TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 96-01-01

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.1/96 30/12/95-1/1/96

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Demirel-Denktash joint declaration

"The Republic of Turkey and the Tukrish Republic of Northern Cyprus,

Underlining the full political and legal equality of the Turkish Cypriot people in determining the future of Cyprus, as confirmed and enshrined in international treaties,

Reiterating that Turkey recognizes the TRNC as a sovereign and independent state,

Believing in the need for the two peoples of the island to live side by side in mutual respect, peace, security and cooperation,

Recalling that a just ad lasting settlement of the Cyprus question could be achieved through negotiations between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples,

Reiterating the continued validity of the system of guarantees as established by the 1960 Treaties,

Have decided as follows: (a) The ultimate aim in Cyprus is the achievement of a bi-zonal and bi-communal federal settlement based on the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides. The settlement to be reached shall be submitted to the two peoples in separate referendums in order to enable them to reflect their free will. (b) The full and effective guarantee of Turkey will continue under the Treaties of Guarantee and Alliance of 1960 following a final political settlement. (c) The EU membership of Cyprus can be taken up in discussions once the final political settement is reached. However, it should be borne in mind that, as stipulated by the 1959 Zurich and London Agreements, Cyprus cannot join international political and economic unions in which Turkey and Greek are not members. (d) The objective of EU membership will be taken into consideration during the intercommunal talks conducted under the auspices of the UN, and after the two sides agree on fundamental issues such as sovereign equality, they could begin to discuss, as a separate topic, the conditions of EU membership for Cyprus. (e) Accession talks with the EU should be carried out only after the final settlement, within the framework of the common positions to be agreed upon by the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides and with the participation of a joint delegation. (f) Until the final settlemnet, as well as before and after it, Turkey will continue to fully ensure the security of the TRNC and shall take all necessary counter measures against the ongoing Greek/Greek Cypriot attempts of military escalation. (g) The two sides confirm that the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU does not include any provision that hinders commercial and economic relations between Turkey and the TRNC.

Incentive and support measures designed to promote trade and economic relations as well as bilateral investments between Turkey and the TRNC will be maintained. (h) With a view to promoting trade and economic relations between Turkey and the TRNC, the opportunities provided by the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU will be put to use to the fullest extent possible. (i) Taking into account that after a political settlement the federal Cyprus can join the EU only simultaneously with Turkey's accession, it is decided to initiate the preparations which will facilitate harmonization with the EU and gradually implement them. (j) Turkey and the TRNC will make joint efforts to ensure the lifting of all restrictions imposed on the TRNC in the international arena with a view to providing unhindered political, economic, and cultural ties between the TRNC and third countries pending a political settlement. (k) Turkey will make its political contribution in order to enable the TRNC to express its views in international organizations. To this end, the existing close cooperation between the Ministries of Foreign Affairis of Turkey and the TRNC will be intensified and a permannet consultation mechanism will be established. (l) The two sides will achieve these basic objectives in due course through intensifying high level visits and contacts as well as joint technical work."

[02] Denktash returns from Ankara, assesses contacts

Denktash concluded his contacts in Turkey and returned to the occupied area. In a statement at Tymbou Airport, Denktash alleged that for the past 32 years, the Greek Cypriot side has been exerting efforts to eliminate the guarantee agreement. Denktash noted that the declaration signed with Turkey shows that the guarantee agreement will be defended even more strongly. The following questions were also clarified during this visit to Ankara, Denktash explained: "Will we join the EU? If so, when? Can we join without Turkey?"

Denktash said that these and similar questions, which caused anxiety in the occupied area have now been totally eliminated. Noting that he returned to the island with the best gift for the people on the occasion of 1996, Denktash underlined that passive attitudes must be abandoned in favour of investments, hard work, and measures for the solution of economic problems. Turkey's enthusiasm to help the Turkish Cypriots will increase as the Turkish Cypriots adopt more measures to solve the existing problems, Dnektash said. He declared: "Naturally, we must adopt the necessary measures with courage."

Explaining that moves pertaining to economic measures will be undertaken soon, he said that there are also certain expectations from the Turkish Cypriots and these must be realized.

Denktash recalled that during his dinner with Demirel he also met with Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Ciller and other officials. Denktash reported that all Turkish officials wished the Turkish Cypriot people a happy new year.

Asked if a policy has been determined prior to the arrival of Richard Holbrooke, US Under-Secretary of State, in Cyprus, Denktash responded: "Our stand had been formulated, but everyone said that Ankara was not in agreement with us." Denktash pointed out that Turkey has also been declaring the same things, recalling that Turkey has never hinted that it could renounce or even negotiate the guarantee agreement. Noting that Turkey has never relinquished the guarantor role accorded to it by the 1960 agreements, Denktash stated that the Greek Cypriots are engaged in deliberate efforts to spread the contrary to the world.

Greek Cypriot attempts to solve the Cyprus problem by referring it to the EU, despite the appeals for negotiations on the part of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side constitute a mistake, Denktash said, stressing that no one can force or pressure the Turkish Cypriots to do anything. Denktash declared that he is in favour of negotiations as long as the equality and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots are accepted and the guarantee and alliance agreements are not violated. All appeals for negotiations were ignored by the Greek Cypriot side, Denktash alleged.

[03] Ecevit meets Denktash in Ankara

"On 1st January, you will have joined the Customs Union (CU) with Europe. We entertained great concerns about the fate of Turkey's commitments toward us. During my meeting with Presdient Suleyman Demirel when I visited Ankara one month ago, I expressed this concern. As a result, this declaration was signed today, we are satisfied with the declaration."

In his statement, Ecevit explained that the anxiety over Turkey's possible participation in the "embargo" imposed on northern Cyprus continued until now.

Ecevit said: "Mr. Denktash and Mr. Demirel issued a joint declaration, which states in a satisfactory manner that the Turkish Republic will not allow such a measure. I hope that the EU will demonstrate the necessary understanding on this matter. No Turkish government can live with an embargo imposed on the TRNC."

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriots have also decided to eliminate custom duties, Ecevit stressed, that aid to the Turkish Cypriots must be increased to counter the losses incurred as a rsult of this measure.

[04] Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman - Customs Union will not affect trade with Turkish Cypriots.

Ambassador Omer Akbel, Foreign Ministry spokesman, answered a question in connection with the statements issued by the Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman to the effect that Turkey will not be able to import from the occupied area as of 1st January 1996. In this regard, Akbel declared, there is no difference for Turkey between the period ending 31 December 1995 and the period thereafter, when the Customs Union agreement becomes effective.

Akbel said: "In actual fact, when that article is carefully read, the interpretation of those provisions of Resolution 1/95 that are similar to the Rome Treaty indicate that the decisions of the European Court of Justice will be put into use. Acting from this premise, it is impossible to derive a negative result in connection with the TRNC. Moreover, during no phase of the negotiations conducted with the EU Commission regarding the Customs Union have our counterparts ever stated that the Customs Union could adversely affect our trade with the TRNC."

[05] Free Trade Working Document with Turkish Cypriots denied

Replying to a question, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Omer Akbel recalled that according to these reports, the "TRNC" reacted to the working document because it includes the word `Cyprus'. Akbel said that these reports are unfounded. He stressed that "intergovernmental" negotiations were not held in connection with a free trade agreement, and consequently there were not any reactions to it.