Serdar Denktas: Papadopoulos Must Convince Annan For Start Of Negotiations

LEFKOSA - Serdar Denktas, the Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) & Democrat Party (DP) Chairman, stated on Saturday that as the Turkish side, they were ready for a solution. ''However, in order to resume negotiations, the Greek Cypriot administration's leader Tassos Papadopoulos must convince the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan,'' he added.
Denktas answered the questions of A.A correspondent in an exclusive interview.
Asked about the changes made on the Green Line Regulation, Denktas indicated that the Green Line Regulation could not take the place of the Direct Trade Regulation that was on top of the EU's agenda. ''Our expectation is to see the application of the Direct Trade Regulation and Financial Assistance Regulation together. This would be the step necessary to end international isolation of TRNC. This would also be the step to force the Greek Cypriots to reach a compromise with the TRNC,'' told Denktas.
Denktas remarked that he is making both official and unofficial attempts to meet Greek Cypriot officials. ''Such attempts are aimed at facilitating the solutions of disputes,'' expressed Denktas.
Denktas stressed that the Greek Cypriots wanted to take the issue of Cyprus to a status under the EU umbrella. ''This way, the Greek Cypriots wish to put pressure on both the TRNC and Turkey. It is not possible for us to accept such an attitude. The issue of Cyprus may be resolved under the UN. Until there is a solution and until two governments share power in Cyprus, it would not be possible for Turkey to pull out even a single soldier from the island of Cyprus,'' said Denktas.
Asked if he will be a candidate for the presidency in the TRNC, Denktas told that he did not want to comment on this question for the time being. ''We are busy in trying to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. We are also very busy preparing for the February 20th elections. The issue of the presidency will be discussed in our party when the time is appropriate,'' remarked Denktas. Denktas added that he will not be a candidate for the presidency. ''I wish to become a prime minister in the near future and carry our party to the government.''
In response to a question on what he thinks about eight proposed changes prepared by the Greek Cypriot communist AKEL Party on the Annan Plan, Denktas stressed that AKEL's proposals were not parallel to Annan's Plan. ''AKEL's approach is a fake one. AKEL's attempts are far from reality,'' said Denktas.
Denktas noted that on April 24, 2004 the Turkish Cypriots demonstrated a will to solve the Cyprus problem. ''We are ready to start negotiations as long as we do not fall behind the fifth version of the Annan Plan,'' added Denktas.