LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday, ''United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto informed Turkey on changes to be made in the plan without listening to our views. He behaved shamefully. However, Turkey was not deceived.''
Responding questions of journalists, President Denktas said, ''overnight, I received minutes of the meeting, which was held between De Soto and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials last week. In the revised plan, the Greek Cypriot side gives us Karpaz upon objections of the Turkish Cypriot side, but claims Yesilirmak and Gemikonagi. Meanwhile, they want to increase number of Greek Cypriots, who will settle in the North, from 60 thousand to 85 thousand. Upon objections of the Turkish Cypriot side, suffrage right of Greek Cypriots, who will settle in the North, in parliamentary elections, is excluded from the report. However, the Greek Cypriot side put forward other requests. If we believe in them and sign an agreement, we will become a minority under protection.''
''De Soto behaved shamefully. He informed Turkey on changes to be made in the plan without listening to our views. However, Turkey was not deceived,'' he said.
Referring to meetings, which started in Ankara today between Turkey and Greece on the issue of ''security'', President Denktas said, ''these meetings are limited with the issues of number of soldiers of the sides and their arms.''
President Denktas said that he would meet with U.S. Special Representative to Cyprus Thomas Weston on Saturday.
''Program of United Nations Secretary General Annan, who is expected to come to the island on Wednesday after paying visits to Ankara and Athens, has note become clear yet,'' President Denktas added.
(UK-AÖ) 21.02.2003