LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ``the Greek Cypriot side rejected all proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side during the negotiation process, and did not put forward any alternative proposal. The Greek Cypriot side does not open the way for negotiation.``
Holding a press conference on Wednesday after the eighth session of Cyprus negotiations aiming to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue, President Denktas said, ``the issue of leadership council was taken up at today`s meeting. We have done everything in our power by putting forward alternatives. However, the Greek Cypriot side rejected all of them.``
``When we asked them why they rejected our proposals and why they did not put forward any alternatives, a row broke out. We will present our alternatives to the Greek Cypriot side as a written document. Then, we will wait for their response,`` he said.
Noting that the Greek Cypriot side had been continuing to reject Turkish documents including all changes, President Denktas said, ``they refrain from holding talks with us. They do not put forward any alternatives against our views. Simply, they do not open the way for negotiation.``
``We are in favor of providing a harmony in the negotiations. We have been trying to present alternatives to the Greek Cypriot side on all issues. However, the Greek Cypriot side has done nothing other than rejecting our proposals,`` he said.
Upon a question, President Denktas reminded the journalists that United Nations Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast was also in attendance at today`s meeting, adding, ``he just watched the meeting. He did not say anything. He will pay a visit to me later in the day.``
Noting that the Greek Cypriot side brought the issue of territory onto agenda of the meeting, President Denktas said, ``their proposal is nothing, but rhetoric. The Greek Cypriot side wanted places, which would be emptied by Turkish Cypriots and handed over to the Greek Cypriots under the Annan plan within three years, to be transferred immediately to control of the United Nations. They also wanted to authorize the United Nations as if it was an autonomous government. We rejected them.``
Denktas said that if only the southern Cyprus joins the EU, the EU won`t have any authority in northern Cyprus. Noting that they are trying to resolve the issue at negotiations, he said but there is need for time for economic rehabilitation and it should be accepted by the EU and Greek Cypriots. Noting that Greek Cypriots hastily wanted completion of negotiations with Cyprus`s accession to the EU on May 1 by always saying, ``negotiation of the plan was delayed so the timing envisaged by the plan did not work and a less temporary time should be given``, Denktas said that everybody was responsible for delay in rediscussion of the plan.
Stating that temporary time (Turkish institutions` adjustment period) envisaged by Annan`s plan was already limited for the Turkish side, and they wanted extension of the time, Denktas said, ``it does not affect May 1 case so much. Why; because the institution to join the EU is totally a different institution in case we reach an agreement with `Cyprus government` that will join on May 1 or has already joined the EU and get the seal on May 1.``
``So the EU should accept this institution with a new protocol. This protocol will also include the derogations that we will make and on which we reached agreement and they should enter the EU`s first class laws and its own regulations that they will have meaning. Otherwise, we would get rights just on the paper and these would be multiplied by zero in course of time,`` he said.
Noting that people living in villages that had been burnt between 1963 and 1974 should be granted special status, Denktas said that property issue of people who came to northern Cyprus after leaving all their possessions in southern Cyprus could be resolved through global barter and compensation.
When asked, ``do you plan to complain about attitude of the Greek Cypriot side to the United Nations?`` President Denktas said, ``the United States has already known it. We cannot come to any conclusion by complaining about each other mutually. We can come to conclusion by encouraging each other for the negotiation. We have a limited period of time ahead of us. We should walk on this path with good will.``
Reminding that negotiations between Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides would come to an end after three weeks, President Denktas said, ``then, Turkey and Greece will participate in the negotiations. We will continue maintaining our good will during these three weeks.``
Upon a question, President Denktas said, ``as you know, I will leave for Ankara tomorrow. Meanwhile, a demonstration will be held. It is not my duty to argue with governments or criticize them. My duty is to inform the Turkish public opinion on recent developments about the Cyprus issue. I will meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Also, I will inform him on recent developments. Therefore, I will attend just a part of tomorrow`s meeting with the Greek Cypriot side.``
Reminding that Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas had held talks with experts about rehabilitation of immigrants, President Denktas said that it would be beneficial to explain it to the public opinion.
Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot side had been pursuing a tactic to leave the negotiation process to Turkey and Greece without making any changes in the Annan Plan, President Denktas added, ``by taking into consideration that Turkey and Greece may not agree, the Greek Cypriot side will then wait for Annan to put forward his views. It can be a challenge. Let`s be patient and see what will happen.``

(MS-UK-AÖ) 03.03.2004