Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-06-28

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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. 111/99 -- 26-27-28

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: No one can pull our ear and force us into talks.

[02] Denktash regrets, criticizes Annan call for talks.

[03] Talat: Relations with Turkey are really an annexation.

[04] Denktash: No opportunity for refugees to return to their homes.

[05] European Parliamentarian comments on Cyprus.

[06] Turkish Cypriots leave for OIC meeting in Burkina Faso.

[07] Mehmet Ali Talat reelected CTP leader.

[08] Serdar Denktash on how US will pressure Turkey for Cyprus.

[09] Denktash: Akinci address Crans Montana forum on Cyprus.

[10] Akinci on importance of Crans Montana contacts.

[11] Occupation regime scorned for destruction of cultural heritage.

[12] 12. 7-point Cyprus plan.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: No one can pull our ear and force us into talks

In a letter to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Denktash underlined that as long as the Greek Cypriot side was considered the sole legitimate government of the island and the Turkish Cypriots as a community demanding some rights from that government, there could be no Cyprus settlement.

Denktash said a meeting between himself and President Glafcos Clerides ``is not possible at this stage''.

``The European Union was once the grave digger of negotiations, the same failure awaits the G-8'' Denktash claimed.

``No one can pull my ear and force me to sit at the negotiation table. You do not have the right and the authority to do that'', Denktash wrote in his letter to Annan, who declared in a report to the UN Security Council Wednesday that he would heed the call of the G-8 and invite Denktash and President Clerides for Cyprus peace talks later this year.

Annan announced that he was ready to invite Denktash and Clerides this fall to start a series of comprehensive negotiations between the two sides. Annan presented the Security Council his report on Cyprus and asked for the extension of the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force on the island.

The UN Security Council was to hold a session concerning Cyprus this weekend in the light of these two reports. The council´s five permanent members are also preparing a resolution regarding the Cyprus issue.

The details concerning the place and the date of the negotiations will be decided after the talks Hercus will hold on the island between the two sides, Annan said.

Denktash wrote to Annan, however, that there was nothing on the table that the two sides could talk on. He said that excluding the confederation proposal of the Turkish Cypriot side, nothing was left to discuss at the negotiations table. He suggested that Hercus should continue the proximity talks between him and President Clerides and prepare the grounds for a meeting.

``The articles that the two sides are eager to compromise on should be pinned down first and later we may meet,'' he said.

Denktash emphasized that if the UN Secretary calls him, he would attend such a meeting, but at this stage meeting with President Clerides was out of the question.

The Turkish Cypriot leader also cautioned Annan about the terminology he uses in inviting the two leaders to any such talks. He alleged he should be invited to talks as ``the president of the TRNC'' and not as the leader of Turkish Cypriots.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, accompanied by several Cabinet members, will be attending the ``anniversary celebrations'' of the July 20, 1974 Turkish invasion on the island, reliable sources reported Thursday.

The sources said Ecevit will be accompanied by a large delegation. The delegation will reportedly include Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, State Minister Mehmet Kececiler and executives of the Foreign Ministry.

During the visit, Denktash, Eroglu and the Turkish delegation headed by Ecevit will discuss all aspects of integration between the two sides, as well as the G-8 resolution on the Cyprus problem and the appeal of United Nations Secretary General for the unconditional resumption of talks between the two sides on the island under UN auspices.

[02] Denktash regrets, criticizes Annan call for talks

Denktash was hosted at the Idea Club the other night where he assessed the latest developments regarding the Cyprus question.

Denktash noted that the proposal the G-8 made in connection with Cyprus is full of preconditions even though the G-8 claim that it is not. He said that the expectation behind the G-8 call is for him to accept the sovereignty and independence of the Cyprus republic. ``This is the greatest precondition'', he said.

Denktash said that he both regrets and criticizes the UN Secretary General for not eliminating the existing precondition despite all warnings, and for issuing a call for talks on the basis of the same unsuccessful formula that has been tried for years. Denktash said that proposals were made to hold negotiations on the issue of a confederation, and negotiations based on the principle of ``two states'', following long consultations with the Ecevit government. He noted that the Turkish Cypriots have always received the support and understanding of the Turkish Governments regarding this issue. He added that this policy is supported by the majority of the Turkish Cypriots. Denktash pointed out that this gives him moral strength.

Denktash asserted that the UN Secretary General was influenced by the G-8, forgot his goodwill mission whereby he is supposed to reconcile the two sides, and invited them to a meeting without preparing the conditions.

Replying to viewers´ questions at the end of his speech, Denktash was asked what kind of a policy should be pursued at a time when the Greek Cypriots continue to arm themselves and the United Nations continues to fault the Turkish Cypriots. He replied that it is necessary to continue seeking a resolution, that it would be crazy to try to solve the Cyprus problem through armed force, that if there is determination the pressure on Turkey will not yield any results, and that the Turkish Government is always on the side of the Turkish Cypriots.

Asked if the differences of opinion seen within the pseudostate ``will hurt the defense of the cause'', Denktash said that it is natural to have differences of opinion in a democracy, that even though he finds it more difficult ``to defend the cause'' given the differences of opinion, he is strengthened by the fact that the majority support the policy he pursues.

[03] Talat: Relations with Turkey are really an annexation

The CTP congress was attended by Masis Kurkcugil, the foreign relations official of the Freedom and Solidarity Party of Turkey, Dimitris Christofias, secretary general of AKEL, Eleni Mavrou and Antonis Chrysostomou, AKEL central committee members, Michalis Papapetrou, deputy leader of EDI, (United Democrats), Georgios Christofides, first deputy leader of EDI; and Andreas Erotokritou, DIKO (Democoratic Party) secretary general.

The guests observed the opening of the congress and the speeches. Rauf Denktash, ANAP (Motherland Party) leader Yilmaz, and FP (Virtue Party) leader Kutan sent messages.

Talat who was the only candidate for leader, said in his speech that together with the turmoil in the world, serious developments are expected in the Cyprus question too.

He charged that imperialist provocations and chauvinism lie at the root of the Cyprus problem and that these must be fought. He said that ``the Cyprus problem is based on two national causes which were created by chauvinism, namely the Greek Cypriots´ Enosis cause and the Turkish Cypriots´ partition cause''. He charged that even if they have changed, ``these two national views continue to exist''. He said: ``Not only is the view being spread that the two communities cannot live together, but contacts between the two communities are being banned. This is inhuman.''

Talat charged that Rauf Denktash does not love his own people. He recalled Denktash´s remarks that ``there is nothing endemic to Cyprus except for its donkeys'' and said that these remarks are an insult to the Turkish Cypriots. Talat said: ``I protest him once again. We are Turkish Cypriots; we have lived here for hundreds of years and we will continue to live here for hundreds of years.''

Talat said he is asked ``you defend integration with the EU but not with Turkey, why?''. He went on to say that the member countries have equal rights in every EU policy, while the Turkish Cypriots have no right of say in their relations with Turkey. He added: ``The relations with Turkey are really an annexation, not integration''. Talat said that the CTP is opposed to that.

On the G-8 initiative on Cyprus, Talat said that it does not exclude the United Nations or the Security Council, adding that the reactions in Turkey and in the occupied area are nothing but a ``chorus''.

Talat charged that Turkey wants to use the ``TRNC'' as a pilot area for the IMF´s social security demands from it. He said: ``If we remain silent, this is going to happen.''

[04] Denktash: No opportunity for refugees to return to their homes

Addressing the meeting, Denktash said that Turkey has given the necessary support and guarantee to the ``TRNC'', and called on Turkish Cypriots to rely on future.

Furthermore, inter alia he said that as the NATO takes Kosovars back to their homes, the Greek Cypriots talk about returning back to their homes and added: ``On Cyprus, Greek Cypriot immigrants have no opportunity to return their homes. Cyprus became bizonal, and a population exchange was made. The Greek Cypriots have settled down in properties once belonged to the Turkish Cypriots, and they became one of the richest countries of the Mediterranean region. The Turkish Cypriots have settled down in the properties belonged to the Greek Cypriots. A global properties exchange was also made. We should abide by the decisions of the such courts.''

[05] European Parliamentarian comments on Cyprus

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received Palfe. Answering reporters´ question after the meeting, the European parliamentarian said that he discussed the Cyprus issue with Ecevit and said that he shares Turkey´s stand that the rights of the Turkish Cypriots must be respected if a solution is to be attained.

[06] Turkish Cypriots leave for OIC meeting in Burkina Faso

[07] Mehmet Ali Talat reelected CTP leader

Following his reelection, Mehmet Ali Talat said that there is a lot to be done at a time of peace and tranquillity. He said: ``As CTP leader, I will be a coordinator to create better days together.'' He added that he will work with all his might to deserve the trust of his party.

Civan Mert, Halil Onbasi, Mehmet Guven, Salih Oztoprak, and Yusuf Kaymak were elected members of the CTP High Honour Council.

[08] Serdar Denktash on how US will pressure Turkey for Cyprus

Denktash, who arrived in Washington DC to reportedly hold contacts with the US administration officials, told the AA correspondent that the G-8 countries´ joining the international organizations, which put pressure on Turkey about the Cyprus question, was a ``serious unfairness'' against Ankara which extended great support to the Western alliance in Kosovo.

Noting that the US this time is determined in the solution she wants, Serdar Denktash said every step that can be taken concerning the question is dependent on pressure on Turkey. Denktash said, ``when the economic problems of Turkey are taken into consideration, the US will use the IMF talks and the Baku-Ceyhan as trump cards and matters of pressure. Because she thinks that first of all, Turkey´s resistance will be diffused for the solution she wants.''.

[09] Denktash, Akinci address Crans Montana forum on Cyprus

The Cyprus issue was discussed within the framework of the EU expansion last Saturday. The views of the pseudostate and Turkey with regard to the EU were put forward at the forum.

Rauf Denktash, who participated in the forum via satellite, expressed the pseudostate´s known views on the EU issue. Alleging that peace and tranquillity reign in Cyprus since 1975 , Denktash said that the next step should be to set up a bridge between the ``two states''. Cyprus will be divided forever, Denktash continued, if the EU accepts the Greek Cypriot side as a member in view of all these realities.

In the wake of Denktash´ address, a Greek participant expressed the Greek Cypriot views.

Taking the podium later, Mustafa Akinci said that contrary to claims, ``the TRNC people are totally secular even though they are Muslims''. Noting that both his party and he himself are in favour of EU membership, Akinci added:

``However, this will be possible only after a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue is found''.

Akinci later participated as a lecturer in a session on ``The Role of Tourism in Economic Development''. Explaining the importance of Cyprus in the Mediterranean, Akinci added that 30 percent of world tourism is concentrated in this region. Claiming that the pseudostate has been the victim of a cold war with the Greek Cypriots for the past 30 years, Akinci briefed the session on the natural beauties of the occupied area and extended an invitation to the participants to visit the occupied area.

[10] Akinci on importance of Crans Montana contacts

Akinci said that their team told the various delegations attending the forum that ``Cyprus is not a Greek Cypriot island'' and that ``there exists another state on the island that is equal to the Greek Cypriot state''. Another benefit of attending the meeting, he said, was the opportunity to respond on the spot to the debates on membership to the EU. Akinci said that he explained to the delegates that ``contrary to what the Greeks and Greek Cypriots say, the TRNC is not a fake state.'' He noted that the forum is important not only politically but economically as well. Akinci said that the Turkish Cypriot team promoted the pseudostate by means of brochures and films.

[11] Occupation regime scorned for destruction of cultural heritage.

YENIDUZEN adds that so-called assembly ``chairman'' Ertugrul Hasipoglu was called to account for trying to turn the historic Armenian Monastery in occupied Halevka into a hotel.

Hasipoglu claimed that they developed the project in order to save the monastery. However, he added, following the reaction they have cancelled the project. In his turn, Mr. Staes, the Rapporteur of the Council of Europe Sub-committee for the Protection of Cultural Herritage, told Hasipoglu: ``I am happy to hear that you have cancelled the project. However, you are not giving us true information. I have investigated the project on the spot. Your aim is not to restore the monastery. You want to destroy the monastery. It is good that you have cancelled the project. However, you did not tell us the truth on this issue. This issue is not closed. You have to restore the monastery.''

European Parliamentarians urged Denktash´s regime to protect and restore the culture heritage.

(MY)

[12] 7-point Cyprus plan

[01] Equal rights for both communities and controlled circulation under UN responsibility between the two sides.

[02] Varosha will be returned to the Greek Cypriots in such a way that will guarantee the Turkish Cypriots´ security and will not give way to any reaction.

[03] There will be one Foreign Minister and a common currency. There will be an

[04] Each community will have its own police force, and it will handle its domestic affairs. The objective will be to attain the same status.

[05] The guarantor countries will be more than two (Turkey, Greece, Britain, USA).

[06] Both sides will withdraw, in stages, their heavy weapons and there will be disarmament.

[07] All military pacts signed by each side shall be rendered null and void.

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

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