TRABZON - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Saturday that isolation of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat would mean seeking for an artificial peace.
Denktas told the A.A correspondent that Palestinian people had struggled for their independence for nearly 40 years and stated, ''there is a big struggle. Arafat became the symbol of this struggle.''
Denktas said that Arafat was a leader supported by his people.
Stating that there were mutual unnecessary attacks and killings now, Denktas said that the solution was to give Palestinian people independence by signing a full independence agreement between the two countries.
Touching on the issue of Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq, Denktas said, ''it is Turkey's own decision. Surely, the decision will be taken by taking into consideration Turkey's vital interests. It will be a national decision.''
Recalling that it was stated that if Turkish soldiers was to go to Iraq, they would go there for peace and assistance, Denktas said that they hoped that there would be peace and democracy in Iraq.
''Turkey is a friend of Iraq. It has always been a friend of Iraq. We hope that this friendship will be further improved, not harmed,'' he said.
Stating that there was a ''tragedy'' in Iraq, Denktas said, ''the United States has gone there to bring democracy to Iraq. But Iraqi people did not want it. We hope that the U.N. will form a peace force which will bring peace to Iraq with democracy. Iraqi people consider the U.S. soldiers as occupiers. Thus, the U.N. should go there as soon as possible and send peace forces to Iraq.''
Denktas said that Turkmens in Iraq were in very difficult situation and stated that they hoped that such a peace force would go there and Turkmens would have their rights.
Stating that Turkmens were treated as if they were minority, Denktas added, ''we also had been considered as if we were minority in Cyprus for long years. We know what it means.''
(EÖ-Öª) 13.09.2003