Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-04-15

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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. 68/97 -- 15.4.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on EU issue.

[02] Talat says Denktash mistrusts, disrespects Turkish Cypriots.

[03] Denktash says Feissel moving away from essence of Set of Ideas.

[04] Ciller wants high-ranking officers to retire.

[05] German professors advocate a confederal settlement for Cyprus.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Gilles Anouil verbally "attacked" by columnist.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on EU issue

Pointing out that the youth, when receiving an invitation, should look into who is extending it and for what purpose, Denktash added that when invitations are extended by people who view the Turkish Cypriots as a minority the youths should go to that venue to represent the "Turkish Cyprus," as he put it.-

Pointing out that EU's Cyprus representative Anouil is conveying messages to the world that a majority of the Turkish Cypriots is ready to join the EU without Turkey, Denktash claimed that "deceit" lies behind Anouil's attempts to bring Turkish and Greek Cypriot youths together in Europe. Noting that Anouil is appointed by the EU, Denktash said that the Greek Cypriots have applied for accession to the EU, that the EU views this application as legitimate and the Turkish Cypriots as a minority, and that Anouil has been appointed to explain the benefits of such a move to the Turkish Cypriots.

Pointing out that Europe is where the Greek Cypriots and Greeks want to go, Denktash said that Anouil should see these realities. He claimed that statements comparing the "TRNC" to an open air prison are shameful.

Speaking after his meeting with Denktash, Eroglu claimed that the talks are being conducted on the basis of two "states" and that this must continue this way. Otherwise, he alleged, the rights granted by the 1960 agreements will be left behind on the negotiation table.

[02] Talat says Denktash mistrusts, disrespects Turkish Cypriots

In a statement he issued, Talat said: "At a time when mutual contacts are being held for a rapprochement between the two communities, the president talks of our people as being very gullible. This shows his mistrust in and disrespect for our people."

Talat pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot youths know the past, and with this knowledge, will peacefully organize the future. He stressed that Denktash must stop mistrusting the youths, the "nongovernmental" organizations, and the political leaders, and must give up his misconception that only he can speak on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots.

[03] Denktash says Feissel moving away from essence of Set of Ideas

Denktash said: "There must not be a deviation from the essence of the Ghali Set of Ideas. We will not accept that".

Denktash yesterday met with Han Sung-chu, the UN Secretary General's special envoy in Cyprus, within the framework of the indirect talks. Gustave Feissel, UN political adviser Peter Schmidt; Ergun Olgun, Denktash's "special political adviser", and Mustafa Evren, Denktash's "political affairs director" were also present at the meeting.

Replying to questions by Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot reporters before the meeting, Denktash said that there cannot be a deviation from the line followed by the Turkish Cypriot side for the solution of the Cyprus problem. He said:

"However, if the Greek Cypriots continue to evade the Ghali Set of Ideas and refuse to change their policies regarding the Set of Ideas, then nothing will be achieved".

Denktash said that Feissel's statement that he is trying to protect the Greek Cypriots from evading the Ghali Set of Ideas is a just assessment. Asked if he is insinuating that Feissel is exceeding his authority, Denktash said: "No, on the contrary; Feissel is trying to fulfill his mission."

Replying to another question, Denktash said the following about the kind of future the Turkish Cypriots want: "We must first resolve the Cyprus problem. The solution must be in the form of a partnership based on the principle of biregionality.

After that, the issue of membership in the EU must be submitted to separate referendums by the two peoples. That is the future," he claimed.

[04] Ciller wants high-ranking officers to retire

Meanwhile, ANAP deputy leader Yasar Dedelek said that Tansu Ciller should be the first to retire. He asserted: "That would be much better for the country."

DYP Secretary General Nurhan Tekinel has said that he took the records of the meetings that were held by the DYP General Administrative Council and the DYP Chairmanship Council and claimed that the question of asking the high-ranking officers to agree to retire was not discussed by the Chairmanship Council on 3 March.

Furthermore, daily MILLIYET (13.4.97), reports that the plan Deputy Prime Minister Tansu Ciller drew up after the National Security Council meeting to have all the force commanders, including the chief of the General Staff, agree to retire shocked the political circles in Ankara. It has been reported that the commanders assessed the plan 24 hours after the DYP Chairmanship Council meeting and decided that it was "not serious".

Tansu Ciller convened the DYP Chairmanship Council at the Foreign Ministry's residence on 3 March. One of the members of the Council took the notes of the meeting, which discussed whether or not the commanders should be asked to agree to retire. The force commanders were verbally informed about the matter 24 hours later. The commanders convened to assess the plan and several lieutenant generals participated in their meeting. It has been reported that they made the following assessment: "Ciller is trying to act like an iron lady. It will be very difficult for her to achieve her objective because those who will be promoted from the lower ranks will maintain a similar approach."

[05] German professors advocate a confederal settlement for Cyprus

He advocated that first a confederal settlement be reached and after 15 to 20 years, when trust is built between the two communities, a federal solution can be follow.

He claimed that a "classic federal system" will not work in Cyprus. He also suggested that the most suitable settlement for Cyprus was the occupied area's membership as a separate "state" in the EU. He also claimed that the human rights mechanism being worked out for Cyprus cannot constitute a settlement from Cyprus' point of view. He criticized Greece's stance within the EU and said that Greece with her stand and behaviour made the EU partners grow tired of her.

On her part Prof. Nanette Neuwahl said that the Cyprus government's "unilateral application to the EU", as she put it, was not right.

She said that in federations any problem among the federal wings is considered an internal matter and no one can interfere.

(MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Gilles Anouil verbally "attacked" by columnist

"Mr. Anouil may be acting as a diplomat in south Cyprus, however, his behaviour in the TRNC is not different than that of an agent" alleges Sabahattin Ismail and claims that Mr. Anouil is engaged in brainwashing activities in the occupied area and that he is "injecting wrong and unfounded information into the brains of young people".

"He is doing everything possible to create division in our internal front" claims Sabahattin Ismail and threatens that unless Mr. Anouil stops acting as President Clerides' agent he will get the appropriate response. "Therefore, Mr. Anouil has to make a choice between acting as a diplomat or an agent, and if he cannot make a choice between these two, then the most appropriate thing he should do is to return to his country", concludes Ismail. (MY)

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

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