Turkish govt assured us to support till the end

LEFKOSA (AA) – President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas returned to TRNC on Monday.

Addressing journalists at the Gecitkale Airport after his arrival, President Denktas said, "some press organs described results of Cyprus talks in New York, the United States, as a victory. However, we should evaluate all these developments in a healthy and good way."

"During our meetings in Ankara, the Turkish government assured us that it would support us till the end about our sine qua nons. Everybody is aware of our sine qua nons. I mean to say that the Cyprus issue could not be resolved in line with demands of the Greek Cypriot side. A solution should be based on existence of two equal nations. Also, the solution should include Turkey’s guarantee. We went to New York after getting certain guarantees of Turkey. In New York, we said that we were ready to resume negotiation process and stressed that though conditions should be eased. Both Turkish and Greek sides put forward their demands. The Greek Cypriot side’s demands were not comprehensible at all. We will try to understand their demands during the negotiations in Lefkosa," he told reporters.

Emphasizing that they wanted a compromise and to live together in Cyprus as two equal partners, President Denktas said, "we also want to live in security under the guarantee of Turkey."

"We all will see whether we can provide all these during the negotiation process. We will try to do our utmost to this end. However, our people will take the final decision. Responsibility belongs to Turkish Cypriot people. Then, Turkish parliament will take a decision," he said.

President Denktas noted, "as you know, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan will take a decision about the points over which we cannot reach a compromise. He will fill the blanks. We raised an objection to it. During our talks in New York, we made a proposal. As a result, Turkey and Greece will be involved in the process."

Underlining that a number of delegations were required to protect the rights of Turkish Cypriot people, President Denktas said, "these delegations may not comply with the European Union (EU) norms. The Greek Cypriot side wants everything to conform to the EU norms. In that case, they can easily destroy our rights. We also want our agreement to be included in the EU Constitution."

Stating that Turkey’s view on territory was that "line should be straight" and they had no other expectation, Denktas said that talks on those issues would start on Thursday and a strong delegation from Turkey would attend talks.

"Cyprus issue has become an issue which will also be carried out with Turkey’s participation in negotiations at the table from now on. We want guarantees which were given to us on sine qua nons to be defended till the very end and a sound agreement to come out. We will see those things and people will say the last word," he noted.

Recalling that the Annan plan had also been wanted to be put to referendum without any change in the Hague Summit, Denktas said that there had been no agreement and talk between the two sides then. He noted that there were some changes in the plan after that period.

Denktas said that they entered a path and everyone wanted this path to be promising and added that but it should not be interpreted as "the issue was solved or Turkish Cypriot side gave everything."

Stating that they made a good team work in New York, Denktas said that Cyprus issue continued. He asked Turkish Cypriot people to help them in unity.

"It is not the time to celebrate by saying that victory was achieved and a big step was taken. A very big problem is on the table to be solved under very difficult circumstances in a very short time. I think that everyone should be very careful about this issue," he noted.

Upon a question, Denktas said that referendum process would start after an agreement was reached and stated that negotiation process would start for an agreement now.

Denktas said that whether or not he was satisfied with the process that was reached was not important and stated that the door of negotiation was opened as Turkey thought that Annan plan could be negotiated due to EU process and Turkey was pleased with it.

Denktas said that they would try to reach an agreement at the negotiation table and the world would see who had good will, noting that Greek Cypriot side should see facts and understand that it could not take Cyprus and run away.

When he was reminded that supporters of terrorist organization PKK held demonstration in Greek Cypriot side, Denktas said, "this threat has always existed and everyone is aware of it. Those issues will be discussed."

Upon another question, Denktas said that if the sides did not reach an agreement on changes which would be made in the plan, there would be a deadlock and stated that everyone would work for a deadlock not to occur, but no one could give a guarantee of it. "We want negotiations to be concluded well with good will and an agreement to be reached between sides. We also want to put it to referendum. ‘The way of no return’ is referendum. Everyone should accept what will come out from referendum," he stated.

Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that the delegation from Turkey would be comprised of people from Foreign Ministry and experts and noted that there would be an intensive negotiation process and that’s why they would also invite experts from different places.