The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, today, will meet with TRNC President Rauf Denktas and the Greek Cypriot leader, Tasos Papadopulos, at The Hague.

The two leaders will give their responses to the UN Secretary General’s call for "a referendum on March 30" to be held on the UN Secretary General’s settlement plan for Cyprus.

Yesterday, President Denktas flew to Netherland with an accompanying TRNC delegation in order to discuss the referendum proposal of the UN Secretary General. Meanwhile, the Turkish delegation headed by the Undersecretary to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Ugur Ziyal, which will represent Turkey in the meeting, also went to The Hague yesterday.

Speaking before his departure for The Hague yesterday at Ataturk Airport, the President reiterated that there are also important deficiencies in the revised third Annan plan which they want to change. President Denktas said that the UN plan is not a completely negotiated document and  that it has lots of deficiencies.

Referring to the referendum envisaged by the second revised Annan plan, President Denktas said "this plan is not completed yet to put to a referendum. It is not logical to put to a public vote such a plan which has not been accepted by either side and which both sides say it requires changes."

President Denktas also said that he would request for negotiations to take place from the UN Secretary General.

The rally for "Sovereignty and Existence" organised by the National Solidarity Committee, took place with great enthusiasm at the Ataturk square in the centre of Lefkosa, on March 7.

The rally was also attended by TRNC President Rauf Denktas, TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, TRNC Minister for Public Works and Transport Salih Miroglu, and Iskece Mufti Mehmet Emin Aga.

President Denktas who after completing his contacts in Turkey, returned to the island and addressed the people at the rally for "sovereignty and existence", said that Turkey had took the decision that the present form of the Annan plan is unacceptable. President Denktas said "Will you believe Ankara or those who say that the plan should be signed immediately?"

Pointing out that an agreement which does not include the continued and effective guarantee of Turkey is not acceptable, President Denktas said the Annan plan is envisaging the total expulsion of Turkish forces from the island.

Evaluating the rally as "calling to the world", President Denktas asked everyone to hear the voice rising from the Ataturk square.

During the rally, the decision of Turkish Grand National Assembly was announced to the participants by the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Salih Miroglu. (see News page 7 March)

The Baf Resistance and martyrs were remembered with a ceremony at the Guzelyurt Martyrs’ Monument yesterday.

At the speeches delivered during the ceremony, it was stated that the TRNC will be kept alive forever, and that the Turkish Cypriot people will never give up their sovereignty and independence.

TRNC President Rauf Denktas who went to The Hague upon the call of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, sent a message to the commemoration ceremony.

In his message, President Denktas underlined that a possible agreement should be based on the existence of two states, sovereignty, independence and freedom.