Eroglu: We Did Not Meet With Simitis For Not Insulting Honor Of Turkish Cypriot People

LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister and the leader of National Unity Party (UBP) Dervis Eroglu criticized on Sunday the opposition parties which had met with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and he said that they did not meet with Simitis for not insulting honor of Turkish Cypriot people and state.
Noting that plan of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan included arrangements which would make Turkish Cypriot people vanish, Eroglu emphasized that UBP would never sign such a document.
Eroglu, who released speeches in meetings of UBP in Gazimagusa, emphasized that they did not receive any invitation from Simitis. He said that the invitation was made by Slovakia's Ambassador in Greek Cypriot side and this was an insult.
Noting that Simitis could have sent him a letter as a matter of courtesy as he was TRNC Prime Minister, Eroglu said that he did not attend such a meeting for not insulting the honor of Turkish Cypriot people and state.
Mentioning Annan plan, Eroglu said that signing the plan could cause Turkish Cypriots vanish and he noted that the plan was including many dangers. He emphasized that if the plan was accepted, lands in the hands of Turkish Cypriots would be given to Greek Cypriots and a large number of Greek Cypriots would return to territories where Turkish Cypriots had been living.
Emphasizing that UBP would never sign such a plan, Eroglu said that peace had come to island with 1974 Turkish Peace Operation and Turkish Cypriots would never endanger this peace. He added that peace had been existing in Cyprus and UBP wanted an agreement which would not force Turkish Cypriots to migrate and would not leave them to the mercy of Greek Cypriots.
Recalling the elections which would be held on December in TRNC, Eroglu said that they desired to be ruling party alone in the elections and they were expecting the support of citizens.
Eroglu said that they had signed two important protocols with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener and the protocols were including arrangements which would create business opportunities to young people and he added that they were exerting efforts for new business opportunities to young people.
(GC-AÖ) 20.04.2003