Denktas: There Is A Serious Intrigue Against Turkey

BURSA - A serious intrigue had been carried out against Turkey, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Monday.
Speaking at a conference on Cyprus in Bursa province in the Marmara region, Denktas said, ''a serious intrigue is being carried out against Turkey. Scenarios which were put into practice in order to cause division slowly, are becoming visible.''
Denktas noted that laws and justice would be meaningful if they put an end to a conflict within the framework of principle of equality.
It was not possible to reach a solution without asking the question ''what Cyprus issue was,'' Denktas stated.
Denktas said that plans put forward by foreigners for years in order to settle Cyprus issue did not bear fruit but nobody asked the reason why those plans did not work out.
Bi-zonality, equality and Turkey's status as guarantor state were the guarantees of Turkish presence in Cyprus, Denktas pointed out.
Denktas said that United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan only settled problems of the Greek Cypriots.
Touching on rights granted to Turkey under international agreements, Denktas said, ''the Treaty of Guarantee says that Cyprus Republic founded in 1960 can't be a member of any organization of which Turkey isn't a member. Now, it is joining a union and it is becoming a member of a union.''
Denktas noted that Turkey's objections and TRNC's complaints were not listened.
''When we join the EU this way, they can abolish most of our rights and most of rights that the Turkish government has listed and handed out in seven pages today,'' Denktas said.
However, Denktas stated, they could gain stronger guarantees but with patience and determination.
Denktas said, ''they say 'there will be partnership.' Yes, there will be. But, there was also a partnership in Cyprus in 1960. They say 'Turks will be granted this and that right.' Yes, they will grant those rights. But, most of those rights were also granted in 1960.''
The Greek Cypriots might violate all those rights in a second, Denktas pointed out.
Noting that federations could not stand on feet for long, Denktas said that there were many examples of it in the world.
Denktas said that Annan plan gave the Greek Cypriots a founder state which would be comprised of 100 percent Greek Cypriots while it foresaw a mixed state for the Turkish Cypriots.
If the plan was accepted, one of every three people would be Greek Cypriot in time, Denktas noted.
Denktas said, ''my duty is really very difficult today because Turkey obviously wants Annan plan to be accepted.''
The map would lay the ground for new problems, Denktas stated.
Denktas noted that more than 60 thousand people would migrate but there was not any plan or program related with migration.
The Greek Cypriots did neither want Annan plan, Denktas said.
Denktas pointed out that the Greek Cypriots did not need Annan plan and preferred to preserve their title as the government of ''Cyprus Republic'' which was admitted to the EU.
''They won't lose anything if they accept the plan. They say if we say 'no' to the plan, we will be punished. They also say Turkey will face damages if we say 'no' to the plan. If the Greek Cypriots say 'no' to the plan, it won't face any punishment in EU. Here is the imbalance. We suggest 'we talk to the Greek Cypriots on our own firstly.' And, we say that Greek Cypriots should be explained that Turkey will not give up sine qua non conditions like permanent derogations, privileges and special rights, like preservation of bi-zonality and like an agreement which will really grant founder state status to TRNC. They say 'there is no time.' They say 'the Greek Cypriots will join the EU on May 1 and if we don't join the EU, we will miss the train.' But, I ask 'which train we are missing.' This train is not the train for Cyprus, it is the train for the Greek Cypriots. We are trying to make this train the train for Cyprus in our negotiations. How can we get on this train? The answer is obvious, we should not get on it because Turkey hasn't got on this train yet,'' Denktas said.
Denktas stated that there would be problems in Turkey's status as guarantor state if international agreements were violated.
''Therefore, we feel distressed. But, if Turkey says 'this is the only solution', majority of our people will naturally listen to Turkey and will be in this process. Then, the issues of territory, migration and property will cause problems for not only us but also for Turkey. And, we can't say 'Cyprus issue is over.' Why are we in such a hurry? I can't answer these questions,'' Denktas said.
Denktas drew attention that the U.N. asked Turkey, Greece and Britain to commit that that agreement would be put to referendum.
''If Turkey consents to such a settlement in this cause in which it is the strongest and the rightest party under all this pressure, what more will they try to get from Turkey again under pressure? Some columnists openly write what they see and think. They say that a serious intrigue is being carried out against Turkey over the United States and Europe. There are circles who see and agree with this opinion and who don't see and agree. I also think the same. Scenarios which were put into practice in order to cause division slowly, are becoming visible. I wish we are wrong. But, not only articles but also books are being written on this issue. Foreign sources also say similar things. Therefore, we think that we have entered a process in which Turkey should unite to resist to all these developments,'' Denktas said.
Denktas noted, ''Cyprus issue was a super-party issue so far. I still think it is such an issue and therefore, I have confidence in the future. But, governments may be in a difficult situation and I think that therefore, they can think differently.''
If the EU was sincere in admitting Turkey as a full member, it would not put Cyprus as an obstacle before Turkey, Denktas said.
Denktas stated that the EU wanted Cyprus not Turkey.
''You will admit Cyprus and keep Turkey waiting for 10-15 more years. For what? Cyprus will be lost. We are making an agreement on paper like the agreements we made in 1960. This agreement is under the threat of EU norms. We will see in the future if the rights granted to us are valid or not. We are obliged to consent to fewer rights when compared with our existing rights if we don't say 'we have a state and we don't yield.' We have only one concern. We are uneasy that Cyprus will also be lost as Crete. We will think where we will place migrants coming from Cyprus,'' Denktas said.
Denktas noted, ''Turkey will lose its esteem among nations which have confidence in Turkey. Nations who have confidence in Turkey will lose their confidence in Turkey as Turkey can't defend itself in such a cause in which it was this rightful and this strong.''
Requesting Turkey to get assurances to ensure lasting peace in the island, Denktas said, ''we had to negotiate a plan which we thought would harm us. But, we tried to change it as much as we could. We have seen a poisonous plate before us. I and my friends, including Turkey have tried to reduce the poison but we know there is still a poisonous plate before our people. Therefore, my people should be aware of it when deciding on the plan.''
Annan's final plan, which was presented to the parties on March 31, will be voted in simultaneous referenda in TRNC and Greek Cypriot side on April 24.
(BRC) 05.04.2004