Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-03-03

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 41/97 1.2.3/3/97

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] EU's Van Den Broek and Denktash hold joint press conference.

[02] EU's Van Den Broek Meets Atakol, Rasit, Talat, Akinci.

[03] Anatolia agency reports Denktash to meet President Clerides after meeting with Annan

[04] Two deputies who resigned from DSP join DYP.

[05] Serdar Denktash - "Varosha demonstration will not be allowed".

[06] Denktash asks EU for acceptance as equals, not recognition.

[07] Ankara said to be "uneasy" with idealists rally in Cyprus.

[08] Turkey's state minister arrives in pseudostate to sign "Land Registration Protocol".

[09] Denktash urges economic integration with Turkey.

[10] Etkin comments on EU membership.

[11] Turkish Press claims "subjected to repression" in February.

[12] Turkey to buy two air defense radars from U.S.

[13] YENI DUZEN calls on the Turkish Cypriots to stand up against the criminals.

[14] Smyrna Municipality to open retail-market.

[15] Land registration "Protocol" signed.

No. 41/97 1.2.3/3.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] EU's Van Den Broek and Denktash hold joint press conference

After the meeting, Denktash and Van Den Broek held a joint news conference attended by numerous Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot reporters.

Van den Broek said that the aim of his contacts is not to start a new process. He pointed out that the EU supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to reach a solution that safeguards the interests of both sides. Van den Broek said that the EU wants to see a united Cyprus as a member. He pointed out that he understands the sensitivities of both sides, adding that it is necessary to accept the fact that the two sides have different views about a solution, and to do more work towards a solution. He said that he is hopeful about a solution and he hopes the two leaders will be ready to start a new negotiation process before the second half of this year. The EU commissioner stressed his sensitivity regarding time, and said: "Time is important for us, because there is a date on which Cyprus' accession talks will begin."

He noted that when looking at Cyprus, the EU acts on the basis of the fact that there are two separate and basic issues: One is the talks aiming at solving the problem between the two sides, and the other is the relations between the EU and Cyprus. He said: "We separate these two processes". He went on to say that the EU will be flexible regarding any agreement to be reached during talks the two sides will hold for a political solution, even if this agreement runs counter to its own ideas.

He added that if the two sides agree, the EU will be flexible even with regard to issues like the restriction of the three freedoms and will recognize the agreement during the accession talks. He said that this might be on issues about which the Turkish Cypriot side is sensitive, namely the guarantees and economic and cultural issues.

Replying to a question, the EU commissioner pointed out that it is necessary for a solution to be reached or at least a step to be taken in this direction before the election period starts in the free areas of the Republic. He added that there is urgent need for a solution in Cyprus.

Denktash stated that he would like to correct a "mistake" Hans Van den Broek repeated throughout his speech. Denktash claimed that the Cyprus talks are held not between the Cyprus Government and the Turkish Cpyriot side, but between two equal communities. He added that the solution parameters are already on the table, and they consitute the necessary basis to reach a biregional, bicommunal solution based on political equality, sovereignty, and the guarantees.

Asked how the Turkish Cypriots will benefit from membership in the EU, Denktash alleged: "What is important is the price we will pay to get these benefits. We will not relinquish the Turkish Cypriots' rights, equality, bizonality, or Turkey's effective and de facto guarantees, and the balance between Turkey and Greece must not be upset. If the price for EU membership is losing these things, we will not accept it."

After the joint news conference, Denktash assessed his meeting with the EU commissioner. He pointed out that Hans Van Den Broek and the EU consider the Cyprus Government the legitimate government of Cyprus. He said that Van Den Broek told him that through agreements this view may change and a bicommunal and bizonal partnership can be established.

Denktash said that Van Den Broek told him that the Greek Cypriot side is ready to negotiate.

Denktash added that this meeting revealed that there are many things the EU does not know and has not thought about. Despite that, Denktash said, he saw that Hans Van den Broek is a person who carefully listens and is affected by what he hears.

"The EU believes that we will come together with Clerides in June or July 1997. He did not say why he thinks that, but he said that there is such a possibility. If the Greek Cypriots come to the negotiating table, we will meet there, because we never left the negotiating table", Denktash said.

Denktash pointed out that at his news conference Van Den Broek said that in a possible solution, the three freddoms may be temporarily restricted on both sides to allow for a rapprochement between them, and that the EU will not be opposed to such a situation. Denktash said that the term temporarily is very interesting here. He said the Turkish Cypiots will view this approach as one that might lead them back to the pre-1974 period.

"In light of these remarks, our friends who say that we can join the EU even if Turkey is not a member should think once again about how far things can be taken", he claimed.

Replying to another question, Denktash said that during his meeting with Hans Van Den Broek, they also discussed the latest developments at the EU Commission. He added that the question of the EU stand concerning the status of the Turkish Cypriots was not discussed comprehensively during the talks. Denktash concluded by saying that the Turkish Cypriots did not receive any proposals regarding this matter.

[02] EU's Van Den Broek Meets Atakol, Rasit, Talat, Akinci

In a statement to the press after the meeting, Atakol said that views were exchanged during the talks. He added that the Greek Cypriot insistence on joining the EU is food for thought.

Atakol claimed that if the EU wants to contribute to the solution of the problem, it must act in a balanced way. Replying to a question, he said that a request was made to posit the Turkish Cypriot view regarding the membership process, but a final decision has not yet been reached.

At the Democratic Party headquarters, Hans Van Den Broek met with a delegation headed by Atay Ahmet Rasit, former "minister of foreign affaris and defense" and composed of Mehmet Barut, Hursit Demirer, and Eren Ertanin. In a statement after the meeting, Rasit described as positive the EU decision to grant the Turkish Cypriots the right to speak. "It would be wrong to think that the problem has been completely resolved or have any illusions in this regard," he said.

Hans Van Den Broek then met with Republican Turkish Party officials, including party leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Secretary General Fedri Sabit Soyer, and others. After the meeting, Talat said that the RTP looks positively to and supports the request that the Turkish Cypriot side also participate in the accession process. Expressing his views, Talat said that, first the Cyprus problem must be resolved and for that the intercommunal talks must resume. The second thing, he said, is for the two leaders to come together and discuss the nature of the contribution to the EU accession process. He stressed that these meetings are essential adding: "we must definitely participate in the EU accession process and be influential within the process".

Talat said that the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community call for that. Otherwise, he added, we will really miss the EU train.

Hans Van Den Broek then visited the Communal Liberation Party, where he met with party leader Mustafa Akinci and with Erdogan Nail. After the meeting, Akinci noted that it has been said for quite some time that 1997 would be an active year for Cyprus.

This visit is part of those efforts, he said. Akinci claimed that the Cyprus problem must be resolved before membership in the EU, further alleging that a bizonal and bicommunal federal republic must be established and only then can it be possible to join the EU. Akinci said that once the problem is resolved and Cyprus becomes a member of the EU, a transition period will be needed.

During that transition period, he said, certain arrangements will be necessay involving the EU, in line with agreements to be reached between the two communities. Akinci added that Turkey has certain domestic problems, and that once they are resolved, Turkey must be offered EU membership at least as much as Bulgaria. "This will help the solution of the Cyprus problem", he claimed.

[03] Anatolia agency reports Denktash to meet President Clerides after meeting with Annan

The statement issued by Denktash's office noted that the date and place of the meeting have not yet been fixed. The Anatolia Agency reported that agreement was reached between the sides that the meeting between Denktash and Annan should take place in New York.

The Anatolia Agency report noted that a tete-a-tete meeting between President Clerides and Denktash is expected to follow the Denktash-Annan meeting. However, the statement issued by Denktash's office stressed that the so-called authorities of the pseudostate have no information regarding a meeting between President Clerides and Denktash.

[04] Two deputies who resigned from DSP join DYP

The current distribution of seats among the parties is as follows: DYP, 120, Welfare Party, 160; Motherland Party, 128; DSP, 72; Republican People's Party, 49; Great Unity Party, seven; Democratic Turkey Party, six; independent, eight.

[05] Serdar Denktash - "Varosha demonstration will not be allowed"

In a statement he issued on the issue, Gustave Feissel, said that Rauf Denktash assured him that there will be no incidents occuring in Varosha.

[06] Denktash asks EU for acceptance as equals, not recognition

Denktash said: "We are not going to be recognized starting with Europe. Those who want to recognize us can, and those who do not want don't have to. That is a decision to be reached by each individual country. What we really want is for the EU to accept us as equals to the Greek Cypriots. That is the problem, not the issue of recognition".

Denktash said that he will continue to hold contacts with Van Den Broek, whom he described as an honest and determined diplomat, adding that he will try to make him accept the realities.

[07] Ankara said to be "uneasy" with idealists rally in Cyprus

Indications are that the opening of Varosha, which has remained close for the last 23 years, may put the Turkish government and the occupation regime in a difficult position.

In the meantime, the idealists, who chanted "God is great" while holding flags depicting three crescents and gray wolves in a pre- rally gathering in occupied Famagusta, shouted slogans to the effect that "Varosha is our honor, and those who give it away are dishonorable." In a speech there, their leader Mehmet Arsian said that "the Turkish nation stands up for Varosha within the TRNC borders," and that they area always ready to die for these lands.

The meeting was also attended by the so-called agriculture and forestry minister Kenan Akin.

[08] Turkey's State Minister arrives in pseudostate to sign "Land Registration Protocol"

In a statement at occupied Tymbou airport, Saygin said that during her stay she will sign a "protocol on land registration issues" and look into the possibilities of industrialists' from the Aegean region to invest in the pseudostate.

[09] Denktash urges economic integration with Turkey

For the first time in its history, the Assembly of Turkey's Aegean Region Chamber of Industry held its meeting outside Izmir, at the Jasmine Court Hotel in occupied Kyrenia. Addressing the meeting, Denktash mostly spoke of the Cyprus problem. He claimed that the EU wants the Turkish Cypriots to recognize the Cyprus Government and "to sit on Greece's lap through membership in the EU." Denktash said that when he tried to explain the international agreements and law to EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek, the latter said: "Do not tell me these things. We came here to tell you the advantages of the EU." Denktash went on to say: "They want us to recognize the Greek Cypriots and to join the EU together with them. We cannot do that to Turkey."

Denktash pointed out that foreign officials speak to him of isolation and economic difficulties and tell him that the Turkish Cypriots can overcome these difficulties if they join the EU.

Denktash stated that in order to prevent a resort to this argument, the pseudostate must cooperate with Turkey and ensure its economic development.

He said that it is important to lift the bureaucratic obstacles and to ensure that Turkish investors come to the "TRNC".

[10] Etkin comments on EU Membership

Etkin added he is sure that EU Commissioner Hans Van Den Broek "will see the truth".

Commenting on Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides' statements, which are in accordance with the positions unanimously adopted by the National Council in 1989, Etkin claimed: "The Greek Cypriot proposals from 1989 are not connected to a federal solution."

Etkin called on the EU "to carefully assess the price it will have to pay" if the Cyprus Government's application to the EU is adopted and to recognize that Greece seeks this union in order to set up a second Hellenic state, as he put it.

Etkin claimed that the EU is responsible to a certain extent for the stand adopted by the Greek and Greek Cypriots today.

He concluded by saying that the Trukish Cypriot side "is ready to discuss - in accordance with international agreements and on condition that its basic rights are not violated - Cyprus' membership in an EU that includes Turkey."

[11] Turkish Press claims "subjected to repression" in February

According to the statement issued by the Turkish Journalists Association, two of the 17 journalists who had been taken into custody in February were arrested. The statement further noted that orders were issued to withdraw nine newspapers and three publications from the stands.

According to the Press Council statement, the Radio and Televsion High Council issued closure orders for eight radio and television stations in February.

[12] Turkey to buy two air defense radars from U.S.

Last year, a State Department report mandated by the Congress on the use of U.S. - supplied arms in the southeast hurt Turkey's arms transfers by not delivering 10 Super Cobras and three frigates. This year the State Department will again submit another similar report, the paper says.

The two Sentinel sensors in quesiton are a part of the total of 28 ordered to Hughes at a cost of over $47 million.

An officer in charge of the GBS program from Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, told the paper that the system in question "consists of a radar-based sensor system with its prime mover/power, identification friend or foe (IFF), and FAAD command and control intelligence (C21) interfaces".

"The GBS sensor is an advanced three dimensions battlefield X-band air defense phased-array radar with an instrumented range of 40 km, "the officer said. A highly mobile system, the Sentinel can reportedly detect, track, classify, identify and report cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft.

[13] YENI DUZEN calls on the Turkish Cypriots to stand up against the criminals

The paper alarms the Turkish Cypriots and calls on them to take action in order to face the threat.

[14] Smyrna Municipality to open retail-market

KIBRIS reports that to this effect an "agreement" has been reached between pseudostate's so-called Prime Minister Eroglu and Mayor of Smyrna, Burhan Orfatura, on where and how the market will operate in the occupied area.

[15] Land registration "Protocol" signed.

The so-called agreement was signed by the pseudo-state's so-called minister of labour and settlement Ali Ozkan Altinisk and Turkey's State Minister Islay Saygin.

The agreement stipulates that Turkey will supply the occupied area with necessary information and equipment as well as experts, and it will establish a computer network for issuing title-deeds faster. (M.Y.)