LEFKOSA - Delegation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) presented on Tuesday a document on property and bizonality in the 12th meeting with the Greek Cypriot side.
The 12th meeting between delegations headed by TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos ended. The Cyprus negotiation process between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot delegations, started on February 19 to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Following the 12th meeting, Denktas told reporters that they debated the issue of foreign judges in today's meeting.
Denktas said that a meeting would be held on Wednesday in the level of committees about temporary buildings of the central government and issues like personnel need would be taken up in that meeting.
There were long discussions on transition process in the meeting, Denktas noted.
Denktas stated that the Greek Cypriots had insisted that the territory to be given to them after an agreement was reached should be transferred to the United Nations (U.N.) since the first day of the talks.
Turkish side gave its response about that issue to the Greek Cypriots, Denktas said.
Denktas pointed out that they presented a document to the Greek Cypriots on property and bizonality.
Sides would end giving documents to each other on Wednesday, Denktas stated.
Denktas said that the date of the referendum had been set as April 20.
When asked when the constitution of founder states would be handed over, Denktas said that sides continued their studies on that issue.
Replying to another question, Denktas said that sides had not started give-and-take process yet.
''If our people acts knowingly and advisedly by seeing the realities, they won't end up losers. So everybody follows what we have been saying and is much aware of the things Annan plan can take away if it does not change, and acts according to it,'' Denktas said.
Noting that they had brought the embargoes imposed on the TRNC on the agenda and asked for lifting of those embargoes, Denktas said that Greek Cypriots had rejected his request and said in response that embargoes were not imposed by the Greek Cypriots, but by the European Union Court of Justice.
Stressing that embargoes should be lifted for development of the TRNC's economy, Denktas said, ''what we want is prevention of any intervention in the vessels approaching our ports and opening of air traffic et cetera. We have understood that they are not willing to do these.'' When a reporter reminded him of statement of EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen who said, 'we don't impose embargo', Denktas said, ''nobody imposes embargo for God's sake! An embargo has been imposed on us, but nobody claims responsibility. They impose it easily and in a very unjust way because the side which has them impose embargo is not the 'legitimate Cyprus government', and it has never been a legitimate government. And if they really consider 'what law is and what supremacy of law is', they will see the injustice they are doing to us.''
When a reporter said Verheugen had criticized him of ''making confusing statements'' especially about derogations, Denktas said that Verheugen was the person who actually confused people.
''Verheugen and I like each other very much! I also say that he has quite confused us. I am telling the truth to confuse less those of the already confused minds,'' he said. Recalling that also Verheugen affirmed the truth he told, Denktas quoted Verhaugen as saying, ''we implement the EU acquis and we don't make any privilege.'' Denktas added, ''they say that it is 'fundamental acquis of the EU' against everything that we have wanted to protect ourselves. That is, everybody will settle wherever he wants and purchase any property he wants to buy in any place, which is the thing that also Greek Cypriots want. We have told the truth and never confused people's minds. And he has affirmed it.''
DENKTAS: A FIRM AGREEMENT CAN BE MADE BY PROTECTING OUR RIGHTS
Recalling that today was the anniversary of Baphos massacre and their Martyrs Day, Denktas pointed out that Palestine also struggled to become a state and said, ''we gave this struggle and found our state. We have gained sovereignty and we have hoisted our flag thanks to people who fought for us and who died for our country and thanks to our resisting people and thanks to their struggle.''
Reiterating that they were at the negotiation table not to lose their vested rights, Denktas said, ''we want our people to protect their state, rights, sovereignty and freedom. Peace is a very good thing. Compromise is very necessary. But, we are thinking how we can reach a sound compromise. We don't have to give up our rights for such a compromise. We can make a good agreement by protecting our rights provided that everybody sees and understands that we are preserving our rights and interests and we will continue to do so.''
DENKTAS: NOBODY EXCHANGES HIS PLACE BEFORE REHABILITATION ISSUE IS RESOLVED COMPLETELY
Denktas said that preparations should be made for the factors that would form the central state in case of a probable agreement and those preparations had been under way at the level of technical committees, adding that those studies would avail if both sides were to say ''yes'' in referendums.
Denktas said that the main work was the studies that had been carried out at political level and the people were informed on them each day.
Noting that the issue of interim supreme court had come to the agenda of today's session of the Cyprus negotiations and they would convey their opinions about the issue to Greek Cypriots on Wednesday, Denktas said, ''the issue of assignment of foreign judges who will be appointed to this court for either fifteen months of temporary period, which is envisaged by the plan, or thirty-six months has come onto the agenda. Our sensitivity regarding this issue is that the temporary periods envisaged by the plan should not be annulled or shortened. Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot side has been exerting efforts to have them shortened. However, we need time.''
Denktas said that they had also discussed the place of the temporary and permanent buildings of the central state and the sides' technical committees would convene on Wednesday to discuss it.
''There has been a work on discussion and preparation of a plan on what administrative requirements will be, how many civil servants are needed for the central administration and which departments they are,'' he said.
Noting that the Greek Cypriot side insisted on handing over the soil to be left to them, to the United Nations right after an agreement took effect, but they were against it, Denktas said, ''nobody will be able to exchange places before the places that our people will go to are determined and the issue of rehabilitation is completely resolved in terms of financing and planning. The plan says, 'all of these should be done in three years'. And I ask what will happen if we cannot find finance, they say that international funds, the United States will give the money. Are we going to put these people on the streets or bring them to tents if money does not come? And your immigrants settled in their houses, and there are not any people on the streets or in tents. So do ours. Consequently, there may be a need for a little delay if the money is not found and the rehabilitation program is not completed.''
Stressing that the Greek Cypriots' approach was toward ''throwing out those people by force if it was necessary'' but they could not accept it, Denktas said that the money should be provided and rehabilitation program should be completed for population shift.
Stating that they had presented Greek Cypriots the same day a document including comprehensive opinions about exchange of property, Denktas said, ''we have stressed that it is in connection with the theory of two peoples and the bizonality, and one of them can't be separated from the other.''
Asked what kind of rehabilitation work had been done regarding the civil servants that would be removed from office, Denktas said any work had not been done on it and it would come in front of them as a ''problem of the founder states''.
Denktas announced that Europe was considered as the place of the quartet conference, but they were not told about any place.
Noting that referendum would take place on April 20 and they stressed that it would be held during the week, Denktas said, ''they say, 'it is impossible to hold it earlier and postponing it prevents the other progress of the program'.''
Replying to a question, Denktas said that there should be a compromise also on names of the foreign judges that would be assigned at the interim supreme court, and they should know the term in office of those judges while making the invitation.
Denktas added that tomorrow's session would start at 10.15 a.m.
(MS-AÖ) 09.03.2004