Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-01-20

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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. 10/98 -- 20.1.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Federation shelved, Turks want two-state settlement on Cyprus.

[02] Turkish Ambassadors visit the pseudostate.

[03] Turks named `major drug traffickers' in UK.

[04] Turkish Cypriots claim Miller violated `impartiality'.

[05] Denktash meets Canada's special representative to Cyprus.

[06] Akinci meets Slovak diplomats.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Federation shelved, Turks want two-state settlement on Cyprus

Efforts to establish a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation were abandoned. Turkey and the "TRNC" now want mutual recognition of "two states" on the island, a settlement to the security, "border" demarcation and land claims issues, and leaving the creation of a federation or confederation on the island to time.

The new approach contradicts Turkey's traditional Cyprus policies that were centered on the establishment of a bi-communal and bizonal federation with an effective Turkish guarantee.

It took Turkey nine years to make the United Nations, the United States and other countries interested in a Cyprus settlement accept the notion of a bi- communal and bi-zonal federation on the island. Now, ignoring its nine-year efforts, Ankara is turning its back to a Cyprus federation and lending support, in a way, to ultranationalist Turkish Cypriots who have been stating right back to the 1974 Turkish invasion that the de facto situation on the island should be made de jure. That is, they were defending that the "current solution on the island is the solution itself."

The only differing point is the call to settle the security, "border" demarcation and land claims issues. According to official Turkish sources, the reason behind the call for settlement in those three areas is a result of the consideration that without resolution of those issues, no settlement could be a lasting one. Security is important because any settlement on the island should satisfy the security needs of the island's two communities, if it is wanted that a stable peace be created.

According to the report, "border" demarcation is important because if the territory of the "two states" on the island is not redefined in a manner satisfactory to the "two states" of Cyprus, tensions would not be eradicated and stability would not be achieved. Within a "border" demarcation framework, Turkish Cypriots and Turkey are not talking about a substantial land concession, but minor "modifications" of the existing green line.

The settlement of the land claim issue is perhaps the most important of the three issues that Turkish Cypriots urgently want to settle. This issue was referred to in earlier Turkish Cypriot proposals as the "zeroing of land claims". The idea behind this issue is that either through exchange or compensation, all Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot land claims should be settled and a possible recourse to tension and intercommunal violence on the island after a settlement because of land claims is avoided.

According to Turkish and Turkish Cypriot sources, resolution of these three issues and mutual recognition of "two states" on the island will help to establish normalized relations between the two communities of the island. "Instead of a forced and dictated makeshift settlement that may land the island, Turkey and Greece in an even worse crisis, let's eradicate possible sources of tension; let the two states live side by side and give them time to decide whether they want to continue as separate states or forge some sort of unity under a federal or confederal roof", as a source explained the new approach.

But, why did Turkey and the "TRNC" change their approach to the Cyprus problem all of a sudden? According to both Turkish and Turkish Cypriot sources, there is no sudden change. "This is a process", a source said, adding: "We had warned the Europeans that if they decide to open accession talks with Greek Cypriots as the sole government of the island and demonstrate once again that the principle of equality of the two peoples of the island is just a matter confined to the intercommunal talks process, the parameters of our approach to the Cyprus problem would be altered. Now, parameters have changed. If Greek Cypriots want talks, if the United States, Britain, others and the United Nations are interested in a Cyprus problem, they should see that things have changed and talks could resume at two-states level and the aim could only be to resolve the issues of security, border demarcation and land claims". The signs of this changing Cyprus policy of Turkey and the "TRNC" were indeed apparent ever since Bulent Ecevit, the Turkish prime minister who had ordered the 1974 landing of Turkish troops on Cyprus, became deputy prime minister in the coalition government at the end of last June.

Ecevit had made it clear in remarks to the press that Cyprus has become a vital element of the security of Turkey...

That is for Ecevit, not only was Turkey a guarantor for Turkish Cypriot security, but the "TRNC" was a guarantor for Turkey's security.

The report continues that because of the scheduled February 8 Greek Cypriot presidential elections, the Cyprus peace efforts of both Washington and London as well as the United Nations were all placed in low gear. Despite this "public" rhetoric, however, there have been intense behind-the-scenes efforts of both United States and Britain and the UN secretary-general. While the UN Secretary General and Britain are only trying to provide logistic support to the American efforts, Washington has been dispatching senior officials for secret talks in the region. Last week, for example, Tom Miller, the deputy of American presidential part-time Cyprus envoy Richard Holbrooke, was in Ankara. He met with Sukru Sina Gurel, the state minister in charge of Cyprus as well as Foreign Ministry top brass. The aim of the silent American diplomacy is to be prepared for a new initiative in March.

According to Turkish officials, the Americans so far are listening to the changed Cyprus position and withholding comment. However, Ankara is feeling that they "understand" but are not "warm yet" to Turkey's new Cyprus approach.

Ankara has as well amended its position regarding the scheduled deployment this fall of Russian-made S-300 missiles in Cyprus.

According to top Turkish officials, Turkey's detailed evaluation of the issue has shown that these missiles could never be used by the Greek Cypriots because their use would create war, not only in Cyprus, but between Greece and Turkey as well. Thus, Turkey has put aside the previous challenge to do whatever possible - including the option of resorting to the use of force to prevent the deployment of these missiles but has decided to respond "in an adequate manner", if ever these weapons were attempted to be used. There are claims that this new approach was adopted after the Americans told Ankara that Washington would agree to Turkey's right to defense and retaliation if these missiles were used. But, these claims could not be verified from Turkish sources, the report says.

[02] Turkish Ambassadors visit the pseudostate

Turkish ambassadors who were appointed to posts abroad held contacts in the occupied area yesterday. They met with Turkish envoy Ertugrul Apakan, Denktash and "assembly speaker" Hakki Atun.

In a statement during the meeting with the 20-person ambassadorial delegation, Denktash claimed that despite all the difficulties and the world's refusal to understand the realities in Cyprus, Turkey has remained loyal to its signature.

Denktash stated that at this stage, the "TRNC" is determined to take joint steps with Turkey in response to the recent EU decision. He claimed that although until now the Turkish Cypriots sat at the intercommunal negotiating table with goodwill, the Greek Cypriots did not relinquish their attempts to advance the Cyprus issue along the path they wanted. He alleged that all Greek Cypriot leaders have complied with Makarios' legacy and added that during the talks conducted in Glion President Clerides stated that he will never discuss sovereignty.

[03] Turks named `major drug traffickers' in UK

The move was part of raids organized last week in which quantities of heroin and cocaine valued at 2.5 million pounds were recovered by police. The swoop was the result of an undercover investigation into Turkish drug traffickers, according to Scotland Yard. Detectives said they are expecting more arrests in the coming days.

Scotland Yard said on Monday that it believed the influx of heroin into the UK had been halted by the latest move against the gang, which had been providing up to 100 kilos of heroin, with a street value of 20 million pounds, across the UK, each week.

The British officials asserted that the heroin transferred to the UK originated mainly from Turkey. Underlining the cartel's role as a "clearinghouse", they expressed their belief that all the heroin coming into the UK was controlled by this north London gang.

Last year, Scotland Yard made it known that, according to their information, 75 percent of the heroin arriving in the UK was coming from Turkey. Tom Sackwell, the previous Home Office Minister during the Conservative government, had made it clear that they suspected Turkish politicians were involved in drug trafficking and promoting the drug trade in Europe.

[04] Turkish Cypriots claim Miller violated `impartiality'

On the same issue, Turkish Daily News (20.1.98), Internet version) reports that Thomas Miller is drawing criticism due to his decision to participate as the sole speaker at a working dinner on Cyprus, organized by the National Strategy Forum (NSF), "whose announcements of the gathering displayed its biased attitude on the issue".

The NSF announcement describes Cyprus as an island which sustains Greek traditions and describes the Turkish Cypriots "a minority". It adds that one week after the coup in 1974 Turkish troops invaded and divided the island. The announcement also said that the number of Turks living on Cyprus before 1974 was less than the current number of Turkish troops there.

[05] Denktash meets Canada's special representative to Cyprus

KIBRIS reports that Mr. McWhinney is also the secretary of the Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee.

No statement was released after the meeting.

(MY)

[06] Akinci meets Slovak diplomats

Present at the meeting, reports KIBRIS, were deputy CLP leader Gungor Gurhan, and the Slovak deputy ambassador (as published in the paper).

A press release from the CLP office stated that the visit was a courtesy one.

The press release also stated that during the meeting there was an exchange of views on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

(MY)

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

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