Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-11-21

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

Íï. 210/96 21/11/1996

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Journalists Conference in Ankara debates Turkey's entry to the EU, Cyprus and Greco-Turkish relations

[02] Denktash insists on his stand on Cyprus' EU membership

[03] Kotak "appointed" so-called director of illegal BRT"

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Journalists Conference in Ankara debates Turkey's entry to the EU, Cyprus and Greco-Turkish relations

As expected the debates focused on Turkey's faulty human rights record. The foreign participants tended to see the human rights abuses more as a matter of democracy culture - or lack of it - rather than "an inevitable but passing phenomenon associated with a separatist war" in the southeast of Turkey as the Turkish participants generally claimed. "No matter how one might try to justify it hit squads, secret executions, disappearances tarnish a country's reputation just as a single drop of blood will cloud a pitcher of water and render it undrinkable", said Andrew Finkle of the Times.

As also expected the Cyprus issue and Greco-Turkish relations were also brought up during the debates.

According to the article, Costas Iordanidis of the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, noted that like his Greek counterpart Costas Simitis, Erbakan had taken particular care to avoid any rhetoric against Athens, which he said provided a new opportunity for a reconciliation between the two countries. The Greek journalist added, however, that the EU could provide a frame for the resolution of the Turco-Greek disputes - not knowing or ignoring the fact that Ankara foreign ministry is categorically opposed to any link between questions concerning Turkey's ties with the European Union and the Cyprus or Aegean disputes. Another matter remains to be the authenticity of Greek appreciation fo Erbakan's credentials as a potentional negotiation partner, in view of Erbakan's vitriolic attacks on any statement or action from other politicians that even hinted of a step back from solidified Turkish positions regarding the Aegean and Cyprus. The journalists conference gave further indications that the Cyprus dispute will continue to be a central theme in the controversies surrounding Turkey's membership bid. "Those who believe in Ankara", the article says "that the European partners will wait until Turkey's membership before they can pull in Greek Cyprus into their union, wait; Deklan Burke-Kennedy of the Irish Times has news for you:

'There has been a worrying trend recently for Turkish government spokespeople to assume first, that in international law, Turkey has a hard-and-fast veto over whether Cyprus can join the EU, and, secondly, Turkey will somehow ride into the EU on Cyprus' back.

Neither of these views is widely shared within the EU ... The international agreement between Turkey, Britain and Greece that allegedly provides for the veto stipulates that Cyprus may only join an international body when to which both Greece and Turkey already belong. However, this provision may be regarded obsolete, having been violated without objection on two occasions. First, when Cyprus joined the British Commonwealth, and secondly, when Cyprus joined the non-aligned movement'." (EF)

[02] Denktash insists on his stand on Cyprus' EU membership

Denktash further said that his real problem is "to create an independent Cyprus where the Turkish Cypriots will never be under the Greek Cypriot yoke again". He went on and said: "If, as TRNC and Turkey, we do not take the necessary serious steps, I am afraid soon we will reach the point of no return".

He claimed that as long as the EU supports and encourages President Clerides, he will not be coming to the negotiation table and will not discuss the parameters that are on the table. "If that is the case then we have to stop paying attention to the Cyprus problem and start looking into our domestic affairs. Time has come to think how we will develop the country", he said.

Denktash alleged that Greece and the Cyprus government were trying to isolate Turkey on the Cyprus problem and he urged the Congress to take into account this reality and work accordingly. Warning that the Cyprus problem is going through its worst period Denktash alleged that the international community has turned its attention to securing the withdrawal of the occupation troops that guarantee the Turkish Cypriots' existence.

"This will be our end. We have to see the realities. We have to come to our senses. Cyprus is not a Greek island. The Turkish Cypriots have as much rights as the Greek Cypriots on this island.

No one can touch the guarantee system. This system cannot be watered down", he claimed.

Referring to Cyprus EU membership Denktash said: "This is a Greek Cypriot train. It is not heading towards the direction and place I want it to. I am still waiting for Cyprus' train. I am waiting for the train when Turkey will be an EU member and then Cyprus will also become a member.

Cyprus cannot be a member to a union unless both motherlands are members to that Union. This is stipulated by the 1960 Treaties".

Declaring that Turkey has political, historical and geopolitical interests in Cyprus Denktash said that the 1960 Guarantee Treaties carry great importance for Turkey and that motherland Turkey will never allow the watering down of the guarantee agreements.

"We will not abandon the 1960 Treaties. If Turkey is not included, then we will not enter the EU under any conditions either" concluded Denktash. (MY)

[03] Kotak "appointed" so-called director of illegal BRT

According to the so-called law, Kotak should resign from his party's chairmanship. (MY). EF/MKA