Denktas: Annan Plan Is Not A Plan Which Is Open To Negotiation

LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Monday that Annan plan was not a plan which was open to negotiation.
Denktas told reporters that Annan plan was prepared to make them say ''yes'' to legalize illegal application of Greek Cypriot side for being a member of the European Union (EU). He added that they would not be deceived by such a trick.
When asked whether or not he would sit at the negotiation table if Turkey took a decision on continuation of negotiations on the basis of Annan plan, Denktas said, ''Annan plan is not a plan which is open to negotiation. It does not have any aspect which will be negotiated. Sitting at the table to negotiate Annan plan means to hold a referendum on the plan with its all mistakes, ugliness and injustice which has been made to Turkish Cypriot people. It is a plan which was prepared expecting a ''yes'' vote from the people.''
Stating that if a referendum was held on Annan plan, 70 percent of the people would say ''no'' to it, Denktas said that they did not have any possibility to negotiate the plan. Denktas added, ''because they say 'you cannot get out of the frame, and you cannot touch on its philosophy.' Greek Cypriot people like its philosophy and say that they want some amendments without touching on its philosophy. We cannot accept those amendments which they want.''
Denktas said that U.N. Secretary General invited them not to negotiate the plan, but in order to hold a referendum on it and stated, ''let's not deceive ourselves. Conducting a referendum on it means to accept its map. It means to bow your head to migration and accept dilution of bi-zonality. It means to accept Greek Cypriot people's living with us and giving them suffrage in a short time. We will submit a plan that dilutes Turkey's guarantee, and foreseeing existence of 6 thousand Turkish soldiers having their hands tied under U.N. control in the island, and also foreseeing removal of these soldiers when Turkey joined the EU. It is not important if people say 'yes' or 'no'.''
Underlining that the Greek Cypriot side would join the EU even if they said 'no' to the plan, Denktas said they were asking Turkish Cypriot side to say ''yes'' to the plan because they wanted to make legal Greek Cypriot side's illegal application.
Denktas said that a game was played to legitimize an illegal incident and noted that pressure was put on Turkish Cypriot people for that. ''They put pressure on us by saying that 'both you and Turkey will suffer if Turkish Cypriots say (no) to the plan'.''
Stating that such a unilateral implementation was ''an immoral pressure'' which was not seen anywhere in the world, Denktas emphasized that peace and compromise was possible with a balanced treatment to both sides. Denktas said that they warned Turkish Cypriot people against pressure and noted that they conveyed their thoughts to Turkish officials with written and verbal statements.
(EÖ-AÖ) 22.12.2003