TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 96-04-03

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 60/96 3.4.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gonensay outlines Turkish foreign policy

Addressing parliament while presenting the 1996 budget of his ministry, Gonensay said Turkish foreign policy will be to make use of opportunity and new horizons and to refrain from negative aspects, horizons and risks.

Gonensay briefed about Turkey's relations with the UN, OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe)), NATO, WEU Western European Union), EU, the U.S. and other countries. "The UN should become the real centre of security and global solidarity, Turkey actively contributes to the reformation studies on the issue" he added.

Speaking about the OSCE issue Gonensay said Turkey could not accept suspension of the agreement principles with fait accompli and unilateral austerities as these principles have priority for the security of Turkey as well as the sovereignty and stability of Caucasian republics.

Gonensay said Customs Union accord was an important step taken on the way to improve Turkey's bid to become full member of the EU adding: "Customs Union is a whole and Turkey and the EU could further improve relations on political issues and in various sectors of economy." "Greek efforts which aimed at hindering cooperation between Turkey and the EU contradicts with all positive developments" he claimed.

He said Turkey supported the contributions of the Council of Europe to the strengthening of democracies and security of the region adding: "We want to benefit from the experience of this organization on democracy and human rights fields, but we complain about the unjust criticism we received from this organization."

Mentioning that respect to human rights became a global principle today, Gonensay said "every country has to take measures and steps on this issue as nobody is perfect on human rights."

"Turkey made constitutional amendments and took additional steps to this end" Gonensay added. "We take constructive criticism into consideration and respond to ones which aimed at defaming Turkey's image."

"On the Iraq issue, we call for the international community to decrease the difficulties of Iraqi people, regarding their positive approach shown in cooperation with the UN" Gonensay said, adding that Turkey respects sovereignty and extends support to the territorial integrity of Iraq.

He said Turkey opposed to the establishment or a separate state and any formation that will set a base for the establishment of that state in northern Iraq.

Gonensay said Turkey was resolved to preserve the security interests of the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" claiming Greek and Greek Cypriots' aim to create de facto situations in Cyprus and in the region was unacceptable for Turkey .

The foreign minister alleged full membership of Cyprus to the EU could only be brought to the agenda after a political solution, adding "Greece should give up the act of trying to harm Turkey's interests, supporting the groups which were Turkey's enemies and policy to hammer Turkey's relations with European allies, partners and with the EU".

Evaluating Turkey's relations with Greece, Gonensay said respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty is the basic principle of Turkish foreign policy alleging Turkey did not have an aye on the territories of any country. "We wait for the same sensitivity from all our neighbours", he said.

Meanwhile according to TRT television Network (17.00 hours, 2/4/96) replying to criticism voiced by opposition members during the debate on the budget Gonensay, commenting on the recent overture toward Greece, said that Greece was informed that "we could resort to the international legal process only on matters that are deemed suitable and with our own consent". Gonensay emphasized that this does not constitute a step back from their "just theses". On the contrary Gonensay alleged, this erases the impression that Turkey is evading the international legal process. Gonensay announced that this overture is not related to the EU Association Council meeting and, moreover, EU member countries were warned not to link the bilateral problems with Greece to this matter.

Stating further that Turkey did not make concessions regarding Cyprus for the sake of the Customs Union with the EU, Gonensay said that Turkey reserves the rights stemming from the London and Zurich agreements and that "the Greek Cypriot sector will not be admitted as a full EU member before a solution is reached in Cyprus or before Turkey joins the EU".

[02] Talat meets Pauline Green and Serge Abou in London

During the four hour meeting the discussion was centred on the Cyprus problem and Cyprus EU membership. Talad tried to convince Green and Abou that Cyprus entry into the EU would not be possible prior to the settlement of the problem. In their turn Green and Abou told Talat that the Greek Cypriots are ready for a settlement.

After the meeting Talat told the journalists that he had told Mrs Green and Mr Abou that the Greek side is lying regarding Greek Cypriots readiness for a Cyprus settlement. (MY)