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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-02-28From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleTURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 40/97 28.2.97CONTENTS[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Denktas: "Varosha Fait Accompli Can Undermine Cause"According to illegal Bayrak Radio (1630 hours, 26/2/97) Rauf Denktas has said that a fait accompli on the issue of Varosha can undermine the "cause".According to a report by illegal TAK (Turkish Cypriot News Agency), Denktas said: "Maras is under the protection of our security forces. I do not believe that our youths will confront their own security forces, namely their own brothers. We pursue an official stand regarding Maras. We issued a statement on the status of Maras in line with the openness required by our national cause. We will open Maras for settlement if the missiles are deployed." Denktas reiterated his threat that the Turkish Cypriot side will change the status of Varosha if the Greek Cypriots change the status of the Cyprus issue by deploying the missiles. For this reason, Denktas said, we do not expect anybody to initiate a fait accompli that will cause more harm than benefit. [02] Idealist Hearths Association Postpones Varosha RallyAccording to illegal Bayrak Radio (1130 hours, 27/2/97) the Varosha rally the Idealist Hearths Association was going to stage on 2 March to demand the opening of Varosha to settlement has been postponed. The decision to postpone was reached at a joint meeting held by the Idealist Hearths Association, Turk-Bir, and other organizations.Turk-Bir leader Arikli told illegal TAK (Turkish Cypriot News Agency) that they reached this decision in light of the current sensitive situation Turkish foreign policy finds itself in. He described as greatly unfortunate the remarks by Serdar Denktash, "state minister and deputy prime minister", to the effect that the rally would not be permitted. Arikli claimed that such remarks did not have an influence on their decision to postpone the rally, adding that the decision was reached "in order to prevent the Greek Cypriots from having a trump card in their negotiations with the EU." He pointed out that the rally has been merely postponed, not cancelled. He said that he cannot give a definite date for the rally but that it may be in late March. [03] Turkish Cypriots Organize Press Tour to VaroshaAccording to illegal Bayrak Radio (1630 hours, 27/2/97) occupied Varosha, which became a source of interest, was shown to the press yesterday. The two-hour visit was organized by the so-called Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense Information Bureau. Some 40 reporters participated from the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish press as well as from certain foreign press organizations. The visit was carried out under the supervision of the so-called Security Forces Maras Police Station. It was interesting that the main streets were particularly clean. Also, there were still trees and flowers even though Varosha has been a closed area for the past 23 years.[04] Turkey Reportedly Rejects Hannay Proposal on CyprusAccording to Cumhuriyet (26/2/97) it has been ascertained that Turkey has rejected a proposal by Britain for a new system of guarantees for Cyprus. The main lines of the proposal David Hannay, Britain's special representative to Cyprus, made to Foreign Minister Tansu Giller and General Cevik Bir, deputy chief of the General Staff, before he left Ankara for Athens can by summed up as follows:"-- The agreement that was reached in 1960, which described Turkey as one of the guarantor powers of the Cyprus Republic, is to be maintained. But the Treaty of Guarantees calls for the deployment of 650 Turkish troops on the island. So the 30,000 Turkish troops in Cyprus are to be reduced to 650 men. -- The Green Line that separates the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities is to be broadened and an international force deployed in it." Ankara reportedly responded to the proposal as follows: "-- Turkey will not withdraw its troops. The guarantees are to be maintained as they are. -- Turkey can withdraw its military forces only after a political solution is found." [05] Talat Says EU Approach Should be "Carefully Assessed"According to illegal Bayrak Radio (1130 hours, 26/2/97) Republican Turkish Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat has called on the Turkish Cypriot side to carefully assess the EU approach in terms of having Turkish Cypriot representatives participate at the EU meetings on the issue of Cyprus' membership in the EU.In a statement he issued, Talat said that the stand adopted by the EU has made it obvious that it embraces policies in favor of peace. Talat stressed the importance for the Turkish Cypriot side to find a way to participate at the EU meetings. Talat further added that the Turkish Cypriot side should start to take initiatives regarding the solution of the Cyprus issue after conducting a careful assessment of the recent approach displayed by the EU. Explaining that such a Turkish Cypriot stand will strengthen its position and contribute to a solution of the Cyprus issue, Talat added that in this context, he attaches great importance to the contacts Hans Van den Broek, EU commissioner for external relations, will hold in Cyprus. [06] Akinci Comments on EU MembershipAccording to illegal Bayrak Radio (1630 hours, 26/2/97) Communal Liberation Party leader Mustafa Akinci has said that they would like to believe that the EU started to realize the problems that may be prompted by a divided Cyprus as the date approached for taking up the Cyprus application for EU membership. In a written statement he issued Akinci assessed the recent developments in the EU.Explaining that the Cyprus issue had adversely affected the relations between the two communities in addition to the Greek-Turkish relations, Akinci added: "The Cyprus issue has reached the stage where it is of interest to the EU, the WEU (Western European Union), and the NATO expansion process." He also said: "It has been expressed that the Cyprus issue is one of the issues that must be settled before Turkey attains its goal of becoming a EU member. We would like to believe that the EU started to realize the problems that may be prompted by having a divided Cyprus in EU." Akinci said that a determined stand should be adopted not to have the Greek Cypriot side become a member of the EU without first settling the Cyprus issue. He stated that actions such as the Idealist Hearths entering Varosha should not be tolerated when a determined stand is being displayed against the Greek Cypriot purchase of missiles. Reiterating the view that all the concerned parties will benefit once the Cyprus issue is solved and both communities take their places within the EU, Akinci added: "It will greatly contribute to a Cyprus solution if the EU gives priority to solving the Cyprus issue and assures Turkey that it will assume its place in the EU once the issues are resolved." |
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