Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-09-30

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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. 181/97 -- 30/9/97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH'S CALL FOR ``NATIONAL CONGRESS'' REJECTED BY SOME

[02] DENKTASH CLAIMS NOTHING LEFT TO BE SAID AT NEGOTIATING TABLE

[03] EROGLU HAS BRONCHITIS, TO REMAIN IN HOSPITAL

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH'S CALL FOR ``NATIONAL CONGRESS'' REJECTED BY SOME

A statement issued by the UBP party assembly says that the party unanimously decided that the call for a ``national congress'' is incompatible with the principles of democracy and the supremacy of the law as envisaged by the ``constitution''. The statement says: ``Lowering the status of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus -- which exists thanks to its Constitution, its constitutional institutions, its democratic organizations, and its Republican Assembly that is capable of exercising every kind of authority within the framework of constitutional principles -- to that of a national congress is tantamount to eliminating or changing the state in unconstitutional ways.''

[02] DENKTASH CLAIMS NOTHING LEFT TO BE SAID AT NEGOTIATING TABLE

In a statement before the meeting, Denktash claimed that the aim of the Greek Cypriots is not to reach an agreement on any one subject but to overcome the obstacles to their EU accession. Denktash stated: ``Our view, however, is categorical. We cannot in any way assist the Greek Cypriots on the path to the EU because this would be tantamount to eliminating the basic rights granted to the Turkish Cypriot side, to Turkey, and to us by the 1960 agreements and falling into the Greek Cypriot trap. We must foil this game.''

Also noting that there is no such thing as the talks' yielding a document, Denktash explained that the two sides are conducting an exercise to bring their views closer together in one way or another. Denktash noted that during the talks, he proposed to President Clerides to progress gradually, step - by step. Denktash said: ``The best part of gradual progress is for the soldiers to retreat a little where they are in view or each other and to unload their weapons, and Clerides rejected this proposal on the grounds that the matter can be resolved through instructions to be given to the soldiers.''

Explaining that the flight moratorium issue was not discussed during the meeting, Denktash said: ``If Greek planes come when there are Greek Cypriot exercises, naturally Turkish planes will come when we are conducting military exercises or manoeuvres. Again, Clerides is rejecting the proposal to renounce this method by saying that it is essential for the defence doctrine. It is Clerides who is inventing new things. He invented the move of bringing Greek planes to the island. We responded in kind. Now, he has invented the deployment of missiles on the island. We will give the necessary response to this as well. We will not allow the missiles to be used as a bargaining cip to disrupt the existing military balance. It is clear that the Greek Cypriots will not win this race.''

Alleging that the Greek Cypriots believe that they can claim possession of Cyprus by recruiting the support of Russia, the United States, Britain, and the EU, Dentash said that the Greek Cypriots dream that the principle of bizonality will not be implemented, that they will return to their homes, and that they will change the guarantee system any way they want. ``They think that the Turkish soldiers will be included in the multinational force that will be deployed on the island, and when the multinational force withdraws, the Turkish soldiers will also withdraw'', Denktash added.

Pointing out that his own proposal consists of asserting the existence of the ``Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'' and not sitting at the negotiating table before this ``republic'' is recognized, Denktash announced that there is nothing left to be said at the negotiating table and that there is no other solution. He also claimed that the world is preventing the solution of the Cyprus problem, and continued: ``What we call the world is Britain, the United States, and the EU. The EU has adopted the wrong path at the urging of Greece. They do not want to see the realities in Cyprus, because they would have to concede that the Turks and the Muslims are right. We will assert the existence of our state. We can reach a federation or a confederation with these two states. The time has come for us to show them what we are and who we are.''

Referring to the ``national congress'' issue, Denktash said that he expressed his view as the ``president'', noting that the world understands the language of the people. ``It is necessary to demonstrate to the world what the people want'' he said.

He explained that alongside the ``representatives'' of the people, he invited the people themselves to the meeting. Denktsh stated that the EU will make a decision by the end of this year, at which time everything will stop. He said that his hurry to hold a ``national congress'' stems from the wish to allow the EU to rethink its position and refrain, as he put it, from totally blocking the road to peace before this period of stagnation sets in.

Expressing the firm belief that the majority of the ``assembly'' will support him with regard to a ``national congress'', Denktash explained that he considers a ``national congress'' a solution to the current state of the negotiations as well as a means to draw attention to international tactics in this regard.

[03] EROGLU HAS BRONCHITIS, TO REMAIN IN HOSPITAL

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

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