LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Wednesday that they would assess changes which would be made in the plan of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan in its general philosophy and stated that they would make it public later.
Denktas replied to questions of reporters.
When recalled some news stories saying that ''changes in four main issues were made and Karpaz was left to Turkish Cypriot side'' in the third plan which was possible to be presented to the sides in the Greek Cypriot press, Denktas said that it was wrong to comment on some news stories in newspapers.
Stating that he could not get a result from his meeting with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto on Tuesday, Denktas said that he was waiting for information about De Soto's contacts in Ankara.
Denktas said, ''we should talk on incidents and facts after seeing those things. Philosophy of the plan is wrong. It is to assemble Turkish Cypriot people to Greek Cypriot side.''
Denktas said that there were some issues which should be brought to light and stated that sine qua non conditions of Turkish Cypriot side were known.
''If those changes have been made, the plan should be assessed in its general philosophy,'' he noted and added that they would talk about the plan after seeing it.
Upon a question, Denktas said that date of visit of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul to TRNC was not definite yet and stated that Turkey was dealing with Iraqi issue currently.
Responding to a question when he would hold his first meeting with newly elected Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopoulos, Denktas said De Soto would visit Ankara on Monday, stating that, ''we will meet at a time which they will determine after this visit. Secretary General will be here by that time. This means that we will hold the first meeting together with the Secretary General.''
A journalist said Tasos Papadopoulous had given an order for the ''death'' of Denktas after he had been captured by the Greek Cypriot forces when he secretly arrived in the Island in 1967, and asked, ''you will meet with a person who had given an order for your death. How will this happen?'' Denktas said he knew that Papadopoulos had given an order for his death.
Denktas said, ''you can meet. Everything happens in policy. I think he will say, ''God pitied, so I did not make you killed. I did a good thing in not murdering you.''
Denktas said Papadopoulous was their interlocutor as the leader of the Greek Cypriot side, stating that, ''we are obliged to meet with the leader of Greek Cypriot side, whoever he is, for the interests of our people and for the solution of Cyprus question. To this end, there is not any meaning in saying bad things about him and souring relations. He knows what he did, and we know what he had done. However, there is no meaning in focusing on those.''
Responding another question, Denktas said De Soto also began to say that nothing would happen till February 28, stressing that he showed April 16 as target.
Stating that they were against a document in which Greek Cypriot Chief Prosecutor Alekos Markides also contributed in preparation, Denktas said this should be known. Denktas said it should be well evaluated why the Greek Cypriots acted like this, and why the U.N. made cooperation with the Greek Cypriots, and why it tried to make the Turkish Cypriot side to accept a plan with fait accompli without showing the plan.
(EÖ-AY-AÖ) 19.02.2003