LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Friday that Cyprus question was not an obstacle before Turkey on the path to the European Union (EU) and added, ''we will enter EU together with Turkey by claiming our state in the way 1960 agreements envision.''
Lefkosa 4th Local Products Promotion Fair was opened with the participation of Denktas, TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu and TRNC Economy Minister Salih Cosar. The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges in Turkey (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu and an accompanying delegation also attended the opening.
Making a speech in the opening of fair, Denktas said that the pressure, which was imposed to make TRNC people accept Annan Plan that was brought onto agenda for solution to Cyprus question, refreshed the excitement of TRNC people to claim their state.
Noting that TRNC people were asked to participate in a formation under the hegemony of Greek Cypriots under a constitution by giving up their own state within the scope of Annan Plan, Denktas said that this plan also envisioned the elimination of active guaranty of Turkey on the island in long term.
Emphasizing that they did not support the Greek Cypriot's unilateral application for EU membership which was for elimination of Turkey's rights on the island, Denktas said that Cyprus question was not an obstacle before Turkey's EU membership and Turkey also expressed this in the same way.
Denktas said, ''we will enter EU together with Turkey by claiming our state in the way 1960 agreements envision. It is impossible for us to accept this EU application which will realize Greek Cypriot national case and dilute guaranty rights of Turkey on the island.''
Eroglu also made a speech and said that TRNC entered an economic growth trend after the crisis that was experienced in 2000 and they envisioned 5.4 percent growth for 2003.
Noting that support for real sector increased and measures were taken to protect local producers, Eroglu said that the aim of embargoes was to make TRNC accept solutions such as Annan Plan. He added that such efforts would not be successful and TRNC would not yield to documents such as Annan Plan.
Meanwhile, Cosar said that they wanted to increase trade with Greek Cypriot side and added that they believed that the increase in trade would have contribution to the solution of problem in the island.
Touching on positive developments in TRNC economy, Cosar emphasized that these developments occurred thanks to stability and social harmony. He said that stability and harmony should not be deteriorated. Noting that they needed Turkish capital and market for this, Cosar wanted cooperation with Turkish businessmen to increase.
Hisarciklioglu said that TOBB and Turkey were supporting TRNC and added that they wanted a solution which was just, equal and respectful to sovereignty rights.
Noting that he believed that the efforts of TRNC to enter EU together with Turkey would continue under the leadership of Denktas, Hisarciklioglu said that Denktas was fighting for the joint case of not only 210 thousand Turkish people in Cyprus, but also 200 million Turkish people in the world.
Turkish Ambassador in Lefkosa Hayati Guven hosted a reception after the opening of the fair.
(GC-AÖ) 03.10.2003