ISTANBUL - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) expressed belief on Sunday that they would be in a better situation with patience and in cooperation with Turkey.
Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Denktas said time was needed to review Annan plan, stating that it should be discussed in details.
Denktas said efforts were underway to mislead people by putting the issue of European Union (EU) in front of them.
''We should examine the laws. Neither our people nor we know the constitution that is put in front of us. I haven't read it satisfactorily yet. I received it two days ago. I read the constitution put forth by the Greek Cypriot side. We will also consider our constitution. Nowhere in the world such a negotiation had taken place. Nowhere in the world the negotiators received such unjust treatment and pressure,'' Denktas said.
Denktas said, ''I think it is not right also in legal sense to sign and accept it without knowing what the 9 thousand pages include and where it will lead us. We think that it may put us into a very difficult situation.''
When asked what would happen in case ''no'' vote is given to Annan plan in TRNC, Denktas said, ''certainly we will not be in a worse situation. We will continue as the state. EU wants whole Cyprus. They intentionally did not want to understand why we did not want to follow Greek Cypriot side. Yet they saw that Greek Cypriot side and Greece are also among those who did not want (the Annan plan). There is not a text which both sides agreed. Argument of the two sides and reasons of the argument continue.''
Pointing out that Annan plan would eliminate Turkey's rights in time, Denktas said, ''it is possible to take healthier steps by preserving our current situation and by showing them we did not bow and we will not bow.'' He said that it was possible to take healthier steps by starting negotiations with the EU in a period of time and discussing the conditions that they can join the EU.
Denktas said there was a very big propaganda in TRNC for people to say ''yes'' in the referendum, noting that, ''today, suddenly a new radio appeared. I think with the support of a big institution from here. They started to make continuous propaganda why we should say 'yes'. There is a very big pressure. There is nothing left to the will of people. Efforts are underway to mislead people with pressure and propaganda. What I say is that people should not argue. Everybody should think with his own will. They should think and see that many people will be refugee and lose their houses. Nobody should be deceived by incitements.''
(AY-AÖ) 05.04.2004