[i] [b][u]Statement by H.E. Mr. Rauf R. Denktaş, President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, regarding the EU Helsinki Summit Conclusions, 11 December 1999[/u][/b]
At a time when the proximity talks, to which we have been invited as two equal parties and which aim at preparing the ground for meaningful negotiations, continue in New York, our preliminary evaluation in connection with the views announced on the Cyprus issue by the Heads of State and Government of the European Union at their meeting held in Helsinki is as follows:
We are pleased to note that the EU Council has expressed support for the proximity talks process continuing in New York which constitutes a new beginning. However, it appears that the fact that this process is conducted between two equal parties in Cyprus and that the aim is to prepare the necessary ground for meaningful negotiations leading to a comprehensive settlement has been ignored. We deem it useful to stress, once again, the necessity of keeping within the letter and spirit of the statement by the UN Secretary-General which has made the start of the proximity talks possible.
The other views put forward by the EU Council are in direct contradiction with the aim of preparing the ground for meaningful negotiations through proximity talks and erode the chances of achieving progress towards a comprehensive settlement. Furthermore, it is obvious that such an approach will serve no other purpose than increasing the intransigence of the Greek Cypriot side. Without a comprehensive settlement, we find it wrong, unjust and unacceptable to keep the EU membership door open to the Greek Cypriot side under the name of "Cyprus".
We continue to strongly oppose, on the basis of law and international agreement, the process conducted by the EU with the Greek Cypriot side, under the title of "Cyprus", which is only one of the two parties in the island, in contravention of all norms of justice and the realities. The EU's support for an overall settlement between two equal parties, on the one hand, and its treatment of one of the parties as eligible to negotiate in the name of Cyprus, on the other, is a contradiction that forces the limits of logic and justice.
The EU must carefully refrain from adopting positions that undermine the good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General and create difficulties for reaching a freely negotiated settlement between the two equal parties in Cyprus. Any disregard for these issues will not serve the cause of peace, security and stability, not only in the island of Cyprus but also in the Eastern Mediterranean in general.
The reality of the existence of two equal peoples and two sovereign states in Cyprus cannot be disputed. The chances of achieving an overall settlement in Cyprus will only increase by taking these realities into account. The erroneous position taken by EU on the issue of Cyprus will necessitate the furtherance of our existing special ties and relationship with our motherland and guarantor, Turkey.
In the event that the European Union accepts the full membership of the Greek Cypriot administration in the name of "Cyprus", it will shoulder the heavy responsibility of dividing the island permanently. We would like to believe that the EU will act in full cognizance of its historic responsibility in this respect. [/i]