ISTANBUL - If Turkish Cypriots said ''yes'' and Greek Cypriots said ''no'' to United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for a comprehensive settlement of Cyprus problem, it would mean that Cyprus negotiations process had not succeeded, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said on Saturday.
Talat returned from Brussels, where he attended preparatory donors' conference to provide financial support in the context of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.
TRNC Prime Minister Talat told reporters that paving the way for Turkey's European Union (EU) membership and integrating TRNC with the world depended on ''yes'' votes of the two sides in Cyprus.
Asked what kind of assurances he was given in case Turkish Cypriots said ''yes'' and Greek Cypriots said ''no'' to Annan plan, Talat said, ''all these are a process of struggle. If you plan this process well and take correct steps, then you will succeed.''
Such a struggle had not been imagined before since TRNC carried out a policy to seclude itself, Talat noted.
Talat went on saying, ''steps we will take are very important. I think possibility of recognition of TRNC is low. There are resolutions of U.N. Security Council. There are some factors for recognition. But, it is really possible to take steps to end isolation. U.S. State Secretary gave the first signal of the possibility of end of this isolation by calling me. Many other international institutions and organizations have started to be interested in this issue. But, we should continue to deal with this issue.''
''We should not daunted by and bored of our struggle when such a situation occurs. Otherwise, it is not possible to expect that everything will change in one day when the south says 'no' and north says 'yes' to the plan. We wish both sides will say 'yes' to the plan. This is our primary target,'' Talat said.
Talat continued, ''a 'yes' from the north and a 'no' from the south will make us sad and this will mean that process hasn't worked out. Nobody should think that we want the north to say 'yes' and the south to say 'no' to the plan. We wish both sides to say 'yes' to the plan.''
''Only this way, we can reach success. Other alternative is gaining some improvements at the end of a process but these improvements are not sufficient for us. Paving Turkey's way for EU membership and our integrating and communicating with the world depend on 'yes' votes of two sides,'' Talat noted.
When he was recalled that Democrat Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas, the small partner of the TRNC coalition government, announced that his party ''would not take a stance on'' referendums to be held in the island, Talat said, ''Serdar Denktas considered situation of his own party and came to such a conclusion. I respect to his decision.''
Talat noted that DP was an independent party and said, ''DP is my government partner. It doesn't have to think the same with me especially on this important issue. But, I will be sad to see that a person who has significant contributions to the final version of the plan and his party say 'no' to this plan.''
Rise in ''yes'' votes in Turkish Cypriot side was more possible with that stance of DP, Talat said.
Replying to a question that AKEL, the biggest partner of government in Greek Cypriot side, wanted assurances from EU and U.N. for implementation of the plan, Talat said, ''this is not a situation related with us. It is the EU and Security Council which will give assurances.''
Talat stated that there were duties that the Security Council would fulfil before or during implementation of the plan.
The Security Council had given necessary assurances to both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides, Talat pointed out.
Talat said that there was no reason for the Greek Cypriot side to have concerns and noted, ''as Turkish Cypriot side, we will make all our commitments to implementation of the plan as we have done so far. I think nobody should doubt that Turkish Cypriot side will cause problems in implementation if this agreement is signed.''
TRNC Prime Minister Talat stated that he expected Greece to extend strong support to the Greek Cypriot side to say ''yes'' to the plan in the simultaneous referenda to be held in the island on April 24.
Asked if the EU and U.N. would give assurances to the Greek Cypriot side, Talat said, ''I think U.N. or EU can't give these assurances. It is the good faith and approach of two sides to a solution which will provide these assurances. We have this good faith and approach and we will keep our promise. Therefore, I think there is no need to demand additional assurances. Assurances to be given by EU will be an assurance depending on will and determination of the Turkish side. Therefore, insisting on assurances is in fact a pretext not to say ''yes'' to the plan.''
Talat noted that he expected the Greek Cypriot side to have common sense.
''Yes'' vote could come out of referendum in Greek Cypriot side in case AKEL changed its stance, Talat added.
Talat went to Brussels on Wednesday to attend the Preparatory International Donor's Conference held to provide financial support in the context of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.
Holding a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday, Talat said that Turkish Cypriots would never accept Greek Cypriots' representing the entire island.
In the preparatory meeting held on Thursday, Talat said that peoples in Cyprus would determine their future on their own.
Talat met with EU foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana later on Thursday. EU sources said recent developments on Cyprus and simultaneous referenda to be held on April 24 on Cyprus were discussed at the meeting. Solana expressed wish of the EU to see a united Cyprus within itself on May 1.
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan presented his final plan to parties at the end of Cyprus negotiations in Buergenstock, Switzerland on March 31.
This plan will be put to simultaneous referenda in TRNC and Greek Cypriot side on April 24.