Rally Held In T.R.N.C. For A Settlement

LEFKOSA - A rally was held in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by some political parties opposing TRNC President Rauf Denktas and non-government organizations for a ''settlement.''
The group also aimed to stress that ''they were ready for the European Union (EU).''
Some unions went on a strike to increase the participation in the rally. Some unions of teachers also decided to go on a strike.
U.S. State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston, who came to the island on Wednesday evening, and U.S. Ambassador in the Greek Cypriot administration Michael Klasson watched the rally.
An official of the U.S. Embassy told A.A correspondent that ''they were always supporting use of democratic rights, including the freedom of expression and freedom of demonstration in peace.''
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat accused Denktas of not wanting a solution and said that people wanted settlement.
Talat said that the leadership of the Greek Cypriot administration should well-evaluate peace message of the Turkish Cypriots.
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Trade Chairman Ali Erel said, ''if United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan is in Cyprus today and has presented a shaped up solution plan to the parties, this is an achievement of all of us. We have achieved this. If Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan say 'insolubility cannot be continued in Cyprus', this is our achievement.''
Erel noted that they expected Annan to exert all his effort to solve the 40-year issue.
Addressing new Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos, Erel asked him ''not to hesitate take their hand for peace and to see concerns of Turkish Cypriots.''
Criticizing Denktas and the government, Erel said, ''Cyprus issue will be solved whether Denktas likes it or not. We will provide this.''
Erel claimed that there were sovereignty and political equality of Turkish Cypriots and strengthened guarantee of Turkey in Annan plan.
Communal Liberation Party (TKP) deputy Mustafa Akinci claimed that ''Turkish Cypriots would be sovereign only with that plan'' and that ''sovereignty would come for the first time with Annan's plan.''
Akinci said, ''Turkish Cypriots will open to world with their own identities with this agreement.''
It was claimed during the rally that the third plan presented to parties after a revisal was ''the liberation of Turkish Cypriots.''
(BRC-AÖ) 27.02.2003