LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that Turkey and TRNC worked on what could be done on Cyprus issue and stated that a new window would be opened regarding the issue.
Speaking at a program on a tv channel, Denktas said that on the condition that two peoples, two states, two sovereignties and Turkey's effective and de facto guaranty were included in United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan, he would negotiate the plan.
Stating that Turkey and TRNC worked on Cyprus issue, Denktas said, ''those studies will appear and a new window will be opened.''
Denktas said that there would be a formula after studies which were carried out in Turkey and TRNC were united and explained the general framework of the study. ''Everyone should know that it is impossible for us to give our state. It is impossible for us to give up guaranties. Greek Cypriot people cannot heap up in TRNC. Such a move can be made according to a quota and our laws. There cannot be an approach that will make 100,000 people migrants. It should be limited,'' he noted.
Denktas said that a new assessment would be made after general elections in TRNC on December 14 and stated that after preliminary studies which were carried out by Turkey and TRNC were reviewed, a new situation would take place.
When asked on which ground negotiations should start, Denktas said, ''it is another issue. We should first focus on elections. Those issues will be determined. No one should consider those things a trouble. The trouble is people's trying to destroy the state. All our struggle is to prevent this.''
Stressing that the fact that sides were not equally treated caused a failure in reaching any result in negotiations, he said that the sides should be treated equally to solve the Cyprus issue.
When he was recalled that EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen defined EU's Strategy Plan as ''a dynamism for solution of Cyprus issue'', Denktas said, ''if Verheugen knew Cyprus issue, he would not say such a thing.''
Noting that ''in fact, Verheugen knew Cyprus issue very well'', Denktas said that however, the policy they were following foresaw their stance to prevent Turkey's EU membership and end Turkey's rights on Cyprus.
Denktas stated that philosophy of Annan plan was Greek Cypriot philosophy and reiterated that it would not be negotiations within its current framework.
In order to negotiate Annan plan, sides should be equally treated, also Greece should put pressure on the Greek Cypriots to lift embargo, Turkish Cypriots should be given the right to speak on every platform in which Cyprus issue was discussed, and the fact the Greek Cypriots were not the government of Turkish Cypriots and would never be so should be accepted, Denktas underlined.
Denktas said, ''why should Greek Cypriots reach a compromise with us if these moves are not made.''
If the existence of two nations, two states, two sovereignties and Turkey's efficient and de facto guarantee were added to Annan plan, everybody would be discussed, Denktas stressed.
Denktas said that it was not a backward step but what he had said so far, pointing out that they were working to make them come true.
Stating that they had stood firm so far, Denktas said that a plan which all those moves were made would not be Annan plan.
Denktas emphasized that Turkish Cypriots had been at a separation of path for many times in the past and people had always chosen the right path.
Underlining that they were at a more important separation of path today, Denktas said, ''why? Because making use of Turkey's wish to join EU, they are trying to join us to a negotiation schedule which was made by the Greek Cypriots. This is of course a planned move.''
Denktas said that EU did its best not to reach any agreement on Cyprus.
Stating that EU, which wanted whole of Cyprus, was in a big trouble, Denktas said that Turkish Cypriots were asked to sign Annan plan to end that trouble and send Turkey away from Cyprus.
Denktas noted that EU's putting Cyprus issue as an obstacle before Turkey was ''a big shame.''
If there was need to put Cyprus as an obstacle before one side, it should be put before the Greek Cypriots, Denktas stated.
Denktas added that there were circles in Europe who did not want Turkey's membership and they used Cyprus as a pretext.
EU MEMBERSHIP IS TURKEY'S RIGHT
Rauf Denktas said on Wednesday regarding the one-day visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to TRNC on Saturday that ''the speech he will issue here is important for all of us.''
Upon questions of reporters about the issue, Denktas said that he talked with Prime Minister Erdogan on the phone yesterday, adding that ''I told him that we waited him with joy. He is also looking forward to coming here. He will stay for a short time. The speech he will make here and the way he will show to us is important for us, we wait for him.''
Denktas stated that Prime Minister Erdogan was expected to arrive at 10.00 a.m. and start his contacts after attending the ceremonies. Denktas noted that Erdogan would leave Cyprus after dinner.
Reiterating that Cyprus issue was not an impediment in front of Turkey's EU membership, TRNC President Denktas stated that ''EU membership is right of Turkey, they can't admit Cyprus as a whole to EU despite Turkey.''
Commenting the statement of EU higher commissioner for joint foreign policy and defense Javier Solona who said that ''Turkey misunderstood the progress report,'' Denktas said that ''don't pay too much attention to such kind of statements. Think of the things you say and think of your national interests.'' Denktas stressed that Cyprus was not among the EU membership criteria for Turkey.
Noting that Cyprus couldn't be put as an impediment in front of Turkey, Denktas said that ''we call those who take up Cyprus issue as if it was the crime of the Turkish side, those who don't say anything to Greek Cypriot side by considering them the 'legitimate government', those who treat us in an unjust manner for 40 years, to give up their biased attitude and to end supporting those who violated international agreements.''
Denktas said that there were two separate nations and states in Cyprus, adding that ''if they want to unite, they have to accept the existance of two entities and treat us equally.''
(EÖ-BRC-ÖŞ-AY) 12.11.2003