LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Tuesday that Turkey did not interfere in elections which would be held in TRNC on December 14, adding that but it had right to interfere in elections.
Denktas received State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener and stated that they were sad about the issue that those who said that Turkey should not interfere in elections in TRNC remained silent against those who interfered in elections.
Stating that Turkey had right to interfere in elections in TRNC, he said that as Turkey had guarantor rights which took under guaranty ''the rights stemming from 1960 agreements, Turkish-Greek balance and the fact that Cyprus could not join the European Union (EU) without Turkey.'' Denktas said that there were some people who also wanted to remove those rights and noted that Turkey had the right to say that no one could remove those rights and it was protecting them. Stating that Turkey did not say these in order not to interfere in elections, Denktas thanked to Turkey.
Denktas said that Greece could not get Cyprus indirectly or directly and stated, ''why cannot it get Cyprus? Because, there are rights of Turkey. Its rights are on the agenda in those elections. Those who say that they are against Annan's plan, those who underline that 'they want consensus but reaching a consensus is not possible with Annan's plan', also protect these rights of Turkey. Those who say that they will also join the Union without Turkey are moving on the way of making Turkish Cypriot people a minority.''
DENKTAS: ''WE HAVE BEEN LIVING THROUGH A DIFFICULT PERIOD''
Denktas said, ''we have been living through a difficult period. We should display our determination to the whole world that we will protect our state.''
Speaking at the meeting, President Denktas said, ''development of TRNC is a way of its recognition. Recognition of TRNC will motivate the Greek Cypriot side in efforts to reach a solution for the Cyprus question. We have been living through a difficult period. We should display our determination to the whole world that we will protect our state. We should be aware of the fact that those supporting the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, would mislead us. They will lead us to annexation of the island to Greece,'' he noted.
President Denktas added that there had been a harmonious co-operation between the governments of the two countries.
Sener said that it was important to deepen and intensify economic and financial cooperation between Turkey and TRNC and a protocol was signed in April, 2003 with this aim, adding that he was frequently visiting the island with regard to this protocol and he also paid this visit in this scope.
Noting that there were pleasing developments in TRNC economy and its economic growth speed was over world figures, Sener said that TRNC economy was on rise.
Sener said that he had attended groundbreaking ceremony of a facility and visited some other facilities which were under construction. He added that Ercan Airport which was still under construction was a big facility for TRNC and there was not such an airport even in southern Cyprus.
Sener said that Ercan Airport had international standards and it would be a window for whole Cyprus for opening to the world.
Denktas hosted a meal in honor of Sener.
SENER: ''REPUBLIC OF TURKEY WILL CONTINUE SUPPORTING TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE IN THEIR EFFORTS TO FURTHER DEVELOP TRNC''
Holding a press conference at Lefkosa's Saray Hotel on Tuesday, Sener introduced the ''Special Encouragement Model'', which was prepared earlier in order to encourage businessmen to invest in TRNC.
Sener said, ''we have begun yielding first results of the new encouragement system, which was put into practice in 2001 in co-operation with TRNC government. Turkish Cypriot people have been recording great progress under the determined leadership of President Rauf Denktas.''
''We have decided to provide businessmen with a loan of 160 million U.S. dollars. Turkish Development Bank will provide 140 million U.S. dollars while TRNC Development Bank will provide the remaining part. This loan will be used with the aim of further developing TRNC,'' he added.
GROSSMAN: ELECTIONS IN TRNC ARE THE MATTER OF TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE
ISTANBUL - U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman has said that upcoming elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are the matter of Turkish Cypriot people, adding that the U.S. government wanted the elections to be held in a democratic and transparent atmosphere.
Grossman, who is currently in Turkey, the first leg of his tour to the allied countries, paid a visit to Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler on Tuesday.
Responding questions of journalists following the meeting, Grossman said that upcoming elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are the matter of Turkish Cypriot people.
Noting that the U.S. government wanted the elections to be held in a democratic and transparent atmosphere, Grossman expressed their wish that the elections could constitute a chance for resumption of talks in which the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan would also be taken up.
Recalling that the U.S. government had extended support to the plan, Grossman added that they wanted the sides to reach a solution soon.
(UK-GC-AÖ) 09.12.2003