LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Thursday that Greek Cypriots' claim that ''they achieved the right of returning to their houses in the north of the island'' with Loizidou case did not bring any new thing to the current situation and stated that Turkey had discussed this issue for years before it paid compensation and compensation was paid with definite conditions.
Releasing a written statement, Denktas said that people who got title deed of the state or who gained the right to get title deed of it should be in tranquility and stated, ''their title deeds are valid. A demand or case regarding those concerns not individuals, but the two states mutually.''
Denktas said that Greek Cypriot side's claims were based on ''their right to return to TRNC in line of their policy to possess whole Cyprus'' irrespective of Loizidou case and stated that TRNC defended and was defending that this claim contradicted with 1975-1977-1979 agreements and the issue could be solved with global barter and compensations. He stated that otherwise, agreements on the phrase ''the future's solution would be based on bizonality'' and population exchange would not have any meaning.
Stating that after they saw what Greek Cypriot side did to Turkish properties in the south of the island, everyone would admit that there was not any solution rather than global barter and payment of compensations on properties.
Denktas said that Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos's statement that ''compensations would be paid to Turkish Cypriots after compromise'' showed that how political Loizidou case was and how contrary the court's decision to the facts. Denktas underlined that the decision of Loizidou who received compensation because she could not reach to her property ''not to pass to the north until the 'occupation' continued, showed how artificial and invalid her claim that ''they prevented me to pass to the north and go to my property'' was. Denktas said that it also proved how much it was based on political reasons.
Emphasizing that it was obvious that it was impossible to solve those issues at the level of individuals, Denktas said, ''Greek Cypriot properties in the north of the island changed very lot and they were passed though several hands. We believe that logic and common sense will prevail and this issue will be solved through global barter and compensations. Courts don't take unreasonable decisions which they know they are impossible to put into practice. Lesson will be taken from difficulties everyone faced in Loizidou case.''
Denktas said that formula of barter and compensations recognized people's right of property and stated that exchange of properties appeared as the best and the fairest solution in conformity with the decision of the sides to live in two different zones for settlement of peace and stability in Cyprus after bloodshed and a political quake which Greek Cypriot side created.
Denktas said that Greek Cypriot side's demands to return to their properties in the north would not bring any benefits rather than increasing violence and restarting this fight between the two peoples and stated that this demand was a demand stemming from Greek Cypriot leadership's provoking its people with political purposes. Denktas said that ''a normal Greek Cypriot person demands his/her compensation. This is proven. Greek Cypriot leadership tries to prevent with threats and blackmail Greek Cypriot people who wanted to apply to Compensation Commission which TRNC set up also in line with the demands of authorities in Strasbourg. All these developments will be put in front of those who took the decision on Loizidou case and approved it.''
Calling on people to apply to the commission TRNC set up for their properties in Greek Cypriot side, Denktas said, ''it should not be forgotten that Turkish Cypriot people have compensations which they will take for their sufferings inflicted by the Greek Cypriot administration, their losses, houses and lands in the south from 1963 to 1974. I reiterate that Turkish Cypriot people should apply to the second commission which we set up for this purpose.''
Denktas said that everyone should be sure on the validity of their title deeds in their hands and should be aware that no one would take their title deed and their state from their hands.
(EÖ-AÖ) 12.12.2003