LEFKOSA - The ''This Country Belongs To Us Platform'' formed by political parties, trade unions and non-governmental organizations organized a rally in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Wednesday in favor of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan.
The platform called on Turkish Cypriot people to cast their votes in favor of the plan in the referendum to be held on April 24, 2004.
Some trade unions went on one-day general strike in order to increase number of participants in the rally.
People carried blue-and-white balloons and the newly-designed tricolor flags of the United Republic of Cyprus in their hands, and chanted slogans saying, ''yes to the Annan Plan, yes to the world, ''peace cannot be prevented in Cyprus'' and ''naturally yes''.
It has been the fourth rally held in TRNC for approval of the plan since November 11, 2002 when United Nations Secretary General Annan submitted his plan to the sides.
Speaking at the rally on behalf of the platform, TRNC Dev-Is Labor Union Chairman Ali Gulle said, ''Turkish Cypriot people are determined to reach peace this time. We will not return from our way.''
Describing November 11, 2002 when United Nations Secretary General Annan submitted its plan to the sides as a milestone in their struggle for peace, Gulle said, ''now, people want democracy and more freedom instead of war and weapons. We have longed for solution and peace. We call on both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples to fulfil their historic responsibility by saying 'yes' in the referendum. We call on the whole world to mobilize all its opportunities to find a solution to the Cyprus issue on the basis of the Annan Plan. We call on Turkey and Greece to make Cyprus an island of peace and to strengthen friendly relations between the peoples.''
Nearly 40 thousand people attended the rally.
(UK-AY) 14.04.2004
LEFKOSA - The ''This Country Belongs To Us Platform'' formed by political parties, trade unions and non-governmental organizations organized a rally in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Wednesday in favor of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan.
The platform called on Turkish Cypriot people to cast their votes in favor of the plan in the referendum to be held on April 24, 2004.
Some trade unions went on one-day general strike in order to increase number of participants in the rally.
People carried blue-and-white balloons and the newly-designed tricolor flags of the United Republic of Cyprus in their hands, and chanted slogans saying, ''yes to the Annan Plan, yes to the world, ''peace cannot be prevented in Cyprus'' and ''naturally yes''.
It has been the fourth rally held in TRNC for approval of the plan since November 11, 2002 when United Nations Secretary General Annan submitted his plan to the sides.
Speaking at the rally on behalf of the platform, TRNC Dev-Is Labor Union Chairman Ali Gulle said, ''Turkish Cypriot people are determined to reach peace this time. We will not return from our way.''
Describing November 11, 2002 when United Nations Secretary General Annan submitted its plan to the sides as a milestone in their struggle for peace, Gulle said, ''now, people want democracy and more freedom instead of war and weapons. We have longed for solution and peace. We call on both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples to fulfil their historic responsibility by saying 'yes' in the referendum. We call on the whole world to mobilize all its opportunities to find a solution to the Cyprus issue on the basis of the Annan Plan. We call on Turkey and Greece to make Cyprus an island of peace and to strengthen friendly relations between the peoples.''
Nearly 40 thousand people attended the rally.
(UK-AY) 14.04.2004