ISTANBUL - TRNC President Rauf Denktas said on Wednesday that he was described as the most uncompromised person regarding the Cyprus issue, adding that ''I have to accept Turkey's getting out of Cyprus in order to be described as the compromising man, good diplomat and good statesman. But I don't have such a pen, hand and heart.''
Press Union Association presented the Year's Diplomacy Award to TRNC President Rauf Denktas the same day.
Speaking in the ceremony, Denktas said that he was told that EU would protect Turkish Cypriots.
''They tell that EU abides by rule of law, and it is a powerful organization. But why does EU ignore the 1960 treaties which gave us equal sovereignty, our founding partnership, Turkey's guaranty rights? What kind of supremacy of law is that?'' said Denktas.
Recalling that Turkish Cypriots opened the border gates, Denktas said that ''our people went to the other side and they saw that there were no houses left. All fields and gardens were expropriated. We ask their compensation, they say it will be given after the agreement. Then why does Ms. Loizidou get millions of dollars in court, and why does not she wait for the agreement? Because everything has been prepared to put Turkey into a difficult situation.''
Criticizing the Turkish press, Denktas said ''the press does not say that the international agreements are violated, and it is nobody's right to violate those agreements, to end the rights of Turkey, to bring Turkey and Greece face to face again and to make Turkish Cypriots who have equal rights be minority of Greek Cypriots. The press does not become the voice of the people. If Cyprus issue is an obstacle in front of any government, it has to be an obstacle in front of Greek Cypriots. They are the one who started the Cyprus issue, who violated human rights, who tore the constitution, who killed people.''
Referring to the visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to TRNC, Denktas said that ''it has been very useful for both sides. The things he said confirmed that Turkey was with us and it would continue to be with us. He said that Cyprus issue would be built on realities which are two nations, two states, two democracies and effective guarantee of Turkey. As long as Turkey continues to show its resolution, we must stay strong in Cyprus. We are on the eve of a big fight, Turkish Cypriots don't only fight with Greek Cypriots but also with those who support Greek Cypriots within themselves. Turkish Cypriots also tries to cope with the U.S., U.K. and EU. Turkish nation won't turn Cyprus into a new Crete disaster.''
(ÖŞ) 19.11.2003