Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-05-25

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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. 89/98 -- 23-24-25.5.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat explains remarks in Europe, regrets Denktash reaction.

[02] Eroglu says ``impossible to return to intercommunal principle.

[03] Denktash: Negotiations to stop if missiles deployed.

[04] Denktash claims UNSC attitude will not lead anywhere.

[05] ``Education, science, technology protocol'' signed with Turkey.

[06] Leftist parties Istanbul meeting on Cyprus.

[07] Alevites celebrate ``Ashure Day''.

[08] Bomb explosion in the occupied area

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat explains remarks in Europe, regrets Denktash reaction

Talat concluded his contacts in London and Brussels and returned to the occupied area last Thursday. In a news conference at the party headquarters the next morning, Talat clarified his remarks which had triggered a reaction from Rauf Denktash. Pointing out that he went to Europe to defend the rights of the Turkish Cypriots and make their voice heard in Europe before the approaching critical days, Talat expressed regret over Denktash´s attitude.

Canan Oztoprak, CTP Central Administrative Council member, and some other party officials who accompanied Talat on his contacts in Brussels also attended the news conference. Talat explained that he went to London at the invitation of the London School of Economics and then extended his visit to include contacts in London and Brussels. The primary aim of the visit was to explain to the world the thoughts and rights of the Turkish Cypriots.

Noting that his visit caused various reactions in Cyprus, Talat said: ``I would like to say that I was especially sorry to hear the honourable president´s attitude. As I stressed in the statement I relayed from Brussels, we had expected the president to support rather than undermine us at a time when we embarked on a journey to defend the Turkish Cypriots´ usurped and abandoned rights.

The president, however, proceeded to issue ugly statements and descriptions. He accused us of defending Makarios, declaring him a fighter for independence, and supporting the enosis goal. We were extremely sorry to hear this . We have never adopted such a stand and will never do so in the future.''

Talat stated that the Turkish Cypriots and their interests constitute the central issue for the CTP, adding that his party struggles for this at every stage and under every condition. Commenting on the reason for Denktash´s reaction, Talat noted: ``I believe it is a scheme to hold others responsible for the failure of the policy he has been conducting on the Cyprus problem and for the great impasse into which this policy has dragged the Turkish Cypriots.''

Talat stated that Denktash is trying to divert attention in another direction now that his disappointment has been compounded by the existing ``government'', which he supports. Talat added: ``I did not in any way say that the TRNC is illegal. I did not utter such words. I was trying to sum up the situation. I tried to explain the origins of the Cyprus problem to those who described it as one of occupation that emerged in 1974. An examination of the Constitution of the Cyprus Republic will reveal that the existing president of the current Cyprus Republic, its Council of Ministers, and its Assembly are not legal. This situation is the consequence of the cease-fire conditions, and no one can say that the TRNC is in compliance with the Constitution of the Cyprus Republic.''

Talat said: ``We would not complain about Denktash or the TRNC during our European tours. This contravenes our principles''. He noted that his party makes such complaints to the people, but in Europe it defends the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. Talat also commented on his other contacts in London.

[02] Eroglu says ``impossible to return to intercommunal principle''

In a written statement, Eroglu said that in a letter to the UN Secretary General, the UN Security Council president had expressed the view that ``those looking for a solution to the Cyprus issue should proceed within the framework of the existing UN resolutions.'' This stand, claimed Eroglu, shows that the United Nations ``still refuses to accept the Cyprus realities,'' as he put it.

Eroglu added: ``Our goodwill was interpreted as weakness, and we were expected to deny the existence of our state. This situation is unparalleled in the world. It should be very well known that it is impossible to return to the intercommunal principle and relinquish the principle of two states in Cyprus. In any event, the failure of the 30-year negotiation process has made it evident that the intercommunal principle is no longer realistic. The TRNC shares a unity of views and harmony with motherland Turkey on this issue like all others. The TRNC will patiently persist in its justified demand for two states and continue to exert efforts to explain the necessity of this to the world.''

[03] Denktash: Negotiations to stop if missiles deployed

Addressing the journalists after a meeting with Georgi Muradov, the Russian Ambassador to Cyprus, Denktash said that they conveyed their views concerning the missiles in a written statement to the United Nations. Anatolia Agency (12:41 hours, 22.5.98) adds that Denktash said: ``Those who will carry out such a madness will pay for their actions. From our point of view, the consequences will be that the negotiations and the shuttle diplomacy will stop. Cyprus is not the backyard of the Greek Cypriot and the Greek.'' Denktash noted that Muradov briefed him on the contacts General Hakki Karadayi, Turkish chief of the General Staff, held in Russia.

Muradov said that no changes have been made in their policy related to the sales of the S-300 missiles to Cyprus.

Noting that Russia develops military relations with Turkey and balances it with the current relations with the Greek Cypriot side, Muradov said, ``Russia has the right to develop relations with all countries in the military field.''

[04] Denktash claims UNSC attitude will not lead anywhere

Denktash said that the statement of the UNSC did not have the attribute of a ``final response'', adding ``they say to us to continue under the same conditions. This won´t lead us or the Secretary General anywhere. We hope that they will think once again and find us to be justified. We wanted the Secretary General to prepare a joint basis between the two states with the shuttle diplomacy.''

Noting that they wanted the goodwill mission of the UN to continue, Denktash said, ``but we say an improvement could be recorded on the basis of two states.''

[05] ``Education, science, technology protocol'' signed with Turkey

The protocol was signed by Hikmet Ulugbay, Turkey´s National Education Minister, and Gunay Caymaz, the so-called national education, culture, youth and sports minister of the pseudostate.

The ``protocol'' foresees teacher exchange for the primary schools, high schools and technical-professional schools. The schools in the pseuodstate will be taken within the scope of the ``Keeping up the Era in Education 2000 Project.''

[06] Leftist parties Istanbul meeting on Cyprus

Delivering the opening statement, ODP leader Ufuk Uras said the following regarding the Cyprus problem: ``The rightists and the regressive people in this country are having endless opportunities to meet together on various principles but are not shouldering the necessary responsibility regarding the deadlock in the problem. The efforts of the leftist parties to convene and produce solutions is a very important step toward peace on the island. We who know that coercive militarist formulas will not lead to a solution are trying to bring hope in the region through this international solidarity.''

The observers participating in the conference on the existing problems in Cyprus had the opportunity for the first time to learn about the opposition and leftist parties´views and proposals for a solution as opposed to the official views. In his statements, Andreas Kyprianou, responsible for AKEL´s International Relations Political Bureau, accused Rauf Denktash and Ankara of following intransigent policies, adding: ``Denktash knows that, with the exception of nationalists and chauvinists, the two peoples want to come together and for this reason he is making it difficult to hold meetings''. Kyprianou, who reflected AKEL´s views regarding the island´s accession as a whole to the EU -- an issue that was given importance during the talks -- said that the Turkish Cypriots will also be able to contribute to the accession process by expressing themselves and their views during the accession talks.

The relations between Turkey and Greece, which are based on a policy of constant tensions, make it necessary for each side to have a trump card at hand for increasing or decreasing the dose of this crisis. The representatives of leftist parties from both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides have the unanimous conviction that Cyprus represents this trump card. The other unanimous conviction is that the conditions for producing a lasting peace in Cyprus should be established under the UN umbrella. CTP General Undersecretary Ferdi Sabit Soyer expressed his views about the issue as follows: ``We will support all the initiatives that might contribute toward a solution, regardless of whether these initiatives come from the United States, the EU, Russia, or any other country in the world. But we believe that this initiative should proceed under the UN umbrella. Because the sides are defining their positions based on their coercive intentions, the Cyprus problem is heading straight toward a build-up of arms and a heated tension by having Turkey and Greece dragged into the problem.''

Speaking on behalf of the KKE, Babis Angourakis said that peace on the island will come through the UN and that any other proposal for peace will do nothing but deceive us, adding: ``We can see that the Cyprus problem is at one of the most critical points in history, and this stems from NATO´s and the EU´s intention to create an imbalance.''

The reality was voiced during the conference that the prevailing understanding maintained by the states that have an interest in Cyprus is to obtain a national benefit from the (negotiating) table by forcing the other side to accept whatever serves its own purpose, and that the peace talks have reached a deadlock by the introduction of unimportant and inapplicable demands. YKP Leader Alpay Durduran said that no results have been achieved by the solutions proposed so far and that, in spite of this, new means for a solution are not being sought. Indicating that the Turkish people are suffering from this as much as the people in Cyprus, Durduran said: ``At every stage, a number of new obstacles are appearing or are being made to appear but no results are being achieved. Those who are creating these obstacles are also being named as national heroes, but there is no solution in sight.''

Copies of a joint statement prepared by the parties were distributed during the Cyprus Peace Conference. The statement indicated that the solution of the Cyprus problem will be achieved through the independent and free will of the Cyprus people by means of peace, democracy, and intercommunal talks. Ilkay Adali, the window of reporter Kutlu Adali murdered in 1996, also talked at the conference. The joint wish of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot participants present at the conference hall is that peace may be achieved on the island this summer.

Leftist Parties´ Joint Statement:

``1. The deadlock in the Cyprus problem, the lack of communication and substantial dialogue between the two communities, and the failure to achieve progress in the talks will make the present status quo on the island -- which did not and cannot contribute anything to the solution of the Cyprus problem -- to become a lasting one.

2. The political parties should condemn every kind of behaviour that may give rise to tension or military clashes. They should call on all the related sides to reach an agreement on the phased reduction of soldiers and weapons within the ultimate aim of clearing the island from soldiers.

3. The political parties should insist that the Cyprus problem cannot be solved through military means. The solution should be one that leads to peace and it should be achieved through substantial talks under the UN umbrella. Both sides in Cyprus should express the necessary political will and respect the major agreements and UN decisions. An unconditional constructive dialogue should be started under the UN umbrella.

4. The political parties should support every kind of initiaitive launched within the framework of the UN for a just and lasting solution of the Cyprus problem. The political parties should request the collective intervention of the permanent members of the UN Security Council and condemn every effort made by the major powers for diverting the problem away from the line drawn by the UN.

5. The solution should guarantee in a satisfying manner the independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty, and unity of a bicommunal and bizonal Federal Cypriot Republic as envisaged by the Archbishop Makarios-Denktash and Kyprianou-Denktash high-level agreements and the related UN decisions; it should be against enosis (union with Greece), division, or any other type of separation; and it should take into account both communities´ worries over security matters.

6. In order for it to last and become functional, the solution should be based on the political and economic equality of the two communities and, as indicated in Paragraph 3 of the high-level Kyprianou-Denktash agreement, it should guarantee the human rights and freedoms of all the citizens regardless of their ethnic origin.

7. When it is proved that chauvinism is escalating and obstructing the rapprochement between the two communities, the political parties once more should show that they are intent on continually confronting chauvinism, religious fanaticism, and prejudice in order to renew the rapprochement trust, and cooperation between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots at all levels.

8. The political parties agree that in addition to maintaining their own views regarding Cyprus´ accession to the EU, they will continue to hold a dialogue.

9. Finally, the political parties have decided to make every to hold meetings among women and youth foundations effort, trade unions, and similar foundations for the purpose of continuing the talks and developing friendship between the Cypriot, Turkish, and Greek people.''

[07] Alevites celebrate ``Ashure Day''

The Alevite community in the occupied area was created by the illegal settlers from Turkey after the 1974 invasion. They are Turks of Alevite sect. The majority of Turks are sunni muslims. (MY)

[08] Bomb explosion in the occupied area

KIBRIS (25.5.98) reports that three people are being questioned regarding the bombing incident. It says that ``police'' is keeping silent as regards the identity of the three people in custody.

KIBRIS further writes that in the last nine years there were 37 bombing incidents were no one was arrested. (MY)

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

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