Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-04-28

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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. 69/99 -- 28.4.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Official final Turkish election results.

[02] Ecevit and Denktash prepare for summer Cyprus diplomacy.

[03] Denktash comments on Ecevit, US stand, Cyprus issue.

[04] Gurel,Eroglu comment on Turkey´s support to ``TRNC''

[05] Denktash comments on Turkish elections, British efforts.

[06] Demirel: ``A forced settlement could bring about a Greek-Turkish conflict''.

[07] Denktash: ``Division brought peace.''

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Official final Turkish election results

The assembly will meet on May 2 for a swearing-in ceremony. President Suleyman Demirel has yet to nominate a prime minister. Once he does, coalition negotiations are expected to last weeks.

1999 results 1995 results Party Share of vote Seats Votes Seats (percent) (percent)

ANAP 13.2 86 19.6 132 CHP 8.7 - 10.7 49 DSP 22.2 136 14.6 76 DYP 12.0 85 19.2 135 Virtue 15.4 111 21.4 158 MHP 18.0 129 8.2 -

The remaining votes were taken by 14 minor parties who failed to reach the 10 percent of the national vote required to enter parliament.

The people´s Democracy Party (HADEP), campaigning for a negotiated end to a conflict with Kurdish rebels, won 4.8 percent of the vote, concentrated in the mainly Kurdish southeast of the country.

Three independent candidates, for whom the 10 percent threshold does not apply, were also elected.

NOTE - ANAP = Motherland Party

CHP = Republican People´s Party

DSP = Democratic Left Party

DYP = True Path Party

Virtue = Virtue Party

MHP = Nationalist Action Party

[02] Ecevit and Denktash prepare for summer Cyprus diplomacy

Ecevit, on a ``private'' visit to the occupied area, is accompanied by his wife Rahsan Ecevit and State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and his wife.

According to Turkish Cypriot sources the visit of the Turkish premier was essentially private in nature, but it also provided a much-sought opportunity for the Turkish leader and Denktash and so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu to review the latest developments and explore what further steps could be taken vis-a-vis a settlement to the Cyprus problem.

One of the prime issues discussed by Ecevit and the Turkish Cypriot leaders, according to one source, was the confederation proposal that was made by Denktash last August.

The paper says that sources said that many countries, including the United States and Britain, wanted Turkish Cypriots to further elaborate on the package. Thus, the sources stated that Denktash and Ecevit were discussing how the confederation proposal could be elaborated on and what new elements could be added into the package.

The visit of Ecevit came immediately after a failed mission by Sir David Hannay, the British special envoy for Cyprus, and amid reports that the Russian-made S-300 missile systems were being deployed on the Greek island of Crete.

``Besides providing us with an opportunity to discuss what joint steps could be taken this summer, when Cyprus diplomacy is expected to be intensified, the visit of Prime Minister Ecevit also served as a reminder to Greece, which has deployed the S-300s on Crete, that there would be a response for every step that they take'', a top source said.

[03] Denktash comments on Ecevit, US stand, Cyprus issue

In reply to a reporter´s question on whether the Clinton administration adopted a positive stand on the Cyprus issue, Denktash said that the United States will not take a risk of losing Turkey, which is gaining in importance with each passing day. Denktash continued: ``Both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are not interested in a violation of laws in Cyprus, and the United States is aware of this. The course pursued by the US administrators in order to please the Greek lobby has actually helped in drawing closer a Turkish-Greek war, which they actually sought to prevent, because at the time the Greek and the Greek Cypriots did not arm themselves to this extent.''

In reply to a question on whether British Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Joyce Queen submitted a solution package during her visit, Denktash said:

``There is no such package; even if there is, they do not have the courage to put it on the table''. Denktash continued: ``We know, however, that they assigned a lawyer to prepare a constitution with David Hannay. We told them that these efforts are in vain and that we will never agree to an outside constitution. I explained that the issue is not an issue of a constitution, but that the Greek Cypriots seek to own the whole of Cyprus. Nothing can be achieved until this danger is removed and before the Greek Cypriots are not told the truth. I believe they understood the situation.''

Upon being reminded that Europe interpreted the Turkish election results as though a more hawkish foreign policy was going to be adopted now that the nationalists had won, Denktash said: ``If you noticed, none of the parties talked about Cyprus during the elections. This is because the Cyprus issue is an above-party national issue. This is the reason why no party discussed this subject. The sanctity of the Cyprus issue will be preserved regardless of the government that comes to power.''

Denktash continued: ``It goes without saying that Ecevit´s presence in the two previous governments was very beneficial for us. Mr. Demirel´s and Yilmaz´s approaches to Cyprus eliminated all the doubts with regard to the Cyprus issue. The world´s concern that a more hawkish policy will be adopted is unreal.''

[04] Gurel, Eroglu comment on Turkey´s support to ``TRNC''

Gurel said that the meeting with Eroglu explored the future steps that can be taken on economic relations. He added that the economic cooperation was being pursued in line with the decisions of the ``joint economic committee''.

Explaining that the possibilities of expanding the relations between the two sides will be explored at the meeting, Gurel said the following with regard to the issue of Rauf Denktash´s position as a negotiator: ``The president is given the appreciation he deserves by the respect he gets from the international platform and by the authority granted to him to represent the Turkish Cypriot people.''

Eroglu, in turn, said the future of the ``TRNC'' is guaranteed through the cooperation pursued with Turkey.

[05] Denktash comments on Turkish elections, British efforts

Responding to the questions of journalists related with the results of elections in Turkey, Denktash said none of the parties talked about Cyprus during the elections, adding that this proved that Cyprus was a national issue and that this position will not change whatever party comes to the ruling.

``We will work in full harmony with every government which the Turkish nation chose. We can not make a choice about the government model. Yet, everybody know that Mr. Ecevit has a special place on the Cyprus question'', Denktash said.

Noting that improvement of economic relations between Turkey and the pseudostate will further relax Turkish Cypriots, Denktash urged customs walls to be removed.

Noting that they learned that Britain worked on preparation of a constitution on the Cyprus issue, Denktash said this could be an issue that can be discussed only when an agreement is reached between the two sides.

Denktash said he brought the issue into the agenda of a meeting he held with Joyce Queen, British foreign Ministry Undersecretary, last week, adding that the British officials did not say anything to him. ``From several other sources we have determined that Britain asked a lawyer to prepare a constitution'', Denktash said and pointed out that ``we have told them that these efforts were in vain. The issue of Constitution is disturbing''.

[06] Demirel: ``A forced settlement could bring about a Greek-Turkish conflict''

Answering questions put to him, Demirel said that ``A forced settlement in Cyprus could bring about a Greek-Turkish conflict''.

When asked what will be the developments in Cyprus From now on Demirel claimed that ``since the 1974 peace operation no blood has been shed in the island and that this was secured because of the Turkish army''.

He went on and claimed: ``Now, there is a Turkish Cypriot state there. There is the TRNC. But under embargoes, like a prisoner, it seems as though the Greek Cypriots are the only government of the island. I do not think that the settlement proposal called bizonal, bicommunal settlement will work out. There are two separate states on the island. The same recognition should be accorded to both of them.

However, after this, they could sit down and discuss how they can live together.

American officials sometimes tell us do this or that. In turn we tell them that there could be no forced settlement. In 1974 a Greco-Turkish war did not break out. But we are warning. If you bring about an imposed settlement, this could lead Greece and Turkey to a conflict. It could worsen the situation. We do tell the Americans that our bilateral relations are more important than the Cyprus (problem). Let us not turn the Cyprus problem part of the Turkish-US relations''.

(MY)

[07] Denktash: ``Division brought peace''

Stressing the importance of the visit, Denktash declared that such visits will help promote the occupied area.

When the head of the German group compared Cyprus to Germany Denktash interfered and said:

``Unification brought peace to Germany, division brought peace to Cyprus''.

Wolfgang Krunger speaking for the visiting group, which was made up of 15 students and three teachers, said that this is the seventh group that is visiting the occupied area.

(MY)

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

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