LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Sunday, ''rights and freedoms cannot be bestowed on anyone.''
Speaking at the ceremony held in Lefkosa to mark the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day, President Denktas stressed, ''rights and freedoms cannot be bestowed on anyone. Turkish Cypriot people have acquired their rights and freedoms after a long struggle. As a natural result of the Peace Operation on July 20, 1974, we have saved our rights and independence and made them concrete in our state. It is our most important duty to protect our state now.''
''Many circles have been testing our patience, determination, resistance, trust, unity and solidarity. Turkish Cypriot people have never surrendered while protecting their state. They have never accepted second-class citizenship. Mass massacres, mass graves and embargoes have not intimidated our people. Our state is the present of our resistance. If we had not found our state, we would have become nothing but a minority. Although the world does not recognized TRNC, TRNC has an esteem in the international platform,'' he said.
President Denktas said, ''countries who call themselves as defenders of human rights, are aware of their unfair attitude against Turkish Cypriot people. They are ashamed. Therefore, they have been seeking a solution to the Cyprus question in European Union (EU) membership. We will never give up our principle of telling the truth. A solution to the Cyprus question can be possible only on the basis of equal sovereignty of the two sides.''
''It is nonsense to expect people, who have founded their own state, to ignore their state and make an agreement for the benefits of the other side. The EU recognizes the Greek Cypriot side as the legitimate government of whole island and tells us, 'do not insist on separate sovereignty. You should forget TRNC and all your sufferings in the past.' They expect us to legalize their illegal step they have taken by ignoring the agreements of 1960. We will not accept it,'' he said.
Referring to the plan, which was presented by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, President Denktas said, ''this is a plan which was prepared in order to make the island a member of the EU by destroying rights given to Turkey by the agreements of 1960, and making Turkish Cypriot people a minority on the island. If we had signed the agreement, one of each two people here would have forced to leave their homes. United Nations Secretary General Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto preferred to solve problems of Greek Cypriot immigrants instead of problems of immigrants in Cyprus. This is an unbelievable and inhuman preference.''
''The plan of United Nations Secretary General Annan destroys Turkey's rights over Cyprus and changes the balance between Turkey and Greece in favor of Greece. Neither Turkish Cypriot people nor Turkey granted him such a right. Greece is among those who have been trying to force us to sign the plan. Greece wants Turkey to give up its rights over Cyprus. Also, the Greek Cypriot side, the United States and Britain want us to accept the plan. The United States has been trying to force us to accept the plan in order to satisfy Greek lobby. Some dangerous tricks are in question to put us under the dominance of the Greek Cypriot side. We will not be deceived,'' he added.
SENER: ''A SOLUTION TO CYPRUS QUESTION DEPENDS ON EQUAL STATUS AND EQUAL SOVEREIGNTY OF TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said on Sunday, ''a lasting and fair solution can be found to the Cyprus question with recognition of facts in the island and sovereign equality of the sides by all relevant sides. A solution to Cyprus question depends on equal status and equal sovereignty of Turkish Cypriot people. The solution should be based on equal sovereignty, continuation of Turkey's de facto and influential guarantee and protection of Turkish-Greek balance.''
Speaking at the ceremony held in Lefkosa to mark July 20 Peace and Freedom Day, Sener said, ''July 20 is a national day for everyone. We consider July 20 a symbol of protection of sovereignty rights and equal status of Turkish Cypriot people in line with their desire to reach peace and stability. Turkish Cypriot people want settlement of peace in the island. They desire a fair and lasting solution. However, their desire does not mean that Turkish Cypriot people will sacrifice from their indispensable rights. Positive steps taken by Turkish Cypriot side under the distinguished leadership of President Rauf Denktas of TRNC, are the real sign of this intention.''
''Steps and proposals of Turkish Cypriot side should be well-assessed by all relevant sides. These proposals have created an important opportunity. We expect the Greek Cypriot side to take similar steps and display a productive approach. Both sides should expend efforts for peace and solution,'' he stressed.
Sener said, ''Turkey will never allow Turkish Cypriot people to return to the dark days of pre-1974 period. Despite all difficulties and obstacles, TRNC has recorded considerable progress since July 20, 1974.''
''Now, it is time to lift inhuman embargoes imposed on TRNC for more than 40 years. It is our duty to develop this country despite all obstacles. We believe that Turkish Cypriot people have the necessary energy and power to provide economic development and growth. Turkey will continue to support Turkish Cypriot people in their efforts to develop their country in peace and stability,'' he said.
Describing TRNC as a factor of peace and stability factor in its region, Sener said, ''a lasting and fair solution can be found to the Cyprus question with recognition of facts in the island and sovereign equality of the sides by all relevant sides. A solution to Cyprus question depends on equal status and equal sovereignty of Turkish Cypriot people. The solution should be based on equal sovereignty, continuation of Turkey's de facto and influential guarantee and protection of Turkish-Greek balance.''

SEZER: TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PROGRESSING ON THEIR PATH UNDER GUARANTEE OF TURKEY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Sunday, ''Turkish Cypriot people have been progressing on their path under guarantee of Turkey. It is impossible to reach a lasting solution by ignoring existence of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).''
President Sezer sent a message to President Rauf Denktas of TRNC through Presidential Secretary General Kemal Nehrozoglu to mark the 29th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation.
In his message, President Sezer said, ''significant developments occurred in efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus question last year. We appreciate President Denktas' determination to protect freedom and independence of Turkish Cypriot people and to reach an equal and sovereign status. Turkish Cypriot people have been progressing on their path under guarantee of Turkey. It is impossible to reach a lasting solution by ignoring existence of TRNC, which has become a symbol of peace and stability in its region. We hope that the international community will realize this fact soon.''
''We believe that Turkish Cypriot side's recent initiatives and President Denktas' productive proposals will help overcoming the confidence crisis in the island and facilitate efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus question,'' he stressed.
President Sezer added that Turkey would continue to extend full support to Turkish Cypriot people.

PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC SENDS MESSAGES TO PRESIDENT SEZER AND GENERAL OZKOK
LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) sent messages to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok on Sunday to mark July 20 Peace and Freedom Day.
In his message to President Sezer, President Denktas said, ''despite all pressures and atrocities of the Greek Cypriot side and Greece, Turkish Cypriot people have resisted with patience, determination and trust. As a result of the Cyprus Peace Operation of the Turkish Armed Forces on July 20, 1974, Turkish Cypriot people have acquired their independence.''
''Our people are aware of Turkey's increasing assistance and contribution to development of TRNC in every field. We will further develop TRNC in line with principles of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. We will always commemorate those who sacrificed their lives for our independence, with a great respect,'' he said.
Meanwhile, President Denktas said in his message to General Ozkok, ''as we are celebrating the 29th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, which has provided Turkish Cypriot people with peace, tranquillity and freedom, we want to express our gratitude to the Turkish Armed Forces.''

JULY 20 PEACE AND FREEDOM DAY CELEBRATIONS START IN TRNC
LEFKOSA - The 29th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, which was launched by Turkey on July 20, 1974 by using its legal rights stemming from international agreements in order to save Turkish Cypriot people from attacks of the Greek Cypriot people has been celebrating in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The first ceremony took place in front of the Peace and Freedom Monument in Karaoglanoglu in Girne.
Ceremonies were also held in front of the Ataturk Monument in Lefkosa and the mausoleum of Dr. Fazil Kucuk in Anittepe.
President Rauf Denktas of TRNC, other state and government officials and high-ranking military officials were in attendance at the ceremonies.
Presidential Secretary General Kemal Nehrozoglu, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, Deputy Parliament Speaker Yilmaz Ates and Land Forces Staff Chairman General Ilker Basbug represented Turkey at the ceremonies.
Nehrozoglu signed the special book of the Ataturk Monument in Lefkosa, saying, ''we are pleased with celebrating the 29th anniversary of the Peace Operation which has brought peace in the island. Turkish Cypriot people have acquired their independence and sovereignty. Today, Turkish Cypriot people have been progressing on the path of civilization. The Republic of Turkey will always support rightful and legal struggle of Turkish Cypriot people.''
Meanwhile, a number of guests from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Britain, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, India, the Netherlands, Iran, Egypt, Bahrain, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Germany, Pakistan and Spain came to TRNC to attend the ceremonies.
(UK-MS) 20.07.2003