Annan Plan Creates Uneasiness In T.R.N.C.

”The plan asks people who are living in the south of the island and who are above 65 to settle in the north with an accompany of one person. 700 thousand people are living in the south. If 5 percent of this population is over 65 and if these people take one person to the north with them, it will make 70 thousand people. That is, Greek Cypriot population more than Turkish population is planned for 10-15 years later. Our people who have claimed ownership on these lands for 28 years will be forced away from their houses and places. They also want to end Turkey’s guarantor state status,” Eroglu said.

Eroglu said that Turkish society was wanted to be entrusted to the U.N. peace force by reducing the number of Turkish soldiers in TRNC.

”We are the side which wants permanent agreement more than anybody. They are saying that Turks will also be EU citizen. EU accession can be achieved, life can continue in another country, but you can no more find Turkism in Cyprus,” Eroglu noted.

Eroglu added, ”the EU countries should give up annihilating us as a part of their plan to reach the Mediterranean. We are ready for an agreement which will bring forth humanly living.”

”STRONG COUNTRIES LIKE EU MEMBERS AND UNITED STATES ARE PREPARING SCENARIOS ON CYPRUS”

Strong countries like the EU members and the United States were trying to exclude Turks and ensure a formation which would enable them to put into practice their own views, Eroglu stated.

Eroglu said that Britain, Greece and the United States prepared a document, named it Annan plan and had U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan sign it.

Annan Plan wanted to annihilate Turkey and Turks in Cyprus in time, Eroglu pointed out.

Eroglu reiterated that lasting peace could not be settled in Cyprus as long as TRNC was considered non-existent and Turks were shown as minority.

”They want to make 120 thousand Turks from their places, make them leave their lands, push them into hunger and leave them in a difficult situation with Annan Plan,” Eroglu said.

Eroglu emphasized that they were tried to be shown as the side ”which did not want peace and which did not favor agreement” since they resisted to those efforts.

”They want to mortgage our future to the Greek Cypriots by saying ‘peace.’ We resist to it. We believe that future of our nation can reach a solution at a table as two equal and sovereign states. We don’t consent to minority rights,” Eroglu added.

DENKTAS: ”I DON’T THINK THAT CUSTOMS UNION WILL HAVE NEGATIVE INFLUENCE ON TURKEY’S RELATIONS WITH THE EU”

LEFKOSA – President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Tuesday that Turkey carried out customs union works with the TRNC and thus fulfilled its humanitarian assignments against the embargoes imposed on the TRNC. Denktas said he did not think that those studies would have negative influence on Turkey’s relations with the European Union (EU).

When asked whether or not customs union between Turkey and the TRNC would create uneasiness in Turkey’s relations with the EU, Denktas said, ”it should not have.”

When reminded the news reports that customs union issue would be discussed in Partnership Council meeting that would take place between Turkey and the TRNC on August 8, Denktas said, ”Turkey’s customs union with the TRNC is a humanitarian assignment of it against inhumane and illegal embargoes imposed on TRNC for years. Necessary measures are taken against those who left Turkish Cypriots without alternative for years and who carry out policy to demolish TRNC in economic means.”

TRNC COMMISSION OF COMPENSATION TO START INITIATIVES NEXT WEEK

LEFKOSA – Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Commission to Compensate Immovables will hold its first meeting on Friday.

The commission was appointed by the TRNC Council of Ministers under the law foreseeing finding solution to Greek Cypriot properties left within borders of TRNC through compensation or exchange.

The commission will be chaired by Salih Dayioglu and comprised of six people.

Under the law, the commission will accept applications of the Greek Cypriots regarding their properties in the north and work as an independent court. The decisions taken by the commission will be sanctionative.

The Greek Cypriots who apply to the commission can compensate properties of the Greek Cypriots left within borders of TRNC through compensation or exchange.

Meanwhile, efforts are under way to establish an office to work on Turkish properties left in the south of the island.