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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-12-06Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 223/99 -- 6.12.99[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Cem: We maintain our ideas about Cyprus According to Anatolia Agency (14:45 hours 3/12/99) Turkish Foreign MinisterIsmail Cem said on Friday that the full membership to the European Union was Turkey's target, but it was not her obsession.Cem addressed the opening ceremony of a conference on ``Turkey in the EU: Is it an Image or an Administration Problem?'' which was organized by the University of Bogazici European Studies Center. Noting that the recent developments in Turkey-Greece relations were pleasing, Cem said, ``I believe that problems between Turkey and Greece can be resolved within the framework of international law and the European Union (EU) agreements. We have recorded serious progress in relations between Turkey and Greece. Tension between two countries has begun to ease. A series of cooperations such as joint struggle against drug trafficking and terrorism, were brought onto agenda of the two countries. We are serious and sincere in our relations with Greece. Trade volume between Turkish and Greek businessmen is expected to increase up to 2 billion U.S. dollars in coming days. Musicians are waving Turkish and Greek flags on the stages. Turkish and Greek mayors are paying visits to each other. Turkey wants this peaceful process to continue.'' Cem noted that they were planning to invite Georgios Papandreou, the Greek Foreign Minister, to Turkey with the aim of discussing regional issues and the joint works regarding the EU. Responding a question about the proximity talks regarding Cyprus, Cem said, ``the approaches of Glafcos Clerides will indicate whether or not the talks will come to a conclusion. Denktash said in one of his statements that he will participate in the talks by expecting that the paths for a solution can be opened.'' Responding a question about the thesis of Turkey regarding the Cyprus question, Cem said, ``we welcome the confederation proposal of Denktash. We think that Denktash will insist on this proposal.'' When asked about a question saying, ``let us assume that Turkey's EU candidacy is granted, but the EU membership of Greek Cypriot side is provided to be at the backstage. What will we do then?'', Cem said, ``we told our interlocutors and the EU countries that we are not included in a Cyprus-EU-Turkey balance. We maintain our ideas about the Cyprus question.'' Turkey's attitude is very obvious and she does not think these two issues are connected with each other, Cem stated. [02] FM Fischer urges Turkey to make gesture toward Greece Turkish daily Hurriyet (4/12/99) reports that German Foreign MinisterJoschka Fischer has conveyed a letter to Ankara a week before the EU summit in Helsinki. In his letter to Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, he urged Turkey to make a gesture on Cyprus and matters related to its relations with Greece. He said that the Greek Government expects a gesture by Turkey on Cyprus, bilateral relations, and the Aegean in order to be able satisfy its public opinion. Fischer said that Ankara must give a high-level guarantee that it will not covet any part of Greece's territory, avoid a crisis on the Aegean islets, and make an effort to persuade Rauf Denktash to relinquish his inflexible approach on the Cyprus problem.Fischer also conveyed a letter to Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Papandreou and a letter to Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides. He urged Papandreou to support Turkey become an EU candidate when the EU summit in Helsinki convenes. His letter to Kasoulides reminded the Cyprus Government that the Cyprus problem cannot be solved if the existence of the Turkish Cypriot community on the island is ignored. [03] Opposition holds 'Peace' march in occupied area According to Anatolia Agency (13:28 hours, 4/12/99) the Republican TurkishParty (CTP) organized a ``Give a Chance to Peace'' march to express support for a lasting solution that might emerge from the proximity talks which started in New York on Friday.A group of sixty CTP members walked in the march. The march ended by releasing white pigeons into the air symbolizing peace. [04] Denktash says Confederation to be discussed in New York Anatolia Agency (22:19 hours, 2/12/99 reports that Turkish Cypriot leaderRauf Denktash has said that ``he sincerely believes that they will be able to prepare the ground for direct talks with Greek Cypriot leader Clerides at the proximity talks to begin in New York on 3 December.'' Denktash held a news conference at the Turkish House in New York last Thursday. At the news conference which was attended by many journalists and TV crews, Denktash was observed to be in a good mood.Pointing out that in the event the New York talks prove to be unsuccessful then an extended break will have to be taken in the talks, Denktash added that the reason for this is the ``elections'' to be held in the ``TRNC'' in April. He continued: ``I hope that we shall not fail in the proximity talks.'' Denktash said: ``We came to New York in goodwill and to prepare the ground for holding talks on the essence of the issue. The only thing that is missing is the equality of the two sides.'' Denktash conveyed the following message: The format of the talks has changed. The New York talks are not a continuation of the intercommunal talks or the talks between the leaders. These talks are being conducted between the two ``sides.'' ``The train which claims to be advancing toward the EU is not the 'Cyprus train,' but that of the Greek Cypriot administration. Had there been a Cyprus train then we would have been on it years ago,'' Denktash said and added: ``Since the talks will be held without preconditions and since all the issues will be discussed, the issue of a confederation will also be put on the table. We will explain to the Greek Cypriot side that a confederation is not an injustice. A confederation is the key to a lasting solution and will prevent future Greek Cypriot attacks against the Turkish Cypriot side.'' Denktash said that ``a decision to emerge from the Helsinki Summit giving the green light to Turkey's EU membership will contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem'', adding that ``despite all, Turkish Cypriot rights cannot be ignored.'' In reply to a question on whether the news conference he was holding violated the ban on issuing statements, Denktash said: ``I am not disclosing anything here. The ban has been imposed for statements to be issued once the proximity talks begin in order not to sabotage the talks.'' Denktash continued: ``When Clerides makes goodwill gestures in the humanitarian field and lifts the embargoes, then we shall reciprocate.'' [05] Russia, 'TRNC' to conduct joint seismic research Anatolia Agency (10:29 hours, 4/12/99) reports that the so-called Near EastUniversity in the occupied area of Cyprus and the Geophysics and Geology Research Center in Russia signed a ``protocol'' to make scientific cooperation in earthquakes.The ``protocol'' suggests sharing of information and cooperation in scientific research. The cooperation aims at making observations at the pseudostate's active seismologic regions. The ``protocol'' also covers studies to discover gas or oil in the occupied area. [06] Illegal workers KIBRIS (6.12.99) reports that illegal workers from Turkey enter the occupiedarea as tourists. Following controls carried out by the so-called Labour Office Department at places of work, it was established that 1815 illegal workers are currently in the pseudostate, 1001 of whom entered the occupied area with passports.KIBRIS says that in the same period last year the illegal workers numbered 1267. The paper notes that the number of illegal workers who entered the occupied area with identity cards was 814. KIBRIS further reports that of the 1815 illegal workers, 1764 are from Turkey and only 51 are from other countries. 1622 are male and 193 are female. MY/ [07] Ecevit: ``Cyprus EU candidacy a mistake'' TGRT Television (09:00 hours, 4/12/99) aired a live studio interview withTurkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit by Metin Ozer on the ``Political Showcase'' program. Inter alea, Ecevit replied questions on Cyprus and claimed: ``As for the Cyprus issue and the EU membership of south Cyprus, opening the EU doors to the Greek Cypriot administration prior to the conclusion of an agreement between the two sides in Cyprus was a big mistake. As a matter of fact, various EU member countries, and primarily France and Italy, are now admitting this mistake. If the Greek Cypriot administration in the south is accepted to the EU we will be facing serious problems. If the existence of two separate states in Cyprus is not acknowledged and if the entire island is accepted as a EU member, then the Turkish Cypriots will be torn away from Turkey and under Greek sovereignty. The disasters that such a move might lead to is clear to all. The Greek Cypriots were constantly attacking the Turkish Cypriots prior to the 1974 Turkish Peace Operation. These attacks reached the dimensions of a genocide. The incidents in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo have brought to surface the bitter memories of those past years. Therefore, the Cyprus problem can be overcome only if the reality of the existence of two separate states on the island is accepted.''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 |
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