Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-04-09

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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. 64/97 -- 9.4.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Burns: Turkey needs to be serious to solve the Cyprus issue.

[02] Serdar Denktash interviewed on the Cyprus problem.

[03] Yilmaz meets Dervis Eroglu.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Burns: Turkey needs to be serious to solve the Cyprus issue

As to the halted mission of Southern European Office Director Carey Cavanaugh, Burns said he had nothing to announce by way of a "new initiative" to be launched by Cavanaugh.

"We certainly want to see from the Turkish government seriousness and a commitment to help resolve this problem," he said -- implying that the Erbakan government is not serious in that regard. "But it does begin with the government of Cyprus and Mr. Denktash, as well as the Greek and Turkish governments".

"Washington does not recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. And we will never recognize it", Burns said, leaving unanswered the question of the legal status with which Turkish Cypriots are expected to enter the negotiations.

Burns did not confirm or deny rumours that Amb. Moses, the US Ambassador to Romania, will soon replace Richard Beattie as President Clinton's personal Cyprus coordinator.

Delineating the semantics of being "optimistic" and "hopeful", Burns said the United States was "hopeful" and "one should never be optimistic" to solve the long-stranding Cyprus dispute. "We are hopeful to have progress. But `optimistic' means we think there is going to be progress. I don't want to be that naive".

"Nothing's going to happen of a positive nature until we can get the parties in Cyprus and the Greek and Turkish governments interested in progress," he said. "One of the problems is that there are lots of people trying to mediate" but he quickly added that Britain's Sir David Hannay was not one such "problem". Burns made it more clear that the United States was counting on Britain to help find a solution to the problem.

"It's not a problem with UK because Sir David Hannay is a very experienced diplomat. We have a lot of respect for him. We do listen to him on Cyprus. Secretary Albright has already had a dinner with him when she first took office, just about Cyprus and the Cyprus problem. So we continue to support the United Nation's role in this issue. We'll use our influence, and I'm sure the UK will as well, to support the UN effort," he said.

[02] Serdar Denktash interviewed on the Cyprus problem

Following are excerpts from the interview.

"Question: What are the chances of the TRNC's entry into the EU accession process together with the Greek Cypriot side?

Serdar Denktash: EU member countries recently put forward the idea that when the accession process starts the Turkish side should be listened as well. Unilateral acceptance of the Greek Cypriot side into the EU would be tantamount to importing into the EU a problematic region. For this reason the EU wants a definite settlement of the Cyprus problem. There are two states in Cyprus, one is recognized, the other is not. If indeed a lasting settlement is desired in Cyprus, and if really they don't want us fighting each other the very next day an agreement is signed, as in the case of Israel, then the realities on the island should be taken into consideration and accordingly a settlement should be worked out.

I believe that, first, the necessary measures should be taken in Cyprus to solve the economic disparity existing between the two sides. We can realize this together with Turkey or we can do this by lifting the EU embargoes. As regards the course of the accession negotiations, the Turkish side should take part as a separate and equal party. It would be enough if the EU, which considers us a party, secures our equality during the negotiations. This cannot be realized by us demanding it. They should secure it. If we start such a negotiation process we can work out together the issue of a settlement as well. I am aware of the dangers of starting this process prior to reaching a settlement. However, it should be done together with Turkey. It is possible that they can suggest to us that Turkey's membership would take a long time to realize and that we have to be a member as soon as possible. We consider the EU membership as positive.

However when the question comes to the issue of the security of life, things change. Secondly, no one should expect from us to turn our back to Turkey, which is supporting us for years, and enter the EU alone. A two- state EU membership, once the economic equality is secured, might be very advantageous in safeguarding the balance and establishing relations with Turkey under a special status. This will be advantageous from the Greek Cypriot point of view as well. If the EU members look into the matter more carefully they will be able to see on what point the settlement in Cyprus lies.

Question: During the missile crisis President Denktash had expressed his anger against Ankara. How do you see Turkey's Cyprus policy?

Serdar Denktash: Turkey has to think about Cyprus in line with her own interests. We only have to think about the TRNC's interests. We have said: `Turkey should have acted on this issue differently'. Turkey has her own problems and interests emanating from her position and her size.

Turkey has to balance out these two things. I think from time to time we are late in taking decisions and thus the train is missed. Then it becomes difficult to straighten things act. The economic policies we have been following together for the last 23 years are definitely wrong. We have to know this. Had they been right, we would have been at a different point today. As for foreign policy, we have covered a long distance. However, the time has come, instead of acting alone, to sit down all of us together and start discussing the issue of `what should we say?'."

Serdar Denktash during the interview also spoke about the efforts of the occupation regime to attract tourists from Russia. He said that during his recent trip to Russia he met Russian Duma members who wish to visit the occupied area and that if they secure permission they will visit the occupied area. He also spoke about the gambling casinos and the demand for them by Russian tourists. He added that there are 24 gambling casinos in the occupied area.

He said that this year they expect twice the number of tourists that had arrived in the occupied area last year, which was 175 thousand.

(MY) .../..

[03] Yilmaz meets Dervis Eroglu

Yilmaz, in turn, remarked that he is in constant dialogue with Eroglu. Yilmaz said that during the meeting he will have the opportunity to receive information on the economic problems of the pseudostate and developments concerning the Cyprus problem in the international arena.

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

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