Rauf Denktas to Retire if ‘Yes’ Results

Denktas participated in the Ceviz Kabugu program on Star TV the previous night, where he defended that he was not the leader of ‘No’ front in the referendum. He asserted, however, that it was not a reaction, but a job for him to say ‘No’ to an agreement that would annihilate the state.

Denktas also remarked upon the methods used during the negotiations, leveling some of his heaviest criticisms at UN Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto. Denktas told about how De Soto attended the talks with his tiny notebook and pencil as an observer, and about how De Soto said, "I am a fly on the wall." Denktas contended that De Soto later turned into a scorpion on the wall and that the tiny notebook turned into an encyclopedia.

The TRNC President then commented on his son, Serdar Denktas, whose party has a key role to play in the April 24 referendum. Denktas said, "If my son’s party says ‘Yes’ it would be a disaster for me. But I do not have a right to ask anyone ‘Why did you do this?’ Whatever his party says, I do not want to believe that Serdar will say ‘Yes’."

Denktas also warned against turning the disagreement on the island into violence. Denktas then became self-critical, admitting that the mistakes he made in the education systems weakened young people’s feelings for their religion and country. Finally, Denktas claimed that Girit Plan has been practiced on the island.