ISTANBUL - Rauf Denktas was the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from Turkey's point of view, Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Tuesday.
Arinc told reporters that he believed Denktas was a super-party personality and said, ''he is the President of TRNC from our perspective and he is a national hero from Turkish people's point of view. It is not right for him to deliver a speech at building of any association or meeting hall of any political party.''
Some parties or associations might be in an effort to make politics over Denktas and try to make Turkey a part of discussions on Cyprus issue, Arinc said.
Arinc stated that he had spoken to Denktas by phone for many times so far but Denktas had not expressed his wish to speak at Turkish parliament.
''An atmosphere as if Denktas wanted to come to Turkey to speak at the parliament and as if the parliament was closed for him has been created. I feel sorry about it. I phoned Denktas and expressed my views. And, Denktas expressed his wish to speak at our parliament. Denktas' request is an order for me. Therefore, Denktas will come to Turkey on April 15 to make a speech at the parliament and all our deputies will listen to his speech,'' Arinc said.
Arinc noted, ''President Denktas wishes to deliver a final speech at Turkish parliament as he considers this speech a turning point for his own political life and his life. I think that it will be beneficial for our deputies to once more listen to this distinguished personality in our parliament.''
He knew the near history very well as others, Arinc said.
Arinc noted, ''we gave territory and we won territory. We gained a right and we lost a right. It is not the time to discuss these things. President Denktas was among those who agreed on this road map when consultations were held in New York before negotiations started in the island. (TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali) Talat and (TRNC Foreign Minister Serdar) Denktas were with him. Therefore, this process occurred in three months. Nobody can say he was not aware of all these.''
''Everybody knows Annan plan doesn't 100 percent satisfy Turkish side. But, Cyprus issue is not the problem of today or yesterday. It is a rooted problem. Therefore, it should be solved in some way. Steps have been taken to solve it. Turkish kinsmen living on Cyprus will decide if these steps are sufficient. It is our duty to wait and see the result of the referendum and then take action accordingly,'' Arinc stated.
Arinc noted that he was not interested in whether the vote of majority of Greek Cypriots to the plan was ''yes'' or ''no.''
Delegations from TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece held meetings in Buergenstock, Switzerland from March 24 to 31 in order to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis joined the negotiations between March 29 and 31.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented his final plan to the parties at the end of the negotiations on March 31.
This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides on April 24.
(BRC-AY) 13.04.2004
ISTANBUL - Rauf Denktas was the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from Turkey's point of view, Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Tuesday.
Arinc told reporters that he believed Denktas was a super-party personality and said, ''he is the President of TRNC from our perspective and he is a national hero from Turkish people's point of view. It is not right for him to deliver a speech at building of any association or meeting hall of any political party.''
Some parties or associations might be in an effort to make politics over Denktas and try to make Turkey a part of discussions on Cyprus issue, Arinc said.
Arinc stated that he had spoken to Denktas by phone for many times so far but Denktas had not expressed his wish to speak at Turkish parliament.
''An atmosphere as if Denktas wanted to come to Turkey to speak at the parliament and as if the parliament was closed for him has been created. I feel sorry about it. I phoned Denktas and expressed my views. And, Denktas expressed his wish to speak at our parliament. Denktas' request is an order for me. Therefore, Denktas will come to Turkey on April 15 to make a speech at the parliament and all our deputies will listen to his speech,'' Arinc said.
Arinc noted, ''President Denktas wishes to deliver a final speech at Turkish parliament as he considers this speech a turning point for his own political life and his life. I think that it will be beneficial for our deputies to once more listen to this distinguished personality in our parliament.''
He knew the near history very well as others, Arinc said.
Arinc noted, ''we gave territory and we won territory. We gained a right and we lost a right. It is not the time to discuss these things. President Denktas was among those who agreed on this road map when consultations were held in New York before negotiations started in the island. (TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali) Talat and (TRNC Foreign Minister Serdar) Denktas were with him. Therefore, this process occurred in three months. Nobody can say he was not aware of all these.''
''Everybody knows Annan plan doesn't 100 percent satisfy Turkish side. But, Cyprus issue is not the problem of today or yesterday. It is a rooted problem. Therefore, it should be solved in some way. Steps have been taken to solve it. Turkish kinsmen living on Cyprus will decide if these steps are sufficient. It is our duty to wait and see the result of the referendum and then take action accordingly,'' Arinc stated.
Arinc noted that he was not interested in whether the vote of majority of Greek Cypriots to the plan was ''yes'' or ''no.''
Delegations from TRNC, Greek Cypriot side, Turkey and Greece held meetings in Buergenstock, Switzerland from March 24 to 31 in order to find a fair and lasting solution to Cyprus issue till May 1 on the basis of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis joined the negotiations between March 29 and 31.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented his final plan to the parties at the end of the negotiations on March 31.
This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides on April 24.
(BRC-AY) 13.04.2004