President Denktas yesterday (January 21) received a delegation from the Marmara and Straits Municipalities Association from Turkey, who came to the TRNC to attend an Education Seminar.

Speaking during the meeting, President Denktas, pointing out that Turkey was under pressure because of her desire to become an EU member and efforts were being spent to put Turkey in a position where she would no longer protect Cyprus, referred to those people who wanted to settle the Cyprus issue so as not to look intransigent and called upon them to hand over Cyprus to the Greek Cypriots to prove themselves as favouring reconciliation. He said this was not possible and it was therefore necessary to protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriot people.

Explaining that as long as the reality that the Greek Cypriots were not the legitimate government of the whole of Cyprus was not acknowledged, the issue could not be solved, President Denktas said the Cyprus issue was settled in favour of the Greek Cypriots in 1964 with the UN Security Council’s resolution.

Pointing out that the whole world in cooperation was trying to take Cyprus away from the Turkish Cypriots, the President said the game of taking Cyprus through a settlement was being played with great courage and expertise. He said: "We’re not comfortable, we’re worried. Our hope is in Turkey’s determination. Our hope is that Turkey, through diplomacy will be able to explain to the USA, UK and important EU countries the injustice that the Turkish Cypriots have been subjected to for 40-years". President Denktas added that a great injustice was being carried out and from a legal point of view although the Turkish Cypriots were right, as a result of political decisions that were taken the Turkish Cypriots were not given their rights.

Explaining that the Turkish Cypriots were still here today because they believed that Cyprus was important for Turkey in terms of geo-politics and security, the President said the Turkish Cypriots did not bow and give in to the Greek Cypriots.

Stating that the Turkish Cypriot people wanted reconciliation and EU membership together with Turkey, but didn’t want the rights granted to Turkey in the 1960 Agreements to be violated, President Denktas said, in fact, the Turkish Cypriots are afraid that what the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo couldn’t complete through the Akritas Plan in 1963, they will now complete.

Continuing, President Denktas said: "We want justice. We want our rights to be protected. We want it to be acknowledged that the Greek Cypriots are not the ‘legitimate government’ of the whole of Cyprus and especially want the EU to tell the Greek Cypriots that they cannot speak on behalf of the whole of Cyprus or the Turkish Cypriots. As long as they don’t say this, the process of taking Cyprus away will continue. We are aware of this and as if we are an obstacle in front of Turkey’s EU membership we are being subjected to abuse. Those who see us as an obstacle in front of Turkey’s EU membership are those who want to take Cyprus away and they have played this game very well. Within the framework of the 1960 Agreements the Lausanne Balance was established and this Balance was implemented over Cyprus. Now they want to destroy this balance and take over Cyprus. We are preventing this, not Turkey’s EU membership. But the decision is Turkey’s and she will probably make her decision soon".

Explaining that everyone agrees that "non-settlement is not a solution", the President said there is an unknown fact and this is that the Cyprus issue was settled in favour of the Greek Cypriots in 1964 by the UN Security Council’s resolution which accepted the Greek Cypriots as being the ‘legitimate government’ of the whole of Cyprus. He said that once this resolution was adopted he knew that from then on settling the Cyprus issue without interference would not be possible.

Regarding news reports that air and sea vehicles from EU member countries and South Cyprus would carry out a refugee operation, President Denktas said: "This is a violation of our waters and Turkey’s rights".

TRNC Prime Minister, Mehmet Ali Talat, who was recently in Ankara as the guest of the Turkish Chamber and Stock Exchange Union, in a speech given at Esenboga Airport before his departure for Cyprus, stated that Turkish Prime Minister, Tayip Erdogan, was going to ask for the US’s support in initiating efforts for restarting the Cyprus negotiation process and that as the Turkish Cypriot side they would support this initiative.

Pointing out that the Turkish and TRNC governements stance on the Cyprus issue was very clear, Prime Minister Talat said this stance is to immediately settle the Cyprus issue.

Talat said: "In order to achieve this efforts should be put forward with good will. Our aim is to settle the Cyprus issue by May. Extensive efforts are being carried out in Turkey and similar studies are also continuing in Cyprus. In cooperation, we are trying to unite these studies and create an environment for restarting the negotiations. Turkey is determined to settle the Cyprus issue and has clear ideas. This is an important step. Efforts to unite these elements are continuing. We know this. There is a common desire and aim and that is the settlement of the Cyprus issue. This settlement will of course protect the vital rights of the Turkish Cypriot people and protect Turkey’s rights and responsibilities over Cyprus."

Prime Minister Talat pointing out that a negotiation process on the basis of the Annan Plan was envisaged, said the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan’s, good offices mission was being supported and intensive efforts were underway to restart the Cyprus negotiations.

Talat, pointing out that the UN Secretary General would decide the date for starting the negotiations said their responsibility was to find the necessary conditions, and as the Turkish side they would ask the UN Secretary General to start the negotiation process. Talat reminded that the Greek Cypriot side had already requested to resume the negotiation process but, didn’t receive a positive response from the Secretary General because they failed to comply with the Secretary General’s conditions. He said the Turkish Cypriot side, by taking this into consideration, should make a more comprehensive and careful initiative, and added that efforts were continuing in this direction.

Responding to a question asked about the changes on the Annan Plan that the Turkish side would request at the negotiation table, Prime Minister Talat said, the studies were not yet completed and the final picture was not ready. Pointing out that Turkey and the TRNC were engaging in efforts to reach a common point, Talat said: "Even though there may be some differences, but I’m not saying that there are, these ideas should be the same and in conformity".

Prime Minister Talat also stressing that Turkey was determined to achieve a settlement by May, said he believed positive steps would be taken by uniting the studies prepared by Turkey and the TRNC but, the official policy to be followed was still not ready. Talat also stated that following Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayip Erdogan’s contacts in the USA and Davos he would ask the UN Secretary General to call upon the two sides in Cyprus to resume the talks. Talat said our call to the Secretary General should meet a large part of the Secretary General’s conditions and should be aimed at restarting the negotiations.

It has been reported that Greek Cypriots are trying to buy Turkish Cypriot properties in the mixed village of Pile in the buffer zone, by offering vast sums of money to Turkish Cypriots living there.

Efforts by rich Greek Cypriots to purchase Turkish Cypriot properties have recently intensified, and it has also been reported that the Greek Cypriot Administration is encouraging Greek Cypriots to buy up Turkish Cypriot properties in Pile.