Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-03-26

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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. 55/97 -- 25-26.3.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash reiterates claim that Turkey is not occupying Cyprus.

[02] Proximity talks continue with Denktash-Feissel meeting.

[03] Eroglu assures pseudostate's economy to be revived in 5-6 months.

[04] Serdar Denktash for talks in Ankara.

[05] Eroglu comments on EU, US proposal, Anouil lecture.

[06] Euro-deputy accepts Turkey's guarantorship over Cyprus.

[07] Balfe meets Denktash.

[08] No change in Britain's policy if Labour Party wins elections.

[09] IPU Turkish group chairman claims Turkey's right of unilateral intervention still valid.

[10] Turkish Cypriot journalists invited to visit Washington D.C.

[11] Erbakan: Not an iota of concession in Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash reiterates claim that Turkey is not occupying Cyprus

Replying to questions by illegal TAK (Turkish Cypriot News Agency) Denktash claimed that the Cyprus problem was created in 1962 and not in 1974.

Denktash continued: "We concluded a population exchange with Clerides in 1975. We agreed on (words indistinct). We reached an agreement on the formula for a goods and property exchange". Denktash claimed: "Turkey saved the Turkish Cypriots from annihilation. Turkish Cypriots have a right to 32 percent of the island. The Turkish Cypriots are not landless. Turkey has not appropriated Cypriot land."

Denktash added claiming: "The exercise awaiting us is for two national ethnic groups, two sovereign peoples, and two existing administrations to (words indistinct)." He said that "work conducted to acquire property in the north after 1974 cannot be ignored". He issued the "warning" that as long as these realities are not accepted nothing can be achieved. He concluded by arguing that the Turkish troops are not involved in the administration and that "there is a sovereign TRNC that is in charge of the administration".

[02] Proximity talks continue with Denktash-Feissel meeting

In reply to a question by a Greek Cypriot journalist before the meeting, Denktash noted that the Cyprus problem can be solved through negotiations. "There are two separate peoples in Cyprus", Denktash claimed, adding that "the Greek Cypriots can only represent south Cyprus".

[03] Eroglu assures pseudostate's economy to be revived in 5-6 months

Eroglu participated in a live program broadcast on illegal Bayrak television last Monday evening and gave information on his recent contacts in Turkey. Noting that he received full support from Turkish state officials both on the issue of the "national cause", as he put it, and on the revival of the Turkish Cypriot economy, Eroglu added that the implementation of the economic cooperation "protocol" was also discussed during his contacts. He noted that within the framework of the $250 million loan agreement, a loan of $80 million will be extended in the first stage, adding that the approach of Turkish officials to damages caused by frost and drought that amounted to 500 billion and 2,500 billion respectively were quite positive. Eroglu said that a Turkish delegation is currently holding talks on the two problems in the occupied area. He said that from now on "the TRNC will not be a country from which people emigrate but one that lures them back".

[04] Serdar Denktash for talks in Ankara

[05] Eroglu comments on EU, US proposal, Anouil lecture

In his statement after the meeting, Eroglu said that the indirect talks regarding the Cyprus issue had been assessed at the meeting and added that he also briefed Denktash on his Ankara visit. Eroglu explained that the indirect talks, which were being pursued seriously, will lay the grounds for whether or not direct talks will be launched.

Commenting on the recent lecture given by Gilles Anouil, the EU representative in Cyprus, Eroglu said: "The issue of under which status the TRNC will join the EU is not clear despite the fact that discussions on accession to the EU are under way." He alleged that saying that the Turkish Cypriots can also join the EU under the name of the Cyprus republic means that the realities are being disregarded. "We are a separate sovereign state and people. Therefore, it is impossible for us to join the EU without our status being clarified first", he claimed.

In reply to a question on whether the United States had submitted a proposal to form a round-table among the concerned sides, Eroglu said that there was no such proposal at this moment and recalled that the indirect talks were under way.

[06] Euro-deputy accepts Turkey's guarantorship over Cyprus

Balfe, a member of the British Labour Party who was visiting Ankara prior to talks in Cyprus, also said that "According to the 1960 agreement Turkey is a guarantor and key country. The right solution in Cyprus is a solution that also looks for the rights of the Turkish Cypriots on the island. If Cyprus as a whole becomes a member of the EU, my idea is that it is necessary that the two sides benefit from the same rights".

[07] Balfe meets Denktash

KIBRIS claims that Mr. Balfe addressed Denktash as "Esteemed President" and after the meeting he told the journalists that "they are ardently awaiting the realization of the resumption of direct talks between the president and Mr. Clerides."

After the meeting which lasted one hour and forty minutes, Denktash branded Balfe as a "friend of Cyprus" and said that he was trying in an impartial manner to find a way which will lead to the starting of negotiations for an honourable solution.

"Mr. Balfe is trying to help both sides for a settlement", declared Denktash.

In his turn Balfe said that more European representatives should visit the occupied area and see the realities. He promised that upon his return to Britain he will convey his views and impressions to colleagues.

Welcoming what Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos had said recently, Balfe said that they want to see the continuity of this positive change of policy. "Until full membership, we have four to five years ahead of us. During this period we will see whether Pangalos and his colleagues will be able to see that the future of Cyprus lies not on one side's establishing hegemony on the other, but on real partnership" said Balfe.

KIBRIS says that at the end of his contacts in the occupied area Balfe left for Ankara to confer with Turkish officials.

(MY)

[08] No change in Britain's Cyprus policy if Labour Party wins

According to KIBRIS (26.3.97) British Labour MP Richard Balfe has said that in a future federal settlement there should be a weak central government and strong federated states.

As for the EU membership, Balfe claimed that the settlement of the Cyprus problem is a must.

When asked to comment on whether there will be any change in Britain's Cyprus policy if the Labour Party wins the forthcoming May 1 elections, Balfe said: "I do not think there will be an important change if the Labour Party cames to power.

Britain's Cyprus policy will continue to be based on the interparty concensus supported by the Labour and Conservative Parties".

(MY)

[09] IPU Turkish group chairman claims Turkey's right of unilateral intervention still valid

Koksal claimed that Turkey's right for unilateral intervention stipulated by the 1960 Guarantee and Allience treaties is still valid.

The Turkish IPU group completed its contacts in the occupied area and returned to Ankara.

(MY)

[10] Turkish Cypriot journalists invited to visit Washington DC

Ten journalists from different press institutions will be visiting Washington, DC, between 30 March to 12 April, 1997.

(MY)

[11] Erbakan: Not an iota of concession in Cyprus

Turkish 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".

Erbakan added that the "TRNC" will rapidly increase the number of its university students from 5,000 to 15,000 this year and thus all the targets of the 1997 program will have been fully achieved.

Stressing that not only the "TRNC's" economic development but also the safeguarding of its security is "a primary consideration" for them, Erbakan said: "It is in no way possible for us to make even an iota of concession. Cyprus is our national cause. The strategic connection of the entire Anatolia to Cyprus is immense and highly important. We have always been conscious of that fact, and now we are conscious of it more than ever, we are now more careful and more determined to carry out this cooperation".

In reply to a reporter's question concerning the Cyprus Government's attempt to buy new missiles, Erbakan claimed: "As you know, we want Cyprus to become an island of peace. We will never allow it to build up its arms and turn into an island that like a powder keg in the middle of the Mediterranean threatens everybody and disrupts peace and transquillity. That is why Turkey will never allow these convertible missiles, these convertible missiles of an offensive nature, to be brought to the island. That is why our views on this issue were announced from the very beginning. We will walk the talk. We want the Aegean and Cyprus to become islands of peace."

State Minister Abdullah Gul, State Minister Lutfu Esengun, and Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ambassador Inal Batu were present at the Erbakan-Eroglu meeting.

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu also met Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tansu Ciller.

In her statement, Tansu Ciller said: "We were, and we will be, on the side of the daughterland during all its problems. This is a patriotic duty for us".

Noting that they do not see the "TRNC" as being apart from Turkey, Ciller added: "In this framework, we want all our Cypriot compatriots to make use of our bank credits that the Turkish citizens use. We want to create small and medium enterprises there, too. We will ensure the transfer of some resources to the daugherland for that purpose".

Reiterating that they will continue to be on the side of the "daughterland" during all its difficulties, Ciller said that a solution on the island could be achieved with a bicommunal and bizonal federal structure.

Dervis Eroglu also met with State Minister for Cyprus Affairs Abdullah Gul.

In a statement to reporters, Eroglu said that they are under intense pressure in foreign policy, and added: "We want to evade these intense pressures without leaving our rights on the table and with dignity".

Indicating that "a political solution in Cyprus will become easier once the TRNC stands up on its own economy, on sound foundations, " Gul said that "motherland Turkey will always be on the side of the TRNC politically, economically, and in terms of security".

EF/SK

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

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