LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Tuesday that December elections would take place between those who defend the state and those who defend the European Union (EU).
Denktas received TRNC National Peoples Action delegation. Speaking at the meeting, Denktas said they would be in the position of ''minority'' in every agreement that would take place before the concepts of state and sovereignty are not accepted. He said they could accept an agreement protecting those and guaranteeing rights of Turkey.
Denktas said Cyprus should not be a member of the EU before Turkey's full membership, stating that, ''Cyprus can not be a member of the EU before Turkey. Only Greek Cypriot side will be a member of the EU. Turkey should be satisfied first for our membership to the EU. They can not destroy us by suspending Turkey and putting us to the EU. This is our legal right. Those agreements which banned Enosis had also banned indirect Enosis. What they do is indirect Enosis. If they manage to do this, it will be out of question for Turkey to claim right on Cyprus. They will put us into a position that is dependent on Greece.''
Denktas said, ''they say we are not dependent of Greece, but to 23 countries within the EU. Greece is among those 23 countries. And that is enough... Because they will carry out all relations in cooperation with Greece.''
(AY-AÖ) 19.08.2003