Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-03-24

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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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Anouil: EU does not want `Problematic Country' as member.

[02] EP Socialist Group member meets Akinci, Talat.

[03] Denktash comments.

[04] Erbakan-Eroglu meeting.

[05] Akinci: What's the use of having land when you don't have people living on it".

[06] Delegation at the ICO conference.

[07] Onur Oymen statement.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Anouil: EU does not want `Problematic Country' as member

Anouil gave a lecture at the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union Headquarters in the occupied part of Nicosia on Friday on the issue of the EU and Cyprus.

Before Anouil, Teachers Union leader Cemal Ozyigit said that the Cyprus question is a bleeding wound, and that his union organized the lecture in order to contribute to the quest for peace in Cyprus.

In his lecture, Anouil mostly discussed the relations between the EU and Cyprus. He pointed out that the EU's contributions will not only be toward reaching a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem, but toward its implementation as well. He stated that the Cyprus unions forum which was held with the participation of unions from both sides showed that the people in the island can work together. Anouil said that in addition to the EU, the United Nations, the United States, and guarantor state Britain are also making great efforts toward the solution of the problem.

The EU representative stressed that the present goal is to have the leaders of the two communities meet face to face. He noted that the number of countries that applied for full membership in the EU is 12, but that the EU does not want a problematic country.

Anouil expressed the hope that a solution will be found in 1997 and that accession talks between the EU and a federal Cyprus will start at the beginning of 1998. He said that the EU will make sure that the Turkish Cypriots participate at the accession talks in one way or another. If no progress is made until the beginning of 1998, Anouil said, the accession talks may be delayed by three to four months. He added: Then, with the help of experts that it will assign, the EU will help the two community leaders reach an agreement on the status under which the Turkish Cypriots will participate in the accession talks.

[02] EP Socialist Group member meets Akinci, Talat

Bauf who arrived in the "TRNC" on 22 March, visited Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Communal Liberation Party (TKP); Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP);

Akinci said at the meeting that, "the Greek Cypriots must not join the EU on their own". The TKP leader pointed out that the Cyprus problem must be resolved first, and then, accession talks can be held with the participation of the Turkish Cypriot community. He said: "I hope that this will happen in 1997. I hope the Greek Cypriots are not encouraged to believe that they can join the EU on their own, and that a solution is reached in Cyprus acceptable to both sides."

CTP leader Talat said that such meetings are useful because the Turkish Cypriots can express their feelings and opinions to their European friends. He noted that this meeting is important in that the European parliamentarians can understand the difficulties of the Turkish Cypriots and thus channel their efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem in the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community.

In his statements during the meetings, Bauf said that "a formula must be found whereby both sides can participate in the accession talks." It would be natural, he said, that any solution the two sides reach is submitted to a referendum. Unless the two sides participate in the accession talks together, they cannot join the EU together, he said.

[03] Denktash comments

On the issue of the return of the Turkish Cypriots who left their posts in the Government and Parliament in the sixties, which was one of the points raised at the interview and replied by Mr. Cassoulides, Denktash said that the Turksih Cypriots have not received any such proposal and that if they do, they will evaluate it. And he added: "We should first understand what they mean by it.

He (Cassoulides) has said this because he is either in a very difficult position or we are on the eve of yet another Greek Cypriot plot. If the Greek Cypriot side, after denying the Turkish Cypriot people its seats in Parliament and government for 33 to 34 years, is now making such a proposal, it must be a result of the failure of their efforts to deprive us of an administration and the success of Turkish Cypriot people in coping with all the difficulties and consolidating our self-rule.

There would be lots of things to be discussed, but this is a new angle. It has not yet come before us".

In reply to another question, concerning the proximity talks, Denktash said: "Now, to say "we have come to a new phase" would be a little bit of an exaggeration. Proximity talks are continuing. We have a time factor in front of us.. That is, they say that by the time accession talks between the European Union and the Greek Cypriot side, which they call the government of Cyprus, start - that is, during the next 8-10 months - the Cyprus problem should be solved.

How will the Cyprus problem, which has not been resolved since 1963, be settled in nine months? Is this possible? They say "It is possible, do it". How we will do it? They say, "Accept European Union membership, the rest is easy." Of course it is easy. Such a thing will finish us off. The day we accept EU membership without Turkey (entering the EU), the Cyprus problem would be over for us. The Cyprus problem would definitely be over for us because that's what the Greek Cypriots want to achieve. We keep on trying to explain and nobody is understanding us."

[04] Erbakan- Eroglu meeting

According to a written statement from the presidential press service, Eroglu has conveyed to President Demirel his views on the implementation of the Economic Cooperation "Protocol" signed between Turkey and the "TRNC" on 3 January 1997. In his turn, Demirel has indicated that Turkey will always continue supporting the "TRNC" and "its Cypriot compatriots."

Prime Minister Erbakan received Dervis Eroglu in his office. In a statement to reporters there, Erbakan stressed that "the TRNC, the Cyprus issue, is Turkey's number one national problem", adding: "That is why one of the most important issues of our Cyprus cause is to strengthen the TRNC economically and enable it to create a strong economy based on its own resources".

In reply to a question, Erbakan said that "the TRNC actually has formidable economic resources" and added that "the $250 million in question will not be a grant but a credit." Noting that this support will be given to the "TRNC" Erbakan said that "eventually the TRNC will create a strong economy by its own means and will repay the credits in time".

[05] Akinci: What's the use of having land when you don't have people living on it"

He has said that because of the wrong policies by the so-called ruling circles the Turkish Cypriot community has turned into a community of "white haired people" due to the immigration of the young people.

He went on and said: "There cannot be a country without land, however what's the use of having land when there is no people to live on it? Without people. Does a land have any meaning? Those who rule us with their wrong policies are destroying this community. Our people, for economic reasons are forced to emigrate.. No one has the right to brand these people in their search for a living "shameless". Shameless no one can justify asylum seekers, however we should not turn a blind eye to the reasons that give way to asylum seeking. Each month 90 people are asking asylum in Britain. This is not a simple case. No one can get rid of it quite easily".

Referring to the entry with identity cards to the occupied area from Turkey without passports, Akinci has stressed that this has done more harm to the Turkish Cypriots than to the Greek Cypriots. "With the integration policy, it is aimed at `massing people'. The policy that is being followed is `quality is not important, let us increase the population'. However the important thing is to create a quality community. If you continue to keep the gates open for everybody more difficulty days are waiting us, the CLP will continue to wage its struggle against the integration", stressed Akinci.

Referring to the privatization issue, Akinci said that small shop owners in the occupied area were finished off. Turkish Army cooperative shops which were planned to serve only army people started open their door to everybody. He expressed his opposition to big supermarket chains from Turkey to come and open branches in the occupied area. He said that if the Turkish firms will come and sell Turkish products in the occupied area this will be the death warrant of the Turkish Cypriot businessmen. "They say, `let us give Palm Beach to him... The Electricity Authority to the other!... Under the name of privatization they are following a Turkification policy. The CLP is not against Turkey, but will not stop mentioning what it consider is wrong.. We cannot accept, giving the TRNC institutions to a hand full of rich people from Turkey", declared Akinci.

He favoured Cyprus' entry into the EU. "Once a comprehensive agreement is signed which will safeguard our security. And if we come up and say `we don't enter EU, because Turkey is not a member' this will put us internationally in a very difficult situation. Unfortunately Mr. Denktash makes statements to this effect. Even he raises the issue of integration. Mr. Denktash has no right to do this. Integration is neither to Turkey's nor is of our benefit. We cannot reach to any place with blackmail and reaction policies. More, there is no place to reach if we one day speak about federation next day about integration and the next day favour another thing", Akinci stressed.

(MY)

[06] Delegation at the ICO conference

The so-called delegation is headed by Hakki Atun, other members of the delegation are Taner Etkin so-called Foreign and Defence Minister of the pseudostate and the so-called political Affairs director Ahmet Erdengiz. (MY)

[07] Onur Oymen statement

Oymen made this statement in Ankara when journalists questioned him on Turkey's EU relations.

(MY)

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

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