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Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media (Cyprus PIO Review) 96-06-18.From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <pzaphiri@glue.umd.edu>Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office DirectoryTURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 107/96 18/6/96CONTENTS[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Denktash on EU accession, integration with Turkey.[02] Asil Nadir to sell another hotel in the occupied area.[03] Turkish warships to call at occupied Famagusta and Kyrenia ports.TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Denktash on EU Accession integration with TurkeyAccording to illegal BRTK (1630 hours, 17/6/96) the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in a statement to illegal BRTK and the Turkish Cypriot News Agency in Nicosia on 17 June, inter alia, said: "We are ready to hold talks with Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides to resolve the Cyprus problem on the basis of a wide-ranging framework. The wide-ranging framework has been established by the Ghali set of ideas. However, the Greek Cypriot side has not agreed to it. We have disclosed that we are ready to agree to 91 percent of its provisions. Nevertheless, we cannot tell the Greek Cypriot side to accept the set of ideas and then move to hold talks. Nor can the Greek Cypriots tell us to do so. We considered the framework and urge them to agree to hold talks on the Cyprus problem on that basis, that is, if that is the direction they want to take.However, the Greek Cypriots are moving in the wrong diretion. According to the framework, the Cyprus problem will have to be resolved and the status of the two sides established. That is when two separate referendums will be held on Cyprus' accession to the EU. Do the Greek Cypriots agree to that. If so, then they should agree to hold talks. The parameters of a bizonal solution are on the negotiating table. Let us hold talks on them. However, Clerides' approach is as follows: A basis does not exist for talks. I will not agree to hold talks just for the sake of talking. Why has Clerides adopted such an approach? Well, he has been reassured on accession to the EU. How has he been reassured? EU officials have said: We will decide which side maintains an irreconcilable approach when the time comes." Further on Denktash claimed: "A diplomat informed some Turkish Cypriot people that the Turkish Cypriot side should apply to join the EU. He is not one of the diplomats whom I received today. Some of our colleagues have asked why we have not decided to apply to the EU. Their question can be answered as follows: Is the side that urged us to apply to join the EU not aware of how the EU regards the Turkish Cypriots? He is fully aware of that. How does the EU regard us? It views us as a minority community, a minority people in Greek Cyprus. The EU decided to hold talks only with the legitimate Cyprus government and establish contacts with the Turkish Cypriot community. Our appliation will support the appeal of the Greek Cypriot administration, which the EU desribed as the legitimate Cyprus Government. However, we were not consulted when the Greek Cypriots applied to join the organization. The Greek Cypriots have applied to join the EU, in which Turkey is not a member. We will support their application if we make a similar move. Will the Turkish Cypriots agree to join the EU before Turkey's accession to the organization? First of all, do they have the right to agree to join the EU before the Turkey's accession is realized?" And he concluded by claiming: "We will move to integrate with Turkey if the Greek Cypriots integrate with Greece. In fact, it is wrong to say that we will integrate with Turkey if the Greek Cypriots integrate with Greece. The Greek Cypriots already have integrated with Greece. They have achieved economic and political integration. Decisions are adopted in Athens. That is why Glafkos Clerides frequently visits Greece. They also have achieved military integration. In fact, they are enhancing their military integration at the present time. So, considering Turkey's guarantee, we have informed the Greek and the Greek Cypriot side that we will integrate with Trukey if they move any further. We have informed Europe as follows: You must abandon your approach and end the process. Otherwise, you will create clashes in Cyprus, not peace. Whether or not the European countries will heed our messages is another matter. However, those who argue that the Turkish Cypriot side should agree to join the EU must realize that no one will agree to either receive or regard us as a separate entity. Those who regard us as a minority community want us to support the Greek Cypriot application. Well, no one among the Turkish Cypriot people will support their application." [02] Asil Nadir to sell another hotel in the occupied areaAccording to CUMHURIYET (14.6/96) the fugitive Turkish Cypriot businessman who jumped British bail and sought refuge in in the occupied part of Cyprus, Asil Nadir, is getting ready, after Jasmine Court Hotel in occupied Kyrenia, to sell the Palm Beach Hotel in the occupied area.CUMHURIYET says that the Dedeman Group of Turkey will buy the hotel. (M.Y.) [03] Turkish warships to call at occupied Famagusta and Kyrenia portsAccording to KIBRIS (18.6.96) Turkish warships that are taking part in the Sea-wolf - 2/96 military exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean will be visiting the occupied Kyrenia and Famagusta ports on 19 and 21 June.KIBRIS reports that people will be able to visit the warships. (M.Y.) |