TURKISH Cypriot ‘prime minister’ Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday his people would today “show the world that they are ready to form the United Cyprus Republic” and that Rauf Denktash would stick to his word and resign in the event of an affirmative vote in the north’s referendum.
At a news conference to foreign journalists at his offices in the occupied north, Talat claimed he was still optimistic that a ‘yes’ vote could be achieved in the south and that no alternative plans existed to deal with the south if it voted ‘no’.
“I cannot say now what policies we will forge and how we will proceed,” he said, but added that the Turkish Cypriots would demand a lifting of trade sanctions on the north.
“If we say ‘yes’… we cannot accept being punished by the decision of another community,” Talat said, adding: “Nobody can criticise the Turkish side, at least not in the latest stages [of negotiations]”.
Talat was scathing about AKEL’s call for a ‘no’ vote in the south, describing the party’s demand for guarantees from the UN on the implementation of the plan as a “pretext”.
“It was a real disappointment,” he said, but added that the Turkish Cypriots would “not be taking revenge” by cutting off relations between the communities or closing crossing points on the Green Line.
Asked whether he had received assurances from the international community that the Turkish Cypriots would not lose out as a result of a Greek Cypriot rejection of the plan, Talat said only “fairness necessitates it. Democracy will prevail”.
Talat expressed some sympathy with Greek Cypriot wishes for guarantees from the UN that the plan would be implemented to the letter and that the Turkish military would not be allowed to abuse its position as guarantor on the island. But he also warned Greek Cypriots that without Turkish guarantorship, Turkish Cypriots would not agree to unify the island.
Since Turkish Cypriots want them, they [Greek Cypriots] should sympathise,” he added.
But Talat was unable to reassure Greek Cypriots over fears that a change in regime in Turkey could spark problems in Cyprus.
“I cannot give guarantees about political stability in Turkey. I don’t know what happens if the political structure changes.”
Responding to reports that the Turkish military had been aiding the ‘no’ campaign in the north, Talat said: “We get some information – either genuine or distorted – that some involvement is taking place, but not officially, of course”.
His belief, he said, was that “extensive involvement is not taking place” though some military personnel were expressing “personal opinions”.
On whether a second referendum would take place in the south if Greek Cypriots failed to vote ‘yes’ this time round, Talat said he was “doubtful” but that it would be up to the international community and the Greek Cypriots to decide what to do in such an event.
“If we cannot succeed, it will not have been our fault,” he insisted.
