Denktas: Ground Prepared For Resolution In Favor Of Greek Cypriots

LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said regarding UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's report on Cyprus that necessary ground was prepared for resolution of the Cyprus issue in favor of Greek Cypriots.
''Today no Turkish Cypriot is happy. Today is a day of deep thinking. The existing situation of people who were deceived by promises of recognition, peace, villas and integration with the world is very sad,'' he said.
Speaking at a meeting on Thursday, Denktas assessed the Cyprus report that Kofi Annan was expected to present to the UN Security Council later in the day. Denktas said he had received the report in the morning so he had not read it completely yet.
Denktas said he would make a statement in detail after reading it to the last page.
Denktas likened the developments to a soccer match and said, ''we lost the match and the other side has taken what it desired. What was it? Continue as a 'Cyprus Republic', prevention of recognition of TRNC and sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots despite referendums which was a fact that stressed existence, equal sovereignty and self-determination right of two peoples. We played the match in a gentlemanly manner. We did not defend our goal post and we reconciled ourselves to passing the ball cheerfully. We received applause and won approval and appreciation as we did not care about the result of the match. However, in return, Cyprus was accepted as a country as if it were belonged to Greek Cypriots under fake name of 'legitimate Cyprus government' while we were seen as a community in this country, on whom forty years of unjust punishment should be lifted.''
Referring to Annan's words saying, ''Greek Cypriots rejected not only the plan, but also compromise and sharing with Turkish Cypriots'' Denktas said, ''it is what Greek Cypriots have been doing for forty years. However, the Security Council's unjust and biased resolutions have granted Greek Cypriots the right to do these for forty years.''
''How could those who did not accept our defense in all talks as we don't accept Greek Cypriots as legitimate government, expect Greek Cypriots to share authority with us on equal conditions? By keeping the power of bargaining at hand, Greek Cypriots played the game,'' he said.
Denktas added that those who had Turkish Cypriot people vote ''yes'' in the referendum by giving wrong promises now contented with saying, ''we will help you. We will try to help you.''
(MS-AÖ) 03.06.2004