LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday that Annan plan that was presented by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, was a slyly and well prepared one, stating that Greece kneeled down and pleaded with them to accept the plan.
Denktas received Constitutional Court President Mustafa Bumin and Supreme Court of Appeals Chairman Erarslan Ozkaya who were currently in TRNC to participate in opening ceremony of judicial year.
Stating that they have been working for justice for 50 years, Denktas said, ''we thought order was restored and compromise was reached with 1960 agreements; however, Makarios, who had signed the agreement, gave orders to interior ministry at the same time for preparation of Greek Cypriots for war. 1960 Agreement was a partnership, and we could only accept this partnership if Greek Cypriots had given up Enosis (Union with Greece). And this agreement was a guarantee of it. Cyprus Republic did not have full independence. If it had full independence, it could have dissolved itself. As they had tried to do in 1963. For this reason, its right to dissolve itself and go to Enosis were taken from them.''
Denktas said Makarios got prepared to take Cyprus with weapons, and attacked in 1963, and that Turkish Cypriots had suffered a lot for 11 years. Denktas said, ''but we did not bow to injustice''.
Denktas said Turkey and they worked with good will to save the partnership; but the foreign world told the Greek Cypriots ''you are the legal government'' and injustice started at that time. He said Greek Cypriots, who hid behind this title, had worked since 1963 to take whatever Turkish side have.
Denktas said the latest skill of the Greek Cypriots was preparation of Annan Plan with the help of those who recognize them as the ''legal government''. The Turkish Cypriots will receive the heaviest blow with Annan plan because one of every two people will have to be an immigrant, he noted.
Denktas said, ''Annan plan aims at pulling out Turkish Cypriots from the island. It was prepared very well and skillfully. The second target is to pull Turkey from the island. That was also succeeded.''
Denktas said, ''it was prepared so well and slyly that Greece kneed down and pledged with us to accept the plan. This is not because Greece loves us very much. Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos on the one hand criticizes the plan and on the other hand he says 'I will accept the plan if Denktas accepts it without change'. This is of great importance. (Dimitris) Christophias, the partner of Papadopoulos, the leader of communist party says 'this plan is contrary to us ideologically and we cannot accept it. But we have to join the EU for our national cause. We certainly do not accept the EU, but we have to join it for our national cause.' Only these expressions are enough to clearly show where they are inviting us.''
Denktas criticized the opposition for entering the path proposed by Greek Cypriots, stating that they created an impression as if hundreds or thousands of Turkish origin people would come to Cyprus and they will grant them right to citizenship. ''They created an impression to the whole world that such people would join elections. Greek Cypriots benefit from such claims. This is a tool to them,'' he said.
Denktas said Greek Cypriots thought that opposition would win elections and thus supported them. Denktas said, ''but, I think they began to lose hope that they started to say they would not accept of results of elections.''
Denktas underlined that the electoral roll in three big cities was the same with the list that made the opposition won the elections.
Denktas said leaders of opposition parties who met with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou made statements saying they had very positive meeting with Papandreou, yet stated that, ''those who made such statements should know that Papandreou has not yet agreed with Turkey on Cyprus question, on guarantee system, guarantee agreement, and how guarantee would be. Papandreou and Simitis, after meeting with the leaders of opposition parties, immediately brought onto agenda the Aegean problem as if they succeeded in Cyprus question.''
Underlining that they would continue to progress on their path by protecting the state, Denktas said ''Turkish Cypriots cannot exist without Turkey.''
(AY-AÖ) 15.09.2003