Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media (95-11-27)

From: Giorgos Zacharia <lysi@MIT.EDU>

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS

AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 222/95 25-26-27/10/95

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] News Items

[01] "Trial" of Greek Cypriot soldier postponed to 27 November

According to illegal Bayrak Radio (1630 hours, 24/11/95) Yiorgos Karotsakis, the Greek Cypriot soldier who was captured on 3 November by Denktash's regime, has appeared in "court" again and "Military Judge" Yaasar Atasagun and "Prosecutor" Cosar Akanyut decided to postpone the "trial" to 27 November.

In the "court's" decision, Atasagun said that Karotsakis is liable to receive a three-year prison sentence for his main offense, which is allegedly secretly entering a first-degree military zone, and a two-year prison sentence for his second offense, which is entering a first-degree military zone without permission. Explaining that he considers the lack of a (word indistinct) investigation report as a shortcoming and in view of the "accused" being a 19-year offender and the seriousness of the charges, Atasagun decided to postpone Karotsakis "trial" to 27 November so that the investigation report could be concluded.

[02] Deadlock develops in talks for new "Coalition"

According to KIBRIS (24/11/95), a deadlock has emerged in the talks held last week between the Democratic Party (DP) and the National Unity Party (NUP) for the establishment of a right-wing "coalition government", which would have the support of 31 of the 50 so-called parliamentarians in the pseudostate's "Assembly".

The sides disclosed at the end of the 23 November meeting that the talks ended in the deadlock. The main reason for the setback was a disagreement between the two sides on the appointment of the first "prime minister" in accordance with the rotating system that they had agreed on.

Meanwhile, the two parties also failed to agree on the DP- Republican Turkish Party (RTP) calendar for the realization of the economic program and measures to improve the so-called public administration system.

The two sides had suspended their talks for two days after Denktash disclosed recently that he "would not designate NUP leader Dervis Eroglu as the first prime minister of the new coalition".

In view of the deadlock, the DP "Parliamentary Assembly Group" will hold an extraordinary meeting to assess the current situation. The concerned NUP groups are also expected to meet to discuss the situation. It has been reported that the DP and the RTP may now consider the possibility of establishing their third "coalition government".

[03] Demirel, Denktash comment on Cyprus

According to TRT Television Network (1600 hours, 24/11/95), during a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash at Cankaya Mansion, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel said that the Cyprus issue is the national cause of Turkey and its people. Demirel added that neither Turkey nor the "TRNC" are against finding a political solution to this issue.

"The political solution should be a viable solution. For this reason, it should be just and should definitely ensure the security and rights of our kinsmen in the TRNC without bringing up past conditions and situations. This should not be a forced solution. It should be a solution that will enable the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots, two communities that are the continuation of two nations, to peacefully coexist on the island neither as a majority nor a minority. A forced solution will create greater difficulties in the future", Demirel said.

In his turn, Rauf Denktash claimed that there is a basis for conducting negotiations and that no one in Cyprus can be interested in a forced solution, which would transform the peace on the island into a bloody war. He also claimed that those who describe Turkey as an occupier should abandon this mistaken conception.

[04] Denktash comments on U.S. initiative on Cyprus issue

According to illegal Bayrak Radio (1630 hours, 25/11/95), Rauf Denktash has said that the Cyprus problem is Turkey's number one national issue and that there is no need for concern that Turkey will compromise it. He alleged that everything is being done in order to progress toward peace.

Denktash met with Turkish President Demirel, Deniz Baykal, deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, and State Minister Munif Islamoglu, who is also responsible for Cyprus affairs. Denktash discussed these talks with illegal Bayrak Radio and Television (BRT).

Replying to a question, Denktash said that during the meetings they discussed the preparations of the United States for a new initiative. He said that the U.S. interest in the Cyprus problem is very old, and that the U.S. administration is trying to make sure that there is no confrontation between Turkey and Greece, two of its allies. He stated that the initiatives of Richard Beattie, President Clinton's special representative, and of Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke must be considered natural. Denktash added that the U.S. officials have said that they will not impose any policy on the Cyprus issue and that the problem must be resolved by the two sides, under equal terms. He also said that U.S. officials have said that the goodwill mission of the UN Secretary General cannot be pushed aside, and that they have promised that they are only trying to help. He added that Beattie and Holbrooke will not bring any plans or demand that these plans be implemented. Nobody should worry about that, Denktash said, adding that an agreement imposed from the outside will not resolve the Cyprus problem.

Denktash claimed that the Greek Cypriots are culculating that by joining the EU, they will cancel the guarantee agreement, violate the principle of bizonality, and enable the Greek Cypriot refugees to go back to their homes. Denktash alleged that if Holbrooke comes and helps the Greek Cypriots to achieve these aims, then he will be paving the way for a future Turkish Greek war.

He reiterated his known allegations that the Greek Cypriots are destroyed the basis composed of two equal and sovereign communities that was erected in 1960, and added: "Because the Greek Cypriots did this, the Turkish Cypriots want an agreement based on bizonality, which means that a sovereign community lives in one of the zones. The Greek Cypriots will not touch the guarantee agreement, and the number of Turkish troops will be raised in accordance with the number of Greek troops on the other side so that the Greek Cypriots will not again do something crazy."

Denktash reiterated that if the Greek Cypriots join the EU on their own as the legitimate government of Cyprus, then the Turkish Cypriots will integrate with Turkey under the same principles. He claimed that integration is not annexation.

Asked what will happen if the Democratic Party and the National Unity Party fail to set up a "government", Denktash said that he will assign someone. If he fails, he said, either I will assign someone else, or with the decision of the parties, we can hold early "elections".

Denktash explained that early elections will not solve the problem and that the "assembly" will have almost the same composition.

He concluded by saying that his contacts in Ankara were very satisfactory, and that through State Minister Islamoglu he had the opportunity to contact Prime Minister Ciller. He stressed that he was very pleased with the time allotted to him during this election period in Turkey, and with the detailed discussions he had held with the officials.

[05] Richard Boucher: "96: A year of progress for Cyprus"

According to Cyprus Today (25/11/96), US Ambassador Richard Boucher in an exclusive interview with Cyprus Today and sister newspaper Kibris said that next year offers a real chance of making progress towards a Cyprus settlement, but both of the island's communities must find the determination to create a "momentum for peace" if the opportunity is to be seized.

Mr Boucher told reporters and editors of the two papers that America detected a growing desire among people on both sides to bring their three-decades-old dispute to an end.

And he believed other factors, including a move towards Europe and the support of outside powers such as Turkey, could help to bring about progress early in 1996.

"We continue to believe that it's possible .... to reach an agreement that will satisfy the basic needs of each of the communities, but to do that, people have to be determined to sit down and be willing to negotiate - and that means dealing not only with one's own concerns but dealing with the concerns on the other side.

We also think it's important to try to create some momentum for peece with either side.

We've seen a lot of negative events and influences in the last month or more, especially rock throwing, and those who are sincerely interested in reaching a solution ..... need to stand up and say so .... and not just point fingers at the other side."

Mr Boucher said that despite the "distractions" of cross- border debate and argument, he recognised a "very strong desire" for peace among ordinary people on both sides, while both leaderships, too, said they could achieve that desire.

Another "significant factor" was the move towards Europe, he said, which was good for stability and an opportunity for both sides to forge a new relationship and reap political and economic benefits.

"We are not interested in repeating history, particularly in a place like Cyprus where tragedy has been bad for both communities and history has not treated either one well...

I don't want to pretend to be naive or terribly optimistic, but I do think that some of these factors... the factor that people now want a settlement, the fact of the opportunities with Europe, the fact that we can have both communities address each other and have the help of outsiders ... these mean that there is a possibility of progress next year.

Our job is to turn a possibility into a probability."

Mr Boucher said US presidential envoy Richard Beattie would be in Cyprus early next month for contacts with both sides. He said the visit was unlikely to bring any "dramatic announcements", but was intended to lay the foundation for further negotiations.

Mr Boucher said the US still saw the UN Confidence-Building Measures (CMBs) as important practical moves, but believed they needed to be put into a political context.

[06] On the participation of Turkish Cypriot teams in the Cyprus football championship

According to YENI DUZEN (25.11.95), the Chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Football Team Cetinkaya, HUSEYIN OZGURGUN, commenting on Cyprus Football Federation (KOP) Chairman Marios Lefkarites' statement that if Cetinkaya or any other Turkish Cypriot football team applies to take part in the League championship they were ready to consider it, has said that Cetinkaya is still a KOP member which was "illegally kicked out." Ozgurgun added that they do not need to make a special application for KOP membership since they are still a member, and that in case the Greek Cypriots reconsider their past decision and invite them to play in the league, they will consider it in their authorized committees and take a decision accordingly.

"In case we are invited to participate, we will use Ataturk Stadium, that is, we will go, they will come," he said.

In his turn, the so-called chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Fottball Federation Omer Adul, who will be leaving for Paris on 11 December to take part in FIFA Executive Committee meetings, said that in order to test the sincerity of the Greek Cypriot proposal, he proposed the holding of friendly matches between Greek and Turkish Cypriot football teams.

[07] On the USA solution formula for Cyprus

According to HURRIYET (26/11/95) the USA has prepared a solution formula according to which the Cyprus problem will be solved by the spring of 1996.

The paper says that with a view to ensure his re-election, President Clinton wants to apply the Bosnian model in solving the Cyprus problem.

HURRIYET says that in line with this new initiative, President Clinton will next month send his special envoy Mr Beattie to Cyprus and later Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke for contacts.

HURRIYET further claims that it has succeeded in acquiring the main outline of the US plan.

The paper adds that an important source in the USA has told them that "it will be enough if you read carefully the Bosnian peace agreements to understand what we want to do in Cyprus".

"It has been learned that following Clinton's order, the White House has been mobilized in order to find a solution to the Cyprus problem by the spring of 1996 and to exert great pressure on Turkey, if need be" the paper says.

Following are the main points of the outline, says HURRIYET: a) Nicosia will be the capital of the Federal State. b) The Presidency will be involved in Federal Parliament, Constitutional Court, Sumbolic Armed Forces as well as Foreign Policy issues, European Union affairs and foreign trade issues. c) The State will be made up of two provinces (states); South Cyprus and North Cyprus. d) The provinces (states) shall have their own assembly, police force and Tax Offices. e) The Federal State shall in no way preclude the Communities' contacts with their respective motherlands; instead it will facilitate them. f) The Greek and Turkish Armed Forces present on the island will first be merged into a newly-formed peace force similar to IFOR of Bosnia and as this force starts withdrawing from the island, they, too, will gradually withdraw from the island.

With a view to securing the enforcement of the peace plan, the US will ask for sacrifices from Greece, Turkey and the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

The US administration, adds the paper, believe that once this plan is successful, solving other existing problems between Greece and Turkey, two NATO allies, will be made easier.