Denktas: Our No Campaign Has Reached Its Purpose

LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas has said that the ''no'' campaign he had carried out against Annan's plan had reached its purpose, adding, ''Annan's plan has been killed.''
Holding a news conference at the Saray Hotel in Lefkosa after results of referenda were announced, Denktas said that the international community had promised to recognize the TRNC and lift embargo on it in case Turkish Cypriots voted ''yes'' and Greek Cypriots voted ''no''.
''It was a threat against Greek Cypriots but they did not pay attention and said 'no'. They were very important statements for us. Those words were a note to people who have been living under embargo for forty years. They have said 'yes'. Thus we have gotten the right to say 'let's keep your word' to those who made these promises. Finally, our no campaign has reached its purpose. Annan's plan has been killed,'' he said.
Noting that people had not been condemned to a ''nine-thousand-page document of conviction'' which they did not know about, Denktas said, ''it is a very good result for us.''
Calling on the international community to keep its promises, Denktas said, ''if they keep their promises, then Greek Cypriots accept our equality and state, creating a possibility of a new partnership on basis of the principle of two states, two sovereign peoples.''
Recalling statement of TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat who said he should resign, Denktas said, ''it is true if Annan's plan had been accepted. I took action to save the state and it has been saved.''
Noting that there was no reason for his resignation, Denktas said, ''I hope that my prime minister would think reasonably.''
Recalling statement of the Turkish government officials who had said Annan's plan would be destroyed, opening the way of TRNC's recognition by other countries in case Turkish Cypriots voted yes while Greek Cypriots voted no, Denktas said, ''we accept it as a national note. I hope that they would insist on it because it is our right and because we have been left under Greek Cypriot mortgage for forty years and exposed to injustice.''
TRNC VOTES 65 PERCENT ''IN FAVOR'', GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE VOTES 76 PERCENT ''AGAINST'' ANNAN PLAN
LEFKOSA/GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE - Turkish Cypriots voted 'yes' to Annan Plan with 65 percent while Greek Cypriots voted 'no' with 76 percent in synchronous referenda on Saturday.
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Higher Election Board stated that votes in 563 ballot-boxes were all counted and the rate of the ''yes vote'' is 64.91 percent while rate of the ''no vote'' is 35.09 percent.
The rate of participation in referendum in the TRNC is 84.35 percent.
Greek Cypriot administration Election Board stated that according to actual results, 75.83 percent of Greek Cypriots voted 'no', while 24.17 of them voted 'yes'.
A total of 313 thousand 704 voters rejected Annan Plan, while 99 thousand 976 voters accepted the plan in Greek Cypriot side. The rate of participation in referendum in Greek Cypriot side is 96.53 percent.
(GC-MS) 24.04.2004