LEFKOSA - TRNC President Rauf Denktas said on Tuesday that he informed the public opinion about the course of the ongoing Cyprus negotiations everyday, warning people to give decision in referendum by seeing the realities.
Stressing that an activity started within the society on purpose and to serve some circles, Denktas said that ''our people should give their decision by seeing the realities, because that decision will be an irreversible one.''
Speaking during a meeting, Denktas said that they were charged until March 22 in Cyprus negotiations and they would continue to work until that date to amend the plan in line with the basic conditions of the Turkish side. Denktas remarked that a picture would come out on that day about the things wanted by the Turkish side, what was in the plan, and the things accepted by the Greek Cypriot side, adding that the picture would be shown to the people. Denktas said that he would assess the picture and respond to the questions asked, adding that the people had an important role to play in that regard.
The new situation that would come out after the referendum would also be assessed, said Denktas and stressed they would continue to tell the truth to people.
''I don't approve the attitude of certain people in society who gather and ask people to say 'yes' in the referendum...Why should people say 'yes' to Annan plan with its existing form now? They tell people to accept the plan even if it is amended or not. This is not good will,'' Denktas said.
Asking people to give its decision by seeing the realities, Denktas said that ''this is a decision which won't be changed afterwards. It is a decision which can remove our territory, state, sovereignty. You can't gain them again. It is a decision which will take Turkey and Turkish soldiers out of the island in a short time. People should give its decision by knowing these realities.''
''If people suppose that EU is a remedy without a state, sovereignty, identity, personality, then they will long for their identity, personality, state and people...I don't want to talk badly about EU, but the thing that is important is as who and as whose citizens we will join EU,'' he said.
Denktas ended his words reiterating once again that the Greek Cypriot side rejected all proposals of the Turkish side in negotiations to date.
(Öª) 09.03.2004