LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday that Greek Cypriots considered every amendment they proposed to Annan plan as ''unacceptable''.
Speaking at a news conference, Denktas said they wanted the EU to accept that there were Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples in the island and that they should say something to Greek Cypriots. Denktas said they wanted agreement that would be reached with the Greek Cypriot side and status of the Turkish side to be added to the agreement signed with the EU.
Denktas said all the amendment proposals they made to the Greek Cypriot side were rejected.
Noting that Greek Cypriots gave a 20-page document on territory today, Denktas said Greek Cypriots wanted the territory, which the Turkish Cypriot side would have to evacuate in three years under the Annan plan, and which would be left to Greek Cypriot side after this period, to be given to the U.N. control from the very first day. Denktas said, ''naturally this means desolation. This means our people should rapidly evacuate those regions in case this is made. There is no preparation, rehabilitation program and money for it. Thus, this is not something that can take place.''
Stating that they briefly looked at the document, Denktas said Greek Cypriots wanted guarantee from guarantor states for acceptance of the agreement before a result is taken and before foundation agreement takes effect.
Denktas said Greek Cypriots wanted those, who were citizens of ''Cyprus Republic'' on December 20, 1963 and their children to cast votes in the referendum, and opposed to Turkish origin TRNC citizens, whom they described as ''settlers'', to cast votes in the referendum. He said Greek Cypriots only wanted those who married to Cypriots and their children to stay in the island.
Denktas said Greek Cypriot side insistently had the mentality that there was only one people on Cyprus and that nothing could be founded on Turkish-Greek Cypriot discrimination and that this would mean ethnical discrimination.
Denktas said they have been living as Turkish-Greek Cypriots on Cyprus for 400 years, and that 1960 agreement was made taking this fact as basis.
Stressing that this was a fundamental problem, Denktas said political equality of the Turkish side and that their not being a minority were also stated in the U.N. resolutions. Denktas said it was disappointing that Greek Cypriot did not accept political equality of the Turkish side despite this.
Denktas said there was discrimination in Belgium on language but that nobody said there was discrimination in Belgium, and stressed that there were two national peoples on Cyprus.
Denktas said Greek Cypriot side rejected the approach of the Turkish side saying ''EU norms reject it'', adding that, ''being a person knowing that they entered the EU intentionally, we don't want the EU to serve the goals of the Greek Cypriots and want them to say something to Greek Cypriots by accepting the existence of two ethnical beings, and that there were two peoples, and considering that Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples exist in Cyprus. Otherwise, we will see that they would continue to cover the policy to possess whole Cyprus under the pretext of 'EU norms'.
Stressing that Greek Cypriot should give up accusations of ''legalization of territory seizure and ethnical cleansing'', Denktas said Greek Cypriots did not recognize TRNC and said ''there is Cyprus Republic''.
Denktas said they proposed to sign EU foundation agreement as two presidents and that Greek Cypriots also rejected this, and noted that there were legal and political anomalies stemming from acceptance of Greek Cypriots to the EU as ''Cyprus Republic.'' Denktas said they wanted these anomalies to be corrected, but this was also rejected.
Denktas said the EU made a discrimination of ''Cyprus government'' and ''Turkish community'', stressing that, ''this reflects point of view of Greek Cypriots to Cyprus and rejects equality. It should be corrected. We insistently demand this from the EU. If we are to sign a new agreement with the Greek Cypriots, naturally they should add this agreement and our status to the agreement signed with the EU as the ''Cyprus government,'' and amend the agreement according to this.''
Denktas said request of the Turkish side for derogations was considered as ''unacceptable'', stressing that, ''there are other derogations which we want till Turkey becomes an EU member. Turkey's membership to the EU is not definite yet. They also consider them 'unacceptable'.''
Denktas said they did not accept ''super power'' status that would be granted to the U.N. soldiers on security issue, Denktas said Greek Cypriots wanted this and that there was difference in point of view of the two sides also on this issue.
Denktas said Greek Cypriots considered the unification formula of the island as a formula in which Turkish-Greek Cypriot discrimination would not be made, and noted that, ''If that is the case, what are we uniting? Are we uniting the territory or do we envisage formation of a joint state by two former partners? They say 'another function of the U.N. soldiers is to remove this discrimination.' It says it would remove Turkish-Greek Cypriot discriminations. This seemed strange to us.''
Denktas said Greek Cypriots opposed to their proposals on decrease in number of Greek Cypriots that would return to the north, measure for a separate majority to protect rights of Turks in voting in the Parliament, and solving property issues through global barter and compensation, noting that, ''in short, they considered every change we considered in the Annan plan as unacceptable.''
Replying to a question, Denktas said the U.N. listened to them and intervened from time to time, stating that the U.N. seemed relaxed thinking that, ''they do not seem to make compromise. We will do what is necessary after listening to the two sides. Anyway referendum will take place. We will see what happens.''
Denktas said decisions were taken today for formation of some new committees, noting that a committee would be set up on constitution, and stated that Presidency consultant Prof. Mumtaz Soysal would head the committee on constitution.
Denktas said another committee regarding the demands of the Greek Cypriot side for sub-court would also be set up, adding that, ''we can not understand why they want sub-court. I think they searched for a formula which would not require application of Greek Cypriots to our own state courts. Studies continue on all these.''
Replying to another question, Denktas said issue of maps was not discussed, adding that they responded to Greek Cypriots' proposals on relations with the EU and representation today.
Denktas said, ''we proposed a way without a need for the changes they called on. We think that the U.N. side also considered this as appropriate.''
Cyprus talks will continue on Tuesday.

DENKTAS RECEIVES WESTON
Denktas said that he had a ''fruitful'' meeting with Thomas Weston, the special coordinator of the U.S. State Department for Cyprus.
Speaking after his meeting with Weston, Denktas said Weston was a ''good listener'' and that Weston noted down what he said.
Stating that they saw the news reports alleging that ''Weston comes with a stick'' were not right, Denktas said, ''it was a productive and constructive meeting.''
Weston is expected to hold a news conference following his meetings.
Weston will proceed to Athens on Tuesday morning and to Ankara on Wednesday.

DENKTAS TO VISIT ANKARA ON THURSDAY
Releasing a statement, Ankara Chamber of Trade (ATO) said on Monday that Denktas would visit Ankara for the symposium, ''Turkey-EU Relations and Cyprus Issue'' organized by ATO and association of ''Turk Ocaklari'', and stated that Denktas's visit which was earlier scheduled on March 3 was postponed to March 4 due to busy negotiation traffic on the island.
Denktas earlier said that he would also meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
(AY-EÖ-AÖ) 01.03.2004