Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-09-17

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 169/99 -- 17.9.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Dentkash ends contacts in Turkey.

[02] Talat: Turkish-Greek rapprochement big chance for Cyprus.

[03] Turkey´s Ecevit, US official discuss Cyprus problem.

[04] Turkey´s conditional support for US formula for Cyprus.

[05] Dentkash: No equality in US stand.

[06] Ecevit demands recognition of ``TRNC'', rejects pressure.

[07] Lamberto Dini repeats known position on Cyprus.

[08] ``Parliamentary delegation'' in Strasbourg.

[09] Conference on earthquake issues.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Sener Levent on Sertac Gorguner´s murder.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash ends contacts in Turkey

[02] Talat: Turkish-Greek rapprochement big chance for Cyprus

In a written statement, Mehmet Ali Talat said that Denktash´s contacts in the United States and the summit meeting held in Turkey (15 September) show the uselessness of the policy that says the lack of a solution is a solution. He maintained that it became obvious once again that the Cyprus problem is linked to Turkey´s membership in the EU. He stressed that the sides have the important duty to ensure that the dialogue that has been started between Turkey and Greece is not hurt. He said: ``There is a golden opportunity before the peoples of Turkey and Greece and the two communities that live in Cyprus. No politician has the right to waste this opportunity.''

Talat called on the sides to negotiate without preconditions.

[03] Turkey´s Ecevit, US official discuss Cyprus problem

Ecevit met Grossman at the Prime Ministry yesterday. Matters related to Cyprus and energy resources were discussed in detail prior to his visit to the United States. Grossman pointed to the need for a dialogue between Turkey and Greece and noted that the United States does not plan to put pressure on the two countries. He said: ``The rapprochement between Turkey and Greece should be seen as an opportunity to settle important disputes like the Cyprus problem.''

It has been reported that Ecevit responded to Grossman as follows: ``A dialogue should be held to solve the problems. However, the situation that existed prior to 1974 cannot be reinstated in Cyprus. Turkey maintains a consistent and just approach on the problem''.

Replying to a question as he emerged from the meeting, Grossman said:

``The United States is very interested in the solution of the Cyprus problem. We are one of the G-8 countries, which have made a decision. We want the sides to hold talks. We believe that a good opportunity exists for the sides to achieve progress at this stage.''

Grossman said that he informed Ecevit on the issues the US Administration and the American people will be interested in when Ecevit visits the United States and outlined some of the items on Ecevit´s agenda as follows: ``The reconstruction of the areas devastated by the earthquake, economic and democratic reforms, Iraq, Turkey´s relations with Greece, and the Cyprus problem.''

[04] Turkey´s conditional support for US formula for Cyprus

Ankara decided not to retreat from its resolute approach on the Cyprus problem but agreed to ``act with moderation''.

The Turkish high-ranking state officials met with Rauf Denktash and the so- called ministers of the pseudostate at the Cankaya Mansion. They agreed that ``Turkey will never relinquish the rights it has on Cyprus as a guarantor power and Ankara will continue to support the thesis that two sovereign states exist n the island''.

The summit discussed the outcome of Denktash´s contacts in New York, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem´s meeting in Brussles, and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit´s visit to the United States at the end of September. Denktash briefed the convocation on the US proposal for a ``structure with a triple ceiling''. He said that the formula calls for the recognition of the ``TRNC'' and ``south Cyprus'' as two separate structures and the establishment of a third structure above them to manage the island´s foreign policy and international relations in accordance with a new constitution. Denktash said that the US proposal is unacceptable because it requires the ``TRNC'' to make territorial concessions and agree to have ``limited authority''.

Considering that, the summit agreed that ``the proposal for a structure with a triple ceiling can be acceptable if the TRNC is also recognized as a state''. Furthermore, it decided that an effort should be made to inform the world that the Cyprus Government can definitely not be the only government in Cyprus.

The summit decided that the Government officials maintain similar views in their contacts abroad in the light of the briefing they received from Denktash. It has been reported that Bulent Ecevit will support the views the summit agreed on when he visits the United States.

President Demirel said that Turkey will not retreat from the position it has maintained on Cyprus for a long time.

[05] Denktash: No equality in US stand

``We went to New York to tell the Secretary General: Do not even think of issuing the invitation because we will not come. Your prestige and that of the UNSC are at stake. Do not make us create an incident by rejecting your invitation. Think of something else.

The Secretary General accepted that. He said: It does not necessarilý have to be a face-to-face meeting. I will think of another formula''.

Asked what lies under Kofi Annan´s remarks that he will think of another alternative, Denktash replied:

``Kofi Annan said only that. I think that we received more details from the Americans. They are thinking of indirect talks but it is different from our view of indirect talks. The Americans are thinking of inviting us to Washington like they invited Israel and the Palestinians to Camp David. They want us and the Greek Cypriots to sit in separate rooms, and they will go back and forth from time to time, until a solution is reached. Our answer to that is as follows: Who are you inviting? What is the status? That is a problem again. If you are going to invite two leaders, but if after the meetings – regardless of whether a solution is reached – one of the leaders continues to claim that he is the Cyprus government, continues to give bases to Greece, and continues with the application with the EU, then that will not do. Secondly, it is true that you succeeded in Camp David, but you are forgetting that at the time you did not invite the two leaders out of the blue. Secret contacts were held a year or a year-and-a- half before that. The ground was prepared. Both sides said that they could agree to certain things. That is when you invited them. That is not the case in Cyprus. Contacts were held in Cyprus some time ago and a document was produced in the end, called the Set of Ideas. Clerides rejected everything in the Set of Ideas. There is nothing at the negotiating table except for our proposal for a confederation. And he is saying that he will not accept it''. And Denktash added: ``We want to be taken into consideration and treated equally. We did not find that in Washington or New York. We informed the Turkish Government that we did not find it. Our 31 August Resolution and the policy supported by the TGNA says that the talks will resume only if the two democracies, the two administrations, the two governments, and the two states are recognized. There have been no changes in our policy. Of course, when he goes to Washington, Mr. Ecevit will discuss what can be done within that framework.''

In reply to a relevant question Denktash said that Turkey cannot be expected to make a compromise and added: ``As I said, the meeting confirmed that the 31 August resolution of the TGNA is valid. However, for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Turkey has always been and is, ready to look into other formulas that do not harm our rights''.

Asked why the US seems to be exerting more pressure this time, Denktash said that he asked the Americans this question and they replied as follows:

``The EU is on the verge of reaching a decision on Cyprus. When it reaches this decision, we want it to realize that you also want to be part of the EU, we want it to see that you are making contributions to that end.''

He added that he said to the Americans: ``You do not seem to understand. The EU is not a carrot or a sugared apple for us. If Cyprus joins the EU before Turkey that will mean the abolishment of Turkey´s rights over Cyprus. This is a Byzantine intrigue. For us, this is a poisonous sugared apple. You must understand this''.

And further added: ``It seems the Americans are hurrying so that we can tell the EU: all right, accept Cyprus and let us finish with it.

Can you imagine?

Also, it is Clinton´s last months in the presidency. He apparently wants to leave his mark on another historical accomplishment. This may be a major event for him. We are not opposed to having Clinton leave his mark on victories. However, nobody has the right to ask us to be defeated, to give up our rights, or to ask Turkey to make concessions it cannot make over Cyprus just because Clinton wants to have another victory in his name.

I do not think that the Americans will exert this pressure, but the United Sates wants to do something, and it is trying to do something.''

And he insisted: ``This is not the time for a face-to-face meeting. The ground is not ready. We will not go to negotiations that will be a continuation of the deceitful scenario of intercommunal talks. If there are other alternatives, they must posit them. Anyway, they promised us that they will not surprise us, that they will consult with us before they propose other alternatives. Consequently, I think that our contacts were successful. I believe that an invitation for a face-to-face meeting will not be extended. If it is, that will be a great mistake.''

[06] Ecevit demands recognition of ``TRNC'', rejects pressure

``The cruel economic embargo imposed on the Turkish Cypriots should be lifted. If the positions are adopted according to these requirements, it will be beneficial for all Cypriots. Any change in Turkey´s attitude is out of question'', he said.

Speaking to reporters, Ecevit inter alia answered the questions about the Cyprus problem

When asked what Turkey´s clear attitude would be towards the Cyprus question prior to his visit to the US Ecevit said, ``The Turkish government´s attitude and policy for the TRNC and generally for Cyprus are clear. This is the government policy, and at the same time, it is a state and national policy. I mean that all of the political parties, whether they are in the power or in the opposition, agree that the TRNC is an independent state, and she should remain so. The whole world has started to understand this. Thus, it is now comprehended that any kind of pressure on Turkey concerning the issue can´t bring any result''.

When reminded of the news claiming, ``the view that TRNC President Rauf Denktash should go to New York upon the call of the UN Secretary General, prevailed at the meeting at the Presidential Palace last night'', Ecevit said, ``an invitation has not been received, and the sort of invitation is uncertain. As I said, any change in Turkey´s policy is out of question''.

When asked whether the problems between Turkey and Greece would be solved as a result of the warming relations after the quakes, Ecevit said, ``the important thing is the start of a productive and friendly dialogue. It can be considered that this dialogue has been started. Thus, there is not any problem that can´t be solved. Of course, in fact, the problems about the Aegean Sea can be solved with dialogue. However, the current stage of the dialogue has not reached the level of discussing these issues. If the dialogue which started before the earthquakes continues, I hope that other problems will be solved as soon as possible.

Actually, the dialogue which started between the Turkish and Greek foreign ministers can be called the start of a dialogue. If the existence of the TRNC is accepted, all the economic problems, environmental problems, water shortage problem, and other problems can be solved with a peaceful and friendly dialogue, but the reality that the TRNC is an independent state should be accepted'', he stressed.

[07] Lamberto Dini repeats known position on Cyprus

Expressing his gratitude over the support that had been extended to Turkey by Italy after the devastating earthquake, Cem said they had decided to further improve the relations between Turkey and Italy.

The Italian Foreign Minister said that they wanted to open a new page in the relations between Turkey and Italy, and he believed that the activities of the committees which would be established to this end, would be beneficial.

Dini further said that they had not created the problem which stemmed from the sheltering of Abdullah Ocalan in Italy, adding, ``now, this problem was left behind''.

When reminded of his opinion about the Cyprus question that ``the existence of the TRNC should be recognized'', Dini said there was not a change in his opinion.

Stating that ``there are some realities on Cyprus'' and they could not be denied, Dini said the problem concerns especially Turkey and Greece.

Dini added that Italy was in favour of a solution based on that reality.

Furthermore, HURRIYET (Internet version, 15.9.99) reports that in exclusive statements to HURRIYET and the Turkish Daily News newspapers, Dini said:

``We hope that all of Cyprus will join the EU and that both communities on the island will benefit from full membership. We hope that the opening to be made to Turkey in Helsinki will help the Ankara government to contribute to progress on this issue.''

[08] ``Parliamentary delegation'' in Strasbourg

The ``delegation'' will consist of Vehbi Zeki Serter (UBP), Hatice Faydali (DP), Mehmet Emin Karagil (TKP) and Ferdi Sabit Soyer (CTP).

(DP)

[09] Conference on earthquake issues

70 scholars from 31 countries will participate in the conference.

Specialists on earthquake issues from the USA, France, Russia, Israel, Italy, Germany, Japan and Turkey will be present.

(DP)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Sener Levent on Sertac Gorguner´s murder

``Yesterday, some interest announcements related to Sertac´s death appeared.

- From who?

- From the Mediterranean Journalists Association…

The president of the Association, Selahaddin Akkus, believes that there is `someone else´ behind this crime.

Who?

Persons into whose interests Sertac was digging.

Akkus said that the two kids who were arrested were hired by those persons and in this way the crime was resolved.

The kids said `we killed him´ but, in reality, two many things about the crime remain in the dark.

When I heard that Sertac was found naked, I immediately thought that this doesn´t have to do with sexuality. The murderers simply wanted to give an ornament to the crime…

But the important thing:

Why naked?

Have you ever heard of people who want to make love to go in the open air and undress completely?''.

And Levent adds:

``The kids´ explanations to the police were not enough. Many more

detailed announcements on the murder are expected.''

And Levent concludes:

``If the murder was committed by these kids after all, maybe it was not planned.

But the excuse given for committing the crime was planned.''

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

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article