Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-07-20

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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. 126/99 -- 20.7.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash stresses principles of equality, sovereignty.

[02] Denktash calls on world to accept reality of ``two states''.

[03] Turkish delegation arrives in ``TRNC''.

[04] Demirel: ``Turks,Greeks have separate states in Cyprus.''

[05] Turkey to participate in invasion anniversary.

[06] ``Partnership Council'' meeting.

[07] Ecevit interviewed on Cyprus issue.

[08] Ecevit´s conditions for a settlement.

[09] Decisions of ``Partnership Council'' are steps towards full integration.

[10] Azeri President congratulates Denktash over invasion anniversary.

[11] Protocol signed with Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan and Kirgizistan.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash stresses principles of equality, sovereignty

Speaking in the ``Pulse of Politics'' programme which was broadcast in state-run TRT channel, Denktash evaluated the latest situation of the Cyprus question.

Denktash noted that he has been meeting with the Greek Cypriot leaders since 1968 but that they have not reached any point.

Denktash inter alia said, ``why can´t we reach a point? Because we insist on two points. Firstly, Turkey´s guarantee will continue and the Turkish- Greek balance will be protected. The second is that Turkish Cypriots will not be given a `minority´ status and they will be accepted as an equal and sovereign nation''.

Stating that he told the truths to the United Nations (UN) for many times before, Denktash said, ``you say `let`s set up a bridge.´ But the two sides should be equal to set up a bridge. One side is at the top and the other is at the bottom. You cannot set up a bridge like this. It is impossible''.

Further claiming that the Greek Cypriots do not want a federation, Denktash added: ``We say that when you touch the Turkish guarantee, we will never have an agreement.''

``A bridge can be set up from a state to another. An agreement can be signed between two states. But, they cannot invite me with the principle saying that `there is no state´ and cannot make me sit at the table as a leader of a community. It is my right to have a bargaining when sitting at the table'', Denktash added.

On the EU membership issue, Denktash claimed: ``Our membership to an organization of which Turkey is not a member, will mean that we become toys in the hands of the Greek Cypriots as a minority in the EU. All they want is this and they do not give us any other rights.''

Stressing that since this process continues, they should show that they will not make any concessions and that the world should open its eyes, Denktash said, ``I think that we became successful in this. Because, the new diplomats who are charged with the Cyprus question, ask us why we have not done this until today and say that they understand what we want''.

Stating that everybody think that the Turkish side can be deceived by granting some protective rights, Denktash said, ``they say that they will help us. We say that we do not want any help. The game field should be arranged, balanced, and be plain. Two sides know what they are playing. We want a line between us. We want our state. We have established our state. We do not want anything from you''. On the issue of sovereignty he said:

``The sovereignty of Cyprus is accepted by Europe. I will not talk about the sovereignty. I will not talk about the exchange of wealth. They tell these within the framework of the UN. The Greek Cypriot side says that it has the right to do all the activities of a government''.

[02] Denktash calls on world to accept reality of ``two states''

Stating that the world should understand why the Cyprus so-called ``peace operation'' was made, Denktash added that when the world understands the reason of the ``peace operation'', the problem will be solved.

Emphasizing that there are ``two states'' on Cyprus, Denktash claimed that the world countries should accept this ``truth''.

[03] Turkish delegation arrives in ``TRNC''

The delegation which will participate in the so-called Turkey-TRNC Partnership Council is composed of Hasan Gemici, State Minister; Erkan Mumcu, Tourism Minister; and many parliamentarians.

Addressing a statement at the airport, Gurel said that they came to the ``TRNC'' to participate in the Council meeting and for the celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the Cyprus invasion.

Claiming that the ``peace operation'' was an intervention which brought together the rights and the power, Gurel alleged that the world does not want to accept the existence and the rights of the Turkish Cypriots.

Gurel stated that Turkey does not differentiate the ``TRNC'' from herself.

Gurel added that they will have positive results in the end of the meeting.

[04] Demirel: ``Turks, Greeks have separate states in Cyprus''

President Demirel received Nazif Boramn, the so-called TRNC ambassador to Ankara, and the accompanying personnel upon the 25th anniversary of the Cyprus invasion.

Addressing the meeting, Demirel said that the ``peace operation'' will be tried to be explained to the world with the ceremony that will be held on Cyprus on July 20.

Demirel noted that trying to seek a solution for the Cyprus question by forgetting the reason for the ``peace operation'' was ``futile''.

Demirel added: ``The Turkish and Greek Cypriots live in separate regions on the island. This is the de facto situation. The Turkish and Greek Cypriots have different states. The efforts to make the Turkish and Greek Cypriots live together by pretending not to see these realities will cause the restart of clashes and bloodshed.''

Noting that the basic solution of the question is visible and the world has to see it, Demirel claimed that the ``two states'' on Cyprus is the solution, and that the issue of how these ``two states'' can live together should be negotiated.

``The world should recognize the TRNC. It is impossible to continue to consider that there were one state and one citizenship on the island. This did not work. Now, the current de facto situation has to be well evaluated and the solution should be sought to enable the two states to live together on Cyprus. And this can only be done by the administrators of the two states'', Demirel said.

Recalling that the Cyprus question is the national cause of Turkey, Demirel said, ``the Turkish nation is very sensitive concerning the Cyprus question. They are not in favour of giving concessions from the rights that were gained with great self-sacrifices. A reasonable and sustainable solution should be taken out from the de facto situation.''

[05] Turkey to participate in invasion anniversary

Turkish daily RADIKAL (19.7.99) reports that the so-called TRNC-Turkey Partnership Council met yesterday and a joint declaration will be issued by Rauf Denktash and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. It will be in response to the call US Secretary of State William Cohen made for the ``resumption of talks without preconditions'' last week.

The joint declaration will reportedly convey a message to the world that the establishment of a confederation by ``two equal states'' on the island is the only way to solve the Cyprus problem.

Turkey will be represented by a very high-ranking delegation during the invasion celebrations in the occupied area of Cyprus. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Minister of State Sukru Sina Gurel, Minister of State Tunca Toskay, and Secretary General of the Presidency Necdet Seckinoz will attend the ceremonies. The TGNA will be represented by a delegation made up of three deputy chairmen and the Ground Forces will be represented by Gen. Necdet Timur, Chief of Staff of the Turkish Ground Forces. A Virtue Party delegation headed by Recai Kutan and a Republican People´s Party delegation headed by Altan Oymen will also attend the ceremonies.

[06] ``Partnership Council'' meeting

Mehmet Bayram, so-called economy and finance minister and the head of the pseudostate delegation, said in his opening speech that the meeting is the proof that the ``TRNC'' will exist forever along with Turkey.

Bayram said that the latest developments concerning Cyprus will also be discussed in the meeting.

Sukru Sina Gurel, the Turkish State Minister, said in his part that the priority of the ``Partnership Council'' is to create a joint economic area, adding that concrete steps were taken to bring a judicial and institutional framework for the joint economic area with the agreements singed recently.

Gurel said that he believed that ``the TRNC will take its deserved place in the world with its strengthening economy in the 21st century.''

He emphasized that they insistently reiterate that it is not possible to reach a lasting compromise by disregarding ``the realities'' in Cyprus, claiming that ``there are two separate people, two separate states, two separate democratic structures in Cyprus. Today, what must be done, is to create an environment in which these two states can live side by side, and thus, to contribute peace and stability in a region which experiences tension''.

Gurel said that the confederation proposal of Rauf Denktash, which was also supported by Turkey, created a historical opportunity to pave the way for a joint structure, and this opportunity must not be missed.

Stressing that the external interventions and enforced solutions which are not based on the mutual compromise of the sides in Cyprus will not serve for a just and lasting compromise in Cyprus, Gurel said that such an initiative will bring a complete deadlock to the efforts to find a peaceful solution.

Gurel said, ``the path to compromise passes from the talks which the two administrations and two states in the island will hold by their own free will under equal conditions. The existence of the TRNC as an independent and sovereign state and our Turkish Cypriot brothers´ being able to look at their future with hope, are the main principles for us. The protection of regional peace and stability is indispensable for us''.

[07] Ecevit interviewed on Cyprus issue

If Turkey´s ties with Cyprus are severed in the event that a federation is established and that federation becomes an EU member, the Turkish Cypriots will be detached from Turkey´s sphere of influence and protection. This would pose very serious dangers for the Turkish Cypriots. Furthermore, Turkey would face serious dangers as well. Greece, which has encircled Turkey to the west by means of the islands, would have surrounded Turkey from the south as well because it would have been connected to south Cyprus in a de facto if not official manner. This would constitute a serious threat to Turkey.

As you know, during a military exercise in the 1930´s Ataturk advised Turkish officers not to neglect Cyprus, saying that Cyprus´ control by a hostile state will create very serious threats for Turkey. Many years have passed since then. It is evident that with current military technology, Cyprus´ control by an anti-Turkish state would constitute a much greater danger than in the past.

Until recently, we used to say that Turkey is the guarantee of the TRNC or rather of the Turkish Cypriots, but now the TRNC has also become a guarantee for Turkey. Therefore, we can never make concessions in Cyprus. Moreover, I am not convinced that the G-8 countries studied the matter seriously or in detail. The decisions adopted by this group, which includes the powerful Western countries as well as Japan and Russia, incorporates conditions that definitely fail to correspond with the realities and that will never be accepted by Turkey or by the Turkish Cypriots. The G-8´s are telling Mr. Denktash and Mr. Clerides to sit at the negotiating table without preconditions, on one hand, while they are positing preconditions themselves, on the other. This is not acceptable.

As you know, the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline is becoming increasingly more topical. The construction of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline will greatly increase the importance of the TRNC and of the island of Cyprus in general in terms of global security. Serious security problems could emerge during the transportation of the oil and natural gas via the Baku-Ceyhan line. In this respect, the existence of Turks, of a Turkish state, in at least one part of Cyprus constitutes a guarantee not only for Turkey but for the whole world.

Surely, the safety of the eastern Mediterranean, the importance of which will altogether increase with the introduction of the Baku-Ceyhan route, cannot be surrendered into the hands of the Greek Cypriots. The irresponsible way the Greeks and the Greek Cypriots conduct their foreign policy has always been known. Their two-faced tactics are known. Therefore, especially in terms of the Western world, very serious dangers could arise in the eastern Mediterranean in the absence of a Turkish state in the region.

The world may or may not realise that. This is up to them, but both Turkey and the TRNC can never make the concessions asked by either the G-8 countries or the EU, because such concessions would create a vital danger for Turkey and the TRNC.

As for the TRNC´s being able to stand on its own two feet, the TRNC is an island-state situated on part of the island, with a population of 200,000. Its population is as big as a medium-sized Turkish district. Even when Turkey is in an economically difficult situation, it can meet all the needs of the TRNC. (passage omitted on the universities in northern Cyprus).

It should be known that even if the TRNC is not recognized, it is fully capable of setting an example to the whole world with the initiatives it launches in this age of knowledge and information. The TRNC is exerting great efforts to increase tourism despite the transportation obstacles. In other words, the TRNC is not only dependent on Turkey. The creativity of the Turkish Cypriots and their progress in economy and trade is a very important factor to this end. Turkish Cypriot businessmen who settled in Britain, Germany, the United States, Australia, and other countries will undertake more investments in the TRNC if they are hopeful about its future. We, in turn, have to provide them with the guarantee they need. That is, everybody in the world should know that Turkey and the TRNC will make none of the concessions expected by some very insensitive circles. It is impossible for us to do so. Furthermore, the independence of the TRNC is as important to Turkey as its own independence.

For this reason, nobody will gain anything from putting pressure on us. This actually was the reason for the peace operation we launched at the time. I believe that the TRNC will exist forever together with Turkey''.

Ecevit further said:

``The TRNC is a strong state, and it has a community which safeguarded its independence and put up a resistance against all the obstacles of the world. The Turkish Cypriot community is an extension of the Turkish nation. The Turkish Cypriots have set up their own state, and this state is functioning despite all the obstacles posed by the world. Furthermore, it is not submissive toward anybody. The existence of such a state cannot be ignored. The Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots should not be asked to ignore this reality when they are invited to engage in talks. We are now told that the two leaders - Clerides and Denktash - should meet without any preconditions. The G-8 countries and the UN Security Council say this. Those who say this, however, are themselves presenting preconditions. They are even presenting more than one precondition. They say that there should be a single sovereignty, passport, and citizenship on the island and that there will not be two separate sovereignties. All these are nothing but preconditions. All sorts of countries and organizations that should not be involved in the Cyprus issue at all are imposing various preconditions on the Turkish Cypriot side. The Turkish Cypriots, however, are denied the only condition they ask for: confirmation of their independent state. This is refused on grounds that it is a precondition.

The time has come to put an end to these games. There is no longer a Cyprus issue. That is, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots resolved this issue a long time ago. The Greek Cypriots should stop deceiving themselves and accept the fact that this issue has already been settled. There is no way the dream of going back to the time before 20 July 1974 can be fulfilled. Moreover, it is not as though Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots are creating problems for the world. They are not interfering in the internal affairs of any country. They are not making any problems for any country, state, or international organization. I suppose there are certain countries in the world that consider it a shortcoming when states do not make any problems. There is peace, development, and democracy in Cyprus. No problems are created for anybody. For this reason, Turkey and the TRNC will defend their rights without making any concessions. They have surmounted every obstacle for 25 years, and this will be true for the future as well.

I would like to point out that we have reached a very critical stage. For this reason, the fact that Mr. Rauf Denktash, who has dedicated his life to the cause of the Turkish Cypriots, is the president of the TRNC at this time should be put to good use.''

[08] Ecevit´s conditions for a settlement

He further added that in case the confederal settlement is rejected, in his mind there are two solutions left:

a) continuation of the present situation.

b) In case outside pressure is increased and if it becomes unbearable then:

the ``TRNC´s'' integration with Turkey will be realized to the extent that it is deemed necessary.

Ecevit went on to stress that the ``TRNC´s'' recognition and lifting of the embargo are necessary for a settlement.

He repeated his known conditions for this settlement, which are that the settlement should be based on:

-The ``two state'' reality.

- The ``TRNC´s'' strategic importance to Turkey; maintaining of Turkish

guarantees.

- The security issue for Turkey and the region; Baku-Ceyhan pipeline.

- The G-8 has no right to intervene in the Cyprus problem; only Britain

as a guarantor power and the USA as a super power have the right to

get involved in the Cyprus problem.

(MY)

[09] Decisions of ``Partnership Council'' are steps towards full integration

Commenting on the so-called agreement signed yesterday between Turkey and the ``TRNC'' during the so-called Turkish-TRNC Partnership Council meeting, AVRUPA says that according to the agreement additional benefits will be provided to the ``TRNC'' and the Turkish citizens. Under this agreement, those Turkish Cypriots who want to acquire Turkish citizenship will be able to do so, thus acquiring dual nationality. Turkish Cypriots who want to work and stay in Turkey will be given residence and work permits for a five year period. Similar benefits will be provided to Turks living and working in the occupied area. The ``agreement'' will be put in force once it is approved by Turkey and the occupied area.

(MY)

[10] Azeri President congratulates Denktash over invasion anniversary

Aliyev´s message was handed to Denktash by two Azeri Deputies, Fikret Ismailov and Fettan Baydoro, who are in the occupied area to attend the 25th anniversary ``celebrations''.

(MY)

[11] Protocols signed with Chamber of Commerce of Kazakhstan and Kirgizistan

(MY)

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

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