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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-11-26Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 220/97 26.11.97[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] BATU MEETS CORDOVEZAccording to Ankara Radio (25.11.97) Diego Cordovez, the UN special Cyprus adviser, visited Inal Batu, Foreign Ministry deputy under secretary. In a statement after the meeting, Batu said that the link made by the EU between Turkey's full membership and the Cyprus question has cast a shadow over the United Nations' goodwill mission. He stressed that the resumption of the intercommunal talks on the island is now possible only with a new model. He said: "We say that first, the two sides must recognize each other's sovereign equality. They then apply to the EU jointly, or the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus - whose sovereign equality is by then recognized by the Greek Cypriots, the world, and the EU - makes a separate application. Then the north Cypriots participate in the full membership talks."[02] TALAT RAPS DENKTASH FOR SETTING PRECONDITIONAccording to illegal Bayrak Radio, (25.11.97) Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat has said that the confirmation of the Turkish Cypriot community's rights on the island and of its share in the sovereignty can happen only through an agreement. He stressed that any move that will prevent such an agreement or that will make the Turkish Cypriot side blamed for preventing such an agreement, will serve the Greek Cypriot side, or at least, a nonsolution.Talat pointed out that an amelioration has recently been observed in the attitude of the international community toward the Turkish Cypriot side. He added that the international community also seems to be pressuring the Greek Cypriot side for a solution of the Cyprus problem. Talat charged that this process is being jeopardized because Rauf Denktash and certain officials from the Turkish Republic are setting the acceptance of the existence of two "states" on the island and the acceptance of Turkish Cypriot sovereignty as a precondition for the talks. In his statement, Talat said: "Sabotaging the process by means of extreme demands that will block the negotiations will only help the continuation of the acceptance of the Greek Cypriot community as the Cyprus republic, and the condemnation of the Turkish Cypriot community to live with its unrecognized state and with the problems that stem from the Cyprus problem." Talat stressed that this attitude will also hurt the relations between Turkey and the EU. [03] CORDOVEZ MEETS ECEVITAccording to Ankara TRT (25.11.97) in a statement after his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Diego Cordovez, the UN secretary general's special Cyprus adviser, said that he brought a message from the secretary general. Cordovez stressed that after the presidential elections scheduled for Cyprus in February, the UN secretary general is determined to resume the Cyprus talks within the framework of his goodwill mission. Cordovez said that he conveyed this message to both sides on the island and to Athens. He said: "My priority and the priority of everyone concerned is to have a federal Cyprus republic as a full EU member."Stressing that the issue is very sensitive and complicated, Cordovez refrained from commenting on the EU decision to start accession talks with the Cyprus government. [04] POPULATION OF THE OCCUPIED AREA STANDS AT 200,587Illegal Bayrak Radio (25.11.97) reports that according to the results of the first census ever held in the occupied area on 15 December 1996, the population of the country stands at 200,587. Illegal "TAK" learned from the so-called "State Planning Organization" under secretary that the details will be announced on Thursday.[05] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER CEM ON CYPRUS PROBLEMFollowing is the interview given by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to MILLIYET (23.11.97) replying to Milliyet's questions on Turkey-EU relations, Cyprus - EU membership talks, and Turkey's foreign policy issues, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem brought clarity to the latest Cyprus developments. "Question: The European Parliament report left Turkey out. Is that report binding as far as the European Conference goes?Cem: It is not binding, but effective. They are putting forward a concept of a "conference" whose content is still unclear. Question: So, the question is one of being an inconsequential guest there. Cem: Its content is still not clear. The debate is still continuing. Question: How sensible would it be to make concessions on Cyprus and the Aegean to join the conference? Cem: We are not talking about concessions. Concession is a wrong approach. The Greeks refuse to approach a reasonable compromise. Anyway, Greece is not the problem, Greece is only a part of the rhetoric. The fear of taking a chance with Turkey is what determines the EU's approach towards Turkey. Will they be bold enough to consider a rapprochement with a 65-million- strong powerful, dynamic, and history-rich country like Turkey or not? This is the fundamental factor. This is the point on which they have not yet agreed and about which they have to make a final decision. Question: If Cyprus' candidacy is accepted, what would our reaction be? Cem: We are not following a policy of reaction. We have nothing to do with reaction, blackmail, or threats. Turkey's Cyprus policy will continue as openly as it is now. Otherwise, the EU's approach would relegate the Turkish Cypriots into a position of a helpless minority in a hostile climate. The Turkish Grand National Assembly adopted a unanimous decision on 20 January 1997. It stipulates that if the EU's adversarial policies continue, a process of partial integration will commence. This is first. Secondly, there is a basic mistake in the Cyprus problem. It is not possible to form a federation between a society which they regard as a community and a society which they recognize as a state. A community and state cannot come together and form a federation. Such a thing has never happened in history. "A federation could be established between two equal entities. Some ten days ago Mr. Denktash made two important points: First he said: 'Yes for the talks, but on the condition that we should be recognized as a state and it must be admitted that two equal sides are participating in these talks.' This is a new overture. Denktash spoke about the second point very briefly: An interim joint government, which could both probe into the problems of federation in Cyprus and ensure the search for a solution regarding ties with the EU. These should be starting points to finding a mutual solution in Cyprus. "However, these are not echoed in the views ascribed to Mr. Holbrooke." [06] ECEVIT HOLDS ``BENEFICIAL'' MEETING WITH CORDOVEZAccording to Ankara TRT (25.11.97) Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has said that the EU, by opening the door for full membership to the Greek Cypriot Administration, has considerably reduced the influence of the United Nations in Cyprus. He said: ``There are certain concessions that the Turkish Cypriots cannever make.''Diego Cordovez, UN Secretary General's Special Cyprus representative, began his Ankara contacts today. He first met with Ecevit. Replying to reporters' questions after the meeting, which lasted an hour and 15 minutes, Ecevit said that the meeting was very beneficial. He noted that the UN Secretariat General has a positive approach to the Cyprus issue. Ecevit said: ``As I have said, however, with the EU opening its door to the Greek Cypriot Administration and closing it to Turkey, the influence of the UN Secretariat General has been considerably reduced. Of course the Secretariat General is concerned over this issue. We are ready to help them in any way we can. There are, however, certain concessions that the Turkish Cypriots can never make. It was a very beneficial meeting.'' State Minister responsible for Cyprus affairs Sukru Sina Gurel and Inal Batu, Deputy Under Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, also attended the Ecevit - Cordovez meeting. [07] EROGLU STRESSES PRINCIPLE OF ``TWO STATES''According to illegal Bayrak Radio (25.11.97) so-called Prime Minister of the pseudo-state Dervis Eroglu, in a statement after the so-called Council of Ministers meeting today, said that they are determined to continue the negotiations based on the principle of the existence of two ``states''. He added that this was confirmed by Bulent Ecevit, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, and Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Describing as very important the discussion of the Cyprus application at the EU meeting to be held on 12 December, Eroglu said: ``In the light of the EU decisions, the government might be faced with formulating a new strategy. It has become inevitable to call the Assembly to a meeting to make an assessment of the situation and to reach future-oriented decisions.'' Expressing pleasure over the fact that the principle of two ``states'' is being more clearly expressed to the world together with Turkey, Eroglu said that it is impossible for one sector that the world refers to as a community and for another that is recognised as a state to come together at the negotiation table and reach an agreement that will please the Turkish Cypriots. Eroglu continued: ``As a matter of fact, no results were achieved in the negotiations that continued for years. One should act in accordance with the existing reality in Cyprus, in other words that there are two equal states in the south and the north. A solution should be sought in line with these realities.''Eroglu pointed out that a great majority of the Turkish Cypriot people believe that Cyprus should join the EU after a solution is reached and that Turkey's membership should precede that of Cyprus''. He said that they are determined to make the world see this reality. In reply to a question on whether the pseudo Assembly will reach a decision, Eroglu said that it is the primary duty of it to make decisions in line with the interests of the Turkish Cypriot Community and expressed the belief that such a decision can be reached. [08] DENKTASH: "NO EU TALKS BEFORE 'TRNC' RECOGNIZED"According to illegal Bayrak Radio (25.11.97) Rauf Denktash has said that the issue of EU accession cannot be discussed before the pseudostate is recognized and before the balance between Turkey and Greece over Cyprus is preserved.The so-called Council of Ministers of the pseudostate met under Denktash today. Denktash briefed the "cabinet" on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue and the measures that will be taken after 12 December, the day the EU will be discussing the application of the Cyprus government. Denktash in a statement prior to the meeting, assessed the recent poll results showing that some 90 to 92 percent of the people are against Cyprus' accesion to the EU before the Cyprus problem is solved and before Turkey becomes an EU member. He added that some 10 percent of the population thinks differently. Denktash said that EU commissioner Van den Broek, who will visit Cyprus soon, should be asked whether the EU makes decisions based on 10 percent of the population. He added that this is an injustice and that he will put this question to Van den Broek. 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 |
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