LEFKOSA - TRNC President Rauf Denktas said on Sunday that Turkish Cypriots would not give the legitimate rights of Turkey over Cyprus to Greek Cypriots.
Denktas, who completed his visit to Turkey and returned back to the island assessed his contacts in Turkey at the airport.
Denktas said that interest of people in Turkey towards Cyprus issue increased, adding that ''what I tell them about Cyprus is that Cyprus issue will be sorted out as an issue based on the republic founded by 1960 treaties, because those treats gave undeniable rights to both sides for foundation of that republic.''
Recalling that there were the guarantor rights of Turkey, Turkish-Greek balance, and equal sovereignty rights given to Turkish Cypriots within the scope of the rights stemming from 1960 treaties, Denktas said that Greek Cypriots could not end the rights of the Turkish side by overthrowing the partnership republic in order to save themselves from 1960 treaties.
Referring to the elections to be held on Dec. 14, Denktas said that citizens in Turkey were concerned that if the elections were going to be won by the opposition, the latter would sign an agreement that would end rights of Turkey.
Denktas said he told Turkish people that Turkish Cypriots totally knew that the elections were one of destiny. ''Everybody started to get on their feet, particularly young people see how they were deceived,'' he said.
TRNC President Denktas said that a new agreement had to be made with the signatures of five sides for Greek Cypriots to end the mentioned rights, adding that due to that reason, Greek Cypriots which claimed that they were the legitimate Cyprus government were telling a lie.
Reminding that the unilateral application of Greek Cypriots to EU to end the rights of Turkey stemming from 1960 treaties was not valid, Denktas said that Turkey defended those rights.
''If today Cyprus is divided into two, its reason is the effort of Greek Cypriots to turn the partnership republic into a Greek Cypriot republic. There are mass graves and the sufferings of the Turkish people which continued for 11 years on the basis of it,'' said Denktas. If these were taken into consideration, Cyprus issue could be sorted out, he added.
''I suppose the statement of Turkish Prime Minister who said that 'Cyprus issue should be sorted out within its realities,' also shows that. Realities are seen, two states, two peoples, two democracies and effective guarantee of Turkey, meaning the Turkish-Greek balance have to continue,'' he said.
Denktas stressed that Turkish Cypriots would not give up their rights by their own signature.
(ÖS) 12.10.2003