Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-10-04

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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] Denktash pleased with Clinton statement.

[02] Cem tells COE Turkey refuses to compensate Titina Loizidou.

[03] Akinci defends ``TRNC'' existence.

[04] Political leaders on outcome of Clinton-Ecevit meeting.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Columnist on Turkey/s ``new'' Cyprus policy.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash pleased with Clinton statement

Denktash made this statement yesterday before meeting the German Ambassador to Cyprus, Gabriele Von Maisen Tilborch.

Regarding the forthcoming visit of US Presidential Envoy, Ambassador Alfred Moses, Denktash said: ``I am sure that if Mr. Moses sees the realities he will change his views''.

Referring to his recent meeting in New York with Mr. Moses, Denktash said:

``I have told him, do not write a prescription before seeing the island, don/t come to a conclusion before seeing the island.'' (MY)

[02] Cem tells COE Turkey refuses to compensate Titina Loizidou

Sending a letter to Halldor Asgrimson, the Foreign Minister of Iceland, the Term-President of COE, Cem explained the views of Turkey about the case.

The European Court of Human Rights took a decision last year, condemned Turkey and requested Turkey to pay nearly 500,000 dollars to Titina Loizidou, a Greek Cypriot citizen as a compensation.

Foreign Minister Cem briefly claimed in his letter that:

- ``Turkey had earlier informed that she wouldn/t take responsibility regarding an incident which took lace out of her territories. Therefore she can/t pay compensation.

- Turkey recognized the authority and decisions of the European court of Human Rights after January 21,1990. Turkey had earlier noted that a court decision about an application regarding an event which took place before the mentioned date can/t be binding for her.

- Cyprus question is an issue which is at the agenda of UN Security Council. Thus other international institutions can/t take decisions which concerns this issue. The application of the Greek Cypriot citizen has a political content, rather than legal.

- Turkey considers the proposal of Rauf Denktash, the President of the TRNC to set up a common commission aiming at finding a solution to the problem of those who lost their houses in both sides of the island, as the most logical way.''

Meanwhile the issue of Turkey/s payment of material compensation to Loizidou came to the agenda again in the COE Committee of Delegates meeting held at the level of ambassadors in Strasbourg.

COE member countries said that the decision of the European Court of Human Rights had to be absolutely abided and Turkey had to fulfill her obligations.

Alev Kilic, Turkey/s Permanent Representative to the COE reiterated the views explained by Cem in his letter.

The Committee of Delegates will take up the issue once again between 5-6 October. Diplomatic sources say that the draft resolution which urges Turkey to abide by the decision of the Court is expected to be approved in that meeting.

COE has the right to suspend the membership of countries who don/t abide by the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.

[03] Akinci defends ``TRNC'' existence

He went on and claimed that ``since there is a Greek Cypriot Republic in the south, the Turks in the north will have a state. Whatever the name of the settlement and whatever the framework of that settlement, the TRNC will be one of the equal sides within that structure''.

Akinci added that assertion that there will be no return to pre-1974 conditions is not a secret. He also welcomed Ambassadors Moses/s visit to Cyprus.

(MY)

[04] Political leaders on outcome of Clinton-Ecevit meeting

He said that one should not give much hope to rumours that ``this time there will be peace in Cyprus''. He urged people to have reservations against this kind of rumours. He welcomed the news that US Presidential envoy Ambassador Alfred Moses will visit the island.

In his turn the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP), Mehmet Ali Talat, said that Clinton/s statement that there will be no return to the pre 1974 situation is well known by the international community. However, it is important from the point of view that this fact has been confirmed. Talat added that the Cyprus problem is an international problem and its solution is in the interest of Turkey and is extremely vital to the Turkish Cypriots. He, too, welcomed Ambassador Moses/s visit to Cyprus.

(MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Columnist on Turkey/s ``new'' Cyprus policy

``Greeks have certainly been heartened by recent developments and become hopeful that the Cyprus issue will be solved to their satisfaction. Americans, on their part, have been encouraging them to make gestures toward Turkey, giving the impression that with mere gestures Turkey will soften its attitude and let a long-sought-after solution come about easily.

It is quite evident - at least on the tongues of some Turkish diplomats - that this is the time to rectify the policy over Cyprus. One important diplomat, who is accompanying Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to Washington, told me that Turkey cannot go the way Rauf Denktash, president of the TRNC, would like it to go. `We should have a new Cyprus policy, attuned with the changing times,/ he said. He sounded as if Ecevit was ready to deliver what the Americans were expecting all along. Though, when I delved into what he meant by `new policy/ I did not find any concrete difference between the `old/ and the `new/. If I am not mistaken, the only change on Cyprus is the tactics used to present the case. Diplomats being diplomats, they try to present Turkey as changing its policy on Cyprus, without ever moving an inch from the traditional position. This is my impression after talking to some diplomats.

But Americans are very eager to crown the tenure of President Bill Clinton with a precious jewel like Cyprus. They hope Turkey will use its influence over Denktash to force him to accept unconditional negotiations, which will be conducted under the auspices/ of the United Nations, envisaged by the latest meeting of the G-8. This is what encourages Greek side: with arm twisting, they hope, the United Nations can manage to extract a solution.

Both approaches seem to be dangerous. When you start moving things with no intention of changing your stationary position, as is the case with some Turkish diplomats, you could end up with either one of two things: You make things worse than when you started or you lose everything, which you never expected to lose in the first place. You cannot force the solution to a problem, when one side feels terribly insecure, by applying arm-twisting tactics, as some would have it achieved under the United Nations/ umbrella; if you go on using those tactics you could create a new atmosphere of animosity.

The Cyprus issue should be handled with care and delicacy, if it will be solved at all. A new process began between Turkey and Greece after the earthquake; let this new understanding flourish first. Greece, not Turkey, has a determining role to play in solving the Cyprus issue, the least of which is to bring its neighbour into the European Union.

Yes, the real solution to the Cyprus issue is through the EU.

Let us assume what would happen if Turkey were to become a full member of the EU. This means that Turkey and Greece would come under the same political and economic situations with easy access to each other/s territories. Greeks could come and settle in Istanbul, and Turks could go and set up businesses in Athens. Turkey and Greece could lead the way for Cyprus to join the same supra-national body. Greek complaints about the post-1974 situation in Cyprus would evaporate with this two-phased approach to the problem. In the first phase, Turkey would become an EU member; in the second, Cyprus as a whole would be admitted to the EU. This is a much better and more reasonable solution than trying to solve this serious problem in a piecemeal fashion.

I know this is not what is discussed when people suggest peaceful solutions to the Cyprus problem, but all other options have been tried and have led nowhere''.

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

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