Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-09-13

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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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Annan-Denktash meeting.

[02] Denktash on meting with Annan.

[03] Ankara informs Weston of support for Denktash´s views.

[04] Talat urges Turkish, Greek Cypriots to help Annan.

[05] Denktash rejects tete-a-tete meet with President Clerides.

[06] Eroglu on US´ Cyprus moves.

[07] Turkish Cypriot journalist found murdered.

[08] Eroglu a ``presidential candidate''.

[09] Apostolos Andreas monastery and Hala Sultan to be restored.

[10] Turkish law professor in the occupied area.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Annan-Denktash meeting

At a reception at his residence, Annan responded the questions of Turkish and Greek Cypriot journalists, and said they wanted to give the start for negotiations between the two sides on Cyprus which are not restricted to a specific frame.

Noting that all issues will be discussed at the negotiations, Annan said he had to comply with the resolutions accepted by the UN Security Council and the authority given to him by the Security Council.

Stating that the Cyprus issue will gain momentum in autumn, the UN Secretary General did not explain in detail what he meant.

When asked whether he would send letters of invitation to the two leaders in a way that the Security Council demanded, Annan said he has not sent letters yet.

During their meeting Denktash clearly told Kofi Annan that he won´t attend the intercommunal negotiations which will be held upon the former formula without the recognition of the ``TRNC''. Denktash stated that the negotiations can be held only ``from state to state''.

According to Anatolia, a diplomatic source very close to the Secretary General, said that the UN does not have an intention to eliminate any possibility at this stage.

The high-level official, who declined to be identified, said, ``does Denktash want solution? Absolutely, he wants. So he will accept one of the proposals we will put forward''.

When asked when the proposals would be put forward, the official said, ``when they are ready''.

Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Kofi Annan, Rauf Denktash said that ``he won´t attend the tete-a-tete meeting with Clerides which will be held under former conditions, but the shuttle diplomacy could be an alternative.''

Meanwhile, the UN issued a statement after the meeting between Denktash and Annan saying that the UN Secretary General hoped to take steps in autumn that will activate the Cyprus process, and the solution of the question could be found with negotiations.

[02] Denktash on meeting with Annan

Kofi Annan said after Denktash recalled that the UN Secretary General has always been opposed to plans from the outside that there was no reason for him to rush to have a summit convened. So he is not expected to call on the sides to meet.

Denktash claimed that the Turkish side has not abandoned the negotiations process. He asserted that it is ready to hold talks but it will not agree to unauthentic equality. He said that Kofi Annan carefully listened to what he had to say and took notes. He added that Annan informed him that there was no reason for him to rush to have a summit convened. Denktash asserted: ``Kofi Annan is definitely opposed to the imposition of plans from the outside for the solution of the Cyprus problem. I greatly welcomed that. He promised that he will not make an unexpected decision without informing us earlier''.

[03] Ankara informs Weston of support for Denktash´s views

Noting that the UN Secretary General´s invitation for talks as part of the effort to find a solution on the island could be realistic only if Denktash and President Glafcos Clerides were treated on equal footing, Turkey conveyed the message that ``we are with Denktash on this path.''

Thomas Weston, who has been appointed in place of Thomas Miller by the US State Department, came to Ankara the other day for an introduction meeting with State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and ambassador Faruk Logoglu and to take Turkey´s pulse before Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit´s Washington visit at the end of this month.

Weston also tried to find to what extent Ankara shares Rauf Denktash´ s tough statements in the United States, or if there are any differences between Nicosia and Ankara either in approach or method.

The Turkish officials told Weston that there cannot be any difference of views between Denktash and Ankara and that the views of Rauf Denktash find support in Ankara.

Noting that Denktash´s call for a ``confederation'' and ``equality'' principle at the talks are realistic, the Turkish officials told Weston:

``We understand the effort you make to solve the Cyprus problem. But a solution could only be found between the two communities on the principle of equality. Neither we nor Denktash will accept any model other than this. We do not want this issue to shadow the Turkish-US relations. Cyprus, after all, is not the only issue between us''.

[04] Talat urges Turkish, Greek Cypriots to help Annan

In a written statement, Talat pointed out that the two Cyprus guarantor states are in a process of rapprochement following the earthquakes, and that Turkey has managed to pry open the door to the EU. He stated that these developments constitute an opportunity for the establishment of peace on the island. He said: ``The Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot leaders must not block the Turkish-Greek relations now; on the contrary, they must contribute to the atmosphere of friendship that has been created. And this can be done by helping UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in his initiative, and by founding lasting peace in Cyprus.''

[05] Denktash rejects tete-a-tete meet with President Clerides

Reiterating that he will not attend the invitation of Kofi Anna, the UN Secretary General, to participate in tete-a-tete meeting with President Clerides that will take place with the demand of G-8´s and the Security Council, Denktash said ``there is peace in Cyprus for 26 years. There is no hunger or unemployment. There is democracy. Suddenly people got into an action while everything was on the right path. They say they will bring peace to Cyprus. The peace which Greek Cypriots want is to take out Turkish soldiers from the island. They say `we will live in peace if Turkey and Denktash withdraw´''. He added that they will not ``bow'' to Greek Cypriots.

Denktash said Turkey and Turkish Parliament supported their ``state-to state'' policy.

Denktash, who is expected to depart New York on Monday, will meet with the members of Turkish government in Ankara and will brief them about his contacts in New York.

[06] Eroglu on US´ Cyprus moves

Eroglu asserted that from now on, the two sides must get up from the negotiating table under equal conditions and with equal status, so that the negotiations can have a meaning. He stressed that when no results are achieved at the negotiating table, the sides should know how to leave the table with equal status.

Eroglu said that considering all this, the invitation UN Secretary General Annan is thinking of issuing ``will be futile and poorly timed.'' He stressed that ``the invitation will be for a meeting whose outcome will be negative.''

He noted that comings and goings have started in Cyprus and that Prime Minister Ecevit will visit the United States. He said that one of the issues Ecevit will discuss is Cyprus and that the Turkish Cypriots will be closely following the developments.

Eroglu said that he met with Donald Bandler, the US ambassador to Cyprus, and that Bandler told him the United States did not draw up a four-party or ten-party plan, that Washington wants the Cyprus problem resolved, and that it wants the Turkish Cypriot side at the negotiating table.

Eroglu pointed out that there will be a lot of activity regarding the Cyprus problem, that there will soon be an EU summit, that the stands of the EU countries and of Greece at the summit are question marks, and that certain policy changes may be observed.

Asked to comment on the fact that President Clinton completely replaced his Cyprus team, Eroglu said that the United States wants very much to solve the Cyprus problem, that the new team is experienced in the affairs of the region, and that this shows the United States wants to make progress in Cyprus before the elections.

Eroglu pointed out that the Greek Cypriot lobby get to work before the US elections, that the US presidential elections were won with a small difference, that the two million votes of the Greek lobby play a significant role, and that in order not to lose these two million votes, Clinton may make certain moves to fulfill his past promises. Eroglu said that such moves will not achieve the results the United States is after, adding:

``There is a political resolution reached by the Turkish Republican Government and ourselves based on the principle of two states. On 20 July, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit clearly stated that it is impossible for us to give up this resolution. In fact, we know that he is making such statements before his upcoming visit to Washington in order to give out the message. In other words, he has been giving the message of `do not expect any concessions´ to the United States.'' Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriots are thinking what kind of manoeuvring the United Sates can do in the face of this Turkish stand, that they realize the United States´ determination about the Cyprus issue, but that they do not know if it will insist on this determination.

Eroglu recalled the statements by Rauf Denktash, the Turkish Government, and Prime Minister Ecevit to the effect that direct negotiations will be futile unless the policies posited by the ``TRNC'' are accepted. He added that maybe the so-called presidential elections in the ``TRNC'' will postpone the shuttle diplomacy for a while but it will resume later on.

Eroglu described the rapprochement between Turkey and Greece following the earthquake as ``the friendship of two neighbouring states''. He added that the earthquake in Turkey brought the leaders and the people closer together. He expressed the hope that this friendship will continue without being exploited for other aims, adding: ``We were pleased to see the goodwill and rapprochement between the two sides. If the sides can negotiate the issues with good will, without ignoring the realities, the goodneighbourly relations can go on. If Greece begins to see certain realities about Cyprus, if it accepts that the Greek Cypriot Administration is a separate state in the south, and if it makes the world and the Greek Cypriots accept that, then the Cyprus issue will no longer be a problem. The earthquake seems to have set up a bridge of friendship. We hope it will remain there''.

Eroglu stated that the economic repercussions of the earthquake in Turkey are being felt in the ``TRNC'' as well, but that the problems and difficulties will be overcome.

[07] Turkish Cypriot journalist found murdered

He worked as a journalist for YENIDUZEN, YENI DEMOKRAT, ORTAM and KIBRIS newspapers.

The body of Gorguner was found 10 km away from his car, whose tyre and windows were broken.

According to KIBRIS, two persons were arrested eight hours after the body was found. They are Mustafa Yildizgoban (17 years old) and Aziz Ozhuy (15 years old) who admitted the crime.

Dr Yucel Atakoru who examined Gorguner´s body said that it was murder and that he was killed ten hours before they found his corpse. So the murder must have taken place the night of 12th September to 13th September after he had finished his work from KIBRIS newspaper at 22:30, on his way home. (DP)

[08] Eroglu a ``presidential candidate''

(DP)

[09] Apostolos Andreas Monastery and Hala Sultan to be restored

The so-called state minister and deputy prime minister Mustafa Akinci announced that all the expenses of the project will be paid by UNOPS, but it is not known yet how much the project will cost or when it will begin. (DP)

[10] Turkish law professor in the occupied area

Prof. Dr. Bakir Caglar, who represents Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights and he has been the lawyer of Turkey in Strasbourg for six years, is considered one of the best jurists. He came to the ``TRNC'' as the guest of the Turkish Cypriot Art Association.

Caglar said that his father is a Turkish Cypriot. He also stated that they can bring before the European Court of Human Rights the sports embargo underlying that if they insist in this case, they will win.

(DP)

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

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