Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-09-10

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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. 164/99 -- 10.9.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash to ask Annan to find common ground through shuttle diplomacy.

[02] Turkish Cypriots ready to extend aid to Greece.

[03] Denktash meets Annan.

[04] Denktash´s speech at Middle East Forum.

[05] Denktash meets US officials.

[06] Denktash´s photographic work at fair in Belgium.

[07] Lapithos Hotel sold to German company?

[08] Women want peaceful solution.

[09] Malaysian Prince in the occupied area.

[10] Turkish Cypriot ``Emergency Rescue Team''.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] On ``police'' involvement in crimes.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash to ask Annan to find common ground through shuttle diplomacy

Denktash said that he arrived in New York in order to meet with Annan and ask him not to attempt to bring the two leaders together within the framework of the intercommunal talks.

Denktash declared: ``We are ready to live on the island side by side with the Greek Cypriots on the basis of good neighbourly relations. However, this can only take place within the framework of a confederation''.

Proposing ``to establish first a confederation between two equal peoples on the island'', Denktash stressed that if the two communities, which have been living separated from one another for years, restore their mutual confidence in time, the structure of the state can be changed by the next generations.

Reiterating his claim that the fact that they are not recognized as a ``state'' lies at the root of the nonsolution of the Cyprus problem, Denktash stated: ``There will never be a solution on the island unless this obstacle is removed. If the Security Council is in favour of a solution, it must lift this obtacle.''

On 12 September, Denktash will meet Thomas Weston, US State Department Cyprus coordinator, and Sir David Hannay, Britain´s special envoy for Cyprus. Denktash will leave New York for Turkey on 13 September.

[02] Turkish Cypriots ready to extend aid to Greece

It issued a written statement saying that ``the Turkish Cypriot nation and the government felt great sorrow over the destruction, losses and grief caused by the quake in Greece after the devastating earthquake in Turkey which had also saddened them''.

Noting that it is a humanitarian task to be sensitive to the grief of humanity and to lend a helping hand, the statement said the Turkish Cypriots will not refrain from fulfilling their responsibilities against this disaster in Greece, and will extend all kind of material and moral support to the Greek people.

``As the TRNC government, we consider it as a positive development that the necessity for a relation based on cooperation with mutual friendly feelings of the Turkish and Greek peoples, who share the same region and are obliged to live with the geographical conditions in this region, has been revealed'', it said.

[03] Denktash meets Annan

After the meeting Denktash inter alia said: ``We had the meeting with the Secretary-General. We talked about our views on the pending negotiations. We are ready to negotiate. We have not run away from the negotiations but these negotiations under the false pretence that both sides are equal has helped Greek Cypriots almost get away with Cyprus. We are not going to play the same game.''

He added: ``The exercise in Cyprus is between the two ex-partners of the Republic of Cyprus reestablíshing a new partnership as two sovereign, politically equal people and to agree how to live side by side as two sovereign states. This is the exercise.''

Asked if the Secretary-General proposed a meeting between him and President Clerides, he said: ``No. But he is thinking about it and he has listened to me very carefully. He has taken notes of what I have said and he is not in a hurry but certainly he is thinking about it. I have told him an invitation under the old formula of intercommunal talks which treats the two parties as equals within the conference room but one of the parties is allowed as soon as it goes out to become the Government of Cyprus and to undo or to deny whatever it has been agreed in the process, is not going to work and we are not going to fall into that trap again. Intercommunal talks have been killed by the Greek Cypriot side. I will not resurrect them, I have no mandate to attend such a meeting. This has been told to the Secretary-General in the most clearest of terms.''

To a question if Annan has proposed a certain date to get them together, Denktash replied: ``No. He says he has an open mind. He is thinking about it, he will take into consideration what I have said to him. But he is clear on one thing. While his good offices process continues it is not for others to put forward plans for the settlement of the Cyprus problem. He is very clear about that and that made me very pleased.''

Asked whether he gave the Secretary-General an alternative to talks in New York, like indirect talks on the island or indirect talks elsewhere, Denktash replied: ``The venue is not the issue. The shape of the meeting is an issue and he knows our views on it. We represent a state, recognized or unrecognised is immaterial. The Greek Cypriots are not our state, they are not our government. This has to be acknowledged before a meeting can be arranged. But shuttle diplomacy may work in the meantime in order to arrange a meeting between the two states. We are not against that. Shuttle diplomacy for arranging a meeting between two states, is possible. But bring us face-to-face without considering my status and my people´s status is out of the question.''

Asked what does he expect from now on to the near future, he said: ``I think we should have more contacts, direct and indirect with the Secretary General until he made up his mind. He has promised that whatever his decision would be it will not be a surprised decision. But first he will be contacting us, he will be informing us and we shall have a chance to come back to him.''

To a question if he will accept the invitation if Annan sends letters for talks, he replied: ``My dear, why are you making such a direct question and you make me give a direct answer which again you will use to show how intransigent Denktash is? I think he will not send a letter while he knows what our position is''.

[04] Denktash´s speech at Middle East Forum

Referring to Greek Cypriots, he added: ``They have to be told what you have in the south Turkish Cypriots have in the north.

Sovereignty-sovereignty, Property-property. It is only then that we shall be able to talk about exchanging property, compensating each other and set things out to friendship and good neighbours. Otherwise it will be just a waste of time.''

And he further claimed: ``They (the Security Council) had no right to prohibit others from recognizing us and when a few countries moved to recognize us, Americans immediately said not aid to you if you do. This is an injustice, all we want is this unjust resolution to be watered down. Unless it is done we shall continue to defend our republic, the Greek Cypriot side will continue to hope that one day they will be entitled to the whole island, that´s why they are arming and therefore there would be no settlement at all''.

To a question about his mission in New York, Denktash replied inter alia:

``I came to New York in order to see the Secretary-General. I will be seeing him tomorrow. I will be discussing him all these things that I told you again, he knows all about it. I´ll tell him that he should not be influenced by the G8´s request or anyone else´s request to bring the two leaders together under the intercommunal talks because it won´t work, because if we come together without coming to an agreement, it will be far worse later to bring us together. I think his duty should be to calculate through indirect talks with each party, separately, in order to find out whether there is any ground on which we can start talking. Shuttle diplomacy is the way''.

To a question about press reports that Washington is preparing a plan to solve the Cyprus problem, Denktash replied: ``Washington representatives tell me they have no plans. But then they talk about such things. Our answer is this: Outsiders preparing plans are bound to fail. It is not possible for outsiders to know the problem, to know our fears. Everybody looks at Cyprus as if the Turkish Cypriots want security from the Government of Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriots want certain rights from the Government of Cyprus. The moment you start putting the issue like that you are in the wrong. We are not seeking anything form the Greek Cypriots.'' And added: ``We don´t want anything from the Greeks. We want to start good neighbourliness, on the same basis of equality, state-to-state, government- to-government. Then, once we have to decide between us, becomes very limited and very easy to settle. It is territorial adjustment, it is how we shall cooperate on what ground we will cooperate. Then the matter is very simplified''. And he concluded: ``There is no Cypriot nation. Therefore one of the nations, one of the religions, one of the peoples cannot represent the other nation. This is clear. So the fact that the world treats the Greek Cypriot as the government of Cyprus is the main obstacle to the solution and it is for those who made this mistake and put this obstacle in the way to the solution to withdraw it and to understand it and to stop from writing constitutions. Who asked anyone to write a constitution for us.? So outside plans won´t work, we don´t want it''.

[05] Denktash meets US officials

The meeting lasted I hour and 20 minutes.

In a statement after the meeting, Marc Grossman said: ``We are thinking how we will achieve progress for the solution of Cyprus problem. We didn´t talk details with Rauf Denktash but we exchanged ideas on the issue.'' (DP)

[06] Denktash´s photographic work at fair in Belgium

Artist Mehmet Aydogdu, who is the coordinator of the exhibition, has said that eight artists who live in different parts of world have been invited to the exhibition with the aim of reflecting Turkish art. The exhibition will be held between 25th September - 3th October.

The artists who will participate are: From the pseudostate Rauf Denktash and Aylin Orek, from New York Serdar Arat, from Scotland Aysegu and Oneren Inceisa, from Vienna Canan Dagdelen, from Istanbul Mehmet Guleryuz and from Belgium Yasemin Sener and Mehmet Aydogdu.

300 artists from 15 countries will participate in the fair. (DP)

[07] Lapithos Hotel sold to German company?

However, on the other hand, Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper BIRLIK has denied the sale writing that there was a mistake in the ``official gazete''. (DP)

[08] Women want peaceful solution

The women´s organizations want their voice also to be heard. They want a solution based on peace. In their letter they write: ``We strongly support a solution based on the human needs, such as the need that both communities should have their identity and be safe so that a secure environment can be created for the children from both sides.

We have had enough pain from past conflicts. We claim a new initiative in which women´s voice will also be heard''.

(DP)

[09] Malaysian Prince in the occupied area

He is staying at the house of Naksibent Sect leader Seyh Nazim in Lefka.

He will leave the occupied area at the end of the week. Prince Ashman will be the Sultan in Malaysia for five years, as from the year 2000.

(DP)

[10] Turkish Cypriot ``Emergency Rescue Team''

The team will consist of 12 persons including a doctor and a nurse. (DP)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] On ``police'' involvement in crimes

The editorial adds that there is this person who called Harpas at his home and asked to meet him, a policeman named Mehmet, and that Kutlu Adali´s murder comes to one´s mind. The word policeman is often used in crimes, it says. ``It was a policeman who called Harpas for a meeting.. `Policeman´ Mehmet… We read this in the press…'', the editorial reads and adds:

``A reasonable person does not go out at such an hour if he is not to meet someone he trusts…Who is most trustworthy than a policeman? I don´t want to think that police is involved in dark business but shouldn´t we find out who is policeman Mehmet, something that will shed light on both murders?'' (DP)

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

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