Denktas: We Have Some Constitutional Difficulties About Referendum

LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''we have some constitutional difficulties about referendum. Our state cannot be removed with referendum. TRNC should be equivalent to the partner state.''
Holding a press conference following the 13th session of negotiation process aiming to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue, President Denktas said on Wednesday, ''the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has an approach presuming that TRNC had never existed at all. We cannot accept such an approach in constitutional, legal and political aspects. Our chief prosecutor has been dealing with the issue of referendum.''
''During today's session, we said that we had some legal and constitutional difficulties. If TRNC is considered equivalent to the partner state, all these difficulties could be easily overcome,'' he said.
He said that TRNC, the state of Turkish Cypriots and its history were totally ignored in the referendum practice.
Pointing out the parliament would approve a law about referendum, President Denktas said, ''our parliament will not permit a referendum which will remove our parliament and state. At least two thirds of our parliamentarians should cast their votes for its approval. It means destruction of our constitution. But, our constitutional has some unchangeable articles. That is, we are face to face with a legal situation.''
''Rehabilitation program for people, who will have to migrate, and the fund of this program should be ready. We cannot risk future of our people,'' he emphasized and called on Turkish Cypriot people to protect their lands and state.
President Denktas noted, ''an expert prepared a report about the people, who will have to migrate. We will need a fund of 4 million U.S. dollars. We presented this report to the Greek Cypriot side as an unofficial document.''
''The European Union (EU) wants us to sign an agreement in great haste to correct its own mistake in Cyprus. The EU has been putting pressure on us to come to a conclusion in the possible shortest period. In fact, we need more time since we have been trying to determine future of a nation.''
Recalling that they would not meet on Thursday, President Denktas added that United Nations Secretary General Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto would pay a visit to Greek capital Athens tomorrow.
DENKTAS: THINGS TO BE GIVEN AND TAKEN SHOULD ALSO HAVE EQUAL VALUE
Denktas said that for the sides to give and take in that 'give-and-take' process, they should recognize who the other side was, adding ''who will give to whom and who will take from whom? Are we considered as the landlord and the servant, or are we the equal owners of the house, these should be determined. The things to be given and taken should also have the equal value.''
Denktas stated that U.N. Secretary General's special envoy for Cyprus Alvaro De Soto asked the founding state constitution to be ready on March 12, adding that the constitutional committee prepared a long constitution by working hard, and it had to be translated into English which would take time. Denktas stated that he received the constitution today and he could not examine it.
Noting that the future of a people would be determined and they had difficulties due to limited time, Denktas said that they brought onto agenda the interim period in the meeting and stressed that they needed time and making close cooperation with EU to harmonize their laws with those of EU. Denktas stated that they proposed appointment of a Turkish person who would represent the founding state in EU and they submitted a document about this issue.
Denktas stressed that it was not meaningful to share the debts, pointing out that the debts of the founding states should be paid by that founding state which got into debt.
Noting that the Greek Cypriot approach about security caused threats and it was not acceptable, Denktas said that Turkish Cypriots were less than Greek Cypriots in number pointing out to the side which caused the incidents before 1974. Denktas underlined the fact that it was the Turkish side which had to be satisfied about security, noting that they could not give the executive authority to U.N. like Greek Cypriots wanted.
Denktas stated that the number of policemen also came to agenda during the meeting, adding that the number of Turkish police which was 1700 at the moment was not sufficient and they wanted to increase that number.
''The interesting part is that U.N. envisages 1700 policemen for us, 3000 for Greek Cypriots and 7000 for themselves. In no part of the world, foreign forces, whose number is more than that of the regional security forces, can be present. When we ask the reason of that, they tell us that they expected fierce incidents in the beginning. What is the meaning of drifting a country where no incidents took place for the past 30 years into an atmosphere of fierce incidents?'' Denktas asked.
Denktas said that Greek Cypriot side also wanted deployment of Greek military forces on the island within the scope of European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) noting that the Turkish side thought of making cooperation with that institution other than military participation and they presented a motion of amendment about this issue.
Denktas said they also submitted their document about formation of the higher court and its functioning, adding that they would submit their views about aviation in the afternoon. Denktas pointed out that Greek Cypriot side would also present certain documents.
Denktas stated that they worked on a schematic study on the things wanted by the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot sides to date and they would make it public when it was ready.
Upon a question, Denktas said that a high ranking delegation from Ankara was in Cyprus, stressing that they determined the sine qua nons in give-and-take process together with Ankara.
''Does a parliament have the power to abolish its own state?'' asked a journalist to Denktas who said that ''give up discussing such issues now. Let our jurists think about it, present their views to us and we can talk after that. Everybody can have different opinions. But there is one thing that needs to be known by our people, this exercise is not only one that removes TRNC, but it also considers TRNC as if it does not exist and it has never existed. What will happen to the decisions we have taken, regulations we have made for 30 years? There is no answer to that.''
Greek Cypriots didn't accept the agreements concluded by TRNC with Turkey, said Denktas, noting that they would not accept the agreements concluded by Greek Cypriots with Greece. Denktas said that everything was based on bizonality and equal sovereignty.
''Was the issue of recognition of TRNC for 24 hours to overcome the constitutional difficulty came to agenda in today's meeting?'' asked a journalist to Denktas who said ''no, it was not discussed.''

(Öª-AÖ) 10.03.2004