TRNC President Rauf Denktaş went to Bursa yesterday to give a conference on the latest situation of Cyprus and to receive the honorary doctorate award bestowed on him by the Uludağ University in Bursa.

Speaking to journalists before his departure at Ercan State Airport, President Denktaş said that he had presented a non-paper to the Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides, with the aim of urging the Greek Cypriot side to accept the existence and the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people .But he added ‘We do not intend to blockade Cyprus’ accession to the European Union.’

President Denktaş stressed that he still believed that a formula could be found for the accession of two sovereign and equal partners to the European Union on condition that the Turkish Cypriot people’s rights and interests stemming from the l960 agreements and the balance established between Turkey and Greece should be protected.

Recalling the bloody incidents which took place between the two people in the past, the President also underlined the importance of bizonality in a possible solution.

Referring to the sharp reaction of the Greek Cypriot media on the issue of the non-paper, President Denktaş said that such complaints aimed at presenting the Turkish Cypriot people to the whole world as the intransigent side which is not willing to solve the Cyprus problem.

President Denktaş also said that the Turkish Cypriot people who waged a great struggle between l963 and l974 with support of the motherland Turkey , should rest assured that their rights and interests would never be given up.

Finally, President Denktas has once more called on the international community to contribute to the ongoing peace process in Cyprus by treating equally both Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides and explaining to the Greek Cypriot Administration that it cannot represent the Turkish Cypriot people.

In his speech he made while receiving the Honorary Doctorate Award at the Uludağ University, President Denktaş said the Greek Cypriot side could not represent the Turkish Cypriots in EU, and added that “There is not Cyprus’ EU application, there is Greek Cypriot application, and the Greek Cypriots do not represent the whole Cyprus."

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriots started terrorist activities in 1950s for achieving their aim of "Enosis", the President said the Greek Cypriots destroyed 1963 partnership republic by violating 1960 agreements. Underlining that the Cyprus issue has started back in 1963, President Denktaş said that the Greek Cypriot side is deceiving the world that the Cyprus issue has started in 1974 with Turkey’s intervention.

Referring to Greek Cypriot side’s EU membership application, President Denktaş said in the event of Cyprus being an EU member, the Greek Cypriot side, would succeed to do what they could not do before with force of arms and terrorist activities.

Calling upon the authorities of EU and UN Security Council to find out a scientific and realistic answer to the question of Cyprus, President Denktaş stressed that the Greek Cypriot administration by acting as if it is the “legitimate government of Cyprus” and by deceiving the world, continues to its threats and rearmament policy.

Upon his arrival in the TRNC, in his speech, President Denktaş called upon the European Parliament, the European Union and UN Security Council to put a diagnosis on the Cyprus issue.

Pointing out that the decisions taken until today were wrong, President Denktaş said because of this we waisted 39 years.

Underlining that the Greek Cypriots side has been telling the same things since 39 years, President Denktaş said Glafcos Clerides came to the negotiation table with a document which passed in 1989 from Greek Cypriot parliament aiming at putting the Turkish Cypriots into a minority status within a unitary state.

TRNC Prime Minister Derviş Eroğlu completing his contacts in Ankara, passed to İstanbul yesterday. Evaluating his contacts in Ankara to BRT’s Ankara Bureau, Prime Minister Eroğlu said they have positive results both on economic and political point of view.

Pointing out that he has explained the Turkish Cypriot people’s struggle for existence until the establishment of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Eroğlu said Turkey and TRNC paid the cost of being a state together, and that they will continue with their struggle for making this state live forever.

Prime Minister Eroğlu also conveyed the economic problems of TRNC to the Turkish authorities during his contacts in Ankara, and an important step was taken for solving the issue of water which is one of the most important problems on TRNC.

Eroğlu receiving the “Man of the Year Award” bestowed on him by the Foundation of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association, said you should first have a state for getting this award. Eroğlu adde that he had received the award in the name of the Turkish Cypriot people who has struggled until the establishment of the TRNC and who still continues for its struggle.

Turkish State Minister also in Charge of Cyprus Affairs, Şükrü Sina Gürel, in his speech at a panel under the title of "Cyprus Reality and New Searches in World" at Mimar Sinan University, referred to EU’s stance on Cyprus.

Gürel said "Cyprus has a strategic importance for EU despite Turkey. Its political and economic costs are not too much. Therefore, the entry of Cyprus into EU seemed easy to EU. However, one thing was ignored. Turkey will struggle until the end and will not allow the entry of whole Cyprus into the EU without Turkey."

Pointing out that in the event of Greek Cypriot administration entering into the EU as if it represents the whole Cyprus, they will continue to their path together with TRNC towards an unlimited horizon, Gürel said he hoped that EU would take a logical decision.

Stressing that there should not be the EU ghost at the ongoing negotiating table, Gürel said otherwise, the Greek Cypriot administration will never take a constructive step for reaching a solution. Gürel said that in reality, EU is the side which damages the negotiations and not reaching a solution on Cyprus may be to the interest of EU.

Responding to a question, Gürel said only Turkey and TRNC see the Cyprus issue from the international law and human rights point of view whereas the west only sees the issue from the political point of view.

‘Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli 2002 Research and Rescue Exercise’ has started today with the participation of Civil and Official institutions from Turkey and TRNC which is at the same time the indication that there will be no concession of Turkish rights over Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean Air and Land territories.

The Security Forces Commandorate, the Presidency of Civil Defence Organisation, and different types of rescue teams, ships and helicopters of TRNC Costal Security and Ship Rescue Organisation will participate in the Maneuvers.

During the ‘Martyr Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli 2002 Search and Rescue Exercise’ intervention to any kind of dangers and natural disasters that might take place on seas and air territories of TRNC will be exercised.

The exercise will start at 11:00 at Kordonboyu, Girne.

In his briefing at Girne Dome Hotel yesterday at 10:00, TRNC Security Forces Commander Brigadier, Galip Mendi stressed that the claim of the Greek Cypriot administration that the responsibility for research and rescue in Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean belong to them, is unacceptable.