LEFKOSA - ''There is peace on the island for 30 years. Compromise is what is lacking between the two sides,'' President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Tuesday. Denktas said ''Greek Cypriot side wanted to disrupt this peace and make us accept its own policy''. He went on to say: ''peace has come to the island with Peace Operation in 1974, We are pursuing a compromise between the two states.''
During his meeting with Turkish Public Works & Settlement Minister Zeki Ergezen, Denktas assessed the rite which Greek Cypriots would hold in Ay Mamas Church in Guzelyurt on Wednesday.
Addressing to those who are for staging joint activities with the Greek Cypriot side under the name of ''Peace festival'', Denktas said this should be called as ''festival of compromise'', as peace has come to the Island with Peace Operation (of Turkish troops in 1974).
Denktas said ''what Greek Cypriots meant with peace is to make Turkish Cypriot people a minority in a short time with an artificial agreement. What Greek Cypriots mean with 'peace' is the operation aiming to destroy this peace. It is the operation forcing Turkish soldiers to withdraw from the island, removing Turkey's rights, and making Turkish Cypriots a minority in a short time with an artificial agreement. This is what Greek Cypriot mean with peace. However, we are looking for a compromise between the two states. A compromise can be reached if both sides respect each other.''
Denktas said, ''if Greek Cypriots say 'we come to church in Guzelyurt to prove that Guzelyurt is ours', then there is no respect or peace here.''
Denktas also said Greek Cypriots should respect Turkish Cypriots and should apologize for what they have done to them. ''They should say they would account for what they have done to us. You should apologize. We have not forgot the period between 1963-1974. We have not forgot mass graves. They should pay damages. They should respect our equal sovereignty,'' Denktas noted.
(AY-ULG) 31.08.2004