasing a message to mark July 20 Peace and Freedom Day, Prime Minister Eroglu said, ''Turkish Cypriot people have endured pressure, treats and inhuman attacks for years. At last, the Peace Operation on July 20, 1974 has provided Turkish Cypriot people with political, democratic and human rights, peace, security and honor. No one should expect Turkish Cypriot people to give up them now.''
''Under the light of its sufferings in 11 years between 1963 and 1974, our people should well-assess all its steps. Only an artificial future can be settled with foreign and artificial interventions. A solution which does not have a sound ground, will not solve our problems,'' he said.
Prime Minister Eroglu noted, ''Turkish Cypriot people have succeeded in surviving despite all inhuman treatments, pressure, threat and embargoes. They have protected their identity, existence and state. Now, Turkish Cypriot people are determined to protect their rights.''
''The Greek Cypriot side did not learn any lesson from the history. We observe that the Greek Cypriot side have not changed their point of view about Turkish Cypriot people. Therefore, we understood once again that political and geographical ground which was drawn in 1974, is the indispensable fact of Cyprus. Two nations' living side by side and in peace can be possible only with a solution based on political equality of two states,'' he emphasized.
DENKTAS RECEIVES GENERAL BASBUG
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Saturday, ''the Cyprus question was put forward in front of Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process as an obstacle. We are extremely distressed about it. The EU has assumed a double-standard.''
President Denktas received Land Forces Staff Chairman General Ilker Basbug who came to TRNC to attend tomorrow's ceremonies to mark July 20 Peace and Freedom Day.
Speaking at the meeting, President Denktas said, ''July 20 is the birthday of Turkish Cypriots. If Turkish soldiers had not come to the island, we will have been buried in mass graves. Turkish soldiers prevented ethnic cleansing campaign of Greek Cypriots against Turkish Cypriots.''
''We consider the EU the center of civilization and defender of equality, sovereignty and human rights. However, we have been observing that the EU had assumed a double-standard,'' he said.
President Denktas stressed, ''Greek Cypriot side does not have to right to claim that it is also the government of Turkish Cypriot side. Turkish Cypriot people were left stateless as a result of a gory campaign of the Greek Cypriot side to make Cyprus a Greek island. As a result of sacrifice of both Turkish and Turkish Cypriot people, we have founded our own state.''
Meanwhile, General Basbug said in his part, ''the Turkish Armed Forces has always supported President Denktas due to his unique efforts in struggle of Turkish Cypriot people for existence.''
Noting that solution which was proposed by the Turkish Cypriot side about a new partnership between the two equal and sovereign states, should be assessed by the sides, General Basbug said, ''I believe that the relevant sides should assess this solution in the coming period for settlement of a lasting and fair peace in the island. Otherwise, some difficulties will emerge inevitably in protection of current atmosphere of peace and stability in Eastern Mediterranean. I believe that such an atmosphere will not be beneficial for any of the sides.''
''In order to settle a lasting peace in the island, Turkish Cypriot people's equal status and equal sovereignty should be recognized, continuation of existence of Turkish Cypriot people should be provided, Turkish-Greek balance provided with 1960 agreement should be protected, and Turkey should maintain its de facto and influential guarantee,'' he added.
General Basbug conveyed message of General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok to President Denktas.
(UK-MS) 19.07.2003