The Council of Ministers gathered
yesterday in special session presided over by President Rauf Denktas, where
the latest developments on the Cyprus issue were evaluated. President
Denktas briefed the Council on the details of the meeting in The Hague.
Speaking before entering the meeting,
President Denktas referring to the Annan plan and the recent summit in The
Hague, said that they have successfully passed an important examination.
President Denktas said the Turkish Cypriot
side did not fall prey to the game and the Greek Cypriot side who was not
prepared to accept this plan also helped them.
Pointing out that the initiatives on the
Cyprus issue will continue, President Denktas stressed that in this new
process, the Turkish Cypriot side should strictly put forward its demand for
the acceptance of its sovereignty and state.
President Denktas said: "From now on,
we should determine and put forward our requirements and when these are
accepted, we can negotiate. We should not lose time by negotiating fantastic
terms and plans that are put forward by others. The initiatives will
continue. Our plan is to secure our sovereignty and state."
Prime Minister Eroglu: "the Greek
Cypriot side’s preparations against the Turkish Cypriots are political
tricks"
Speaking before the meeting, Prime
Minister said the new economic package prepared in cooperation with Turkey
has reached to its final stage and will be discussed in the next Council of
Ministers meeting on March 19.
Responding to a question to the effect
that the economic and social measures directed towards the Turkish Cypriots
were put onto the agenda again by the Greek Cypriot side, Prime Minister
Eroglu said "TRNC people know very well how to behave according to its
country’s interests. I am sure they will not be tricked with such a
political game."
