GAZIANTEP - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was presented with honorary doctorate by Gaziantep University on Wednesday.
Delivering a speech in the ceremony, Denktas said that Greek Cypriots of Cyprus became the member of the European Union (EU), not Cyprus and added that north of the island was not and would not be affected by this membership.
He underlined that although Cyprus issue was an issue which could be solved easily, Greek Cypriots did not want the issue to be solved.
Stressing that Cyprus issue should be explained in a better way to the world, Denktas said, ''Greek Cypriots of Cyprus became the member of the EU, not Cyprus. North of the island is not and will not be affected by this membership. We should explain it to the world. Greek Cypriot administration, which does not have a legitimate government according to international agreements, applied for membership of the Union to get rid of rights of Turkey.''
''Whole Cyprus cannot go anywhere without Turkey. I think that if Turkey extends effort and resists, this issue can be solved. I think there is no other way,'' he noted.
President Denktas stressed that they would continue to resist.
Recalling the statement of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that ''whole world recognized Cyprus and what they could do by saying they did not recognize it,'' Denktas said that some circles criticized Erdogan's statement. He noted that the decision of Turkey which recognized and would continue to recognize TRNC till the very end belonged to itself.
''I think it will be good if Turkey which recognized TRNC also recognize 'Greek Cypriot state' beyond those borders. Will Greek Cypriots accept such a recognition or not? I think that if Turkey says that it recognizes both TRNC and 'Greek Cypriot state', it will be an important step in solution of this issue. It will be the best answer to Greek Cypriots' invitation for its recognition as if it is the government of whole Cyprus. It will mean that I recognize you where you are, and you cannot pass to other side,'' he added.
(EÖ-AÖ) 05.05.2004
GAZIANTEP - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was presented with honorary doctorate by Gaziantep University on Wednesday.
Delivering a speech in the ceremony, Denktas said that Greek Cypriots of Cyprus became the member of the European Union (EU), not Cyprus and added that north of the island was not and would not be affected by this membership.
He underlined that although Cyprus issue was an issue which could be solved easily, Greek Cypriots did not want the issue to be solved.
Stressing that Cyprus issue should be explained in a better way to the world, Denktas said, ''Greek Cypriots of Cyprus became the member of the EU, not Cyprus. North of the island is not and will not be affected by this membership. We should explain it to the world. Greek Cypriot administration, which does not have a legitimate government according to international agreements, applied for membership of the Union to get rid of rights of Turkey.''
''Whole Cyprus cannot go anywhere without Turkey. I think that if Turkey extends effort and resists, this issue can be solved. I think there is no other way,'' he noted.
President Denktas stressed that they would continue to resist.
Recalling the statement of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that ''whole world recognized Cyprus and what they could do by saying they did not recognize it,'' Denktas said that some circles criticized Erdogan's statement. He noted that the decision of Turkey which recognized and would continue to recognize TRNC till the very end belonged to itself.
''I think it will be good if Turkey which recognized TRNC also recognize 'Greek Cypriot state' beyond those borders. Will Greek Cypriots accept such a recognition or not? I think that if Turkey says that it recognizes both TRNC and 'Greek Cypriot state', it will be an important step in solution of this issue. It will be the best answer to Greek Cypriots' invitation for its recognition as if it is the government of whole Cyprus. It will mean that I recognize you where you are, and you cannot pass to other side,'' he added.
(EÖ-AÖ) 05.05.2004