Denktas: We'll Fall Into A Big Trap If We Join The Eu Before Our Sovereignty Is Recognized

LEFKOSA (A.A) - 05.08.2002 - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas has said that Turkey had the right to join the EU as a sovereign state.
''Turkey started getting ready for the Copenhagen test not because the EU wants it but because it deserves these reforms. Turkey as a sovereign state decided to join the EU. Turkey is taking the necessary steps with the approval of its parliament and it will continue doing so,'' he said.
Denktas accused Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat for misleading people regarding the EU issue. He said that Talat is telling people not to talk about sovereignty and join the EU with Greek Cypriots. He said that the TRNC would fall into a trap if it becomes an EU members before it makes other countries recognize its sovereignty.
Denktas indicated that the EU didn't regard Turkish Cypriots as a sovereign nation and considered the Greek Cypriot side as the official government of Cyprus. ''It is the Greek Cypriot side which applied to the EU under the false title of the Cyprus Republic. The Greek Cypriot side did this in order to destroy Turkish Cypriots, something they couldn't do using arms,'' Denktas said.
''If we fall into this trap, all Greek Cypriots will return to their old places. If we don't join the EU as a sovereign state, we will be destroyed,'' Denktas said.