TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 95-12-22 (fwd)

From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <pzaphiri@Glue.umd.edu>

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 241/95 22/12/95

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash rejects possible establishment of religious party

Recalling that there are reports and rumours to the effect that a religious party is to be established, Denktash said that Sheikh Nazim is somebody he has known since childhood, that their families are friends as well, and that he made this visit in order to find out whether Sheikh Nazim is behind the religious party that is being discussed. Recounting that he learned that Sheikh Nazim is not connected to such a development, Denktash said: "I expressed my views that there can be no such thing as a religious party as it would be illogical, unreasonable, and unconstitutional."

Explaining that using religion as a tool for politics is unreasonable and would have adverse affects, Denktash noted that he does not know who is involved in this issue and that no official application has been submitted yet. He added: "The Public Prosecutor's Office will take action on the issue should such an application be submitted, and the government will inform the relevant offices to ensure that the statutes of such a party are in line with the Constitution."

In reply to a question on whether Denktash belongs to the order of Sheikh Nazim, Denktash said: "I do not belong to any order. I never belonged to an order". "Denktash added that he takes an interest in the statements and activities of Sheikh Nazim as long as they are not against the "law."

[02] "Coalition" wins vote of confidence

According to the open vote, 29 "deputies" voted in favor of the coalition "government" and 18 voted against. Three "deputies" did not participate in the vote of confidence. Those in favour consisted of DP and RTR "deputies" and the opposing ballots came from the National Unity Party (NUP) and the Communal Liberation Party. One "deputy" from the National Birth Party and two NUP "deputies" did not participate in the vote of confidence.

The so-called assembly will next meet on 25 December in an extraordinary session on the Cyprus problem.

[03] 4.365 kg. of hashish found in the occupied area

[04] Interview by EU Ambassador to Cyprus

Following is the first part of excepts from the interview.

GILLES ANOUIL: The basic thought behind the EU idea is to establish peace among the European peoples and not nations or states.

One of the founders of the EU, Frenchman Jean Monet, said the following: "We are creating a union among the people and not a coalition among the states." How was this peace going to be established? For example, you could conclude a peace agreement. However, if we look into history, we see that peace accords were written off from time to time, and were not effective, thus the idea of "let us establish such a close relation among the EU countries and peoples that the idea of going into war is erased and becomes impossible" has emerged.

We have started with an economic integration, first with Coal and Steel, and then in 1957 with the Rome Agreement on all economic activities. This integration is progressing step by step in other fields as well. This step by step integration is going towards areas such as foreign policy, security policies, citizenship and justice issues, the fight against narcotics and crime.

At the beginning, the whole idea behind this was six countries and how to establish peace among the peoples of these countries.

As you know, our member countries are now 15 and they might reach 27 by next century. For this reason, when I read that the EU is an economic or a trading block, I believe that this is an incomplete definition regarding the EU.

Establishing peace means that we are interested in the Cyprus problem. The first reason regarding our interest in the issue is that the Cyprus government, the Greek Cypriot officials which is recognized has submitted an application for full EU membership in 1990. As you know, we do not grab the countries and make them our members. The issue is just the opposite. That is, European countries (because EU membership is limited to countries which geographically and culturally belong to Europe) when they feel that they are ready to become our members and when they want to, they apply to us, we examine and see whether they can be members immediately or at a later stage.

When Greece applied for full membership, for a long time we kept rejecting it because at that time Greece was ruled by the Colonels' Junta. So the important thing for a country to become an EU member is that it should be democratic, attached to democratic values and follow, in general terms, a liberal economy. Therefore, a country that has an economy similar to the former communist countries' economy can in no way become an EU member.

However, if a country has a democratic political system and a liberal economy, when that country applies for membership, we examine the case.

From the economic point of view, we have taken up Cyprus' case. If we consider the whole of the island, Cyprus' membership to the EU will not create a complex situation. Of course there are same sectors that should be in line with the EU rules. I don't think Cyprus will be a problem to the EU budget in channelling some funds, compared with the funds channelled to the south of Italy, Ireland or Portugal's less developed regions. However, naturally a Cyprus problem does exist. The Commission, when evaluating Cyprus' application in 1993, said that it wants the whole island's membership and put forward its views accordingly.

As you know, the AVIS was written at the beginning of this year and it reported that there was no real progress towards a solution. This is the point we have reached.

We have an application in front of us. It is said that six months after the famous conference that is to start next March next year in Italy, where the EU mechanism will be reviewed, accession negotiations will start. The conference might end forwards the middle of 1997. This internment raises the possibility that accession negotiations will start in 1998, and that these negotiations might last for one or two years.

Therefore, I would like to conclude my introductory speach with the following: We have until the year 2000 to see whether the EU membership of a Federal Cyprus, a united Cyprus is possible or not. QUESTION (M.A. Akpinar): If a settlement is reached, as a whole Cyprus' membership to the EU will be easier. But in case no solution is reached, what will be the position of the Greek Cypriot government? Will it be accepted into EU membership as a separate entity? If the Cyprus problem is not solved, will the Greek Cypriot Administration be admitted into the EU as a full member? GILLES ANOUIL: Of course this is a thousand dollar question, a million dollar question. If I am to be honest, I have no answer to your question. The process has started. However, it has not reached to the state of initiating the negotiations. But we do believe that this process will act as a catalyst in helping the solution of the Cyprus problem. May be later on I will be in a position to answer such questions. As far as I am concerned, at this stage I am unable to answer this question. And I do believe that nor can somebody else do so.

First of all, next year we have the afore-said conference. This conference will examine the structure of the EU that will accommodate more than 20 members. So, what will be the result of this conference?

Some members, for example the Germans and the Belgians, want the EU to move towards a federal structure. Some other members, for example the British, are reluctant to take further steps. So this is one of the parameters, and once the opening of our doors to other members appears on the agenda, in principle the negotiations will start with Cyprus and Malta. In the meantime, negotiations with the Central and Eastern European countries will also start. However, there exists no date yet. There are some member states that say: "We will not enlarge the EU bit by bit. We should not say let us take first the two countries, then Poland and Hungary and then the others." For this reason we might consider group membership. That is Mediterranean countries, Central and East European countries should be admitted at the same time, otherwise every time the EU is enlarged practical difficulties will emerge.

Let me give you an example: Language. The EU has a number of official languages equal to the total number of the official languages of its member - states. Let us think Cyprus' entry into the EU with its two official languages, Greek and Turkish. We have to determine our working language in a manner to accommodate Turkish as well. This means translators and interpreters. Here are two problems, in answering your question.

What can we say? The EU Ministerial Council has decided to start the process. But when the process will end? And how long will the negotiations last? What kind of authority will be given to the Commission as regards enlarging the EU by including Cyprus? Will it give a limited or extended authority? It is not possible to give an answer to these questions."

(to be continued)