Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-04-24

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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. 71/98 -- 24.4.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Demirel, Denktash Issue Joint Declaration

[02] Denktash Asserts Integration Process With Turkey

[03] Russian Envoy on S-300, Cyprus Issue

[04] Denktash Addresses Turkish Assembly

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Demirel, Denktash Issue Joint Declaration

"1. Until now, Turkey and the TRNC have exerted every possible constructive effort for the peaceful solution of the Cyprus problem. In contrast, the Greek Cypriot Administration of southern Cyprus, encouraged by Greece, has never renounced its goal of Hellenizing the island and has foiled all processes and proposals for a solution by taking advantage of the status it has unjustly usurped in the international arena. Moreover, on the basis of the de facto integration process it is implementing in the military, economics, and political fields, Greece is obstructing the efforts for a political solution.

2. By deciding to launch full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot Administration during the Luxembourg summit, the EU has disregarded international law and the 1959-1960 Cyprus agreements and has dealt a blow to the efforts for a solution. In any case, the full membership negotiations conducted by the Greek Cypriot Administration of southern Cyprus, in violation of international law, do not invoke any commitments for the TRNC or affect in any way Turkey's rights and responsibilities stemming from the 1959-1960 agreements.

3. By starting membership talks with the Greek Cypriot Administration of southern Cyprus on behalf of the whole of Cyprus, the EU has demonstrated that it ignores the balances between the two peoples on the island and between Turkey and Greece -- balances that are guaranteed under the 1959- 1960 agreements -- and it has eliminated the solution parameters that emerged during the course of the Cyprus negotiating process. By continuing this mentality and approach that attempts to confer a minority status on the Turkish Cypriot people, the EU has turned the Luxembourg summit into a historic mistake.

4. As one of the two owners of the island of Cyprus and on the basis of its separate right to self-determination (last word in English), the Turkish Cypriot people became the founding partners of the 1960 Cyprus Republic. The Turkish Cypriot people have never recognized the title of Cyprus Government which the Greek Cypriot Administration of southern Cyprus usurped illegally following the toppling of the 1960 republic by the Greek Cypriot side in 1963 through the use of force. Through their own sovereign will, the Turkish Cypriot people established their own administration and, subsequently, their own state.

5. In the wake of the EU Luxembourge summit, the participation of the Turkish Cypriot side in any negotiating process at the communal level or in the Greek Cypriot delegation that is conducting the full membership negotiations with the EU would be tantamount to relinguishing its equal political status and sovereignty rights stemming from the 1959-1960 agreements.

6. At the current stage, a negotiating process aimed at solving the Cyprus problem can be successful only to the extent that it is conducted between sovereign equals. There are two equal and separate peoples, states, and democratic administrations in Cyprus today. A lasting solution cannot be attained unless these realities in Cyprus and the sovereignty rights of the Turkish Cypriot people are accepted. The two equal sides must first and foremost resolve the basic problems between them and create the conditions necessary to live on the island side by side in peace and stability.

7. Turkey has rights and commitments over Cyprus stemming from international agreements. In line with its stategic interests, Turkey has always been the quarantor of peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean. The 1960 guarantee and alliance agreements will continue to be valid and in force, and these agreements will not be allowed to be eroded -- directly or indirectly. The Turkish-Greek balance, which was established under the 1960 agreements, with regard to the island of Cyprus and the region will be preserved.

8. The sides have declared that, in a constructive approach, they will assess and support efforts for a solution that take into consideration the realities pertaining to Cyprus and conform with the principles cited above. Turkey and the TRNC have announced that they are open to substantive and meaningful negotiations to be launched under these conditions.

9. Within the framework of the joint military doctrine established with Greece, the Greek Cypriot Administration of southern Cyprus is contining its pruchases of heavy armament based on advanced technology. The activity concerning the deployment of the S-300 missiles in south Cyprus is continuing. The construction of the Paphos Air Base allocated to Greek warplanes has been concluded. The Greek Cypriot Administration of southern Cyprus and Greece are responsible for the increasing tension in Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean. Without deviating from a responsible and sensible attitude, Turkey and the TRNC are adopting the necessary measures with the aim of preserving the balances in Cyprus and in the eastern Mediterranean and foiling the policies that threaten peace. The sides displayed their resolve in this regard in the 20 January 1997 joint declaration signed between the presidents of Turkey and the TRNC.All the steps taken by the Greek Cypriot side and Greece aimed at distrupting the peace and stability in the region will be assessed on the basis of the threat they create, and these developments will not be allowed to be used as a political bargaining chip or as a means of pressure.

10. It is essential that the TRNC continue to exist as an independent and sovereign state. To this end, the ties between Turkey and the TRNC will be strenghtened in line with the joint declaration of 20 January 1997 and the joint statements of 20 July 1997, and the special relations between the two countries will be enhanced in every field. The Partnership Council activities launched between Turkey and the TRNC in this context will be bolstered.

11. In accordance with the joint economic area established between the two countries, common economic and financial policies as well as development strategies based on the free movement of goods, services, and capital in line with free market conditions will be implemented quickly.

12. The sides will expand and continue their joint efforts aimed at strengthening the TRNC's standing in the international arena.

13. On the basis of the determination to protect the common interests between the two countries, bilateral contacts will be intensified and increased at every level. TRNC President Rauf Denktash has invited President Suleyman Demirel to pay an official visit to the TRNC. The invitation has been accepted with pleasure."

[02] Denktash Asserts Integration Process With Turkey

"Not Cyprus, but the Greek Cypriot republic of southern Cyprus may have been integrated. We, in turn, are exercising our right to make things even. We are advancing toward integration with Turkey, and we will continue to advance on this path. No one can block this path."

[03] Russian Envoy on S-300, Cyprus Issue

In reply to a question, Kuznetsov said that the S-300 missiles are of an entirely defensive nature and that if a decision on the demilitarization of the island is adopted, these missiles will no longer be on the agenda. Charging that it is out of the question for the S-300 missiles to endanger Turkey's security, Kuznetsov said that the agreement reached with the Cypriot Government is an entirely commercial one.

Pointing out that a significant race can be observed in the international arms market, Kuznetsov said that it would be meaningless for Russia to leave its place in this market to some other country and that Turkey has similar agreements with other countries.

Noting that the United States is holding contacts with Ankara on the Cyprus question but that there is uncertainty surrounding this issue, Kuznetsov said: "We believe that instead of a single country taking initiatives on the issue, it would be more appropriate to take steps under the UN umbrella."

Replying to a question on reports that certain officials from the Greek Cypriot side are being trained in Russia, Kuznetsov confirmed these reports and said:"Turkey has similar ties as well. U.S. technicians arrived in Turkey in connection with the frigates purchased from the United States. The training Russia is supplying south Cyprus is no different than the U.S. training."

[04] Denktash Addresses Turkish Assembly

Inter alia, Denktash claimed:

"We are in favor of peace and negotiations. Nonetheless, they cannot ask us, the Turkish Cypriots, to renounce our rights, our justice, and out freedom as the price for peace. On the basis of this understanding, we have always been open to negotiations, and we are ready to remain open to negotiations in the future. I want to announce this once again to friends and foes alike. I do not fear anything and I will not fear anything as long as the Turkish nation stands by me."

He further claimed:

"The UN secretary general placed on the table parameters that stress our equality and our right to sovereignty and underline that the Turkish quarantees will continue, that the principle of bizonality will be enhanced by means of the property exchange, that the application to the EU can be submitted after a settlement has been reached in Cyprus, that Cyprus is the country of both peoples, and that one of them does not have the right to rule over the other. As a matter of tactics, however, the Greek Cypriot side, which preferred to keep the false title of the Cyprus Government, used the time it gained by pretending that it is continuing to conduct negotiations at the table in order to eliminate all these parameters. The EU membership process, which is continuing under Greek blackmail, has eliminated all of these parameters.

They do not want to remember that the question is not only one of the Cyprus issue but actually of the stability and future of the eastern Mediterranean. They are playing a game of ousting the Turkish nation from the region. They fail to comprehend our assertion that no one has the power to oust the Turkish nation from this region or to disrupt the Turkish-Greek balance over Cyprus in favor of Greece.

Today, I am reiterating this message before this lofty audience: No one--I repeat--no one will have the force to oust the Turkish nation from this region. Given these circumstances, the decision that we adopted and you suppported as a nation asserts that the Cyprus problem can be resolved on the basis of two states. The possible future reunification of the two states on the basis of conditions acceptable to both states depends on the will of their respective peoples. For this to become conceivable, the Greek Cypriots must cease to regard the entire island as a Greek island and must accept that they do not have the right to speak on behalf of the whole island and that they are not the govenrment of the Turkish Cypriots."

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

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