ISTANBUL - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Wednesday that those who believed and did not believe in Cyprus issue would compete in general election in TRNC to be held on December 14.
Denktas, who gave a conference on recent developments in Cyprus at Yeditepe University in Istanbul, replied to questions of reporters.
Upon a question on elections, Denktas said, ''parties who believe and don't believe in Cyprus issue will compete in elections. Our people will know who to vote for.''
Asked if the opposition was supported from outside, Denktas said that people could see how the opposition looked at them and noted, ''they want to reach somewhere with artificial supports from outside.''
Denktas went on saying, ''support extended to them by foreign world is making our people more conscious. It is this much important for America, Europe and everybody. Isn't it that much important for Turkey? There is a path showed by Turkey and we are walking on this path.''
''The prime minister has confirmed it. There is also a path showed by Simitis, Caramanlis and Greek Cypriot leaders. They are following this path. It is not possible to understand it. European Union (EU) has made a decision, Cyprus will be given to Greek Cypriots. We will not give it. It is this much simple,'' Denktas added.
Asked about his evaluations about the bomb attacks staged in Istanbul when senior officials met on Cyprus, Denktas said, ''it will be wrong to link these attacks with Cyprus. It is a harm made to a Muslim country by people who made wrong estimations and who continue to dirty name of Islam with such incidents.''
Stating that ''what had been done gave big damages to humanity and Islam'', Denktas said, ''this deeply hurts us. It overshadowed our fine day and caused sorrow. I would once more like to wish quick recovery.''
EU IS BEING USED AS A MEANS TO ANNEX CYPRUS TO GREECE
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Wednesday that Cyprus issue continued as an issue of annexation of Cyprus to Greece and added that European Union (EU) was being used as a means to annex Cyprus to Greece.
Speaking in the conference on recent developments in Cyprus issue held at Yeditepe University in Istanbul, Denktas stressed that Cyprus was a national case.
Denktas noted that in case Cyprus was owned by the Greek, Turkey would no more be a country open to seas as everybody including Ataturk had said.
They had been struggling to ensure peace and compromise in Cyprus for 40 years, Denktas stated.
Denktas said that a correct diagnosis should be made to solve the issue but those who diagnosed the issue wrongly for their own interests refrained from that.
Recalling that proposals of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General regarding Cyprus were returned twice during the rule of Kiprianu, one of the former Greek Cypriot leaders, Denktas said, ''nobody made the same violence to Kiprianu. Nobody asked him how he could return that proposal of the general secretary. Nobody among them told him that he was traitor and he was preventing peace. As said to us today. Why? Because, they have a national case. They are against Turks whether they are rightist or leftist. They want Cyprus to become a Greek island and they can do everything for it.''
Denktas stated that 1960 treaties granted some rights to Turkey and went on saying, ''Cyprus can't join any organization of which Turkey is not a member. This is the fundamental and national right of Turkey. But, look at Istanbul press. How many authors are there who protect this right and who writes articles on this right? This is the most important right of Turkey.''
''Turkey will join EU but it will not join it by trampling its national case and ignoring its national rights. Turkish governments are saying so. The prime minister has stressed it recently. So, we defend this. Everybody calls us 'uncompromising man and man who prevents Turkey's EU accession.' If Turkey can't protect its right that Cyprus can't join EU without its accession and build a wall in front of Greece and everybody, Cyprus will be lost. We are openly saying this. And, Annan Plan has been made by circles making this intrigue. Annan Plan does not take this right of Turkey into consideration,'' Denktas said.
Noting that the United States had told them that ''they should accept Annan Plan and there was no other plan,'' Denktas said, ''why had nothing happened when the former plans prepared by former secretary generals were returned? Why is this the last plan? Because, the Greek Cypriots have made an application to EU. They will include us in that timetable. We are saying that we haven't made that application. This application is against 1960 treaties. It will end Turkey's rights and the application was made for this purpose.''
Denktas stated that ''countries like the United States and EU members had violated their rights for their own interests and their interest was to send Turkey away from Cyprus.''
''If it isn't so, they should confirm 1960 treaties and accept that Cyprus can't join EU which doesn't include Turkey,'' Denktas said.
Denktas emphasized that EU should give up putting artificial obstacles before Turkey.
''If Cyprus issue is to be an obstacle, it should be put as an obstacle before Greece and Greek Cypriots. Greek Cypriots caused Cyprus issue. It is the Greek Cypriots who has not settled the issue for 40 years,'' Denktas added.
(BRC-AY) 19.11.2003