Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-04-02

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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. 58/98 -- 2.4.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] "PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL" CONVENES

[02] "PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL" STATEMENT

[03] ETKIN, TURKEY'S GUREL COMMENT ON "PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL"

[04] DENKTASH ON OCCASION OF EU MEMBERSHIP TALKS

[05] ECEVIT: "TRNC" TO BE SECURE AS LONG AS TURKEY EXISTS"

[06] DENKTASH WARNS NEW PARTY AGAINST RELIGIOUS EXPLOITATION

[07] CIZOV : S-300 TO BE DEPLOYED AS PLANNED

[08] TURKISH SPOKESMAN: COOPERATION WITH "TRNC" WITHOUT VIOLATING THE CUSTOMS UNION

[09] ECEVIT CLAIMS ALLIES TRY TO "STRANGLE" TURKISH CYPRIOTS.

[10] EROGLU'S MESSAGE TO YILMAZ NOTES PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL RESULTS

[11] YELTSIN'S GUARANTEE ON CYPRUS' S-300 MISSILES

[12] BELGIUM RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

[13] DEMIREL STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF UNITY WITHIN THE PSEUDOSTATE

[14] CHP SUPPORTS MOVES TO "PROTECT" TURKISH CYPRIOTS AGAINST EU

[15] TGNA CHAIRMAN TO VISIT THE OCCUPIED AREA

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] "PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL" CONVENES

In an opening statement, State Minister Sukru Gurel who heads the Turkish delegation at the talks said that at the current stage of the Cyprus problem this meeting carries special meaning.

Gurel claimed: "Turkey and the TRNC announced that they cannot accept the EU resolutions which constitute a clear violation of international law. We regret to see that despite all our warnings, the EU insists on its mistaken attitude. We hope that sooner or later, the EU will realize that with this approach, it cannot contribute to a solution to the Cyprus problem, that on the contrary, it will further deepen and finalize the division of the island. The heavy responsibility regarding this issue lies with the EU." Gurel alleged that at the point reached today, any quest for a solution that rejects the existence of two sovereign and equal "states" in Cyprus is bound to fail.

Gurel added: "As it has done until now, with resolve, Turkey will continue to support our Turkish Cypriot brothers' struggle for freedom, equality, and justice; and to make efforts to raise the level of prosperity of the Turkish Cypriot people. Our Partnership Council constitutes a concrete expression of our support, and proves once again that Turkey is always on the side of the Turkish Cypriots' honorable struggle against pressures and imposed so-called solution formulas."

Taner Etkin, so-called minister of foreign affairs and defense of the pseudostate, claimed: "We say that we want the negotiations to continue. However, these negotiations must be on the basis of two states. That is our formula, our proposal, and our demand, and we are determined about that. The strong support extended to us by our motherland Turkey, by all its officials, and by our lofty nation, reinforces our strength and determination. We sincerely believe that with this support, this aid, and with these good relations, important steps will be taken to reinforce the TRNC. This meeting is proof that the TRNC will live on as a political entity and state." In addition to State Minister Gurel, the Turkish delegation at the talks includes Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, and State Ministers Gunes Taner and Isin Celebi. The Turkish Cypriot delegation includes Taner Etkin, "finance minister" Salih Cosar; "economy minister" Erdal Onurhan; Ilkay Kamil, "minister of interior and village affairs"; and Mehmet Bayram, "public works and transportation minister."

[02] "PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL" STATEMENT

The declaration is as follows: "The policy of confrontation and tension pursued by the Greek Cypriot-Greek side continues to threaten the peace, stability, and security in Cyprus as well as in the eastern Mediterranean. In this context, the excessive armament and the moves to establish air and naval bases and to deploy missile systems on the island have seriously eroded regional stability. The military and economic integration process, which began between the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece, is now being completed in the political sphere with the full membership negotiations launched today between the EU and the Greek Cypriot Administration. The full membership negotiations launched by the EU with the Greek Cypriot Administration in violation of the 1959 and 1960 agreements concerning Cyprus constitutes a grave infraction of international law. Through this attitude, the EU has overlooked the foundation on which the independence of the island is based, a foundation that consists of two peoples with equal legal and political status, and has thus committed a historic mistake. The EU will bear the grave responsibility of dividing the island by causing the de facto unification between south Cyprus and Greece, as a result of the pressures on the part of the Greek Cypriot-Greek side. The EU does not have the right to make unilateral decisions with regard to the future of Cyprus, to create liabilities, or upset the existing balance between Turkey and Greece in the region.

Turkey and the TRNC will not accept the possible legal, political, and economic consequences for Cyprus regarding the full membership negotiations launched between the EU and the Greek Cypriot Administration.

Given these grave developments, Turkey and the TRNC will continue to be the guarantee of peace and stability in the region. As a guarantor country, Turkey will continue to preserve its rights and interests in Cyprus stemming from international agreements and to fulfill its contractual obligations vis-a-vis the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriot people.

The EU intervention in the Cyprus issue, undertaken as a result of Greek initiatives, reached an unacceptable stage following the decision adopted at the EU summit in Luxembourg, and the beginning of full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot Administration has completely changed the nature of the Cyprus problem. Consequently, the parameters stipulated within the previous framework for a Cyprus solution have been eliminated as a result of the pressures and threats on the part of the Greek Cypriot- Greek pair and the intervention of the EU, which bowed to these pressures and threats. Given these developments that threaten peace and stability, the primary goal for the coming period in Cyprus consists of enabling the two states to resolve their fundamental problems and thus allowing them to live in peace side by side. The TRNC constitutes the cornerstone of peace on the island and in the region. Turkey and the TRNC are determined to continue their stand in favor of peace and stability. In this context, they support the peaceful and constructive proposals submitted by TRNC President Rauf Raif Denktash to the Greek Cypriot Administration on 6 March 1998, and they view these proposals as a significant opportunity on the road to peace and a solution. It is impossible to register any progress with regard to the Cyprus issue or a joint solution unless the existence of two separate and equal peoples, of democracy, and of two states in Cyprus is accepted. The Partnership Council has decided to take the following steps with the aim of enhancing the special relations between the two countries in the political, security, economic, and cultural fields:

Until the TRNC occupies the place it deserves as an independent and sovereign state in every respect in the international arena, Turkey and the TRNC will bolster and continue their joint efforts aimed at lifting the obstructive international measures imposed on the TRNC and at enabling the TRNC to freely conduct political, economic, cultural, and sports contacts with all countries.

The necessary steps will be taken to allow the TRNC to integrate with the international community. The steps to be taken to this end will be discussed within the framework of the continuous political consultation mechanism that has been established between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

It has been decided to establish a joint economic area which will harmonize customs in a way that will provide gradual protection for the TRNC's developing economic sectors and which will be based on the free movement of goods, services, and capital within the framework of free trade principles, on technology transfers, and on the flow of investments.

To this end, the sides will recommend to their respective governments the implementation of the necessary legal and technical adjustments aimed at realizing the goals stipulated in the agreement on the guaranteeing of investments, the agreement on providing state aid for investments, and the agreement on trade and cooperation which were signed between the two countries. A joint economic committee has been established within the framework of the Partnership Council with the aim of formulating joint economic and financial policies, determining development strategies, and making regional plans along this line. Accordingly, the economic relations between the two countries will be structured in line with the requirements of the joint economic area, and the harmonization work will be concluded within two months of the trade and economic agreements' taking effect.

The existing cooperation in the fields of tourism, education, transportation, communications, energy, agriculture, industry, trade, investment, credit financing, money, and banking will be strengthened along these lines. Opportunities will be increased to overcome the problems in the transportation and marketing fields with the aim of accelerating the development of tourism in the TRNC.

For investments to be undertaken in the TRNC, individuals and corporations in Turkey and the TRNC will benefit from the same incentives offered to priority development areas in Turkey.

The projects to transport water via sea and pipeline from Turkey to the TRNC, projects that are very important in terms of the socioeconomic development of the TRNC, will be concluded rapidly.

The Partnership Council will continue its work with determination and resolve to protect the common interests between the two countries. The Partnership Council will hold its next meeting in the occupied area in three months."

[03] ETKIN, TURKEY'S GUREL COMMENT ON "PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL"

From now on, others can take all the integration steps they deem appropriate between themselves. We, on our part, are determined to continue along the path we know together with the TRNC."

On his part, Etkin stated: "We experienced a historic day today, and we continue to experience it. Very important messages were issued here to the EU, to the other side, and to third parties who take an interest in Cyprus. As stressed by Minister Gurel, we hope that the contents of these messages will be registered. We stressed our determination. We made the decision to perpetuate the TRNC on strong economic foundations and to further enhance our close and special relations with motherland Turkey. These decisions are aimed at preventing Cyprus from politically joining Greece by means of the EU. We displayed our emphatic resolve in this regard. This can also be described as an insistent determination. Let no one doubt this.

Decisions were also adopted in the economic sphere. Today's decisions are ones that underline principles. The Partnership Council, which is scheduled to meet every six months, will meet sooner than that - in three months. The economic, social, and cultural problems of the TRNC and other current issues will be discussed at the committee level, and later at the council level. These are important decisions. As I said, they underline our determination regarding our national cause within the framework of the stand we adopted together with Turkey."

[04] DENKTASH ON OCCASION OF EU MEMBERSHIP TALKS

In a statement to illegal to BRT and TAK last Tuesday, Denktash said that a historic meeting was being held in Ankara that day between Turkey and the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus." Denktash remarked that as a result of the statement made by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem the other day, all Turkish Cypriots began looking at the future with hope and faith and were able to sign in relief.

Denktash noted that from now on, the Turkish Cypriots can dedicate themselves to the struggle for a better and more beautiful future without reservation.

Remarking that it is possible to achieve peace and cooperation between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, Denktash claimed that in order to achieve this, the Greek Cypriot side must concede the Turkish Cypriots' rights and powers, their status, and their equal sovereignty, they must acknowledge that Turkey has as much right over Cyprus as Greece and that it is impossible to erase Turkey's geopolitical rights, and they must accept and learn to live with the principle of bizonality and property exchange.

Denktash said that if the existence of "two states" is accepted, joint administrative systems can be instituted between the "two states" and if the Greek Cypriots renounce their "hostility", as he put it, and adopt the path of friendship, the two sides can establish friendship.

[05] ECEVIT: "TRNC" TO BE SECURE AS LONG AS TURKEY EXISTS"

"At a time when the negotiations pertaining to Greek Cypriot membership in the EU were launched in Brussels despite Turkey and international agreements, a step was taken in Ankara to further deepen the relations between the Turkish Republic and the TRNC. The Partnership Council between two independent brother republics held its first meeting in Ankara today. The TRNC will live in security as long as the Turkish Republic continues to exist. I hope that the Partnership Council activities will be auspicious for our country", Ecevit said.

[06] DENKTASH WARNS NEW PARTY AGAINST RELIGIOUS EXPLOITATION

Denktash reminded the party officials once again that they can say whatever they want in a democratic framework, but they should not exploit religion for political purposes. He also wished the BP success in political life. Sadikoglu, in turn, said that this was a courtesy visit. He explained that his party was established within the framework of the so-called constitution and incorporates people with an Islamic character, and this constitutes the party's identity. Sadikoglu noted that the candidates in the "elections" will be chosen among those who conform to this identity.

[06] CIZOV : S-300 TO BE DEPLOYED AS PLANNED

Cizov received information from Diego Cordovez, Kofi Annan's Special Representative to Cyprus, after the meeting of Rauf Denktash and Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations in Geneva, and then started a visit to Ankara, Athens and Nicosia.

Cizov stated that the "TRNC" is making the situation more difficult, and the S-300 missiles will be deployed on the island in the second half of this year as it was previously planned.

Defending that Turkey's attitude about the missiles is exaggerated, Cizov said that, "the Turkish air hegemony will be balanced when these missiles arrive on the island."

[07] TURKISH SPOKESMAN: COOPERATION WITH "TRNC" WITHOUT VIOLATING THE CUSTOMS UNION

During his weekly news conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Necati Utkan replied to a question on whether the joint economic area established in the wake of the "Partnership Council" meeting will be regarded as a customs union. "This is what we did: We made a decision to develop the economic cooperation between Turkey and the TRNC to conform with the modalities of the existing Customs Union between Turkey and the EU. In other words, this is the way the concept of a joint economic area between the two countries should be interpreted," Utkan claimed.

Asked to comment on the assessment that the "Partnership Council" meeting laid the foundation of a federation between Turkey and the "TRNC" Utkan said that the declaration and statements issued are very comprehensive and meaningful.

In reply to a question on whether Turkey will develop its economic relations with the "TRNC" without violating the Customs Unions, Utkan responded:

"Yes, we will do this without violating the Customs Union."

[08] ECEVIT CLAIMS ALLIES TRY TO "STRANGLE" TURKISH CYPRIOTS.

Ecevit, addressing his party group meeting, claimed that the statements issued by certain EU member countries to the effect that they will not support the Greek Cypriot side's accession to the EU before a political solution is reached in Cyprus are deceitful attempts to please the Turkish side. "We have no concerns regarding the future of the Turkish Cypriots. The economic strength of Turkey, even if it is currently faced with certain problems on a macro level, is, if necessary, sufficient to make the economy of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus stand on its own feet. The world has united, to be more exact, our allies have united and are trying to strangle the Turkish Cypriots. We, as the Turkish nation, are determined. We will not allow anyone to strangle and oppress the Turkish Cypriots," Ecevit claimed.

[09] EROGLU's MESSAGE TO YILMAZ NOTES PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL RESULTS

Eroglu stated that Turkey has once again showed the world that the "TRNC" has alternatives and remedies in response to the political decision made by the European Union (EU) to start full membership negotiations with Cyprus. "We have to strengthen the Republic of Turkey, which is a guarantor of regional stability and the TRNC against all kinds of political and economic pressures and threats. We believe that we will reach this national aim as soon as possible", Eroglu added.

[10] YELTSIN'S GUARANTEE ON CYPRUS' S-300 MISSILES

[11] BELGIUM RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

In the resolution endorsed last Thursday, the Belgian Senate said that "there is no doubt over the historical evidence regarding the organized and systematic murder of Armenians."

Following Greece, Belgium became the second of Turkey's NATO allies to call the atrocities against Armenians at the time as "genocide".

Turkey rejects claims that genocide was committed, but alleges that a number of Armenian people died during that time period due to illnesses and other conditions prevailing in the region.

[12] DEMIREL STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF UNITY WITHIN THE PSEUDOSTATE

Mentioning the importance of the "Partnership Council", Demirel criticized the European Union (EU) about opening its gates for full membership to the Greek Cypriot side. "The EU couldn't understand the Cyprus question fully and turned everything upside down," he claimed.

Demirel noted that they "would continue to seek ways for providing for the living of the two peoples in peace on the condition that the state speciality of the TRNC is recognized."

Noting that the security and welfare of the "TRNC" closely interested Turkey Demirel said that comprehensive measures will continue to be taken up to strengthen the "TRNC" economically. Demirel also gave a message to the Turkish Cypriots who represent the "TRNC" in the "Partnership Council". Demirel said that the Cyprus question was a national case and that the existence of a "government" that is in accord and cooperation should be continued to defend this case which has to face international pressures.

[13] CHP SUPPORTS MOVES TO "PROTECT" TURKISH CYPRIOTS AGAINST EU

Addressing his party group, Baykal said that the politicians couldn't benefit from the opportunity that was given to Turkey in the past, but Greece benefited from it well and entered into the EU. Baykal added that the EU has started to negatively change its approach towards Turkey, after Greece joined the EU.

Baykal claimed that the EU has made a mistake by starting the membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side.

"These developments have led to the division of Cyprus and it is up to the EU to prevent this division," he claimed.

[14] TGNA CHAIRMAN TO VISIT THE OCCUPIED AREA

An 18-man delegation headed by Cetin will hold a series of contacts in the occupied area.

Cetin and the delegation will leave the occupied area on 4 April. (MY)

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

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