Denktas: There Is Nothing Like We Accepted The Plan

LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday that news reports saying that they accepted the document presented by the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan were ''wrongful''. Denktas said, ''we requested time from the Secretary General. Accepting or not accepting is something different from looking and confirming.'' He said news reports like ''we accepted it'' are wrongful.
Speaking to Bayrak Television through phone, Denktas reminded that he continiously stated that the document could not be a basis to the negotiations with its contents and map, stressing that, ''however talks naturally will continue to adjust the document,'' and that they were trying to evaluate those.
Stating that he and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis had a sincere meeting on Cyprus issue, Denktas said, ''issues which we agreed on during the talks are the corner stones of the national case. I have conveyed my views regarded with the plan to Mr. Yakis sincerely. There is nothing like we accepted the plan. My illness prevented my contacts with my government and people. I hope to have this opportunity soon.''
Denktas said he felt the need to make evaluations on the plan with the Republican Parliament, government and people.
Pointing out that 29 plus formula, which had earlier been stated about territory in the past was removed after it had been rejected by the Greek Cypriot side, Denktas said they had stated there would be border adjustment after removal of 29 plus.
Denktas said, ''what will Turkey say about those issues? Turkey will have the opportunity to discuss all those issues in the coming weeks. Let us be patient and wait. Let us act together.''
Denktas said Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides, who wrote a letter to the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, wanted many statements and that 71 percent of Greek Cypriots opposed to the plan. Denktas said, ''under those conditions, we pass time with excitement and protests. I feel sorrow over these.''
Denktas said contacts with the U.N. officials would continue, stressing that giving a written response would be possible if necessary.

PRIME MINISTER EROGLU OF TRNC: ''WRONGFUL COMMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE DOCUMENT''
Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday, ''wrongful comments have been made in the press about the document presented to the sides in Cyprus by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. These comments try to mislead the people consciously. In fact, the document was translated in the best way to remove such mistakes and inform the people. The translation will be presented to the people as of tomorrow.''
Speaking at his meeting with Chief Prosecutor Akin Sait, Prime Minister Eroglu said, ''the plan was written in the language of international law. Therefore, it should be translated and assessed in the best way. The public opinion will be informed on content of the plan.''
''We said earlier that we are in favor of holding contacts. We also tried to explain drawbacks of its being a negotiation ground. There are some circles giving different information to our people. I mean to say that there are some people making comments before reading the document in detail. We should well-explain the content of the plan to our people. Even if we reach an agreement, a referendum will be held. Therefore, our people should be aware of the fact to vote for their own future,'' he said.
Eroglu said, ''it is meaningless to divide people into groups. The most important thing is to sign an agreement that will not jeopardize our future. We are working to provide a safe future to next generations. We have some concerns about the plan.''