Turkish Cypriots Demonstrate for Solution

With the call of "This country is ours platform" more than 35 thousand Turkish Cypriots gathered in the northern part of Nicosia on Thursday to demonstrate for an urgent agreement to the Cyprus problem and for the resignation of Rauf Denktash, leader of the regime in the north.

There was a general strike all over the northern part of Cyprus to support the demonstration for peace and membership to EU. The UN has a deadline for signing of an agreement until the 28th of February 2003 based on the "Annan Plan", named after the UN Secretary General. Kofi Annan.

At the demonstration people shouted slogans such as "Peace cannot be prevented in Cyprus", "Denktash resign", and "Denktash is a traitor", expressing their disappointment and anger at Denktash who has blocked the UN peace process which foresaw the agreement based on the Annan plan to be signed at the EU Enlargement Summit at Copenhagen on the 12-13th of December.

So far the biggest demonstration for peace and membership to EU, the demonstration attracted more than 6 thousand youth with colorful banners and slogans. 7 political youth organizations, among them Social Liberation Party (TKP) Youth Branch, CTP Youth Branch, YBH Youth, Youth Center, Cyprus Youth Movement, Cypriot Youth Platform and DAU-KOB which is the university youth, gathered the 6 thousand youth prior to the demonstration to march to the Inonu Square in Nicosia. 7 youth organizations have started a campaign called "Operation Saving Our Future"

At the demonstration speakers such as Mustafa Akinci, former leader of TKP (Communal Liberation Party) and Ferdi Sabit Soyer, General Secretary of CTP(Republican Turkish Party) criticized Denktash and said that there isn't one Turkey but two: one of them wanting to join EU for prosperity and democracy, the other one against the EU that is the forces commonly called as "The deep state" in Turkey.

The "Deep State", consisting of military-civil authorities organized within the state are trying desperately to block the way to peace in Cyprus and the EU membership of Turkey. Soyer and Akinci criticized Denktash and the "Deep State", as well as the "opposition" leader in Turkey, Deniz Baykal, president of CHP and said that decisions about the fate of Turkish Cypriots will not be taken in Ankara but in Nicosia. (NM)

For photos of the news: http://www.yenicag-net.com/haber/d/261202/index.htm

For news about demonstrations during this month: http://www.yenicag-net.com/haber/d/index.htm

For photos of youth during today's meeting: http://www.yenicag-net.com/gko/261202/index.htm

For news, photos and information about the "Operation Saving Our Future" of youth: http://www.yenicag-net.com/gko/index.htm