Denktas: This Is Not Annan's Report, It Is De Soto's Report

LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Monday that the report on Cyprus which would be presented to the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan the same day was prepared by U.N. Secretary General's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto instead of the Secretary General himself.
Denktas said that in his report, De Soto was trying to impose the failure in Cyprus issue on himself.
Annan's draft report was in his hand and he expected the full report to be conveyed to him the same day, Denktas noted.
Denktas said, ''it is a very well-written report. It is a report which is written with some intentions. This is not the report of Annan. It is the report of De Soto. I consider this report a report which shows at what extent De Soto is unwilling to understand the issue, which is written by ignoring our efforts to settle the issue. I also consider this report a report in which De Soto is trying to impose the burden and failure in Cyprus issue on me.''
Although it was stated in the report that the things that Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos wanted were ''impossible things'', it said that ''the failure in The Hague was caused by Denktas'', TRNC President pointed out.
Denktas said, ''at least, they recognize equality in 'failure' so that we will feel comfortable. They impose the burden and failure on us again. This is very painful and an unacceptable thing.''
They would prepare a very comprehensive and detailed response and announce it to the world, Denktas stated.
Denktas said, ''nobody should play with us from now on. We will continue to defend our rights, sovereignty, equality and homeland. A compromise can be reached on this ground. We are ready for a reconciliation, but not within the framework of minority proposals of Papadopoulos. We won't enter from Annan's door leading to minority status.''
There was an effort in the report to accuse him and the reasons of the things that had been done did not take place in the report, Denktas stated.
Denktas said that they would explain the reasons in the response they would give and the cause they were defending would be seen well.
Denktas said that the existence of the two sovereign nations in Cyprus, the bizonality, the acceptance of the existence of the two states and the guarantee of Turkey on the island should continue, adding that ''we are very pleased when we see that Turkey continues to support our Cyprus cause.''
Denktas said that the Greek Cypriot press covered yesterday the 'measures' which the Greek Cypriot administration planned to take for Turkish Cypriots, adding that he didn't want to comment on these measures immediately and he preferred to wait for some time. ''Today, I saw that a leader of a political party who always told the opposite of what I say, have told that 'these are minority rights.' This is a good development. I hope they can have a more objective stance from now on,'' Denktas said.
Denktas said that the 'measures' which the Greek Cypriot side plans to take for Turkish Cypriots are not only minority rights, but they also drew the picture of Cyprus which Greek Cypriots want to see within the scope of Annan plan.
''Annan report is a document which will open the way of making EU norms valid, this is the danger,'' he said. Denktas said that the TRNC Parliament and the people had to take measures against the 'measures' of the Greek Cypriots.
Denktas stressed that Turkish Cypriot side has recently offered sincere suggestions to Greek Cypriot side by reserving the political rights of both sides. Denktas noted that Greek Cypriots also used 'insulting' expressions in their 'measures.'
Denktas stressed that he was very sorry when he saw the news in a local newspaper saying he hinted that he would give up sovereignty, adding that ''I can't assume an approach in which I will give up equal sovereignty and by which I will dilute the bi-zonality.''
DENKTAS SAYS HE THINKS TO OPEN MARAS TO SETTLEMENT IF HIS PROPOSALS ARE REJECTED BY GREEK CYPRIOTS
LEKFOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Monday that if proposals which he earlier presented to the Greek Cypriot side were not accepted, he thought of opening Maras to settlement. ''What I have dreamt of is an operation to save Maras,'' he said.
As he received representatives of non-governmental organizations, referring to some news stories which asks ''how Maras will be given to Greek Cypriots'', Denktas said, ''Turkey has a commitment to the Security Council that a part of Maras will be given to its former owners. Thus, we are making those proposals within the scope of those commitments.''
Noting that the Greek Cypriot side rejected their proposal, Denktas said, 'we gave them some time to think of the issue.''
''Let's see what they will say. According to that, we will take a decision not to leave Maras deserted any more. We should think a solution to develop Maras. Because as time passes, buildings are being damaged more. Invitation was made also in the past. But, Greek Cypriots did not come. Because they want the whole Cyprus. We should understand the intention of the Greek Cypriots well and should not throw ourselves into misery,'' he noted.
Stating that opening of Maras to settlement was an unripe thought of him, Denktas said, ''here is what I think; an announcement can be made on the issue, then people who will rebuild hotels in Maras by investing can lease them for 30-40 years. If owner of the building is a Greek Cypriot, those rents can be kept somewhere as a right of him/her. Thus, buildings are saved. but, this has its conditions. But these are things that have not been thought so far. What I have dreamt of is an operation to save Maras.''
Stating that if there was a just agreement, no one would suffer harm, Denktas said that investments in some places stopped, and this was a great shame. He added that the investments should continue rapidly.
Upon a question, Denktas said that Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos did not give any answer to his second letter and stated that Greek Cypriot side tried to deceive the world by explaining their own ''proposals''. He added that ''proposals'' of Greek Cypriot side were downgrading the status of Turkish Cypriots by giving them minority rights.
(EÖ-AÖ) 07.04.2003