ADANA - A solution in Cyprus should not cause Turkish Cypriot children to fight again for their rights in the future, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas said on Saturday.
Denktas, who participated in a panel discussion on Cyprus held in southern Adana province by tele-conference, said that the plan put forth by the United Nations (U.N.) for a settlement in the island was ''a plan of discord instead of a plan of compromise.''
Noting that simultaneous referenda scheduled to be held on the U.N. plan in the two sides in the island on April 24 should be delayed, Denktas stated that all aspects of the plan should be discussed.
Denktas said, ''what is right is postponement of the referenda and continuation of negotiations on the plan. Thus, every issue can be discussed and a smooth transition period can be experienced. But, we will have to vote the plan on April 24 and put it into practice immediately. It seems that majority of Greek Cypriot people decline to say ''no'' to the plan but, I think that affirmative and negative votes on the plan will be very close in both sides in the island.''
Sides should be ready for negotiations again on April 25 instead of divisions, separations and reciprocal accusations, Denktas added.
Delegations from TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece held Cyprus negotiations in Buergenstock, Switzerland from March 24 to 31 in order to contribute to a settlement in the island.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis also joined the negotiations as of March 29.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented his final plan to the parties on March 31.
The final plan will be put to separate simultaneous referenda in Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides in the island on April 24.
(BRC) 11.04.2004