Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-04-16

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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. 67/98 -- 16.4.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash comments on Cyprus developments.

[02] Turkish Foreign Ministry officials holds contacts in the occupied area.

[03] Denktash opposes Cypriot businessmen contacts.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] Columnist views US approach on Turkish military.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash comments on Cyprus developments

Denktash inter alia claimed that they "are trying to protect their sovereignty, their equality, and their rights in this motherland", and that they have not stolen anything from the Greek Cypriots, adding: "The day Clerides says that he is not the government of all of Cyprus, they will do the necessary thing.

The day he backs down from saying that there is only one and not two citizenships in Cyprus, the movement (of people) will be facilitated, and the conditions we have set will have been eliminated. Our cause is that of identity, personality, freedom, and sovereignty, and we will not give concessions on these.

Clerides is aware of this".

Denktash added that despite all these, the EU, Britain, and other countries told them that the Cyprus government already exists, that the Turkish Cypriots are a minority, that the train has already begun moving, and that they will accept Cyprus into the EU whether the Turkish Cypriots participate or not in the talks. Denktash says that following this, they have become more determined "to defend their principles".

Replying to a reporter's question about the Turkish side's approach regarding Camp David-type or Dayton-type four-party talks, Denktash said that in order to hold a Dayton-type meeting, first the ground needs to be prepared, which is not existent, adding: "A four-party meeting is another ploy.

What does a four-party meeting mean? It means the acceptance of the equality in Cyprus between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

Inwardly, it means the acceptance of the equality of the two sides. However, it is not possible to participate in that meeting as the government of Cyprus. The Greek Cypriots cannot sit at the table there as the government of Cyprus. If they do, then we will participate in that meeting as the TRNC. These terms should be formulatled. There cannot also be a call for a four-party meeting, as if it is a bolt from the blue. Parameters should be prepared, which means that the fact that the Greek Cypriots will never become the government of all of the island should be accepted. The fact that we are a separate state, that we are a separate institution, that we are a separate authority, that the Greek Cypriot authorities and institutions will not dominate us must be accepted. The beginning starts from these points," he claimed.

Denktash alleged that a "special federation" should exist, in a way that the Turkish Cypriots are not "crushed" by the Greek Cypriots, because the federation envisaged by the Greek Cypriots is a unitary state under the guise of a federation, he alleged.

To a question of whether Holbrooke has a formula in which the Turkish Cypriots have equality, Denktash alleged that Holbrooke accepts the equality of the two sides, as well as the fact that the Greek Cypriots are not the government of the Turkish Cypriots. He added: "He is looking for a formula that encompasses these (facts) in a way that is acceptable for the Greek Cypriots. I am telling him that you cannot succeed in this anymore. Because the Greek Cypriots will not back down from the view that they are the government of the Cyprus Republic -- the Greek Cypriots consider this view as being a principle -- unless you, who have seated him there, tell him openly: `You are not (the government of the Cyprus republic'. You cannot tell him that due to internal politics, and they will continue this policy and cause problems here.

Replying to a reporter's quesiton about the "bill" on the passport issue, Denktash said that homes will not be searched for finding passports, but that those using Greek Cypriot passports will be apprehended, claiming that this is not a major problem that people should be concerned with.

[02] Turkish Foreign Ministry officials holds contacts in the occupied area

BIRLIK reports that Akgunay met Denktash and Taner Etkin yesterday.

During the Akgunay - Taner meeting the latest developments in the Cyprus problem were reviewed. Etkin declared that they will hold important contacts with Akgunay. He reiterated once again the known Turkish stance regarding the resumption of the intercommunal talks. He said inter alia:" It is out of question for the TRNC to enter into an EU where Turkey is absent. The EU membership issue is not on our agenda".

BIRLIK further reports that during his stay in the occupied area Akgunay will give a series of lectures.

(MY)

[03] Denktash opposes Cypriot businessmen contacts

Rauf Denktash met with Salih Boyaci, so-called president of the "Chamber of Commerce", and other "officials" yesterday morning and conferred with them for a while.

Asked to comment on whether or not the businessmen have resumed their bicommunal contacts, in connection with which US Presidential Envoy Richard Holbrooke had made some initiative during his visit to the island, Denktash stated that they (the Turkish side) do not believe that such contacts will be of any benefit in light of the EU's decision and the attitude adopted by the Greek Cypriots after the commencement of the full membership talks with the EU. Denktash claimed that bringing the businessmen together, at a time when the embargo is still in place and the Greek Cypriots openly state that they have no intention of lifting it, will not be anything but a farce and that this was also the view conveyed to him by the businessmen.

Denktash said that when he explained this situation to Holbrooke the latter replied: "I want to invite two people to a meeting in the buffer zone. Are you going to prevent that?"

To that he replied: "We will not prevent it. You can invite Vedat Celik as your guest."

Therefore, Denktash added, the meeting did not constitute the beginning of contacts among businessmen.

Denktash alleged that the Greek Cypriots are getting the impression that with such contacts the Turkish side is indirectly recognizing them as the legal government.

"We are not saying that the Greek Cypriots and Turks should not contact each other. What we are saying is that we should hold such contacts under conditions of equality. We are trying to establish that equality. We want to pinpoint the Greek Cypriots, who have not established that equality and have done everything in their power to prevent our recognition, as a usurping administration. There are two administrations, two peoples, two democracies, two governments, and two states in Cyprus. If this reality is recognized, then the crossings might revert to normal. We will then wholeheartedly support such contacts. But until the above conditions are accepted, nothing can be achieved by dragging these poor people (businessmen) here and there, wasting their time, and giving a wrong message to the world. Those who hold such contacts or those who organize such contacts are trying to give the following message to the world:

Pay no attention to the so-called Turkish administration. See for yourself, any organization, person, or invited guest is willingly coming and meeting their Greek Cypriot brethren. This means that there is no problem between these two peoples. This is the message they want to give.

Those who issue such invitations also in a way want to tell us the following: Ordinary people from both sides do not listen much or believe in what the governments and leaders on both sides are saying and think they are merely playing politics. But, if the businessmen are allowed to contact each other, then the Turkish Cypriots will be telling the Greek Cypriots the very same things that you have been saying and in that way what they say will look more convincing with the result that the Greek Cypriots will start thinking harder and realize that the present situation is permanent. This is why the people who issue invitations to these meetings think that the contacts are useful", he claimed.

Asked to comment on the overseas contacts of the women's groups from both communities, Rauf Denktash said he failed to receive a satisfactory report from those who returned from that meeting and that he has been following the issue in the press.

He added: "I heard that it was a very successful visit. An identical organization has been set up on both sides. I cannot of course comment on hearsay reports. Contacts are being held and decisions adopted about which we are kept in the dark. Before leaving for such meetings, some people take the trouble of telling us but others do not".

He further claimed: "I am not telling our people: Do not do this or that. I am simply alerting them to the dangers.

If some listen to me, that is fine, but those who do not, they are free to go their own way."

Denktash said that while he has been telling the EU that he will not hold contacts with it because of its "wrong treatment" of the Turkish Cypriots, these groups disregard this policy and still go to such meetings in answer to invitations.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] Columnist views US approach on Turkish military

"During my week-long stay in Washington I had the opportunity to talk with officials from the State Department, Pentagon, White House, National Security Council, Congress, and civilian associations that keep a close watch on Turkey, and with some European ambassadors, journalists, and naturally officials from the Turkish Embassy.

No matter with whom you talk in Washington, before you raise any question of your own you are bombarded with questions.

They ask such questions as: What is happening? Where is Turkey heading?

Having few answers to such questions, I myself put the following question to the individuals who either influence the American administration or formulate its policies: `How do you view the developments in Turkey from here?'.

Washington is not perturbed with the political developments in Ankara (here I am carefully selecting my words).

Some regard the exchange of messages between the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz as a `memorandum' and others describe it as `new democratic approach in Turkey.'

They are not `pleased' with the situation, but are also not overly concerned. The Clinton administration clearly believes that `it can manage the situation' as long as the TAF does not intervene directly and shows its `manliness' only through the National Security Council. That is, it believes that it will not have a major problem in the Congress as long as this situation persists.

I heard this approach from authoritative and influential persons.

It was stressed to me that Turkey is not a Swiss-type democracy, that the TAF is a factor of stability in the country, and that no problems should arise if it does not overstep a certain limit (by that they mean direct intervention). But, if you ask me, even in the case of a direct military intervention Washington will not break off the relations. The administration's only concern is the obstacles that it might face in the Congress in such an eventuality. A military intervention is not desired as it would make it impossible to advance relations, in particular, to increase the military sales.

In the eyes of the Americans, the TAF has cast itself in a new role. While alien to democracy in its classical sense, this role amounts to the TAF assuming an open position in the political life, conveying its views to the public, and thus acting like any other pressure group.

And Washington is not perturbed by this, because for the United States the strategic importance of Turkey is the single overriding consideration in its relations with Turkey.

Such factors as the violation of the human rights and the military's interference in political life do not seem as important problems for Washington as long as they do not overstep a certain limit. That is, as long as they do not reach a point of raising the ire of the Congress (that is, the public).

An official gave the following reason for the recent practice of including the General Staff on the list of places to be visited during the (US) official contacts in Turkey: `When you come to Washington do you only visit the State Department? Can you make do without going to the White House, Congress, and National Security Council, which are really the effective institutions?

Similarly, when we come to Turkey we also visit the TAF. It is the most powerful pressure group'.

The US officials do not state it openly but when they talk anonymously they say that they regard the TAF as the most important stabilizing factor in Turkey, that the Turkish democracy has not yet fully matured, and therefore it is natural for the TAF to make occasional `fine tuning'.

There is benefit in knowing these realities as they actually are.

But, be warned, such an approach should not be construed as meaning that the United States will use the TAF and turn a blind eye to the establishment of a military regime in Turkey, or that the United States is a party to such a game. Rather, the climate in Washington is just the opposite. It wants the preservation of the current balances without major shifts."

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

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