Denktas: Verheugen Gives Promises That He Cannot Fulfil To Be Able To Do His Own Work

LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Wednesday that European Union (EU) Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen has given promises that he could not fulfill to be able to do his own work.
Denktas held a press conference and said, ''Verheugen will not be at his post a few months later. He will laugh at our status.''
When a reporter said, ''there is a pressure on sides to first sign the agreement which will come out on Cyprus issue in Switzerland before it is put to referendum. How such a signature will bind Turkey legally? Does TRNC delegation have the authority to sign?'' Denktas said, ''they don't have such an authority to sign it. Because I don't have authority to sign it, either. In fact, there is no need to sign. The signature which is asked is related to putting it to referendum. We will put it to referendum as it is the basic principle of the agreement. Thus, there is no need to say 'I will put it to referendum.' Because if all sides sign it, all sides will be seen as they accept this agreement.''
Stating that there was a big intrigue against Turkish Cypriot people, Denktas said that ''the method was to deceive people and reach their aim by putting pressure on people.''
When he was reminded some news stories which said that Verheugen and the United States put pressure on them for Karpaz to be given to Greek Cypriot side, Denktas said, ''they make mistake. Their attitude in favor of Greek Cypriot side has been known. They should have assumed a neutral attitude at this last phase. But they assumed an attitude in favor of Greek Cypriots and put pressure on Turkey and Turkish side.''
Stressing that Verheugen did not have the right to say a word in negotiations, Denktas said, ''who gave him the right to say a word and the right to intervene?''
When he was reminded the statement of Verheugen who said that ''the Council of Europe had authority on derogations'', Denktas said, ''you should not take into consideration of what he said. We have informed our people about the result that we have taken from jurists. What Verheugen said is not true. Verheugen gives promises that he cannot fulfill to be able to do his own work. Verheugen will not be at his post a few months later. He will laugh at our status.''
(EÖ-AÖ) 31.03.2004