Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-12-09

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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. 227/98 -- 9.12.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Andras Barsony, Denktash discuss Cyprus issue.

[02] Barsony holds meetings in the occupied area.

[03] Final ``official election'' results announced in 4 so-called districts.

[04] Patriot Union Movement says ``election'' tampering interfered with vote.

[05] Round table discussion on ``federalism''.

[06] Holbrooke to Istanbul for Cyprus civic initiative.

[07] British MP to visit pseudostate.

[08] Dentkash to undergo eye operation.

[09] Denktash meets foreign diplomats.

[10] Denktash to meet party leaders.

[11] New Turkish Cypriot ``Parliamentarians'' listed.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Andras Barsony, Denktash discuss Cyprus issue

Following his meeting with Rauf Denktash Cyprus Rapporteur Barsony said that he got information about the confederation proposal and the process which led the Turkish side to make that proposal. ``The proposal should be reviewed in order to enable us to specify whether or not it includes negative elements'', Barsony stated.

Rauf Denktash claimed that the only solution of the Cyprus issue was ``having the Greek Cypriots accept that their former partners have equal rights''.

``I briefed Mr. Barsony on the process. I asked him not to forget that there are two communities having equal rights on the island and I asked him to listen to the Turkish Cypriots before making decisions about Cyprus'', Denktash stated.

Denktash also met the same day with Detlev Graf Zu Rantzau, Germany´s Special Representative to Cyprus, and David Madden, the High Commissioner of Britain in Cyprus.

[02] Barsony holds meetings in the occupied area

Yesterday morning, he met with Mehmet Ali Talat, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader; Mustafa Akinci, Communal Liberation Party (TKP) leader; Rauf Denktash; and so-called assembly speaker Hakki Atun. In the afternoon, Barsony met with ``prime minister'' Eroglu and Serdar Denktash, ``state minister and deputy prime minister''.

In a statement to the press after his meeting with Barsony, CTP leader Talat said that he briefed the COE official on the situation. He pointed out that new developments are expected in the coming period and that he has the impression that a process is expected in which the broader problems concerning Turkish -Greek relations will be raised in international circles. Talat said that they discussed relations between the EU and the Cyprus Government and between the EU and the Turkish Cypriot community. He said he told Barsony of the problems arising from the lack of contact between the two communities and of the CTP´s views about the future.

TKP leader Akinci said he and Barsony had exchanged information about various issues concerning the Cyprus problem. Akinci said he told the COE official that it would be very wrong for Cyprus to join the EU without solving the Cyprus problem and that granting Turkey the status of candidate will make positive contributions to the Cyprus problem.

In a statement after his meetings, Barsony said he wanted to hear the view of the Turkish Cypriot politicians before he draws up his report for the COE Parliamentary Assembly. He stressed that it is important to hold negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[03] Final ``official election'' results announced in 4 so-called districts

Accordingly, in Famagusta the National Unity Party (UBP) won seven ``seats'', the Democratic Party (DP) three, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) two, and the Communal Liberation Party (TKP) one ``seat''.

In Kyrenia, the UBP won five ``seats'', the DP two, and the TKP and the CTP one each.

In Morphou, the UBP won three ``seats'' the DP two, and the TKP and the CTP one each.

In Trikomo the UBP won three ``seats'', the DP two, and the TKP one ``seat''.

[04] Patriot Union Movement says ``election'' tampering interfered with vote

[05] Round table discussion on ``federalism''

The round table discussion was conducted by Dr. Daniel J. Elazar of Temple University, Pensylvania, who is the Director of the Centre for Research on Federalism and Director of the Public Relations Centre in Jerusalem.

The round table discussion which was organized by the Fulbright Commission was attended by politicians, economists, ``civil servants'' businessmen, lawyers, teachers and journalists.

Speaking at the gathering, Dr. Elazar claimed that ``it is possible to start for a solution in Cyprus if the realities are recognized.''

When asked to answer a question on the occupied area, Dr. Elazar said:

``Even if the TRNC is not recognized from the legal point of view, it is a basic reality. In fact the world recognizes both sides as political entities. However, it recognizes the one side within the legal framework and this creates an opposition. The non-solution of the problem will be a cause for bigger destabilization in the region in the future.'' (MY)

[06] Holbrooke to Istanbul for Cyprus civic initiative

Holbrooke and Miller are not expected to have any meetings with Turkish officials on the Cyprus question, both Turkish and American sources confirmed. The government crisis in Turkey appears to have wiped out the opportunity for any talks on an official level.

Following the closing of the conference on Monday, Holbrooke and Miller will head to Athens for talks with Greek officials.

The meeting in Istanbul will be the follow-up of two previous meetings held in Oslo early last July and in Brussels in November, 1997 within the framework of a nongovernmental initiative organized by the Oslo Peace Institute and Columbia University of New York.

Although Ankara has previously expressed a cool attitude towards this nongovernmental initiative, the meeting in Istanbul appears to have been given the go-ahead after insistent demands by the United States.

``The Americans insisted very much. They attribute a great importance to this initiative and believe that it can bring about a breakthrough in the Cyprus problem. We do not believe that it can bear any fruit, but we agreed to the organization of the conference as a kind of goodwill gesture,'' one high-level Turkish Foreign Ministry official told the Turkish Daily News on Monday.

In order to evade the legal obstructions preventing the Greek Cypriots from entering Turkey, the visas will not be stamped on their passports but on separate papers. Around 10 Greek Cypriot businessmen are expected to attend the meeting in Istanbul. Several Turkish industrialists such as Sarik Tara are expected to participate as well.

Ankara and the pseudostate are playing down the importance of the initiative, emphasizing that the core of the problem is political and that the targets determined by the forum cannot be met, ``given the political reality on the island''.

Turkey and the pseudostate are also irritated by the message that the initiative is trying to convey-that no problem exists between the two communities in Cyprus and that all the blame should be placed on the ``governments''.

In their previous convention in Oslo, Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot businessmen endorsed a joint plan that would contribute to defusing tensions on the long-divided island. The participants agreed to intensify business, cultural and educational ties between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, who have been separated by barbed wire since 1974. The joint statement issued at the end of the meeting called for more contacts and cooperation in the private sector and urged the political authorities of the parties involved to encourage the initiative.

[07] British MP to visit pseudostate

KIBRIS reports that Amness is known for his pro-Greek views and supports a bizonal bicommunal federal settlement in Cyprus. (MY)

[08] Denktash to undergo eye operation

Denktash will be operated upon on Friday at the Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA). Denktash will return to the occupied area as soon as the treatment is completed. (MY)

[09] Denktash meets foreign diplomats

There were no statements after the meetings. (MY)

[10] Denktash to meet party leaders

[11] New Turkish Cypriot ``Parliamentarians'' listed

Irsen Kuchuk (Nicosia, National Unity Party, UBP), Tahsin Ertugruloglu (Nicosia, UBP), Hasan Hasipoglu (Nicosia, UBP), Vehbi Zeki Serter (Nicosia UBP), Hasan Tacoy (Nicosia, UBP), Savas Atakan (Nicosia, UBP), Dervis Eroglu (Famagusta, UBP, Mehmet Bayram (Famagusta, UBP), Ertugrul Hasipoglu (Famagusta, UBP), Tansel Doratli (Famagusta, UBP), Dervis Cobanoglu (Famagusta, UBP), Ersoy Ince (Famagusta, UBP), Nurten Hadaverdioglu (Famagusta, UBP), Salih Miroglu (Kyrenia, UBP), Ilkay Kamil (Kyrenia, UBP), Huseyin Sukru Serdaroglu (Kyrenia, UBP), Gulboy Beydagli (Kyrenia, UBP), Ilker Nevzat (Kyrenia, UBP), Mehmet Albayrak (Morphou UBP), Suha Turkoz (Morphou UBP), Turkay Tokel (Morphou, UBP), Onder Sennaroglu (Trikomo, UBP), Huseyin Yenigun (Trikomo, UBP), Huseyin Avkiran Alanli (Trikomo, UBP).

Mustafa Arabacioglu (Nicosia, Democratic Party, DP), Serdar R. Denktash (Nicosia, DP), Salih Cosar (Nicosia, DP), Huseyin Ozgurgun (Nicosia DP), Ahmet Kasif (Famagusta, DP), Hatice Faydali (Famagusta, DP), Kenan Akin (Famagusta DP), Unal Ustel (Kyrenia, DP), Yusuf Ozkum (Kyrenia, DP), Huseyin Oztoprak (Morphou, DP), Iltac Karayel (Morphou, DP), Osman Imre (Trikomo, DP), Ahmet Elbasan (Trikomo, DP).

Mustafa Akinci (Nicosia, Communal Liberation Party, TKP), Kemal Havali (Nicosia, TKP), Gulsen Bozkurt (Nicosia, TKP), Huseyin Angolemli (Famagusta, TKP), Dervis Akter (Kyrenia, TKP), Tahsin Mertekci (Morphou, TKP), Mehmet Emin Karagil (Trikomo, TKP).

Mehmet Ali Talat (Nicosia, Republican Turkish Party, CTP), Kadri Fellahoglu (Nicosia, CTP), Ferdi Sabit Soyer (Famagusta, CTP), Sonay Adem (Famagusta, CTP), Sumer Aygin (Kyrenia, CTP), Fatma Ekenoglu (Morphou, CTP).

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

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