Denktas: Their Making Pressure On Us To Sign A Document Is Contrary To Good Will Mission

ANKARA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday, ''the TRNC has been under pressure to give a response and sign the solution plan of the United Nation. Such a pressure is contrary to the good will mission.''
President Denktas responded to questions of journalists after being discharged from Ankara's Ibni Sina Hospital.
Responding a question about the decision taken at the European Union's Copenhagen Summit, President Denktas said, ''the Turkish government will make an assessment about the decision of the EU. I know nothing about reaction of the government. Therefore, my making a statement could be an intervention in Turkey's domestic affairs.''
''Actually, I observed that the EU did not conform to the matters which were stressed by Turkey. I regretted to this end. The sides which assumed such an attitude towards Turkey, summoned our foreign minister to the meetings and told him to sing a document by making some changes in addition to the second changes to their draft. As we said before when United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan presented his plan to the sides, many parts of the plan are unacceptable. We asked them to give detailed information to us on many issues. They have not accepted our proposal for a long time, and put pressure on us to accept and sign the document. Although Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides said that he was committed to the decisions of the National Council, an atmosphere was created as if Clerides accepted the plan. And I told them that I had to hold consultations with the TRNC parliament, and I could not hold contacts with the government due to my health problems, I was shown as if I rejected the plan,'' he said.
''As they made the third changes, it is unjust to give us the first document and made a call to sign it. I think their attitude in putting pressure on us saying 'immediately give us a response and sign' without giving us the opportunity to negotiate it with the Greek Cypriot side, contradicts with the good will mission and consider it as a shame for humanity. Nobody can put pressure on us with threats to sign a document which is not discussed, nobody should do it,'' Denktas said.
Denktas said Greek Cypriot leader Clerides did not have the intention to sign the document, stressing that the EU gave assurances to Clerides about the membership.
Stating that Turkey's right of guarantorship was diluted with the U.N. plan, Denktas said, ''our territories have been taken such a way that we should pass three police stations to proceed from Lefkosa to Magosa. Our water resources have been given to Greek Cypriots. Nearly 50-60 thousand Turkish Cypriots will be in the position of refugee again.''
Denktas said they were ready to negotiate the plan, stressing that opportunity should be given, and noted that first of all Greek Cypriots and Greeks should be told to solve the problem because they caused the problem.
Denktas said, ''they say they are ready to take Greek Cypriot side. They act like this and they make injustice. They do not know what Turkish Cypriots work for 40 years. They act as if nobody is aware that Greek Cypriots abolished a partnership state formed with international agreements to turn it into a Greek Cypriot republic. Standards which they use against Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are not equal. The balance is in favor of Greek Cypriots and Greeks.''
Noting that EU has given them an ''opportunity'' until 06.30 p.m. today to sign the document, Denktas said ''Our answer is this; we are ready to continue negotiation.'' He added that Cyprus's application should be postponed to the next meeting.
Denktas said ''A negotiation is started on this document. The unaccepted parts are discussed. If this will be done, please tell Greek Cypriots to lift the embargo which they have imposed against Turkish Cypriots for 40 years and in which the world also participated.''
Denktas added that EU should decide that embargoes are against humanity and peace and if there will be an agreement between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, EU should accept that this agreement will be put into practice when Turkey is accepted by EU. Thus, when Turkish Cypriots join the EU, they will have the support of Turkey and Greek Cypriots will have the support of Greece.
Noting that the opening of Turkey and TRNC about Cyprus question are not appreciated, Denktas said that if they agree with Greek Cypriots and join EU, Turkey's rights should also be protected and Turkey should continue to use its rights on TRNC as if it is in EU or Greece should give up its rights which Turkey cannot use. This was a significant opening and opportunity. They could not evaluate it. Consequently we say that in a new agreement ''We are ready to negotiate and make agreement with Greek Cypriots but the agreement we make should be suspended until Turkey joins the EU. The embargoes should immediately be lifted.''

DENKTAS: NOW, THE EU'S INTEREST IS TO TAKE CYPRUS BY DISTRACTING TURKEY
When a journalist quoted Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan as saying that Turkey had had the right to comment on the Cyprus question, President Denktas said, ''Turkey and the TRNC have always taken decisions about the Cyprus question together.''
''Because Cyprus is a national cause. Turkey has made many sacrifices for this national cause. It is a well-known fact that Turkey has never and will never give up this cause. Turkey and the TRNC take decisions together,'' he said.
Denktas said, ''thus, it is the question of taking decision together, making consultations together, and to carry out the national cause that it would be in favor of both Turkey and the TRNC.''
When asked whether or not acceptance of Southern Cyprus to the EU would bring the Cyprus question and Turkey's EU membership to a point that a solution could not be found, Denktas said, ''if the EU needs Turkey, it is and will always, this will never lead to a position that a solution cannot be found. The talks will either continue at this stage, or end at a point. There are not definite decisions in international diplomacy. There may be pauses. Whatever is required for mutual interests will happen.''
''For the time being, Europe's interest is to take Cyprus by distracting Turkey. It is to turn Cyprus into a kind of Christian fortress near Turkey. Because, I cannot understand how they could make such an unfairness.''
Denktas said that EU says 'Cyprus is necessary for us in geopolitical aspect' which means they want the whole Cyprus. He added, ''Turkey has fixed rights by international agreements in geopolitical aspect. Since EU's geopolitical demand coincides with Turkey's existing geopolitical rights, then, EU should have opened its doors to Turkey.''
''EU's decision about Cyprus which was taken by disregarding Turkey's geopolitical rights and regarding Greece's rights and political demands is against ethics and humanity,'' Denktas said, ''Saying that we took Cyprus by not recognizing Turkish Cypriots' equal rights and sovereignty means pushing aside Turkish Cypriots and making them slaves of Greek Cypriots. We can never accept this.''