ANKARA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas departed from Ankara on Monday.
Denktas told reporters prior to his departure that he was returning to TRNC with the strength and morale he had received in Ankara.
Noting that he could not give details about his meetings on the solution of Cyprus issue, Denktas said, ''we have a negotiation process before us. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is explaining his own views in the United States. I think it will not be right to reveal our negotiation position on this stage. However, we have reached a consensus on the points which are important for Turkish Cypriot side in all issues we have discussed.''
Denktas said that their target was a consensus which would not bring back the years between 1963 and 1974 onto agenda again. He added, ''Turkey shall not have to come and rescue us again.''
Noting that they wanted a sound peace and Turkey was carrying on efforts with good will within that scope, Denktas said that they considered as a mission to help Turkey in this effort.
Denktas said that they considered the decision of National Security Council (NSC) as positive and appropriate. He added, ''we will undertake our mission on Cyprus issue within that scope. What is important for us is to take a just, permanent and integrated result that will assure existence, security, sovereign equality and bi-zonality of Turkish Cypriots. We will actively work on this target together with our government.''
Denktas told reporters that he had not seen any difference of opinion during his meetings in Ankara.
Asked if he had any disagreement with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Erdogan's proposal for a new mediator in Cyprus issue, Denktas said that he read and heard about such news and noted, ''news that there is an disagreement is totally made-up and inaccurate.''
Denktas stated that the motherland was searching for a solution of Cyprus issue.
Expression of ''mediation'' meant ''searching for somebody to help between two sides'' and ''a person who might facilitate things'', Denktas said.
Denktas said, ''United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto has disappointed all of us.''
''There was need for a new initiative in Cyprus talks process in which De Soto's aides would also participate,'' Denktas said.
Denktas noted that TRNC and Turkey would evaluate the situation again after Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to the United States.
(AA) 26.01.2004