TRNC President Rauf Denktas yesterday received the "Turkish Teachers’ Group", headed by its Press Spokesman Kerim Akpolat. Speaking during the meeting the President said through negotiations they would try to eliminate the negative aspects in the UN Secretary General’s settlement plan for Cyprus, and they would see what would happen by February 28.

Pointing out that the UN plan has not been accepted by the Greek Cypriot side and that they have no need to accept the plan, President Denktas said: "When we accept this plan, we will be adapted within the Greek Cypriot republic in a status as envisaged in this document".

The President, pointing out that the Greek Cypriot republic would continue in its path while the Turkish Cypriots would spend a lifetime in the state like establishment of these two separate component states, said the Turkish Cypriot side experienced a similar situation in 1960 and saw for themselves the actions of the Greek Cypriots, and now an even more complicated administration is being proposed.

President Denktas added: "We said bi-zonality was a fundamental principle, and from 1977 up until now we have worked on this principle. The Population Exchange Agreement was made. Property exchange came on the agenda and within this framework we gave title deeds to our refugees. Had we not given this, economic life would have come to an end. Thanks to title deeds everyone was able to get money by mortgaging their property. In this document, Greek Cypriot refugees are now being given the right to reclaim their property. They will reclaim their property; they will make their own decision. 28 per cent of Greek Cypriots will resettle in the Turkish Cypriot part of the island, they will become our citizens and acquire political rights. Have they considered our 28 per cent and considered that our 28 per cent could not resettle in the Greek Cypriot side? In other words, if we were all to go and resettle in the Greek Cypriot side, all the political destruction, disruption, and pressure the Greek Cypriots would do to us, we would not be able to do to the Greek Cypriots…"

The President said: "What kind of equality is this. The plan is not bi-zonal. In fact, it is not even two component states; it is turning the Turkish Cypriot component state into a mixed one, while the Greek Cypriot component state remains as it is. Where is the equality in this. Who gave you the right that we could accept Greek Cypriots amongst us in this way. The return of Greek Cypriots amongst us will be at the end of a moratorium, it will be according to our own laws, it will apply to people (Greek Cypriots) who are not involved in EOKA activities, who have no criminal record, and to good-tempered, hardworking people who will abide by the rules. Greek Cypriots who have property will have the right to come back. This is a plan which has been drawn up by those who do not know the history and reason of the past struggle, it’s a document full of booby traps".

Referring to the relocation of the residents of Guzelyurt and to claims that it was being said to them that houses would be built for them in various areas, President Denktas said it was not known what would happen to their orchards, how they would earn their income, or where they would be re-located.

Stressing that 28 per cent of territory is being left to the Turkish Cypriot side, and almost half of this is the Five Fingers Mountain and the nearby infertile lands, President Denktas said when 9 per cent of Greek Cypriots come and re-settle in the north, there will only be about 5-6 per cent of Turkish Cypriots left.

Asking where the Turkish Cypriot would be relocated to after the eventual return of 50-60,000 Greek Cypriots to the North, President Denktas said the Turkish Cypriot side would be confronted with the relocation of approximately 100-120,000 Turkish Cypriot refugees. "Who will give the money for this? This isn’t mentioned in the plan. Neither is the economic aspect about what will happen and who will give what. And the shameless Greek Cypriots have already calculated that they will get so much compensation from Turkey. Is there no compensation for the destruction of the 103 Turkish Cypriot villages, the taking of its crops, the fact that our people were forced to live in tents and for all our people murdered by the Greek Cypriots between 1963-74? If they are going to talk about compensation then let us talk about all these".

President Denktas stressing that during his conversations with Clerides in 1963, when Clerides wanted Greek Cypriots to return to Kucuk Kaymakli and some other villages, his response was that "in terms of security, this could never be accepted", said: "Do we now have such an acceptable position in terms of security that they have made programs to relocate so many Greek Cypriots amongst us. In terms of security and the reactions of the families of martyrs time is need. Have these facts not been considered".

Stressing that these issues would again be discussed with Alvaro de Soto, the President said the Greek Cypriots do not intend to accept and sign this document, because they were told that whether there is a settlement or not they would be taken into the EU, and what is expected from the Turkish Cypriot side is for them to sign the document in its current form, which will be the hidden key to patching up the Turkish Cypriots to the Cyprus Republic.

President Denktas said: "Our aim is for our people not to be split up into pieces", because when the Greek Cypriots see this the need for them to negotiate is eliminated.

TRNC President Rauf Denktas yesterday afternoon received the UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, who arrived on the island yesterday in order to resume the Cyprus negotiation process this week.

After his meeting with the UN Envoy, President Denktas announced that negotiations would resume on January 15 at 11:00.

The "Common State Laws Committee", which is carrying out its preliminary studies within the framework of the Cyprus negotiation process, met at the UN Conference Centre in the UN buffer zone yesterday.

The agenda for the meeting was "Weights and Measures".

A Turkish parliamentary delegation including MP’s from the Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), and the Republican People’s Party (CHP), and, headed by the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Bulent ArÝnc, yesterday arrived in the TRNC as the guest of the Speaker of the TRNC Assembly, Vehbi Zeki Serter.

Speaking after his arrival, Arinc said efforts to achieve a settlement in Cyprus should be based on the realities on the island, the acknowledgment of the two sides’ political equality and sovereignty, and on a reconciliation that would preserve bi-zonality.

Arinc said, with this aim, President Denktas, by continuing to negotiate the UN Secretary General’s proposals, would protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people, and would secure the continuation of Turkey’s effective guarantee.

Also expressing support for President Denktas’ efforts towards achieving a settlement that would preserve the Greco-Turkish balance, he said: "This negotiation process, which is very important for the future of the Turkish Cypriot people, by maintaining unity and solidarity, is also important for protecting your vested rights. A settlement that does not reflect the will of all the Turkish Cypriot people will not be permanent".

Later, at 16:30 the Turkish parliamentary delegation were received by President Rauf Denktas, by the Speaker of the Republic’s Assembly, Vehbi Zeki Serter, at 17:30, and by Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu at 18.00.

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu on receiving the Turkish delegation pointing out that a great struggle is being given to keep alive the young republic established in the geography created as a result of the Happy Peace Operation, said today they are in a period where they are faced with the Annan Plan, and are searching for a settlement.