TRNC President Rauf Denktaþ who is
currently in Strasbourg for having various contacts,
yesterday, got together with the Secretary General of
the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer.
During the meeting, President
Denktaþ conveyed to Schwimmer the Turkish Cypriot
point of view at the ongoing direct talks.
Expressing his hope that a correct
diagnosis to the Cyprus issue would be made, President
Denktaþ stated that, in the event of establishing a
partnership, TRNC should be equally represented.
Meeting with the Turkish
journalists in Strasbourg, President Denktaþ
criticized the European Union and said that the EU
while giving fifteen years time for Turkey, it only
gives one year for finding a solution to the Cyprus
issue which is not acceptable.
President Denktaþ stated that the
EU’s attitude, that even without reaching a
settlement the Greek Cypriot side would enter into the
EU, is encouraging the Greek Cypriot side’s
intransigence.
Pointing out that EU has been using
the Cyprus issue as an obstacle for Turkey’s EU
membership which will later could also use the issue
of Aegean region as another obstacle, President
Denktaþ said EU could compell for the recognition of
the so-called Armenian genocide and could bring the
demand for land into the agenda.
Stressing that they desire to give
us the minority status and stay as a community,
President Denktaþ said accepting a settlement that
they desire would mean Hellenising of the whole
island.
Following the completion of his
contacts in Strasbourg, President Denktaþ is expected
to turn back on April 26, 2002.
The US State Department’s Special
Coordinator on Cyprus Thomas Weston, yesterday got
together with the Undersecretary of Turkish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, Uður Ziyal.
Following the meeting which lasted
for one and a half hour, Weston in his statement, said
that they have exchanged views on the Cyprus issue.
Stressing that it was a great
pleasure, Thomas Weston said he will continue with his
efforts for finding a lasting solution to the Cyprus
issue. Weston added that he was convinced that Turkey’s
approach would be the same.
A GROUP OF SCHOOL
CHILDREN FROM 11 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES PERFORMED THEIR
COUNTRIES’ FOLK DANCES
Within the framework of National
Sovereignty and Children’s Bayram activities
"23 April Children and Folk Dances Festival
Gala" took place on April 23 night.
A group of school children from
Turkey, Azerbaijan, Britain, Ukraine, Romania,
Bulgaria, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Georgia and
Gagauzia, who have arrived in the TRNC for April 23
celebrations, performed their countries’ folk dances
at the gala which was greatly enjoyed.
