ANKARA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Monday that solution of Cyprus issue till May 1, 2004 was difficult even if two sides showed their good will.
Prior to his departure for TRNC, Denktas told reporters that the issue was resumption of talks and maintenance of an agreement which could be accepted by two sides and which would protect rights of two sides.
Denktas said, ''May 1 has been considered a target. We wish to reach an agreement till this day. But, those who say this also know that there are many things to do. Solving this issue till May 1 is difficult even if the Greek Cypriot side also shows its good will. The Greek Cypriot side also says this. Good will is necessary to resume talks and maintain an agreement which can be accepted by two sides and which will protect rights of two sides.''
If sides do not see each other as equal when they sit at a table and if one of the sides considers itself dominant over the other, talks will naturally be unhealthy, Denktas noted.
Asked when he would meet with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos, Denktas said that his meeting with Papadopoulos depended on call to be made by United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Denktas noted that Annan would make that call when two sides were ready for talks and ready to get an outcome.
''We will re-evaluate the situation after meetings of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington. Following this re-evaluation, if the Greek Cypriots are also ready... This issue is always disregarded. We are accused of rejecting anything put forth by the Greek Cypriots as if the Greek Cypriots had put forth something acceptable. Until now, the Greek Cypriots followed a tactic to get Cyprus and run away as legal Cyprus government. (Former Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos) Clerides announced his tactic for many times. He said that their tactic was not to make concessions, but to prove that Turks did not make concessions at the table. This was also used to accuse us. Equality of two sides is the basis in these talks. We can't explain this to the world for 40 years,'' Denktas said.
Denktas denied news that he contradicted Prime Minister Erdogan over Erdogan's new proposal for Cyprus issue.
''I saw in the press that I contradicted Prime Minister Erdogan. News that there is a disagreement is totally made-up and inaccurate. The motherland is trying to solve the issue as soon as possible. A person who will help and facilitate solution has been searched,'' Denktas said.
Denktas noted that U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto disappointed everybody.
''We think there is need for a new initiative in Cyprus talks process in which De Soto's assistants will probably participate,'' Denktas said.
Denktas stated that there were complaints that TRNC obstructed Turkey, adding, ''we protect rights of our people in issues we know we are right. We haven't been an obstacle before Turkey. We continue our efforts in harmony.''
(BRC-AÖ) 26.01.2004