Referring to the signing of the Oslo peace deal between the Palestinians and the Israelis, after warnings by the former US President Bill Clinton that time was running out for a settlement, President Denktaş warned that in the Cyprus case there should not be a time limit or haste for a settlement to be reached to end the Cyprus problem.

Stressing that unless a strong agreement is reached, violence similar to that going on between the Israelis and the Palestinians today, can erupt in Cyprus, President Denktaş said “We are watching how the Palestinians are suffering”. President Denktaş added that such a weak agreement may put the Turkish Cypriot People in a minority status with rights only on paper, which will be disastrous.

President Denktaş accused the Greek Cypriot Administration of trying to achieve its goal of uniting the island with Greece, through EU membership – an objective it failed to achieve by force of arms in the past.

President Denktaş reminded that Turkish Cypriots gave their lives for their freedom and that it is impossible for them to give up their statehood and sovereignty for the sake of the EU membership.

Also speaking at the conference, TRNC Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu said that it has become crystal clear at the direct negotiations that Greek Cypriots are far from having goodwill and added that the unacceptable ideas brought to the negotiating table by the Greek Cypriot side supports this view.

Prime Minister stressed however, that he believes a settlement with the Greek Cypriot side is still possible on the basis of mutual respect and goodwill.

Referring to Guzelyurt district’s future, saying that it is impossible to hand the area away to the Greek Cypriot side as part of a settlement, Prime Minister said the government is doing its best to assure the people of this: a special incentives program has been unveiled to encourage investment in the district.

Derviş Eroğlu reiterated his accusation on the European Union for encouraging the Greek Cypriot side in its intransigence, and said it is quite normal for the Greek Cypriots to try avoiding an agreement with the Turkish Cypriot side under these circumstances.

As to the economic problems of the TRNC, Prime Minister said that the close cooperation with motherland Turkey has already begun bearing fruit.

Also addressing the event, the Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Hayati Güven, focussed mainly on the district’s economic significance within the larger TRNC economy.

Referring to the water issue, Hayati Güven pointed to the large amounts of water flowing into the sea in the Yesilirmak area. Güven added that the proposed building of a dam in the village will be financed by Turkey. 

The Deputy Prime Minister Salih Coşar, and the leaders of the Communal Liberation Party and the Republican Turkish Party – Huseyin Angolemli and Mehmet Ali Talat, also delivered speeches at the meeting, organised by the local Development Society.

Angolemli in his speech, stressing that the Turkish Cypriot people need peace and solution, said that a solution based on mutual gains, life safety, Turkish guarantee and which will not let us go back to the past, is desired

For his part, Talat stressing that giving up Güzelyurt or not, is not in their agenda, said the issue is how to secure our children’s and grand-children’ future with a lasting peace.

TRNC Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister, Tahsin Ertuğruloğlu, who is currently in Kuala Lumpur, yesterday delivered a speech at the Foreign Affairs Ministers’ Special Meeting on Terrorism of the Islamic Conference Organisation.

In his speech, Ertuğruloğlu explained the Greek Cypriot terror and gave examples about the Greek-Greek Cypriot terrorist activities staged against the Turkish Cypriots between 1963-1974.

Stressing that the Greek Cypriot attacks after 1963 can be qualified as a state terrorism, Ertuğruloğlu stated that after these attacks the Turkish Cypriots were forcefully kicked out from the partnership Republic and the title of the “Cyprus Republic” was usurped by the Greek Cypriots.

Ertuğruloğlu stated that international community including the ICO members apart from Turkey, ignore these and accept the Greek Cypriot administration as if it is the legitimate government of the whole island and added that this is the reason why the just struggle of the Turkish Cypriots still continues.

Addressing the Islamic Conference Organisation (ICO), Ertuğruloğlu asked for the recognition of the TRNC as a full member who has currently has the observer status.

TRNC Ombudsman Nail Atalay will depart from TRNC today for Lithuania in order to participate in the "European Ombudsmans’ Meeting"

Atalay will deliver a speech at the meeting on the subject of the role of ombudsman for the protection of human rights that will be held on April, 5, 2002. Following the completion of the meeting, Atalay is expected to return to TRNC on April 8, 2002.

TRNC Ombudsman is represented as a full member at the meeting.

April, 1, the 47^th anniversary of the establishment of the bloody terrorist organization, EOKA, was ceremoniously celebrated in the South Cyprus yesterday.

At a commemorative church ceremony, conducted by Archbishop Chrystostomos for those who died during the 1955-59 struggle, Greek Cypriot leader, Glafcos Clerides, said "EOKA struggle should be taken as an example for the victory of Hellenism in Cyprus. Clerides also said "1 April, 1955, the days for resistance, gave examples that can be followed in the struggle for justice of the Cypriot Hellenism."