Denktas: The Method Is Unfairness And The Style Is Wrongful

LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''the two sides in Cyprus have been forced to accept a document prepared by someone else with a method, which has not seen anywhere in the world, and with a hastily attitude. The method is unfairness, and the style is wrongful. Such pressures are unacceptable.''
Holding a press conference following his 15th meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos under the Cyprus negotiation process, President Denktas said, ''I did not withdraw from the negotiations. I will take a decision whether or not to withdraw from the negotiations by assessing results of the four-party conference in Switzerland. If I end my role as a negotiator, the government will dissolve since the government partners have a protocol to this end.''
Recalling that he had submitted a letter to the United Nations saying that the delegation, which would leave for Switzerland, would have full authority, President Denktas added, ''there is nothing more that I can do.''
DENKTAS: IMPOSITIONS WILL NOT YIELD FAVORABLE RESULTS
Denktas said that there were also impositions in Kosovo and Palestine, but there was now bloodshed in those regions. He added that impositions would not yield favorable results.
Stating that Turkish delegation would go to Switzerland on Tuesday, Denktas noted, ''there are many issues on which no consensus was reached. There are different views. We will see how many of them will be solved by contributions of Turkey and Greece.''
Denktas said that Turkey and they would evaluate together the result that U.N. Secretary General would put forward, stating that they would then take a decision on the issue.
''We wish our friends success in Switzerland. We are sure that they will act by taking into consideration Turkish Cypriots' rights, future and security and by taking into account that the sufferings between 1963 and 1974 should not be repeated again,'' he noted.
When a reporter said, ''Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and you share similar views on sine qua non conditions. It seems that there is no disagreement on this issue between Erdogan and you. Why don't you go to Switzerland?'' President Denktas replied that he did not say that Erdogan and he had any disagreement and noted that a new review was made or would be made on sine qua non conditions before the conference in Switzerland.
Stating that he explained the reason why he decided not to go to Switzerland, he said that he would make a more comprehensive statement on this issue on Tuesday.
''The two peoples who have fought against each other and who cannot agree on anything for 40 years in Cyprus are being imposed to accept a document on determining their future prepared by someone else with a method, which has not seen anywhere in the world, and with a hastily attitude. The method is unfairness, and the style is wrongful. Such pressures are unacceptable,'' he noted.
Denktas said that there were some criticisms that he accepted this method in New York and noted that they were under pressure by whole world with a view that there was no other alternative and there could not be any other alternative.
''We have rejected it for one and a half years. After one and a half years, we discussed it and tried to find a formula in the U.N. building till 3 a.m. in the morning as Turkey was brought to the line that 'it could be negotiated','' he noted.
Noting that such a method was made for the first time, Denktas said, ''may be they will say that 'we also did it in Kosovo.' There is bloodshed in Kosovo today. Maybe they will say that 'we also did it in Palestine.' Unfortunately, Palestine and Israel are grieving. Thus, impositions do not yield favorable results on such issues.''
Denktas said that a formula was put forward without making a diagnosis on Cyprus issue, stating that sides were being imposed to accept this formula.
''If we cannot protect the lines that we want and call as red lines, if we cannot make necessary changes, we will tell our people the result. We should not draw a pessimistic picture now. Sides will go to Switzerland. We hope that Turkey and Greece will assume a fair attitude and make a result which is acceptable, sound and lasting,'' he noted.
Stating that he would decide on whether or not he would withdraw from negotiations after he saw the result that would come out from Switzerland, he said, ''because, if I end my role as a negotiator, the government will dissolve. The government partners have a protocol. I don't want our people to suffer.''
Replying to another question, Denktas said that he submitted to the United Nations a letter saying that the delegation who would go to Switzerland had full authority.
DENKTAS: TURKEY HAD TO ACCEPT THE (COMPELLING) METHOD
When asked, ''Turkey has accepted the method which you described as compelling. What do you think?'' President Denktas said, ''Turkey had to accept the method. Together with TRNC, Turkey has told for a long time that it was unacceptable. Since Turkey had to accept it at last, we also accepted it. One can say that if you accepted it, you should not complain about it any more. But, I have to explain difficulties of coming to a honorable conclusion through a method which we had to accept as a result of pressure. Accepting the method does not mean we have been convicted.''
''Turkey has also been assured that the derogation would be accepted. But, we were told this week that the derogation would not be accepted. In the accepted method, there are promises requiring our acceptance. However, these promises cannot be given yet. We hope that these promises will be given in Switzerland,'' he said.
When asked whether or not he should remain at the negotiating table at the last stage, President Denktas said, ''the world has already known me as intransigent. I have been trying to find out whether or not there was a ground on which we can compromise for the last six months. I promised to Turkey to attend the Cyprus talks in New York, and not to withdraw from the negotiating table at any cost. We have reached the current point by approving this procedure since we have not left the negotiating table. I did not promise to go further. I tried everything in Lefkosa. I made my own assessments. Now, I am telling the TRNC government to deal with it together with Turkey henceforth.''
''There is nothing more that I can do. I have the authority to assess the consequences. If I go to Switzerland, I will lose this authority. You can blame me for 'accepting the method' because I attended the talks in New York. If I go to Switzerland, you will sentence me again. I do not accept these blames. I will assess the consequences. If I consider them negative, I will have the right and authority to explain them to my people. I have done my utmost to reach a compromise. Now, I think that withdrawal is a contribution to the compromise,'' he said.
President Denktas said, ''during today's meeting, the United Nations informed us on studies of the technical committees about laws. The Greek Cypriot side rejected all agreements made by TRNC. Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos rejected all agreements saying that TRNC's agreements could not bind the future state. In response to the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side, we rejected agreements signed by the Greek Cypriot side. As a result, a balance was provided.''
''A document was submitted about the Central Bank and banking sector. The United Nations gave information about requirements of economic and financial practices of the agreement. In the document about the Central Bank, equal sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot side was rejected. Also, the Greek Cypriot side rejected our views on using rights in air and sea. The Greek Cypriot side wants these fields to be under control of the central state, and claims that those coming from Turkey live in the island illegally,'' he said.
President Denktas added, ''Papadopoulos says that those who will work in the central state have been appointed in accordance with the Constitution of 1960, and wants them to remain in their posts in accordance with that constitution. There has not been anyone in the Turkish Cypriot side appointed in line with the Constitution of 1960.''

(UK-AÖ) 22.03.2004