ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was deceived about Cyprus issue, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said late on Sunday.
Appearing on a private television channel, Denktas said that Turkish government was not informed about every issue that was written in United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus.
Denktas noted that ''his people would not accept Annan plan'' and said, ''it is nobody's right to end our sovereignty and cause uncertainty in our country.''
He expected majority of his people to vote ''no'' to the plan in the simultaneous referenda to be held in the island on April 24, Denktas stated.
Denktas said that the referendum to be held in TRNC meant a vote of confidence for him.
Pointing out that there was not any agreement between two sides in the island, Denktas said that Turkey and TRNC followed a joint policy on Cyprus issue so far and therefore, he could not be the only person who would be kept responsible for the 40-year process.
Denktas said that the Turkish government formed by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) accused TRNC of failure in settlement of Cyprus issue after it had taken over the office and the Turkish government had changed the national policy on Cyprus.
He did not say no to the federation and a federation based on sovereignty of two sides could be formed, Denktas stated.
Denktas said, ''Greece wants Turkey to surrender. Does Turkey have to do everything Greece wants in order to join the European Union (EU)? This is not the official policy of Turkey. I think Prime Minister Erdogan has been deceived about Cyprus issue.''
Noting that Turkish government was not informed about everything about Annan plan, Denktas said, ''I saw it during my meeting with Erdogan. He thinks that two states are forming a federation. But, it is not so.''
Stating that it was not right to take a risk in order to get a date to start full membership negotiations with EU, Denktas said that however, Turkey would make its own decision.
He was in continuos contact with Turkey, Denktas stated.
Denktas noted that he did not think that he contradicted Turkish government with his statements.
He saw and stated that the plan meant give and get rid of, Denktas said.
Denktas stated that he had received an invitation from the Turkish Parliamentary Union to speak at the parliament on April 15.
Asked about the attitude that TRNC Foreign Minister and his son Serdar Denktas' Democrat Party (DP) would assume in the referendum, Denktas said that Serdar Denktas' silence contributed to the process.
Denktas noted that Serdar Denktas would not embark on such an adventure and stated that he would be disappointed if his son's party said ''yes'' to the plan.
Asked what he would do if majority of his people voted ''yes'' to the plan in the referendum, Denktas said, ''I am still in the office and I will take my decision. There is no need to resign. Elections will be held on June 13. I may or may not go. It depends on my own decision.''
When commenting on statement of Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul in which he said ''if TRNC voted 'yes' to the plan in the referendum and Greek Cypriot side said 'no', he believed TRNC would start to be recognized, Denktas said, ''I wish it could be. But, it can't.''
Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded Denktas' words that ''Turkish Prime Minister was deceived about Cyprus issue'', saying, ''I said what I had to say.''
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-AY) 12.04.2004