Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-10-10

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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. 188/97 -- 10.10.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH HOLDS HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON CYPRUS ISSUE

[02] TURKEY SAID MAINTAINING STRANGE POLICIES TOWARD GREECE

[03] OCCUPIED AREA’S ECONOMY IS IN VERY BAD STATE. NO HOPE FOR 1998 AS WELL.

[04] DENKTASH IS TO LEAVE FOR USA

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH HOLDS HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON CYPRUS ISSUE

In a statement prior to the meeting, Denktash said that a solution to the nonrecognition of the pseudostate should be found before it is too late and added: "It must be assumed that the Greek Cypriots will be accepted as EU members on their own and, for this reason, determination should be displayed on implementing the measures that were decided together with Turkey." So-called Assembly Speaker of the pseudostate Hakki Atun, Vehbi Zeki Serter, National Unity Party (UBP) general secretary, Democratic Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktash, Republican Turkish Party (RTP), leader Mehmet Ali Talat, and Communal Liberation Party (TKP) leader Mustafa Akinci were present at the meeting.

In a statement prior to the meeting, Denktash said: "In my opinion, the objective of the meeting is to hold a discussion on the steps that must be adopted at this critical and dangerous stage in the Cyprus issue." Stressing that he asked Atun to call the pseudo-Assembly to an extraordinary session on the Cyprus issue on 16 October, Denktash added: "I asked to convene this extraordinary session in a bid to assess the latest stages in the Cyprus issue before my trip to Washington. The EU issue is looming above our heads. It is imperative that our starting point should be the assumption that the Greek Cypriots will be accepted into the EU under the title of Cyprus. For this reason, we should display determination on implementing the measures that were adopted together with Turkey." Pointing to the report that was published in the Greek Cypriot press and which was distributed at the EU, Denktash said: "Both I and my government are being portrayed as though we are against the EU. There are efforts to secure the participation of the political parties that are in favour of the EU on political grounds and those labour unions that are in favour of the EU on economic grounds in the EU accession talks." Explaining that there will always be those in the EU who consider it inappropriate to accept Cyprus as an EU member without the permission of the Turkish Cypriots, Denktash added:

"However, they do not want to eat their words. Thus, the Turkish Cypriots will participate in these talks under the Greek Cypriot flag and it will be the Cyprus Government that will have the right of say."

Denktash continued: "It will be tantamount to surrender if we recognize the Cyprus Government. Nobody accepts the fact that, in this way, the Turkish Cypriots will lose their own rights and that the international balances secured through the 1960 agreements will be disrupted. Nobody wants to accept this fact." Explaining that there are countries in the world that are not recognized, Denktash added: "The rights and legislation of these countries are respected by some." Denktash, who criticized the fact that the pseudostate is not recognized, said: "The people exist as long as they can protect their rights. It will be late for the Turkish Cypriots if the issue of the recognition of the TRNC is not settled. We are already late. We should have taken steps along these lines a long time ago. However, we are not too late." Denktash further said that these are his views and that these issues will be discussed at the meeting.

Explaining that his proposal for a national congress was misinterpreted, Denktash said: "The sole aim of the congress is to discuss whether we will promote the recognition of the TRNC, whether we should continue to meet with those who do not recognize it, and what are the pros and cons of continuing such meetings." Stressing that the people should stand up for the pseudostate. Moreover KIBRIS (10.10.97) reports that after the meeting Denktash made a statement to the reporters and said that it was a good meeting, he said: "I have explained to them the situation I am facing. I have conveyed my concern. What I have gathered from all these meeting is that on the substance there is no differences in approach work is going on in goodwill." When asked if the question of holding a congress was discussed at the meeting, Denktash said: "I did not want to raise the issue and distract the attention. On this issue parties have expressed their views, so, in order to have people´s views I will either parties will come up with their own views. I have been from the very beginning supporting the view that the congress should be held though the Assembly." (MY)

[02] TURKEY SAID MAINTAINING STRANGE POLICIES TOWARD GREECE

As a result of these policies, in spite of Pangalos' harsh remarks, Prime Minister Yilmaz will participate in the Balkan Conference to be held in Crete on 3 November.

The EU and the United States have received Turkey's approach to a policy open for dialogue and its extending of an olive branch to Greece positively. The most concrete example of this fact is the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright´s statement during the UN General Council meetings in New York on "transferring as an entirety the problems between Turkey and Greece to the International Court of Justice or another international organization on which the sides agree."

EU Pressure on Turkey {subhead} Turkey is also under the EU’s intense pressure regarding relations with Greece. High-ranking Turkish officials are being advised by their EU counterparts in every meeting to straighten up relations with Greece and make progress regarding the Cyprus problem.

Moreover, the advice given to Turkey by major EU countries like Germany is influencing Turkey in shaping its policies toward Greece. Chancellor Kohl’ s statement to Prime Minister Yilmaz during the latter’ s visit to Germany is being shown as an example of this influence. Kohl had told Yilmaz: "Had I taken seriously Papandreou’ s statements when he was in power, war would have erupted between Germany and Greece." The Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou had likened Kohl to a "giant with a bird’ s brain."

Taking part beside Prime Minister Yilmaz in the Balkan Conference to be held in Crete on 3 November will be the Government heads of Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and Macedonia. It is expected that during the conference, where the problems of Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina will be discussed, the problems between Turkey and Greece will also be raised.

One-To-One Meeting With Simitis[subhead] Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is expected to hold a one-to-one meeting with Greek Prime Minister Simitis during the Balkan Conference in Crete. The issue of carrying out the implementation of the Madrid Agreement is to be raised during the meeting.

According to the subject matter agreement, which was reached between President Demirel and Prime Minister Simitis during the NATO summit in Madrid, Greece will withdraw its decision to extend its territorial waters to 12 miles, and Turkey in return will withdraw its statement that it will consider this issue a reason for war."

[03] OCCUPIED AREA’S ECONOMY IS IN VERY BAD STATE. NO HOPE FOR 1998 AS WELL.

According to the report prepared by the so-called "State Planning Organization, DPO, 1997 is branded a "lost year". the report which yet to be published admits that the economy in the occupied area goes from bad to worse.

The report also admits that the six percent economic growth will not be attended.

The high inflation rate in the occupied area will continue to exist in 1998 and it will be around 70%. (MY)

[04] DENKTASH IS TO LEAVE FOR USA

During his stay which will last until 30 October Denktash will hold number of contacts there and will attend the Turkish Republic Day celebrations organized by the FTAA. (MY)

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

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