ISTANBUL - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas stressed on Monday that TRNC was on crossroads, noting that on one side there was the state road which TRNC would follow and was protecting the rights of Turkey and TRNC and on the other side there was Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and there was the European Union (EU) and a Cyprus assembled on Greek flag on that road.
Making a speech prior to a panel discussion on ''TRNC and Turkey'' in Istanbul University, Denktas said that Cyprus issue was in fact the issue of enosis (union of Greeks with mainland Greece) and turning Cyprus into Crete.
Noting that Greece and Greek Cypriot side made everything to realize enosis in Cyprus, Denktas said that Turkish Cypriots had showed every type of tolerance for agreement and consensus in Cyprus for years. He added that they did not make concessions on two things, which were equal status of Turkish Cypriots and guarantee of Turkey. Because of these two reasons, Greek Cypriots refrained from an agreement until today, he added.
Denktas said that Annan Plan which was put forth for solution of Cyprus issue was not the plan of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, adding that Annan Plan was in fact put forth by Britain and the United States. He said that the philosophy of the plan was wrong and its philosophy was Greek Cypriot-Greek philosophy.
Noting that the solution which was wanted to be reached by Annan Plan was indirect enosis, Denktas said that they would not be deceived. He added that self-respecting people who established a state had not given up their state, freedom and independence in no place of the world and Turkish Cypriots were self-respecting people who established a state with the help of Turkey, noting that nobody could make Turkish Cypriots experience dishonour of giving up their states.
Denktas said that the voice of Turkish nation was rising and Cyprus would not be Greek.
(GC-AÖ) 08.12.2003