Denktas: Peace Is Difficult Even If Agreement Is Reached On Island

ANKARA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said late on Wednesday that peace was difficult even if agreement was reached on the island.
Denktas answered question at a program broadcast on private TV8 channel.
Asked if two nations could live together if an agreement was reached, Denktas reminded the words of former United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General's special envoy Hugo Gobi who said that ''it was a good idea to think that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots could live together in harmony but it was a dream.''
Denktas noted that ''there was peace in Cyprus for 28 years, there was no blood but fire would re-start if they were intermingled again.''
There were many things to be done till February 28, a date foreseen for solution of Cyprus issue, Denktas said.
Denktas stated that it was a big mistake to limit the solution of the issue with the European Union (EU) program.
The Greek Cypriot administration also voiced that it would not be possible to solve the issue till February, Denktas pointed out.
However, he said, whether or not an agreement could be made could be seen till that day.
Denktas noted that talks could continue if time was given and stressed that views of the person who would win the elections in the Greek Cypriot administration were also important.
When asked about his evaluation of the following few months unless an agreement was reached on February 28, Denktas said, ''the Greek Cypriots will continue their life and work by feeling relieved to make Cyprus an EU member with its former name. We should follow steps of the Greek Cypriots with the EU and take the similar steps with Turkey, deal with economy and protect our state.''
Putting Cyprus issue as an obstacle before Turkey would show the intention of the EU, Denktas stated. He said that this would mean that the union did not want Turkey.
Denktas pointed out that they set the Cyprus policy together with Turkey and that they did not have any differences in point of view with the new government regarding criteria of a compromise and principles.