Serter: Plan Presented By U.N. Secretary General Initiated A New Process In Cyprus Question

LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Acting President and Parliament Speaker Vehbi Zeki Serter said on Friday that the plan presented by the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan initiated a new process in Cyprus question.
Speaking at a ceremony held on the 19th anniversary of Republic Day, Serter said that it was true that they were experiencing historic days.
Serter noted, ''there is no doubt that we will act with the responsibility that the situation requires. Steps that will strengthen TRNC have been taken so far.''
Stressing that nobody would ignore their determination irrespective of what the formula on political solution would be, Serter said that state institutions were strengthened each passing day despite all obstacles and pressures and those institutions would be the basis of a political solution together with the state.
Serter stated that political equality, sovereignty, independence and freedom were the most important values in this era and went on saying, ''those who have raised difficulties in searches for a solution are circles who think these values are too much for Turkish people. It is impossible to reach a fair and sustainable solution to Cyprus question as long as such an understanding is valid.''
''That we will never make concessions of the values and rights that are granted to all civil nations and peoples in this era is a message that we want to give to the whole world,'' Serter said.
Serter underlined that the social sacrifices they made to reach today's values and rights were priceless and said that many people died and they had suffered deep grief when they were trying to gain their independence, sovereignty and freedom.
''The cost of all our sacrifices cannot be minority rights and lack of safety and guarantorship,'' Serter said.
Stressing that they would never bargain on rights and acquisitions of Turkish Cypriot people, Serter said, ''we will never bargain on a political order which is based on bi-communal structure, bi-zonality, political equalities, separate sovereignty rights and efficient and de facto guarantee of motherland Turkey.''
Serter noted that nobody should have concerns about the existence and power of TRNC and stressed that TRNC, existing together with its democratic institutions, was the guarantee of robust political solution.
Underlining that a solution to Cyprus question should be found without the dissolution of TRNC, Serter said that the Greek Cypriot administration was not willing to agree to dissolve their country for the sake of new models when searches for a political solution was under way.
Stressing that Greek Cypriots were trying to strengthen the state they had usurped by expelling the Turkish Cypriots from partnership with force of arms and they were trying to have the world recognize this state, Serter said, ''they are planning to patch our people to this state to which they were a partner once upon a time and to spread their dominance over whole island. They accuse our motherland and guarantor country Turkey of being an invader and carry out hostile campaigns against Turkey. We want everybody to know that those who have hostile feelings against Turkey are our enemies too.''
Recalling that Turkey had brought peace and tranquility to Cyprus by making great self-sacrifices, Serter said, ''as a result of the assurances provided by Turkey, Greek Cypriots have lived their most prosperous period since 1974 in their history and become one of the most rich communities in the world. Not only us but also they have to be grateful to Turkey.''
Stressing that TRNC President Rauf Denktas was staying at his post and continuing his mission with an infinite confidence of his people in this critical period, Serter said, ''he holds talks on behalf of our people under the national policy and realities in Cyprus. He was granted this authority and confidence by our parliament that is the representative of free will of our people.''
Serter emphasized that the face-to-face talks that had reached the current point had started as a result of Denktas's initiative and insistent efforts.
Noting that embargoes were the main reason for the economic problems in the TRNC, Serter said that embargoes and efforts to isolate Turkish Cypriots from the world could not suit good will and efforts to find a peaceful solution.
Serter added that outworn embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots and pressures should end if a just solution was sought for Cyprus issue.