"EU membership without Turkey will mean indirect Enosis"

LEFKOSA (AA) – Denktas released a written statement in which he evaluated recent developments.

In his statement, Denktas said that it was possible to stop that course by being united.

Denktas noted that it was the right of Turkish Cypriots to ask on behalf of a sovereign nation for equal treatment from the EU and every country.

If Turkish Cypriots do not protect their equal sovereignty, they will become a minority in a short time and be annihilated, Denktas said.

Denktas stated that it was the time to protect their state and sovereignty and called on his people not to be affected by intrigues of those who wanted to usurp their rights.

Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos reacted harshly as (TRNC Prime Minister) Mehmet Ali Talat was addressed with the title "Prime Minister of TRNC" in Washington, Denktas recalled.

Denktas noted that the Greek Cypriots had tried to possess the entire island with their false title "the government of Cyprus" for 40 years.

The backward step of the U.S. officials instead of explaining the realities to Papadopoulos and to tell him that ‘they had the right to address a prime minister as prime minister’ was saddening, Denktas said.

Denktas stated that Cyprus issue could not be settled for 40 years because the Greek Cypriot side, who caused bloodshed and terror, gained the title of "partnership government" and was recognized as the "legal government".

If the United States, guarantor state Britain, United Nations (UN) Security Council and EU officials did not want to see that reality, one should search for some bad intentions after that move, Denktas said.

Denktas recalled that the fact that the two nations in Cyprus did not have the right to represent or dominate each other was also proved by separate simultaneous referenda held in the island on April 24.

TRNC President Denktas noted that two equal peoples in Cyprus had the right to self-determination and the two nations used their right.

Recalling that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem foresaw that the plan would be null and void in case one or each other sides rejected it, Denktas said that despite it, the Greek Cypriot side had launched an intrigue to further change the plan to their benefit, which did nothing but divide Turkish Cypriots and which would bring the end of Turkish Cypriots in time if it would be put into practice.

Denktas said that Cyprus issue would start to be solved under equal conditions when every authority and government started to treat equally to TRNC Prime Minister, TRNC government and TRNC legitimate democratic institutions.

The Greek Cypriots had applied to the EU to achieve enosis, Denktas stated.

Denktas noted that if Turkish Cypriots wanted to become EU member, they should not forget that they could achieve their goal not by being dragged after the Greek Cypriots, but by protecting their rights and status.

Stating that Turkish Cypriots had underwent a big exam, Denktas said that they should not lose that opportunity with personal expectations.

Denktas noted that if Turkish Cypriots cannot protect their equal sovereignty, they will become a minority and be annihilated in a short time.

Papadopoulos and others were saying that they possessed entire Cyprus with EU membership and it was a victory for Hellenism, Denktas said.

Denktas pointed out that the Greek Cypriots rejected Annan plan since better conditions were granted to them with EU membership.

EU membership of Turkish Cypriots without Turkey would mean indirect enosis, Denktas said.

Denktas stated that it was possible to stop that course by being united.

It should be their duty to explain that so-called "Cyprus" which was accepted as an EU member did not include TRNC in every occasion, Denktas said.

Denktas noted that it was Turkish Cypriots’ right to want equal treatment of every country for their sovereign people.

It was their duty not to overshadow their state and sovereignty, Denktas added.

TRNC and Greek Cypriot side voted UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s plan for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem in simultaneous referenda held on April 24.

Sixty-five percent of Turkish Cypriots voted "yes" to the Annan plan while 35.09 percent voted against the plan in the simultaneous referenda. A total of 75.83 percent of the Greek Cypriots said "no" to the plan while 24.17 of them voted "yes."

The rate of participation in the referendum was 84.35 in TRNC and 96.53 percent in the Greek Cypriot side.

The Greek Cypriot joined the EU on May 1 together with nine other countries including Estonia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia.