Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-08-25

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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. 155/97 -- 23-24-25.8.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash issues statement after Turkish Cypriot "high-level" meeting on Cyprus.

[02] Turkey rejects UN Statement on Cyprus, holds EU responsible.

[03] Turkish Cypriot party leaders comment on "high-level" meeting on Cyprus.

[04] Denktash denies any document on changed Turkish stand on EU.

[05] Project to meet pseudostate's water needs.

[06] Cem, Denktash interviewed on Cyprus talks.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash issues statement after Turkish Cypriot "high level" meeting on Cyprus

The meeting, which was held under Denktash, lasted for approximately two hours. "Assembly Speaker" Hakki Atun, "Prime Minister" Dervis Eroglu, Serdar Denktash, "State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister", Taner Etkin, "Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister", political party leaders and high- level "officials" participated in the meeting. At the meeting, views were exchanged on the Glion talks which yielded no results. In addition, the UN Security Council (UNSC) statement, which was issued following its discussion on the Cyprus talks and which criticized the Turkish Cypriot side, was also discussed.

In a statement he issued to press and media members, Denktash said he briefed the meeting on his contacts in Glion.

Claiming that the document issued by the UNSC was an operation to save President Clerides, Denktash alleged: "This is a great injustice committed against the Turkish Cypriot side and even Cordovez". Denktash added: "Clerides attempts to portray me as the man who rejects documents even though no acceptable or unacceptable document was submitted in Glion. The UNSC, in turn, claims in its statement that I posited conditions". He claimed that all these remarks constitute injustices because the Turkish Cypriot side did not pose any conditions.

Alleging that Britain did not oppose the application of the Greek Cypriot side for entry to the EU because of its own interests, Denktash added: "This is an unacceptable injustice committed by a guarantor country against the Turkish Cypriots."

Recounting that in his opinion the Glion talks were very beneficial, Denktash added: "There are great differences between the two sides. We will continue to defend this cause, which is a joint cause with Turkey".

[02] Turkey rejects UN Statement on Cyprus, holds EU responsible

The Foreign Ministry reacted against the statement made by the British permanent representative to the United Nations and the current president of the Security Council to the effect that the Turkish Cypriot side obstructed the progress in the Montreux talks. A written statement issued by the Foreign Ministry notes that "it is impossible to share British representative Sir John Weston's views which accuse the Turkish Cypriot side while thanking the Greek Cypriots." The statement claims: "The reason for the failure to achieve the expected progress in Montreux is not the attitude of the two sides but the obstructive effect of south Cyprus' EU membership process on the direct Cyprus talks."

[03] Turkish Cypriot party leaders comment on "high-level" meeting on Cyprus

In his statement after the meeting, Serdar Denktash, Democratic Party (DP) leader, "State Minister, and Deputy Prime Minister", said that the DP has a proposal to make at this stave. He described this as establishing the lowest common denominators, discussing the matter in depth with party leaders, and delineating the path for future steps.

Republican Turkish Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat, in a statement following the meeting said that his party expressed its own views. He charged that the approach of withdrawing from the talks if the EU starts membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side on behalf of the whole of Cyprus is an erroneous one. Talat said it does not seem possible that the EU will retract this decision. Talat also noted that the Turkish Cypriot side is viewed as the side that is shunning the talks because of this precondition.

Communal Liberation Party leader Mustafa Akinci, in turn, declared that the Greek Cypriot political party leaders are following the developments without delay and are discussing them with their President. This meeting, therefore, is very long overdue, Akinci remarked, adding that the method is wrong.

Pointing out that the developments are not following a positive course in terms of the Turkish Cypriot community, Akinci cited the "bias" in favour of the Greek Cypriot side and the tendency to hold the Turkish Cypriot side responsible at the UN Security Council, as well as the approaching membership negotiating process between the EU and the Greek Cypriots, as reasons for the current course of events. Akinci claimed that the green light to be given to the Greek Cypriots for admission into the EU on behalf of Cyprus will result in the permanent division of Cyprus.

[04] Denktash denies any document on changed Turkish stand on EU

Denktash said that neither van den Broek nor any other EU official gave him such a document during the talks. Denktash explained that this is the first he is hearing about Turkish press allegations about van den Broek's submitting to him a document attesting that Turkey will not object to Cyprus' membership in exchange for joining the Customs Union. Denktash said: "As will be recalled, the Turkish Foreign Ministry recorded its views on this subject in no uncertain terms both orally and in writing on 6 March 1995."

[05] Project to meet pseudostate's water needs

Turkish State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, who is responsible for Cyprus affairs, said that Turkey set itself the target of meeting the water demands of the whole island during the initial stages of the project, which was named Cansuyu.

In a statement to NTV, Gurel stressed that Turkey is determined to put into effect the project in order to meet the drinking water demands of the "TRNC" before the year is over. New technology will be used to transport the water to the "TRNC", Gurel explained and added: "Our target is to meet the water demands of all of Cyprus, not only those of the TRNC, within three years. The target we set ourselves with the Cansuyu project, which is to be established between the two countries, is to change the structure of agricultural production in Cyprus. The project will surmount various technical problems that may be encountered in loading and unloading. We will employ new technology but will also use tankers to transport water."

[06] Cem, Denktash interviewed on Cyprus talks

Asked what will be Turkey's stand toward the EU, Cem inter alia said: "Turkey is not drawing a cause-and-effect conclusion between full membership in the WEU (Western European Union) or EU and the Cyprus issue, and does no seek to draw such a conclusion. In other words, I believe we succeeded in explaining clearly to the whole world that we will never allow or accept approaches, which call on Turkey to make concessions on Cyprus, just because its relations with the EU have improved, or to change its stand on the EU just because the Cyprus talks have taken a more favourable course for the TRNC. With regard to the European Community, in turn, I underline the fact that EU membership constitutes a very important goal for Turkey. However, this goal will never become a pathological obsession."

Asked if a new Cyprus policy a possibility, Cem said:

"No, there is no question of a new Cyprus policy. Turkey will continue to seriously carry out its Cyprus policy, which was implemented with the same seriousness in the past as well".

And he continued: "There are no changes in our policies with regard to Cyprus. The following change we introduced to our policies, however, may have had an impact on the developments: In the past, we used to say that Turkey is the guarantor and protector of Cyprus and that Turkey extends the main support for the defense of Cyprus. We used to stress Turkey's importance in terms of Cyprus' defense. Nowdays, however, we say that in the wake of the changes that occurred, such as the Greek Cypriot side's arms buildup in the region, Cyprus is the guarantee of Turkey. In other words, the Cyprus issue has been transformed into an issue related to Turkey's defense. It was not this way in the past when we used to talk about the defense issue in Cyprus in terms of the TRNC only. Nowadays, the Greek Cypriot Administration, with its advanced arms and missiles, poses a threat to Turkey. Cyprus has become a defense issue for Turkey."

Rauf Denktash, asked to comment on the Montreux talks and whether they were beneficial, claimed: "In my opinion, the Montreux talks were very beneficial. Everybody realized what the Greek Cypriots really seek. The Greek Cypriots, in turn, must have realized on what issues we will not reverse our position.

The important thing is that Mr. Cordovez, who is a newcomer to the issue, realized the hitches concerning the issue. The performance put on by Clerides in Montreux was one of abandoning the meetings unless his demands are met. He even criticized the UN Secretary General. He tried to put obstacles in the way of Cordovez's issuing a proper statement. I offered my assistance and, in this way, Cordovez issued his known statement to the effect that there are still chances of resuming the talks. Despite all these developments, we have seen that the British representative at the United Nations, who is also the UN Security Council term president, praised Clerides for adopting a flexible stand, got angry at Cordovez, and claimed that I posited conditions. He describes me as the man who creates difficulties. This has become my name and reputation."

In reply to a relevant question, Cem inter alia said:

"A Cyprus solution that is not acceptable to the TRNC, to the Greek Cypriot Administration, to Turkey and to Greece, all at the same time, is definitely not valid. At present, the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece have agreed upon a solution, and they are pursuing a certain path. This is unacceptable. Such a solution is unacceptable. No one should nurture any dreams in this regard.

Turkey and the TRNC cannot consent to the implementation of these scenarios. Clearly, we will not allow it. It is not as though we will use any force; this simply goes against the nature of the subject. There is no way you can place the Turkish Cypriot community in the midst of a hostile atmosphere as a helpless minority at the end of a process that this community opposes and does not acknowledge.

So what will happen? Different formulas can be created, or different developments may take place. In any case, there has been frequent talk recently about two separate states in Cyprus to be recognized by the entire international community. We do not aspire for this option primarily, but we will never allow our people in Cyprus to be subjected to such danger, lack of security, or lack of position. In actual fact, what is even more important than our consent is the fact that the Turkish Cypriot community would not accept it. At times, we claim that we will not allow a certain thing or that we are determined to implement something else-and I am also guilty of this-but above all the Turkish Cypriot community itself would not agree to be placed in such a position. The Turkish Cypriot community would not allow it and Mr. Denktash's statements attest to this". EF/SK

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

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