ANKARA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Wednesday, ''both the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot side want changes to be made in the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. However, we were told that any changes could not be made in the plan.''
President Denktas, who is currently in Ankara to hold a series of contacts, paid a visit to General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok.
Responding questions of journalists prior to the meeting, General Ozkok said, ''it is a great honor to host President Denktas at the General Staff. As you know, attention of the world public opinion has been concentrated on the Iraq issue recently. In fact, very important developments have been occurring in Cyprus. These developments are of vital importance for both the Republic of Turkey and the TRNC.''
''During the press conference held on January 8, 2003, I explained my views about the Cyprus question. Therefore, I do not want to make any statement at this point,'' he added.
Meanwhile, President Denktas thanked General Ozkok for his support, sensitivity, determination and interest.
''The Cyprus question is a national case. Peace has been settled in the island after Turkey's Peace Operation,'' he emphasized.
Denktas said that 'sine qua nons'; that is, sovereignty rights of Turkish Cypriots were eliminated in their own point of view. ''As if we had committed a crime by the Peace Operation, everything obtained by the Peace Operation and agreements made with the Greek Cypriots after the Peace Operation and needed to be permanent such as bizonality and solution by rearranging the border concerning land issue are all removed.'' He added that 60-70 thousand Greek Cypriots would enter among Turkish Cypriots and the most productive parts of the land would be given to Greek Cypriots and an impossible map was formed by taking all strategic points. ''It looks as if some of what we want are given, but they are also diluted and removed in other parts (of the plan).''
Noting that TRNC and Greek Cypriots were asked to resort this plan to referendum, Denktas said that both sides still wanted a change in plan, but they were told that 'no changes could be done' which meant a fait accompli and they were told that some retouchings could be made but basic changes could not be made. He added that many pages were deficient in the plan and it would not be completed without putting laws and constitutions on those pages and it was impossible to complete them until March 30.
Denktas said that committees were studying for few weeks and examining the laws which both sides prepared and he added that those laws should be examined carefully and some of those laws were concerning Turkey and time was not enough to examine those laws of thousands of pages. ''Thus, we have the right to ask why is this haste?'' He said that they wanted the plan to be changed if there were parts to change and they wanted the plan to include sine qua nons which they wanted, adding that they were not given this opportunity.
''Turkey's approval is also required to resort to referendum about the plan. Will Turkey approve it? If our people cast their votes in favor of the plan, Turkey's rights over Cyprus will be destroyed. We do not have this right,'' he added.
General Staff Deputy Chief General Yasar Buyukanit, TRNC Ambassador Ahmet Bulunc and other officials were also in attendance at the meeting.
(UK-GC-AÖ) 05.03.2003