Hamamboculeri.org: Alternatif Haber,Ingilizce, 27 Kasim 2002
Thousands of Turkish Cypriots
`Go back to the negotiating table \226 we need peace now!`
Thousands of Turkish Cypriots give message to Denktash:
`Go back to the negotiating table \226 we need peace now!`
(Cyprus Alternative News: Nicosia- 27 November 2002):- 15 thousand Turkish Cypriots demonstrated for the acceptance of negotiations based on the Annan plan for Cyprus, for peace and membership to the EU.
In a demonstration today in the northern part of Nicosia, organized by the Turkish Cypriot Civil Society for a Joint Vision consisting of 92 NGOs, headed by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and supported by opposition parties TKP, CTP, YBH and BKP thousands shouted slogans such as `Peace cannot be prevented in Cyprus`, `Denktash to the table` and `We don't want to emigrate`.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Ali Erel said that the 92 NGOs want an urgent solution before the 12th of December which is the date of the Copenhagen Summit where the EU Enlargement will be discussed. Erel said that the Annan plan was accepted by the Turkish Cypriot NGOs as a basis for negotiation, a framework agreement should be signed by Denktash and Clerides before the 12th of December, and negotiations about the improvement of the Annan plan can continue until the 28th of February. He called on Denktash, who is currently in New York being treated after an open heart surgery to give an answer to the UN urgently about the acceptance of the negotiation of the Annan plan. He said that even though Denktash always claimed that they formed the `national policy on Cyprus together with Turkey`, this time he\222s falling out of step with Turkey and is contradicting the policies expressed by the newly elected AK Party in government in Ankara. Both Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leader of AK Party, as well as the Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and the Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, repeatedly expressed that the Annan plan will be accepted as a basis for negotiation. In order to convince Denktash to say `yes` to the negotiation of the plan which foresees a comprehensive settlement for the Cyprus problem, the Turkish Foreign Minister Yakis flew to New York last weekend and visited Denktash, as well as meeting with Marc Grossman from the US State Department.
Ahmet Barcin, President of Cyprus Turkish Secondary School Teachers Trade Union and General Secretary of the Confederation of Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions also called Denktash to the negotiating table. Criticising the administration of being a `puppet regime` Barcin said that if the membership of Cyprus is accepted by EU with the lack of an agreement among the two communities, this will be the end of the Turkish Cypriot community.
KESK, the trade union with 500 thousand members from Turkey also gave its support to the demonstration. The president of KESK spoke at the demonstration saying \223Those for status quo in Cyprus, Turkey and Greece should know that peace will come to Cyprus\205\222 Teachers, civil servants and shop owners also went on strike to express the support of the Turkish Cypriots for the negotiation of the Annan Plan, for peace and membership to EU.
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