Denktas: I Participated In Talks Upon Turkey's Request

LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said that he was a person who did not believe in Annan's plan and knew how hazardous the plan was and announced that ''he had participated the Cyprus negotiations upon Turkey's request''.
Speaking on the Bayrak Television (BRT) late on Tuesday, Denktas replied to questions.
Replying to a question which said, ''there are claims saying, 'you joined this process unwillingly and to destroy and you somehow withdraw if you see anything you can't destroy'. Are these real?'' Denktas said, ''I clearly explained. I am a person who does not accept Annan's plan and knows how hazardous Annan's plan is and I am not a person who will say 'accept it' without any change. However, Turkey told us, 'you know about our sine qua nons. It is possible to include these in Annan's plan. We got the support for it.' And I joined the negotiation process to fulfil this duty and whether I can bring Annan's plan to a point that does not oppress our people but benefits them, brings Cyprus to compromise and opens European Union doors. And I have been exerting sincere efforts.''
Noting that if he managed to make the revisions he wanted in Annan's plan, he would inform people on them but he would make an apology and tell that dangers in the plan were continuing if those revisions were not made, Denktas said that in that case he, as a citizen, would not vote for Annan's plan.
''So words like 'he went to destroy' are nonsense. If I wanted to destroy, I had not started this job. I started it as I thought there are things that can be done and also upon Turkey's request,'' he said.
Recalled of the comments which described the statements issued after talks each day as ''no'' campaign regarding referendum, Denktas said that he had not changed his path and the statements he made were not a ''campaign of 'no' to referendum''.
Noting that he would ask his people to say ''no'' in the referendum if the revisions he wanted were not made in Annan's plan, Denktas said, ''because, without any change, Annan's plan eradicates us in a short time and makes us distraught and a minority of the Greek Cypriots.
Stating that he joined the talks after Turkey had said, ''Annan's plan can be discussed, it should be changed'', Denktas said, ''if I had not participated in talks, they would have again said, ''Turkish side escaped from the table''. Secondly, neither I nor the people could have known where the person who would join the talks instead of me would bring the issue.''
Denktas said that they had gone to New York after they had reached a compromise on inclusion of sine qua nons in the plan during the meetings in Ankara.
Stressing that there had been a world that was saying, ''there is Annan's plan and it does not change'' but it had started to say, ''it can change'' upon their resistance, Denktas said that they were trying to fulfil their duties as Turkey said, ''it can be discussed and changed''.
Noting that their duty was to include the changes that Turkey and they wanted in Annan's plan but it had not been done so far, Denktas said that they had been showing flexibility and also the Greek Cypriots should show same flexibility.
Reacting to criticisms about his statements on talks, Denktas stressed that Greek Cypriot press reported talks in detail, adding, ''however, I attract attention as I keep my promise to the people. Everybody tries to make me stop talking. It is impossible.''
DENKTAS: I CAN'T BELIEVE THOSE WHO SAY 'IT ENDS ON MAY 1
Denktas said that EU doors would not be closed if an agreement was not reached until May 1, adding, ''but we should be standing strongly.''
Noting that together with Turkey, they had been showing good will and exerting efforts to resolve the issue, Denktas said that Turkey promised some circles that it would finish until May 1 as it did not know how difficult it was, adding that it would increase expectations and force them to make big concessions.
Stating that at the negotiation table, they had been defending the sine qua nons that they had prepared together with Turkey, Denktas said that there was a plan prepared by those who would not live in Cyprus and there was a serious pressure for discussion of it.
Denktas stressed that Greek Cypriots who felt comfortable as they were going to join the EU should recognize sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot side and bizonality. Noting that he was pleased with attitude of TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas during talks, Denktas said that some circles expected occurrence of a discord between Talat and himself.
Replying to a question, Denktas said that he would go to Ankara on Thursday and he would have a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, adding that he would explain the latest point reached in talks and difficulties. ''We will discuss the points we are going to.''
Replying to a question on U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's assistant Sir Kieran Prendergast's visit, Denktas said that visit proved Annan's interest in the issue but he might have come with the message of ''it is your last chance, make haste''.

(MS) 03.03.2004