ISTANBUL - TRNC President Rauf Denktas said on Thursday regarding Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq that ''I can't talk about the problems of Turkey without knowing the views of Turkey. Turkey will give the best decision.''
Denktas paid a courtesy visit to Sisli mayor Mustafa Sarýgul the same day.
Sarigul stated that Denktas continued to defend Cyprus cause with sacrifices.
Responding to questions of journalists who asked his views about Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq, Denktas said that ''I can't talk about the problems of Turkey from outside without knowing the views of Turkey. This is the policy I've pursued to date. Turkey will give the best decision. I hope the U.N. Security Council also gives a decision about this issue. Therefore every troop that is sent to Iraq will be charged within the scope of an international decision.''
When reminded about the rumors saying that pressure would be imposed in September to start negotiations about Cyprus issue, TRNC President Denktas said that ''it is not possible to act with rumors. There is pressure and it continues. It is stated that more pressure will be imposed in September. Turkey put forward its Cyprus cause in a clear way. It is a cause which will be sorted out within the scope of realities. These realities are the existence of two states, two peoples, and democracy on the island. It is the continuation of effective and de facto guarantee of Turkey. Annan plan has diluted these facts in a considerable extent or ended them all, and it is unacceptable. Things can be sorted out by realities, not by pressure. I hope we can see a realistic approach rather than pressure.''
When asked his views about the elections that would be held in TRNC, Denktas said that ''the votes which the opposition in TRNC gained to date have been between 20 and 30 percent.''
Denktas said that the attitude of the opposition in TRNC was the one proposed by communist AKEL party, adding that ''AKEL says that 'EU is against our ideology, but we shut our eyes to it for our national cause. We support joining the EU.' And our opposition party invites us to join the EU for the national cause of the Greek Cypriot side. Papadopoulos also says that 'Annan plan is not a good plan, but if Denktas accepts it, I will accept it' so he tries to do the same thing. If our people and those who support the opposition party think why Simitis, Papadopoulos invite us to join the EU and see that this is because of their national interests, they will understand why we don't want to do that.''
(ÖÞ) 28.08.2003