Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-07-14

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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. 126/97 -- 12-13-14.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash to lodge complaint over "leak" of UN Document.

[02] Denktash terms UN document `incomplete working draft'.

[03] Denktash comments on outcome of New York talks, future moves.

[04] Ecevit on Cyprus.

[05] Communique faults statement sent to UN on Cyprus.

[06] National Unity Party on conditions for successful talks.

[07] Talat calls both sides to show `tact' until Geneva meetings.

[08] Turkish mountaineers to climb Pentadaktylos to mark Turkish invasion and occupation.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash to lodge complaint over "leak" of UN Document

According to an Anatolia Agency report, diplomatic sources said that the draft document, which is five and a half pages long, contains the basic principles of the federation to be set up in Cyprus and can be characterized as homework. The diplomatic sources, who said that both leaders will discuss the draft document with their consultants after returning to Cyprus, noted that the actual discussions on the draft document will be held at a vacation resort near Geneva between 11-16 August. The observers at the New York talks explained that the document submitted by the United Nations aims at settling the differences between the sides.

[02] Denktash terms UN document `incomplete working draft'

Meanwhile, it is reported that both leaders had warned Diego Cordovez, the UN Secretary General's special representative for Cyprus, not to include this document in the joint communique that was to be issued at the end of the talks.

The document, which was characterized as a surprise document by diplomatic circles, does not mention the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot side. However, the text underlines the theme of intercommunal equality , and is therefore a cause for concern on the part of the Greek Cypriot side. According to the text, which is described more as a draft document, the federation to be established in Cyprus will be a bicommunal and bizonal federation. Moreover, the draft document calls for the drafting of a new constitution which will contain the concept of a single sovereignty stemming from two communities. According to the draft document, two federated states will be established in Cyprus, and these states will be considered politically equal. The two federated states will be allowed to establish special relations with Turkey and Greece, but this provision does not mention guarantor rights. The new federation will have a single flag, but the federated states will be able to continue to use their own flags. The official languages of the new Cyprus republic will be Turkish and Greek. The draft document does not incorporate maps or proposals pertaining to the territorial aspect, to security, or to the refugee issue. It is stressed that these aspects will be clarified in the new constitution.

UN officials who spoke to TRT noted that the document must be viewed as an exercise. The same officials said that the sides may prepare their responses to the documents before the second round of talks that are expected to be held in Geneva during August.

It has also been announced that the Turkish Cypriot side has not yet given the United Nations a positive answer concerning the second round of talks planned for August in Geneva. A diplomat who spoke to TRT on the subject said: "Before we can declared that he will come to Geneva, we must first see the results attained in New York".

UN officials, in their part, pointed out that international diplomatic traffic will intensify in Cyprus in the aftermath of the New York talks. Noting that the United States will launch an offensive in this regard, the officials said that Holbrooke, President Bill Clinton's special representative for Cyprus, will go to the island immediately after the talks.

[03] Denktash comments on outcome of New York talks, future moves

Speaking to journalists after his meetings with President Clerides in Amenia, Denktash said: "It is too early to say we are hopeful, but I do not see any reason to say we do not have hope". Pointing out that the Turkish and Greek Cypriots have started talking again and there is an atmosphere of detente, Denktash remarked that after the Geneva talks the two sides will probably draft their own constitutions and meet again in March 1998 in the aftermath of the Greek Cypriot presidential elections.

Denktash said that the support given by the new government in Ankara relieved him significantly at a critical period. Welcoming the vote of confidence received by the Turkish Government, Denktash noted: "If Turkey relaxes, so can we". He added: "We have the 20 January declaration we signed with Turkey. Although this was a very critical time, I conducted one of the most relaxed contacts because I came here knowing that Turkey will support us." Denktash remarked that the problems were not solved in Amenia, they were merely outlined.

Denktash and President Clerides will conduct an assessment on the draft document submitted to them by the United Nations until 11 August. If necessary, in the interim, they will meet at the Nicosia residence of Gustave Feissel, UN Secretary General's assistant special envoy in Cyprus. Denktash explained that before the Geneva talks, the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides will prepared their own documents and efforts will be made to reconcile these texts through the auspices of the United Nations in Geneva. Asked about his relations with President Clerides, Denktash said: "We struggled for many years, but we never quarreled with one another. In New York, we discussed the past and the Cyprus problem. We did what was necessary to create a positive atmosphere."

Explaining that the two sides will begin drafting their own constitutions after the Geneva talks and this work will be conducted between August and January, Denktash said that the sides are expected to meet again in March 1998 after the Greek Cypriot presidential elections to be held in February 1998.

In response to a question on the refugees' return to their homes, Denktash said that many Turkish Cypriot are also refugees. Also pointing out that the new federation will be a bizonal one, Denktash claimed: "Under bizonality, there is no such thing as refugees returning to their homes".

[04] Ecevit on Cyprus

"Dear deputies, the Cyprus issue - I am not saying problem because as far as Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are concerned the Cyprus problem has long been resolved but the international dimension of this issue is still continuing. Three new factors have emerged in Cyprus in recent years. First, Greece began arming south Cyprus in a very intensive way. It started building a naval base and an air base, and amassing tanks, artillery, and other weapons in south Cyprus. Furthermore, as you know, Russia is determined to deploy in south Cyprus missiles with sufficiently long range to hit Turkey as well. Russia is preparing to station its own soldiers in south Cyprus with the pretext of providing the necessary training for the missiles. Over 30,000 Russian businessmen have already settled in south Cyprus. Third, the EU opened its doors of full membership to the Greek Cypriot Administration two-three years ago. These developments have increased the Greek Cypriots' boldness toward the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. Having made these gains, it has become meaningless for the Greek Cypriots to continue the dialogue with the Turkish Cypriots. Therefore, they rejected all the goodwill initiatives of Mr. Denktash. Only now, following the involvement of the United States, this dialogue was resumed.

Given this military build-up in south Cyprus, Turkey's position regarding Cyprus has also changed somewhat. Until recently, we used to say that Turkey is the guarantee of the TRNC which still holds true naturally but, this is no longer the only truth. The existence of the TRNC has become essential for Turkey's security. Therefore, together with the president, we reviewed our strategy in this regard as soon as we established the government, and we relayed our message on this subject to all the sides that are interested in the Cyprus issue. We said to them: Cyprus is now a security concern for Turkey. It is a national security issue for Turkey. Nothing can be achieved by applying pressure on Mr. Denktash in New York or in some other place. Anyway, Mr. Denktash would not accede to such pressure.

You will not only find Mr. Denktash and the TRNC countering that pressure; you will also find the state of the Turkish Republic".

And he concluded: "During the term of our government, Turkey will continue to provide all the support to the TRNC, not only in the political and security fields, but in the economic sphere as well".

[05] Communique faults statement sent to UN on Cyprus

The communique issued by the Democratic Party press bureau criticized the statement set by Turkish Cypriot 16 organizations to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for shelving the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot community. The communique claimed that the statement set to Annan ignored the existence of the "TRNC" and Turkey's effective and de facto guarantee. In its statement, the Democratic Party alleged that the administrators of the 16 organizations always left the interests of the Turkish Cypriots out of their ideologies and added: "For this reason, the members of these organizations have the supreme duty of asking accounts from their administrators".

[06] National Unity Party on conditions for successful talks

In a statement he issued, UBP Secretary General Vehbi Zeki Serter said that political will is necessary in order to reach an agreement. Alleging that these talks, which have special importance for the whole world, can yield concrete results only if both sides are treated equally and only if it is announced that both sides are recognized as separate sovereign entities with equal political rights, Serter claimed: "Otherwise, the Greek Cypriot Administration will never relinquish its advantage stemming from the fact that it is recognized as the legitimate government of Cyprus, and the meetings will once again end in disappointment".

Serter added: "The TRNC, which was established after great sacrifices, will survive. The Turkish Cypriots will never make any concessions on the issues of sovereignty and political equality and will never allow the effective and de facto guarantee of motherland Turkey to be diluted."

[07] Talat calls both sides to show `tact' until Geneva meetings

In a statement he issued, Talat said that the positive stand pursued in Amenia should continue in the future as well so that peace can be established on the island. He added: "The only way to achieve this goal is for both leaders and communities to be less selfish in reaching an understanding between each other". Stressing the importance of the period until the second round of talks are held between 11-16 August in Geneva, Talat noted: "During this period, both communities should show tact in not hurting the feelings of the other side when voicing their views".

Talat added that his party will assume all its responsibilities so that the positive atmosphere secured in finding a solution to the Cyprus issue can continue in the future as well.

[08] Turkish mountaineers to climb Pentadaktylos to mark Turkish invasion and occupation

The "climb" will start on 18 July from occupied Kyrenia and will end on 21 July when the "Turkish mountaineers" will hoist the Turkish flag on the top of occupied Pendadaktylos.

(MY) EF/SK

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

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