TASKENT - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday that for forty years he has been holding talks with the Greek Cypriot side, stating that view and intention of Greek Cypriots have not change since that time.
Denktas addressed the ceremony which was held to commemorate Taskent martyrs on the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the second phase of Cyprus Peace Operation.
Denktas said they could not manage to make the Greek Cypriot side accept the fact that there were two people on Cyprus during the negotiations, and stated that Greek Cypriots were insistent on the expression ''one people comprised of two communities''. Denktas reminded that partnership republic was demolished by Greek Cypriots with the pretext that ''there was only one people on the island.''
Denktas said he believed that Greek Cypriots would do the same thing in case European Union (EU) continues its support. ''To this end, the agreement that would be signed should not pave ways to bring back the days of the past'' he stressed.
Denktas said that the massacres committed by Greek Cypriots would be known by the whole world because the people would any more apply to the authorities to demand their rights, adding that the people want to take back bodies of their martyrs and their efforts continue to this end.
Denktas said the way to make others to accept the state was to protect the state.
TRNC Parliament Speaker Vehbi Zeki Serter, Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, ministers, representatives of political parties, military officials and many TRNC citizens participated in the ceremony.
A total of 83 men from village people, whose ages were between 13 and 70, had been killed under gunfire 29 years ago by Greek Cypriots in Taskent.
(AY-AÖ) 15.08.2003