ISTANBUL - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Friday that they did not have any contradiction with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the basis of Cyprus issue and added that Erdogan's principles were the ones on which Cyprus case was built.
Denktas arrived in Istanbul and released a statement at Ataturk Airport.
Noting that he came to Turkey upon the invitation of Artvin Bar, Denktas said that Cyprus issue would be understood better by the activities of bars and the unjust treatment towards Turkish Cypriots would be brought onto agenda.
Denktas said that TRNC was tried to be dragged into the European Union (EU) rapidly and this was for eliminating the rights of Turkey on Cyprus.
Denktas said that they were examining the issue with this conscious and they did not have objection if it was called having an uncompromising attitude. Denktas said that there was no legitimate Cyprus government in Cyprus. He said that unfortunately Annan Plan did not help in these issues.
Denktas then replied to questions of reporters. Upon a question regarding his new proposals about Cyprus, Denktas said that it was a matter of timing and everybody focused on elections in TRNC. ''The opposition parties which are supported by the U.S. want to take TRNC walk on the way shown by Simitis, Papandreou and Greek Cypriot Communist Party,'' Denktas said.
When asked his views about the statement of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou who said that the statements of Erdogan and Denktas were contradictory, Denktas said that they did not have contradiction on the basis of the issue and Erdogan's principles were the ones on which Cyprus case was built and they were reality.
Denktas then proceeded to northern Trabzon province.
(GC-Öª) 13.09.2003