Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-03-27

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 56/97 -- 27.3.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] General Karadayi says problems with Greece can be settled.

[02] Serdar Denktash holds contacts in Ankara, comments on Cyprus issue.

[03] Denktash says difficult for Greece to reject Karadayi's call.

[04] Denktash meets foreign officials.

[05] Richard Balfe on Cyprus' and Turkey's entry to the EU.

[06] Kinkel says Greece and Turkey have to come closer on a solution in Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] General Karadayi says problems with Greece can be settled

In reply to reporters' questions at the reception, Gen.

Karadayi said that it would be meaningless for Turkey and Greece to carry their past problems into the future. Explaining that Turkey and Greece share vast resources, Gen. Karadayi said that both countries can achieve great things if they activate this potential.

"Our ancestors lived in these territories once upon a time. Now, we live in these territories. Our ancestors had both good and bad days. The good days were secured thanks to the common sense displayed by reasonable great people. The great Ataturk and Venizelos are among those. These two great leaders succeeded in joining the Turkish and Greek peoples and secured the conditions for living in peace and brotherhood. Today, we live in these territories. Our peoples live in these territories. There is, however, a very deep distrust and insecurity. We cannot turn our backs on each other. This would not be right. There is always the possibility of resolving the problems between us.

There are a great deal of reasonable people with common sense among our politicians and soldiers. There are a great number of valuable leaders who have the ability to resolve the problems in the same way as Ataturk and Venizelos, who succeeded in settling the problems. It would be an injustice against the next generations to bequeath these problems to them, not to say that it would also be cowardice and lack of foresight on our part.

It is meaningless to carry past problems into the future. We share vast resources with Greece. Both countries will achieve great things if they activate this potential. I would like you to think about the fact that big wars were waged mostly in Europe.

European countries have for years raced toward becoming one state. Why cannot two peoples, who love each other and who lived side by side for years, get together? Nothing has been achieved through arguments until now. People have searched for ways to secure peace after the two world wars. For this reason, we also have to secure this peace through friendship and not through arguments.

In my opinion, millions of Turkish and Greek citizens will support me in this view. I am forcing this door open today and I believe that my efforts will yield favourable results. I thank you all.

I take this opportunity to sincerely congratulate the Greek people on their national day", Karadayi said.

Gen. Karadayi later congratulated Greek Ambassador to Ankara Dimitrios Nezeritis on the occasion of the Greek national day and conversed with him for some time.

During the conversation, Gen. Karadayi said that the peoples of Turkey and Greece were very close to each other and stressed that he was witness to examples of this closeness in the past. Gen. Karadayi added: "Why can't the high-level officials and military accomplish what the people have?" Noting that he received numerous letters from retired Greek generals and soldiers, Gen. Karadayi explained that the letters all asked why others could not display the same foresight he displayed.

Nezeritis, in turn, said that every time he meets a Turk he is told of the good memories of the Greeks. Expressing the belief that it was very important for the two countries to settle their differences, which were prompted by transitory events, and secure a lasting union, Nezeritis added: "Both countries should set themselves the goal of marching on the same path in the future."

[02] Serdar Denktash holds contacts in Ankara, comments on Cyprus issue

Denktash called on Tourism Minister Bahattin Yucel and said that a great boom is expected in "TRNC" tourism in 1997 and that this boom will be achieved through Turkey's help. Yucel said that within the framework of the activities being conducted in cooperation with the "TRNC" on planning, advertising, and marketing tourist investments, the necessary information and experience will be transferred to Cyprus.

Denktash later met with State Minister Abdullah Gul. At the meeting, Denktash said that the pseudostate is expecting Turkey's support, especially in the fields of tourism and transportation. In turn, Gul said that Turkey's relations with the "TRNC" are continuing in many fields, adding that special emphasis is being given to economic activities. Pointing out that every effort will be exerted to make sure that 1997 becomes a year of rapid development, Gul added: "Even if there are delays, all that has been planned will be realized. Our political determination on this issue is very clear."

Serdar Denktash also met with Tansu Ciller, foreign minister and deputy prime minister. After the meeting, which was held at the Prime Minister's Office, Denktash claimed that Turkey and the pseudostate are exerting intense efforts to achieve a lasting and realistic solution in Cyprus. He added that Turkey is fulfilling its duties to secure an economically strong Cyprus that has solved its political problems. Denktash continued: "If Greece and the Greek Cypriot side have the same intention, the path to a solution between the two peoples on the island will be opened".

In reply to a question by a journalist on opening the Varosha (Maras) region, Denktash said: "According to our president's decision, if the missiles arrive on the island, Maras will be opened in a bid to contribute to the economy of Cyprus."

[03] Denktash says difficult for Greece to reject Karadayi's call

In a statement he issued on the subject, Denktash added that everyone must congratulate Gen. Karadayi.

[04] Denktash meets foreign officials

The meeting continued over dinner. During the meeting the latest developments in the Cyprus problem were discussed.

(MY)

[05] Richard Balfe on Cyprus' and Turkey's entry to the EU

After meeting Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the main opposition Motherland Party (ANAP) in Turkey, Balfe said:

"Because of the guarantorship rights stipulated by the 1960 Treaties, Cyprus cannot become an EU member without Turkey's approval. However, there might be cases, where Cyprus's membership could prove helpful for Turkey, and this could only be realized by treating the Turkish Cypriot community in a fair and just way".

When asked to comment on when Turkey could become an EU member, Balfe said that Turkey might be an EU member after the second wave of countries and this cannot be realized before ten years. "As one cannot think Turkey's entry to the EU after Bulgaria it is impossible, from the economic point of view, to have Turkey's membership before Hungary."

(MY)

[06] Kinkel says Greece and Turkey have to come closer on a solution in Cyprus

He dispelled any notions that Turkey would be pushed aside from this track.

Kinkel also called on Turkey and Greece to improve their relations.

"I don't want to interfere in the domestic affairs of Greece and Turkey but the two countries have to come closer on a solution to the Cyprus problem", he said.

Kinkel added that the human rights issues and the Kurdish problem in Turkey were also among the issues that were obstructing Ankara's path to the EU.

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

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article