Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-03-20

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 52/97 -- 20.3.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on meeting with President Clerides, recent developments.

[02] Turkey's Defense Minister on EU, Greece, Cyprus NATO.

[03] Turkish Spokesman says no change in Turkey's Cyprus policy.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on meeting with President Clerides, recent developments

Denktash was hosted on the Akis program broadcast on illegal BRT (Bayrak Radio Television) television the other night and replied to journalists' questions concerning recent political developments.

Denktash assessed the recent Cyprus visits of Hans van den Broek, EU commissioner for foreign affairs, and Sir David Hannay, British foreign office special envoy for Cyprus. He also commented on turkish cypriot emigration to Britain and the water problem.

Pointing out that both sides in Cyprus anticipated van den Broek's visit with excitement, Denktash said: "We held a two-hour meeting. Before leaving the island, he appealed to me to save my people from isolation. During our conversation, however, he tried to explain why my people were pushed to isolation, and he urged me to forget the past and not to speak of legal rights or contractual rights and laws."

Alleging that the EU is approaching the matter from an entirely political angle without taking note of the legal aspect, Denktash said: "Although we explained everything to him, van den Broek called on me to rescue my people from isolation."

Denktash said that the EU does not want to admit Turkey as a member, adding that the present stand of the EU demonstrates that it does not want to leave Cyprus to Turkey and is therefore trying to wield influence over Cyprus.

Asked what his concept of integration is, Denktash explained: "We see this as finding ways to benefit from Turkey's greatness, strength, and brotherhood; keeping these paths open; not restricting them through claims that we are Cypriots; further expanding them within the framework of cooperation between the TRNC and the Turkish Republic as two brotherly countries; and creating greater opportunities for the people.."

Evaluating the contacts of Hannay, Denktash said:

"Hannay spoke of the continuation of the TRNC. The partnership republic jointly founded by the Turkish and Greek Cypriots on an equal basis no longer exists". Commenting on the 10-point proposal by British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, Denktash remarked that this was rejected by both sides.

Denktash claimed that the Boutros-Ghali Set of Ideas incorporates the necessary parameters for a solution. In reply to a question if a summit will be held with President Clerides in the near future, Denktash said: "No, I do not foresee such a summit."

Denktash reiterated his call to meet with President Clerides.

In response to another question, Denktash again threatened: "We will open Maras (Varosha) for settlement and suspend the talks if the S-300 missiles are deployed on the island." Referring to the matter of emigration to Britain, Denktash said that those who emigrate are doing the wrong thing and added that he asked Britain for more information in this regard.

Answering a question on the water problem, Denktash declared: "Water will come for Cyprus. If the Greek Cypriot Administration wishes, it can benefit from it. We will realize this project together with Turkey. This will take place in 1977. The loading installations in Turkey are ready. We will build unloading facilities here. We can cooperate with Israel on this subject."

[02] Turkey's Defense Minister on EU, Greece, Cyprus NATO

Tayan was speaking at a meeting organized by the Marmara Group in Istanbul.

On Turkish-Greek relations, Tayan said that Turkey wants to solve the problems through a dialogue. He threatened that any negative developments with the Greek Cypriot sector, as he put it, or Greece would hurt peace not only in the Aegean and the Mediterranean, but in Europe and the world as well.

Tayan explained that NATO, which is the foundation stone of Europe's new security architecture, is going through a quest for a new identity, and accordingly, a process of structural change. He noted that in principle Turkey takes a positive view of the expansion of the Alliance.

[03] Turkish Spokesman says no change in Turkey's Cyprus policy

"It is out of the question for Turkey to make a change in its Cyprus policy or to adopt an attitude as you have just mentioned for this or that reason, be it related to the issue of the EU or any other issue. This is impossible", he said.

Akbel claimed that the parties involved in the problem are the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides and that, therefore, these two parties should seek a solution to the problem through direct talks.

EF/SK

..end

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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