Denktas: There Is Nothing That Has Changed In Greek Cypriot Leadership
Anadolu Agency: 7/22/2003
http://www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/news.asp?ID=11958
LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said on Monday that there was nothing that had changed in the Greek Cypriot leadership.
Denktas told reporters that a sample of the letter that Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos, who rejected Denktas' last proposal of confidence-building measures, sent to United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan was conveyed to him the same day.
TRNC President Denktas drew attention to statements of Papadopoulos, who demanded negotiations on the basis of the plan by returning the confidence-building measures, about the plan and Greek Cypriot press' accusations of Papadopoulos of ''forgery.''
Denktas said, ''we hope the Secretary General won't again permit an artificial and fake approach by taking into consideration the news in the Greek Cypriot press and Papadopoulos' statements.''
Denktas pointed out that Papadopoulos referred to Security Council resolutions and noted, ''if the Security Council resolutions had helped solution of Cyprus issue, the issue would have already been settled.''
It was the Greek Cypriot side who did not come to the negotiation table in 1993-1994 when confidence-building measures were being discussed, Denktas recalled.
Denktas stated that they would continue to take necessary steps to build confidence between two sides.
Referring to words of Papadopoulos that ''contacts showed that there was not any lack of confidence between two sides'', Denktas said, ''so, why are you pressing on the Greek Cypriots 'not to spend money where they go and not to go to casinos and hotels'? Why are you threatening people by seizing even a bottle of raki they bought from Turkish side at the customs?''
Denktas said, ''Cyprus issue is not a personal battle, but it is a case of the Greek Cypriot society to dominate Turkish Cypriot people, to make them a minority and to make Cyprus a Greek island.''
''We don't see any sign that these intentions are given up,'' Denktas noted.
Stating that he had not yet received any response from the Secretary General, Denktas said that they would give the necessary response to the letter of Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos.
In his letter addressing the Secretary General, Papadopoulos rejected Denktas' proposal to open closed Maras area to settlement in return for opening of Lefkosa International Airport.
(BRC-AÖ) 21.07.2003