Denktas, again, embraces all Cypriots

The reason was clear.

Mr. Denktas, then, was trying to sabotage the Annan plan. He did not want to sit at the negotiation table. He not only said this, but also waging a broad lobbying campaign. He was seeking supporters from among the Turkish Armed Services and wanted the people of Anatolia to rise. He was trying to construct a front in opposition to the government.

Under these circumstances, Denktas continuing as the negotiator would result in a failure of the negotiations, even before they started and this would only damage Turkey’s interests.

That’s why I proposed his retirement as a negotiator.

Then, there was a transition period.

The government called in all our ambassadors in the EU member countries and listen to what they had to say. What they said greatly influenced how Turkey’s Cyprus policy was formulated and the government decided to "solve" the matter. It decided that the U.N. secretary-general, having the last say, was in the long-term interest of the country. After making its decision, it consulted President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the Turkish Armed Services. Its policy solidified after these consultations.

And then, Denktas, KKTC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat and KKTC Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas came to Ankara. They were briefed on Turkey’s policy and Rauf Denktas was told that he could continue as the negotiator if he accepted it. The government acted in great maturity. Even Rauf Denktas’s biggest critic, Talat, asked Denktas to continue.

President Denktas, seeing Ankara’s determination, decided not to resign and leave Turkey alone. The president’s love of Turkey caused him to ignore his reservations and go to New York, thinking he might be able to amend the plan.

Denktas was reserved on his way to New York and he did not hide it. However, when he sat at the negotiation table, he concealed his opposition.

He may have got less than he wanted from the negotiations in New York, but he still did not abandon them. He did not create trouble for Turkey. He ignored his personal opinions and signed the final document.
Denktas should remain as negotiator

Things have happened.

The Turkish side signed on the dotted lines.

One of the signatures belongs to Rauf Denktas.

I am sure the opposition won’t let him rest. They will accuse him of abandoning the cause (like the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) spokesman Onur Oymen insinuated).

The KKTC president should ignore them and continue as negotiator. He should protect the stance he took in New York. Moreover, an agreement has been signed and everyone is in the tunnel. Even if he objects and resigns, he will not be able to change anything. However, if he continues to be the negotiator, he will be able to defend the people’s interests. He won’t create trouble for Turkey; on the contrary, he will ease the tension.

If he remains at the table, continues his fight and signs the agreement that takes the Turkish Cypriots into the EU, he will have a place in the history books, he truly deserves. He will be rightly proud to have led a community from being close to extinction in the 1960s and 1970s to becoming an EU member.

If not, he will oppose a process that can’t be stopped and will eventually resign. He won’t be able to prevent the agreement and will be forgotten as "our obstinate president".

Wouldn’t that be a shame?

Does Denktas deserve this?

I believe Denktas should be proud to have led his people to the EU.

He, not anyone else, should be standing next to Greek Cypriot leader Tasos Papadopulos on May 1.

If Papadopulos stands next to the U.S. President George W. Bush, who will most probably visit Cyprus after an agreement is reached, Denktas should be on his other side.

If Denktas was still opposing an agreement, he would have resigned before or after the meeting in New York. After signing the agreement, we have entered a process with no return.

This chapter has ended.

After listing all the facts, I say;

Denktas, even if he ignores his own reservations, must continue as the negotiator and should follow the agreed policy no matter what, like he did in New York.

This will be fitting for him.

He will have all our support.

The old chapter has closed. We are entering a new one. We all should be constructive.

No one should doubt that we will emerge victoriously from this tunnel.