Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-12-17

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.228/96 17.12.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash meets Rifkind, latter reveals 10-item document.

[02] Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman assesses Clinton's Cyprus report.

[03] Atun leads delegation to Council to Europe meeting in UK.

[04] Turkey's Soysal on Rifkind visit.

[05] Protocol to be signed after 19 December.

[06] Denktash meets Israeli Ambassador.

[07] Denktash leaves for Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash meets Rifkind, latter reveals 10-item document

Denktash held a news conference after meeting with Rifkind, the first British foreign secretary to be visiting Cyprus since 1960. According to Denktash, Rifkind said that it is more meaningful to meet the two leaders on the island, not in another country.

Denktash said that Rifkind told him that the Greek Cypriot leader is getting ready for direct talks with Denktash, and after he finishes his preparations, he will be ready to come to the negotiating table. Denktash also said that he was told by Rifkind that President Clerides agrees to a bizonal and bicommunal federal solution and to Turkey's guarantorship. Denktash said: "However, it seems Clerides had to add certain things to that. It seems Clerides realizes that the Greek Cypriot side will not be able to come to the north in its entirety and he accepts that".

Denktash said the world must tell the Cyprus Government and the Greek Cypriot people to start to see the realities in order to help make progress toward the solution being envisaged. He said the world must tell the Greek Cypriots to stop hoping that they will be able to come to the north "and kick the Turkish Cypriots out of their homes", that it must tell the Greek Cypriots that the exchange of population carried out in the past is still valid, and that it is impossible to eliminate the system of Turkey's guarantorship.

Denktash claimed that the Greek Cypriot side is promoting the Cyprus problem as if it were a question of joining the EU. "It is one thing to solve the Cyprus problem, and another for the two peoples to decide, following separate referendums and after the problem is resolved, whether or not to join the EU", he said.

Denktash said that he told the British Foreign Secretary the issue of the EU should no longer be discussed. He added that at the meeting he "understood how people are deceived into believing that the Turkish Cypriot side is intransigent."

Denktash described his meeting with Malcolm Rifkind as very beneficial.

Replying to a question, Denktash said that there are rumours that the two leaders might meet in March in 1997.

Following his meeting with Rauf Denktash, British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind said that they held a beneficial meeting. He added that during his contacts he saw that both sides are willing to have the problem resolved. He stressed that 1997 will be an important year for Cyprus, and unless a positive step is taken for the solution of the problem, it will be a lost opportunity.

Rifkind said that Britain supports a biregional and bicommunal federal solution, and that the two sides in Cyprus are not opposed to this model. It is time for a step to be taken for the solution of the Cyprus problem, he said, and the problem can be resolved by the two communities in Cyprus.

Replying to a question, Rifkind said that the two leaders must meet. He pointed to the benefits of a dialogue that can be started by the two leaders, adding, however, that the solution of the problem is not easy, and that preparations and a lot of work are necessary.

Rifkind completed his contacts on the island, held a news conference at the Ledra Palace, and left for Britain. At his news conference, Rifkind revealed a 10-item document, which he said contains elements that will help solve the Cyprus problem. He stressed that the aim should be to reach a comprehensive solution that will cover all the aspects of the Cyprus problem. He said that the solution should be in the form a biregional and bicommunal federation determined by high-level agreements and UN resolutions. He added that this federation and its constitution should reflect the political equality of the two communities as defined by the UN Secretary General. Rifkind stressed that the federation will have a single international identity and that the federation's existence and power will be subject to the approval of the two sides. The two sides will not be able to separate from the federation, partition the island, or dominate one another, he explained.

Rifkind said that the security of the two communities must be ensured by an international and joint security system to be established by international guarantees and with the approval of the two sides. He said that the "borders" of the two federated states will not be the present ones, and that they must be organized in a way that will help resolve the refugee problem.

Refkind pointed out that the two sides must meet face to face, with no restrictions and no conditions, and under UN auspices, so that a comprehensive solution can be reached during the first half of 1997. Therefore, he said, the efforts in this field must start right at the beginning of 1997.

Rifkind pointed out that for the talks to succeed, the two sides must trust each other completely. He said that in the coming months, encouraging steps must be taken and the two sides must refrain from taking steps that increase tension.

The British foreign secretary said that membership in the EU must be to the benefit of both sides and must protect the interests of the two sides. He said that if an agreement is reached in 1997, the EU must conduct membership negotiations with a biregional and bicommunal federation. He called on the two leaders to make efforts in light of these views in order to make 1997 the year of a solution.

[02] Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman assesses Clinton's Cyprus report

The Foreign Ministry spokesman said that in his report, Clinton recalls that when he came to Cyprus in September, Han Sung-chu, the UN Secretary-General's special envoy, said that the two leaders must meet and issue a joint statement in order to reduce the tension on the island. Akbel pointed out that the report notes that this initiative did not yield any results.

[03] Atun leads delegation to Council of Europe meeting in UK

A five-person delegation headed by Atun left for London to attend the meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on 18 December. The other members of the delegation are: Communal Liberation Party leader Mustafa Akinci, National Unity Party "Deputy" Kenan Atakol, Democratic Party "Deputy" Mustafa Adaoglu, and Republican Turkish Party "Deputy" Ozker Ozgur.

In a statement at occupied Tymbou airport before their departure, Atun said that they will attend the London meeting to express their views on the Cyprus problem and to hold contacts. He pointed out that the meeting is being held at a time when there is intense traffic regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem. He added: "We will try to ensure that the status and political equality of the TRNC -- which have been discussed for years -- are confirmed."

Atun claimed that it is regrettable that British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind took a step back from his first statements, "because the Greek Cypriots raised a big noise about them and exerted pressure on him".

[04] Turkey's Soysal on Rifkind visit

Commenting on Rifkind's visit, Soysal said: "As in the case of all meetings, the external appearance of the meeting that was held today conflicted with its essence. This has been the situation for many years. The officials usually convey optimistic messages when they meet. However, the realities come to light in a short period. The realities came to light in a very short time today. As you said, a news conference was held 30 minutes after the one that was organized at the `Presidential Palace'. The main problem clearly came to light during the convocation.

Naturally, officials wanted to convey a positive and optimistic message during the joint news conference. It was realized later that the positive and optimistic approach was linked to the expectation of more concessions by the Turkish Cypriot side. I believe that Turkey's guarantee is the most important issue. There is an intention to weaken it. However, it is common knowledge in Turkey and north Cyprus that everything will be upset if Turkey's guarantee is weakened. This is because Cyprus' future depends on the maintenance of Turkey's guarantee, which was drawn up in 1960. The clock will be put back if it is weakened. A side to the problem wants to use the numerical inferiority of the Turkish Cypriot community to convert Cyprus into a Greek island. Turkey is the country that can obstruct this. So, this state of affairs must not be chanced. Nevertheless, the communique that has been issued mentions the question of international guarantees. It became more clear during the talks that it also will include Turkey's guarantee". Asked how will that be, he claimed:

"Well, the intention is to render Turkey's guarantee physically inapplicable. However, they have made a mistake. Neither Turkey nor north Cyprus are prepared to agree to it. We do not want the guarantee system to be changed.

Another important point is the inclination to maintain the mistake that was made right at the beginning. The UN Organization maintains its initiatives on Cyprus and this state of affairs must be maintained until the end. However, a new initiative has been made by the EU. It has been claimed that a better solution can be found to the Cyprus problem through EU initiatives. The Greek Cypriot side has used that concept during the past few years. However, Britain now seems inclined to focus attention on the UN initiatives. When its approach is closely studied it will become obvious that the talks that will be held under UN auspices will be in light of the EU initiatives. In other words, they want to convey the message to the Turkish Cypriot side that it may remain outside the EU framework if it fails to agree to certain points during the talks. Yes, this is the message they want to convey. Well, we have already decided to take the risk. The Turkish Cypriot community must realize that if certain basic principles, such as bizonality, Turkey's guarantee, and the right of the Turkish Cypriot community to have its own `government', are abandoned, then the accession of Cyprus to the EU will not obstruct the oppression of the Turkish Cypriot people by the Greek Cypriot community. On the contrary, it will facilitate this state of affairs. This is a very critical point. So the Turkish Cypriot community must carefully follow certain points in the effort that is made to resolve the Cyprus problem. It must insist on them.

It came to light today that Britain wants to use Cyprus' accession to the EU to weaken the Turkish Cypriot community's resistance. This is the wrong approach. The Turkish Cypriot side must resist against it. The Turkish Cypriot community's rights in the EU can be guaranteed only after Turkey joins the organization."

Asked if the problem can be resolved in 1997, Soysal said, inter alia:

Well, we hope that it will be resolved. Who does not want to have the problem resolved? Turkey wants to have it resolved. In fact, it has already resolved a part of it. In other words, the Turkish Cypriots have their own government on a part of the island. This is a reality which must not be undermined".

Asked if Britain has fulfilled its responsibilities as one of the guarantor powers of Cyprus, Soysal said: "It has not done so until now. Hopefully, it will do so in the future. Had it done so, it would have objected to the oppression of the Turkish Cypriots since 1963. However, it has refused to recognize the governments the Turkish Cypriot people established on the island since then as if they were rebel and illegal administrations. It has not viewed them as equal administrations."

Commenting on the Turkish Cypriot stand that Cyprus' accession to the EU will conflict with the international agreements if both Greece and Turkey are not a part of it, and if this is debatable, Soysal said, inter alia:

"As far as the British officials are concerned, it can be debated. They have said that they do not agree with our viewpoint. Let us say that a difference of views exists between the two sides."

Asked to comment on Turkey's approach, he said: "The Turkish Government and the Turkish people will definitely object to a situation that will be against the Turkish Cypriot people. They believe that proposals for accession to the EU without Turkey's guarantee and before Turkey joins the organization must not be accepted. I can definitely say that the Turkish people will not change their approach even if this or that government in the country does do so. Any government that may change its approach because of political considerations will conflict with its people's wishes. So, I believe that the most effective guarantee is the people in Anatolia. The Turkish Governments have to comply with their demands. Furthermore, the world has to realize this. So, any inclination to deceive the Turkish Cypriot people must be abandoned."

[05] Protocol to be signed after 19 December

Eroglu added that he has discussed the issue with Turkish prime minister Erbakan, and that he will go to Ankara and sign the protocol. (MY)

[06] Denktash meets Israeli Ambassador

KIBRIS says that it was a routine meeting with representatives of the foreign missions accredited to Cyprus. (MY)

[07] Denktash leaves for Turkey