LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''resolution of the United Nations Security Council, which is expected to be approved later today, disrupts balances, which were provided allegedly with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan.''
In an interview with the Anadolu Agency (A.A) correspondent, President Denktas said on Wednesday, ''the resolution starts with a reference to all former resolutions. It means to say that the understanding of ''a legitimate republic of Cyprus exists and the Greek Cypriot government is the legitimate government of it' will be corroborated once again. They promised that the new formation would not be considered a continuation of the Republic of Cyprus. We expect Turkey to tell them if they do this, referendum process will end. We do not have adequate power to say it. However, I do not suppose that the Turkish government would make such a statement.''
''The United Nations Security Council's making such a resolution will disrupt all balances. Upon will of the Greek Cypriot side, the treaty of guarantee was diluted more. In fact, Turkey should tell them that referendum is not necessary any longer since it is Turkey which was deceived. Again, the Greek Cypriot side is satisfied with diplomatic maneuvers while we are forced to make many concessions,'' he said.
Denktas said, ''if I had known arbitration of United Nations Secretary General Annan was accepted, I would not have attended the talks in New York.''
Replying to criticisms about the Copenhagen Summit, TRNC President Denktas said that they were not invited to the summit.
President Denktas noted that the Cyprus issue had not been considered a supra-parties matter any longer.
Question: You said that ''if I had known that blanks would be filled by U.N. Secretary General in the plan was accepted, I would not have gone to New York.'' How did this process progress from Davos to New York?
Answer: I understood that promise on this issue was made in Davos, but we were not informed about this promise. We went there with this information. Sine qua nons also included the issue that (U.N. Secretary General Kofi) Annan's arbitration could not be accepted. But when we went there, we were told that Turkish Cypriot side should not break ties and transfer negotiations to Cyprus. We had to bring an alternative and we thought the alternative of including Turkey and Greece in the issue. Therefore, if I had known that Annan's arbitration was accepted, I would not have gone there. It is certain, as his arbitration put us in this deadlock. Turkish Foreign Minister Gul made a statement saying ''everything was solved in New York''. Nothing was solved in New York. They did not listen to us there. Technical committees worked to complete technical issues. Sides went to Switzerland for four-side conference. No one can say that four-side conference was held in Switzerland, since it was not held and the issue was left to referendum. It is implementation of a formula which was earlier accepted.
Question: One of criticisms about you is your attitude in Copenhagen Summit. It is said that ''if some steps had been taken in Copenhagen, the issue would not have reached this point. Was the decision not to sign it in Copenhagen true?
Answer: We were not invited to Copenhagen Summit. ''Cyprus government'' was invited to there and we were asked to finish this issue by solving remaining differences. Is it obvious that there are no few differences? We still negotiate, we could not reach consensus on it. They put a plan on which sides did not reach consensus. How could I say in Copenhagen that ''I accepted everything''? Plan was changed many times since then. We read views of experts. Whole plan makes sides accept ''Cyprus government still exists, its name was changed.'' Turkish Cypriots are also included in this government with a constitutional amendment. Those issues don't satisfy us. It means end of us. It is wanted ''two peoples should live peacefully'', but it is impossible without acceptation of some status. The concept of ''Turkish Cypriots'' does not give us a status.
Question: What are your views regarding the resolution expected to be accepted by the U.N. Security Council today?
Answer: The resolution text which will be sent to Security Council makes references to the former decisions. I mean, ''legitimate Republic of Cyprus exists and the Greek Cypriot government is the legitimate government of it'' understanding will be reiterated. Turkey's guarantor status is also mortgaged there. If you ask me, it is in a sense rejected. If they delay today's resolution, the balances provided allegedly in the Annan plan is disrupted. We expect Turkey to say that, 'referendum will end when you make this'. We don't have the power to say this but I don't think that Turkish government will say this. Taking of this decision will disrupt all the balances. They earlier said the new formation would not be the continuation of Republic of Cyprus, but this loses validity by making references to the past. Treaty of Guarantee is further diluted upon the demand of the Greek Cypriots, and references were made to the 7th section as if we go to the war. Turkey should say, 'there is not need to the referendum anymore' because they were deceived. Greek Cypriot side is satisfied again with diplomatic maneuvers. We are again obliged to give many things.
Question: You had criticisms toward the attitude of the Turkish government. Those were reflected in your statements.
Answer: I would not like to say serious things. What I have said are enough. We took steps relying on the Turkish governments. Our visit to New York had based on this confidence. Something changed after this visit. I have not yet talked the reason of the change with them face to face, but we will discuss it one day.
Question: How do you evaluate the current point reached?
Answer: Cyprus issue had been considered a national and supra-parties matter in the past. All the parties apart from the government stand in the previous national line. They evaluate Annan Plan as we had evaluated. It seems that view of national unity removed. Now that there is the view of the party. Despite the decisions of the Parliament, view of the party prevailed. Cyprus will be lost.''
(UK-EÖ-AY) 21.04.2004