Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-05-21

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. 90/97 -- 21.5.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on UN concert incidents; meeting with President Clerides.

[02] Denktash meets British High Commissioner.

[03] UN's Prendergast meets Turkish Foreign Ministry official on Cyprus.

[04] Denktash claims Greeks will attend summit for tactical purposes.

[05] Resigned RP deputy joins ANAP.

[06] Turkey will not extradite Asil Nadir to Britain.

[07] "Parliamentary" delegation to attend conference in Spain.

[08] Turkish paper says sovereignty against land to be discussed during the direct talks.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Columnist views Denktash's approach to direct talks

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on UN concert incidents; meeting with President Clerides

Explaining that Gustave Feissel, UN Secretary-General's assistant special envoy to Cyprus, took permission from both sides in order to hold the concert, Denktash added: "Equality was complied with in this case. We did not oppose this concert.

Opposing this concert was meaningless. The issue of security during this concert was a problem for us. We stressed the importance of having the security during the concert come under the responsibility of the United Nations. The United Nations, which accepted this concert was a problem for us. We stressed the importance of having the security during the concert come under the responsibility of the United Nations. The United Nations, which accepted this responsibility, took every measure necessary to guarantee the security at the concert in complete cooperation with the Greek Cypriot Administration and the TRNC police forces".

Denktash further said that he was more interested in how the Greek Cypriots "exploited" such events than in the events themselves. Expressing hopes that those who attacked Kut's bus on the occupied Kyrenia road will be captured, Denktash said: "I call on all those who know the identities of these persons to inform the police". Noting that he watched the incidents taking place on the Greek Cypriot side from televisions, Denktash said that peace will be secured with the people and not with those attending the concert.

Pointing out that the United Nations must have realized by now the difficulties involved in bringing the two sides together, Denktash added: "Let them not have us deal with the Greek Cypriots all the time. Let them have the two leaders get together and have the courage to tell the Greek Cypriots that they can sit at the negotiation table so long as they know that they are not Denktash's government. Otherwise, the United Nations should tell the Greek Cypriots that no agreement can be reached."

Stressing that the Greek Cypriot side should accept the equality and partnership of the Turkish Cypriot side in addition to an exchange of properties, Denktash claimed: "The Greek Cypriots, who are the ones to create a rift, should give up their attacks against Turkey if they sincerely seek to set up a partnership".

Denktash further alleged: "We laid the grounds for setting up a federation by continually talking about it to our people. Now, however, we have doubts whether we did the right thing. Witnessing these incidents, we have doubts whether we did the right thing. A federation can only be secured among friends and among those who agree to the principles I cited above. It is our right to doubt how we will be able to establish friendship and partnership with those who consider every enemy of Turkey their friends and embrace them".

Recounting that he will meet with President Clerides at the end of June, Denktash claimed: "However, Clerides displays unwillingness of this meeting by saying that the Greek Cypriots will come to the meeting only because they cannot refuse the UN Secretary-General's invitation from fear of being found guilty and from fear that a refusal will undermine their application for EU membership. What will I say to somebody who comes to the table under these conditions? What will he say to me?" Stating that the UN Secretary-General will invite him and President Clerides to a place in the vicinity of New York at the end of June and that the meeting will be held far from the eyes of the press, Denktash said: "We will meet once again in July and August if the contacts yield favourable results."

[02] Denktash meets British High Commissioner

Also present at the meeting was the Under-secretary to the High Commission John Back. On the Turkish Cypriot side, Necat Munur Ertekun, Denktash's special adviser, Ergun Olgun and Mustafa Evran were present. (MY)

[03] UN's Prendergast meets Turkish Foreign Ministry official on Cyprus

Replying to journalists' questions, Prendergast announced that the final decision on a meeting between the leaders of the two communities on the island will be made by the UN Secretary-General at the end of this month, and the meeting may take place at the end of June or beginning of July.

In his statement, Oymen said that the failure to hold talks between the two sides in Cyprus for over two and a half years is a shortcoming, adding that the talks must resume as soon as possible. Expressing the belief that the said talks will also create an atmosphere conducive to the solution of the problems between Turkey and Greece, Oymen remarked that Prendergast's visit to Cyprus and the subject of cooperation with the United Nations will be discussed with the UN official.

[04] Denktash claims Greeks will attend summit for tactical purposes

Denktash alleged that the Greek Cypriot side will attend the summit in order to show that it is not the side which is avoiding the negotiations and added: "However, the Greek Cypriot side has issued statements along the lines that it will not adopt a new approach. Let us wait and see if June will bring any new developments".

[05] Resigned RP deputy joins ANAP

[06] Turkey will not extradite Asil Nadir to Britain

Asil Nadir told the journalists in Istanbul that he will hold a press conference on 30th May.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Turkish Interpol section Yilmaz Turk has said that they have turned down a British demand to extradite Nadir. He said that they will not do anything against Nadir. (MY)

[07] "Parliamentary" delegation to attend conference in Spain

KIBRIS reports that hundreds of delegates from 115 countries are attending the conference and Pashalar and his colleagues will try and explain to foreign delegates the Turkish view regarding the Cyprus problem. (MY)

[08] Turkish paper says sovereignty against land to be discussed during the direct talks

Having this in mind, reports CUMHURIYET correspondent Lale Sariibrahimoglu, Ottoman archives and related material were sent to the occupied area for study.

Sarribrahimoglu further says that during the Dayton type direct talks the Key issue will be bargaining the Turkish side's sovereignty under the name of confederation against giving land to the Greek Cypriot side.

She says that Denktash opposes the "ceding of land" arguing that 34% of the land belongs to the Turkish Cypriots.

Denktash bases his argument on Ottoman documents and British colonial papers.

Sariibrahimoglu claims that the UN is advising the Turkish side saying "the more land you cede, the more rights you will acquire to govern yourselves". (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Columnist views Denktash's approach to direct talks

"The two sides in Cyprus have at last agreed to hold direct talks. Rauf Denktash and Glafcos Clerides will meet in New York to initiate a new negotiating process aimed at finding a solution to the longstanding problem on the island.

The method that will be applied came to light at the end of contacts Sir Kieran Prendergast, an experienced British diplomat who serves as one of the UN Secretary General's assistants, had with the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides. The US diplomats paved the way for his talks in Cyprus earlier.

An interesting aspect of the method that will be applied is that the two leaders will meet in camera and journalists will not be allowed to follow their talks. The first round of the talks will be held in New York, the second "somewhere" in Switzerland, and the third at the UN organization if sufficient progress is made.

Unlike talks held in the past, will the new process and method yield a positive result?

We interviewed TRNC Mr Rauf Denktash at his house in Girne (Kyrenia). To tell the truth, we did not find him hopeful or eager. He agreed to the talks because he had no alternative.

Furthermore, he worried that the "Turkish Cypriot side" might be accused of not wanting to have the problem solved. He said: "We have been asked to hold talks. Fine, let us meet. But will our talks be different from those we held in the past? The matter has taken a long time".

Denktash has clearly outlined this to Sir Kieran. But he insisted on the new round of negotiations.

Denktash has agreed to meet Clerides in accordance with the conditions of the new process. However, his "sincere" view is as follows: "First, mutual understanding and conformity must exist between the two sides on common denominators if the talks are to yield a result. What is the main common denominator? It is the existence of two `equal and sovereign' communities in Cyprus".

Denktash insisted that a result cannot be achieved through the talks until the Greek Cypriots agree to that. He said: "We will make no concessions on several principles. They are quite clear. They can be described as follows: The question of equal sovereignty cannot be debated. None of the two sectors in Cyprus can place the other under its control. The guarantees cannot be weakened. Turkey's military units cannot be replaced with a multinational force. The commencement of the talks for Cyprus' accession to the EU before a solution is found and before Turkey's membership of the organization is finalized is unacceptable".

Considering the Greek Cypriot side's effort to join the EU, Denktash regards the new negotiating process as a "dangerous" exercise aimed at forcing the Turkish side to make significant concessions. He conveyed the following message to all the sides concerned: "We will terminate the negotiating process if the talks the EU will have with the Greek Cypriot side on its accession to the organization are finalized during the next few weeks".

Naturally, Denktash is worried about how Turkey, the EU, the United States, and the UN will react to such a development.

The political crisis in Turkey has made him very uneasy.

Obviously, he must take initiatives himself at a time when he greatly needs Ankara's full support. He asserted: "Turkey must support us if we are forced to terminate the talks. In fact, Turkey must take countermeasures. It must launch a propaganda campaign for that purpose."

What will happen if Turkey fails to do so because of its political situation? Denktash jokingly replied to the question as follows: "This Tarzan will maintain its resistance by himself!"

In short Denktash does not believe his meeting Clerides at such a critical time will be useful. So he is convinced that the timing of the process he has reluctantly agreed to is inappropriate.

We asked him: "When should the talks be held?" He said:

"The most appropriate time will be when the Cyprus problem is diagnosed correctly and the Greek Cypriots and the foreign countries agree that the two separate communities in the island are equal and sovereign entities."

Considering the point we are at this is a remote possibility. Nevertheless, it will be useful to resume the negotiating process with a new method. As far as diplomacy is concerned, there must always be hope".

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