TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 95-12-08

From: Giorgos Zacharia <lysi@MIT.EDU>

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS

AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 231/95 8/12/95

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH CHANGES POSITION ON THE EU ISSUE

According to illegal BRTK (17:30 hours, 7/12/95), Rauf Denktash in an interview by illegal BRTK and TAK correspondents said:

"Denktash: We were informed by Richard Beattie yesterday that Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides has said that he will agree to hold talks on the rotating presidential system and the Turkish Cypriot sovereignty and equality if I agree to hold talks on Cyprus' accession to the EU after a federation is established. We responded by suggesting that we should put all that in writing so that he can convey it to Clerides. We did so and he took it to him. However, Clerides immediately reacted by saying;: No, that cannot be. I maintain a different view on sovereignty. Regarding the treaty of guarantees, Denktash wants to maintain it. However, I do not. So, we do not have a basis to resume the talks.

Considering that, I said that I hoped Mr Beattie has realized what the Greek Cypriots want to achieve. However, he insisted that the Greek Cypriots want to esbablish peace through negotiations and said that we should maintain our talks. Well, we have maintained our talks for 32 years. We will wait to see the developments in the future.

Correspondent: Mr Denktash, did you meet Beattie again yesterday?

Denktash: Yes, he called on me three times. We did not inform you on his arrival.

Correspondent: Did he inform you on the rejection of your proposal when he called on you the third time?

Denktash: He arrived and informed me as follows: I apologize. The situation is different. Mr Clerides does not agree.

I asked him to explain Clerides' problem. He replied by saying that Clerides believes that a difficult situation exists on sovereignty and equality. He also said that Clerides believes that the maintenance of the treaty of guarantees is difficult. Obviously, he does not want to have the treaty maintained. That is why he finds it difficult.

I informed Mr Beattie that we should hold talks on all that. That will give him an opportunity to explain his difficulty to us. However, Clerides rejected my call in his newspaper today. Obviously, he does not want to hold talks. The Greek Cypriots believe that they will achieve their objective. They believe that they will join the EU by themselves and that their accession will resolve the Cyprus issue. The Greek Cypriots will continue to waste time if the influential countries, which want to mediate on the Cyprus problem, do not clearly inform them that is impossible.

Correspondent: Has Mr (name indistinct) informed you on the EU approach on the matter today?

Denktash: Well, he has said that we should not worry because Britain is one of the parties which signed the treaty of guarantees. It will not relinquish it. Well, he has said that as a Britain official. However, we cannot reach an agreement by arguing on the validity of the treaty of guarantees. We regard the maintenance of the treaty of guarantees and the treaty of alliance as a basis. How can an agreement be reached if that basis is not accepted? The treaty of guarantees and Turkey's presence in Cyprus were the main targets of the Akritas Plan. Some 32 years have passed since the Akritas Plan was put into effect. However, the Greek Cypriots continue to argue against the treaty of guarantees and Turkey's presence in Cyprus. That is an unserious approach, which has brought to light their main intention.

Correspondent: Mr Denktash, the Greek Cypriot newspapers published a proposal by Glafcos Clerides today. He is said to have proposed that a referendum should be held on Cyprus' accession to the EU and then the two sides should move to hold talks on the solution to the Cyprus problem.

Denktash: Who will hold a referendum? Will it be the republic in south Cyprus or the republic in north Cyprus? The outcome of which referendum can be valid before unity is achieved and before the Turkish Cypriot rights and powers are established. That is ridiculous. His approach is not sincere. The Greek Cypriots have wasted 32 years. Unfortunately, they still try to trick us.

Correspondent: Mr Denktash, are you saying that you are prepared to hold talks on the confidence-building measures to resolve the Cyprus problem and that a referendum can be held later?

Denktash: We have drawn closer in the talks to agreeing to join the EU when a federation is established , that is on the condition that Clerides agrees to our sovereignty and equality and accepts the maintenance of the treaty of guarantees.

Correspondent: Mr Beattie said before he departed from Cyprus that you are less worried on Cyprus' accession to the EU. Can you comment on what has created that impression?

Denktash: I want to reiterate that we have changed our position. Meanwhile, we have urged Clerides to publicly disclose the views he has conveyed to the foreign officials behind closed doors. He has failed to do so.

[02] Denktash briefs "officials" on Beattie visit

According to illegal Bayrak Radio (1630 hours, 7/12/95) the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has briefed the so-called officials of political parties represented at the pseudo-assembly concerning the latest developments in the Cyprus issue. During the meeting, which was followed by press members, Denktash briefed party representatives on his contacts with Richard Beattie, U.S. President Bill Clinton's special envoy to Cyprus.

In his statement to reporters prior to the meeting, Denktash said that Beattie arrived in Cyprus in a bid to explore the possibilities of renewing the talks and added: "Upon the conclusion of their meetings, Beattie departed, saying that there are no grounds for conciliation." Noting that Beattie said that an American plan is not necessary (as heard), Denktash pointed out he discussed the preconditions for renewing talks with President Clerides.

Recalling that in 1994 the UN Secretary General called both sides to the negotiating table in a bid to proceed with the negotiations and discuss the essentials of the confidence- building measures, Denktash claimed: "We were confronted with the condition of accepting membership in the EU when we answered this call." Alleging that the talks were suspended on account of the stand adopted by President Clerides, Denktash said that even Beattie, in the wake of his contacts, could not overcome this deadlock, which is still continuing for the same reasons.

Reiterating that the Cyprus issue should be solved and the status of the Turkish Cypriots determined before membership in the EU can be considered, Denktash added: "Turkey's membership in the EU is important when the time comes for entering the EU". Stating that he told Beattie that "becoming a member of an EU that does not include, Turkey is tantamount to being deceived by a Cypriot ploy", Denktash said that he informed Beattie that such an undertaking will annul the rights granted to Turkey by the 1960 agreements and added: "This is exactly what Clerides seeks to achieve."

Denktash said: "Beattie, on the other hand, told me that Clerides is ready to accept the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots and accepted the theory of a federation to secure the continuation of the talks so that membership in the EU is achieved. For this reason, Beattie explained, the Turkish Cypriots have nothing to lose since a nubmer of the principles supported by us will be adopted." Denktash further stated that Beattie told him that this is an important step forward. Explaining that Beattie told him that he cannot leave Cyprus with his hands empty and that he wanted to attain something from the Turkish Cypriot side before departing, Denktash said that he gave Beattie a letter. He said that the letter asked that the sovereignty and political equality of the Turkish Cypriots be adopted at once, that discussions be held immediately regarding the essentials of the Cyprus issue, that all the embargoes imposed by the Greek-Greek Cypriot side and the EU be lifted in return for accepting membership in the EU as a federation in line with conditions stipulated in political agreements.

[03] Turkish Cypriots to hold youth another 8 days

According to illegal Bayrak Radio (1630 hours, 6/12/95) Ioannis Apostolides, who crossed into the occupied area on 16 November, has been "remanded in custody" for another eight days.

[04] Georghios Christofi handed over to UN

According to illegal Bayrak Radio (1130 hours, 7/12/95) Georghios Christofi, the Greek Cypriot who drove into the occupied area on 4 December, was returned to the free areas through the UN peace force.

[05] Ankara accuses Athens of "distorting facts" about Cyprus

According to ANATOLIA news agency (1528 hours, 7/12/95) Ankara Thursday accused Athens of distorting the facts about the Cyprus problem and urged the Greek Government to take over a constructive role on the issue.

Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nurettin Nurkan claimed that the Greek Government distorted facts about Cyprus and alleged that Turkey's invasion of Cyprus in 1974 was in a bid to prevent the annexation of the island and to protect the lives of Turkish people.

Nurkan claimed Turkey is the guarantee of peace and stability in Cyprus and wanted a just and stable solution to the problem.

[06] Turkish Cypriot journalists not allowed to come to the free areas.

The Turkish Cypriot daily ORTAM (7/12/95), in a front-page article under the title "Big scandal", writes that the Denktash regime does not allow the paper's journalist Ibrahim Ozsoy and YENI DUZEN'S Oya Gurel, to come to the free areas along with other Turkish Cypriot journalists, because these two journalists, in their various articles, criticize Denktash and the so-called government.

[07] KIBRIS publishes text of Denktash's proposals

KIBRIS (8.12.95) alleges that President Clerides, by rejecting the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Dentkash's latest proposal concerning the key aspects of the Cyprus problem, has once more underminded the efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

The paper alleges that President Clerides lead the goodwill mission of US President envoy to Richard Beattie into an impasse.

KIBRIS then publishes what it claims to be the text of the Turkish side's proposal sent through Mr. Beattie to President Clerides, regarding the Cyprus problem. It reads:

"The Turkish Cypriot side has agreed to consider support for the membership of the Cyprus Federation in the EU within the terms of a political settlement, and the Greek Cypriot side has agreed to respect, within the terms of a political settlement, the soverignty and political equality of the Turkish Cypriot side. They are willing to discuss, without prejudice to the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance, these issues and demilitarization. On this basis, the two leaders will meet for direct discussions in January."

KIBRIS claims that this text was jointly prepared with US officials.

KIBRIS also publishes the text of what it calls the original Turkish proposals, which were objected by Mr Beattie and upon his request they were witheld and not delivered to President Clerides. It reads:

"In return for our support for the membership of the Cyprus Federation in the EU within the terms of a political settlement, we would like the Greek Cypriot side to recognize and respect our soverigntly and political equality rights, as a consituent community, now, and to agree to engage in substantive negotiations with us immediately with the purpose of reaching a mutually acceptable comprehensive settlement. Parallel to the above, and as proof of their recognition and respect of our rights, we would expect the Greek Cypriot side to lift the obstacles they have unjustly impossed on this Turkish Cypriot side in areas like commerce, travel, tourism, sports, communications etc. We would also expect the EU to accept to deal with us as an equal party in any dialogue with "Cyprus" by changing the terms of its resolutions of 6 March and 12 June 1995, and by reversing the obstructive and discriminative implications of the ECJ ruling of 5 July 1994."

[08] Baykal: Within five years, we must sign an agreement with the Greek Cypriots

SABAH (7.12.95) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister and deputy Prime Minister Deniz Baykal, denied reports that Turkey has sacrified Cyprus for the sake of the Customs Union agreement with the EU. Baykal, without giving names, criticized Democratic Left Party leader Bulent Ecevit, who in 1974 ordered the Turkish troops to invade and occupy part of Cyprus.

"It is meaningless for those who in time refused the EU membership, to come and criticize the distance we have covered on the CU issue", he said.

Baykal, speaking at a press conference organized in Brussels, admitted the fact that "within the next five years Turkey must sign an agreement with the Cyprus Government", but he added that "negotiations on the Cyprus problem are continuing and five years is a long time to go".

He went on and said "the difficulties we are facing today regarding the CU are the result of the mistace that was made not to take the opportunity presented to us to become an EU member during the 70s and 80s. Had we taken part in the building of the Union, today we would be in a place already ahead of the CU. Those who refused at that time entry to the EU, cannot come and say now that more chances are provided to Spain, Greece and Portugal than to Turkey. It is nothing but a meaningless statement" declared Baykal.