Eroglu: I Believe U.N. Secretary General Will Feel The Need To Meet With Both Leaders

ISTANBUL - TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said on Wednesday that the attitude of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan after assessing the objections of both sides is important.
''I believe that he will feel the need to meet with both leaders,'' Eroglu said responding to questions of journalists at Ataturk Airport before leaving for TRNC.
Eroglu said that Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides will convey their objections about the U.N. plan, adding that ''in my opinion, the timing of Annan document is wrong, but this mistake was made on purpose. You can evaluate it as a part of scenario. We face such a document after the elections in Turkey and before the foundation of the new government. They tell us to accept this document before Dec. 12. It is not easy to sign such a document in 15-20 days regarding a problem which continues for 40 years.''
Eroglu stressed that only the part of the iceberg which is on the surface is seen when one looks at the document, adding that ''we should know that the iceberg below the surface is so deep. It is just like another iceberg. Only the part of the iceberg on the sea is seen, when you sign it you will see the part of the iceberg under the sea.''
''Won't you sign it?'' asked journalists to Erdogan who said that ''I don't make comment on the issue of whether it will be signed or not. I am telling the commitments that will bind us if we sign it until Dec. 11. When you sign it you will officially approve the foundation of the new partnership state, you will accept to give concesions on territory, you will accept the maps, and deny the claims about property. You will accept the adoption of the Constitution. You will accept the deployment of the peace keeping force in Cyprus with a new mission. In the end, when you sign the 1.5 page document, you will accept everything.''
Eroglu said that the document that will include the rejections of Turkish Cypriot side about Annan plan has been prepared and it will be sbumitted to Annan by TRNC President Rauf Denktas.
''I suppose U.N. Secretary General will feel the need to meet with both leaders. He should bring the two leaders together, so that he can understand if he can make them reach compromise on common points,'' Eroglu said.
''What changed and made do you look for a compromise by taking the plan into consideration? Is there any pressure of the new government in Turkey?'' asked journalists to Eroglu who said that ''no, we search for a compromise for years. It has been the Turkish side which put forward views about documents and agreements on the table for years. There is a new government in Turkey, it will clear its policies and assume its attitude. We didn't see that there is a change in Cyprus policy.''
Eroglu said, ''the current pressure on us is December 12 Copenhagen summit, efforts of the Greek Cypriots to be included in the EU and linking opening of Turkey's EU membership negotiations with a solution in Cyprus. The pressure results from the incident itself, the eve of the Copenhagen summit and state of health of our president not from Turkish government.''
Asked ''what Turkey and Cyprus wanted,'' Eroglu said that they had expressed their views on issue of territory for years and mentioned ''zeroing of territory.''
Eroglu noted that they wanted ''to zero issue of territory with negotiations between two states by transferring positions of the territories left by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots and then settling the issue with compensation.''
''This does not take place in the plan. Articles facilitating return of the Greek Cypriots to the north of the island were added to the plan. This is against the agreement on exchange of population made in 1975 and bi-zonal structure. They will be given the opportunity of suffrage and acquiring property,'' Eroglu said.
Eroglu stated that there were negotiations on Israeli-Palestinian issue for years and they even witnessed signatures.
''But, there is still bloodshed. We do not want to face such a situation. When an agreement wanted by the world is being made in Cyprus, we want an agreement because of which forthcoming generations will not fight,'' Eroglu said.
Eroglu noted that an agreement which would only satisfy the Greek Cypriot administration could not be made and added, ''an agreement should satisfy both sides so that the two sides can sign the text in tranquility. It is said that Greek Cypriots also have some objections but, this document is a document which in fact satisfies the Greek Cypriots. Everybody wishes that negotiations will continue till a satisfactory agreement is made but hopes they won't take long. Negotiations can re-start if an agreement is not reached. Both Turkey and us and the world want an agreement in Cyprus.''
Stating that the EU countries also wanted an agreement, Eroglu said, ''despite international agreements, the Greek Cypriots even reach the stage of accession to EU. This is a mistake of the EU. Turkish side is being pressed under embargoes. I cannot see that embargoes imposed on the Turkish side by the EU, which is talking about human rights, has no link with human rights. They cannot be explained. It is the Greek Cypriots who started ethnic cleansing in Cyprus. And, we were the defending side. There is embargo on the defending side while there is a Europe 'inviting' the side which caused division of Cyprus by starting an ethnic cleansing 'to the EU.' Let's search for ways of a permanent agreement altogether. We will be pleased if they support us in this issue.''