ISTANBUL - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Saturday that European Union (EU) carrot was offered for Turkish Cypriot people on April 24.
Denktas delivered a speech on the latest developments in Cyprus at Istanbul's Topkapi Eresin Hotel.
Stating that national causes could be solved by national will and national sacrifice, Denktas said that Turk's national cause was tried to be solved through a plan which was prepared by the United States and Britain on behalf of the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General.
Denktas said that if Turkish Cypriots' sovereignty was accepted and if Turkey's guarantees on the island were preserved, he would be the first to sign the plan.
Noting that the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus was prepared to send away Turkish troops from the island, he said that they could not sign a plan disregarding Turkey's rights on Cyprus.
He stressed that Turkish Cypriot people could not live on the island without Turkey.
Denktas noted that they wanted to be lasting in Cyprus and stated, ''referendum is the most accurate method to determine the will of people. But people should know what they are voting and with which aim. We don't know what we will vote in Cyprus. We have a package comprised of 9 thousand pages. This package includes laws which have been prepared by Greek Cypriots with the EU. Our people don't have enough time to study those things. We will go to ballot boxes on the date that was determined by them to determine our destiny. But, if Greek Cypriots vote 'no' to the plan, what will happen? Even if the Greek Cypriots vote 'no' to the plan, they will join the EU. If we vote 'no' to the plan, what will happen? They told us that if it happens, Turkish Cypriots will be isolated and Turkish Cypriots will harm Turkey and they will prevent Turkey's right to join the EU. It is what we have been told.''
''EU carrot is offered for Turkish Cypriots on April 24. They said that if Turkish Cypriots join the EU, they will be rich. Our youth is shown this path and they told our youth that Turkish Cypriot youth should vote in favor of the Annan plan,'' he said and noted that Turkish Cypriots should vote against the Annan plan.
''Greek Cypriots want to possess whole Cyprus. Unfortunately, Annan plan gives Greek Cypriots this opportunity,'' he noted.
Denktas said that Britain had distributed 12-article declaration to Greek Cypriot side in the last two days and this declaration listed 12 reasons why Greek Cypriots should vote in favor of the Annan plan.
He noted that laws that they did not know were put in the plan, adding that Turkish Cypriots were asked to vote in favor of the Annan plan.
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.
(EÖ-BRC) 11.04.2004