Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-12-15

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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. 231/99 -- 15/12/99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit addresses TGNA on EU decisions Anatolia Agency (1541 14/12/99),

[02] Ecevit: Denktash justified in reaction to EU

[03] Denktash says Cyprus talks to resume toward end of January

[04] Denktash sets conditions for uniting ``2 states'' under EU

[05] Bahceli views EU decision

[06] Eroglu welcomes Turkish candidacy, raps Cyprus decision

[07] FP and DYP against concessions in Cyprus and the Aegean

[08] Denktash evaluates proximity talks

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit addresses TGNA on EU decisions Anatolia Agency (1541 14/12/99),

He also stated: ``I believe that we can also solve our problems with Greece in the Aegean without applying to court by the powerful place Turkey has in the EU. We are both a world country and a European country from now on''. Ecevit said that formal candidacy to European Union (EU) has been granted to Turkey by knowing Turkey/s determination on the pseudostate. ``So there is no need for our Turkish Cypriot brothers to feel the smallest concern. Existence of TRNC is inevitable not only for Turkish Cypriots, but also for Turkey/s security'', he noted.

Ecevit said the final statement appreciated the steps taken by Turkey to harmonize with Copenhagen Criteria and noted that, ``yet there was an expression in the final statement which could be interpreted as bringing our conflicts with Greece to the International Court of Justice in the Hague in 2004 the latest. We have conveyed them that we could not accept this. Again in the final statement, an impression has been given that EU full membership right could be recognized to Cyprus if a result could not be obtained from the talks on Cyprus. We said we could not accept this either. An intense diplomacy traffic has been recorded between Turkey and Helsinki on December 10 night. Heads of State and Governments, Foreign Ministers, Union Administrators in Helsinki had insistent requests and calls on us not to reject the formal candidacy that has been granted to us''.

Ecevit said ``Bill Clinton, the US President, called me on the phone late at night and claimed that the decision taken in Helsinki was a victory and advised me to evaluate this opportunity. It was clear that Clinton suggested the member countries to be more understanding to Turkey''. Ecevit said in the meantime a delegation composed of the EU high level officials visited Ankara. He said Paova Lipponen, Prime Minister of Finland, the EU Term President, sent a letter and clarified the decision. Ecevit said in the letter the year 2004 was not mentioned as a deadline for the solution of conflicts regarding Aegean problems and for bringing the issues to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, adding that 2004 was mentioned as the date when Council of Europe will review the situation. Ecevit said the letter also pointed out that all factors will be taken into consideration while taking decisions related with Cyprus.

Ecevit said this letter which stressed that final statement should be evaluated under the light of this explanation was included in the EU law as an additional text to Helsinki resolutions.

``So we accepted the invitation and the formal candidacy as the Council of Ministers and by taking the positive views of our President. Also, in our statements we have stressed that the fact that there are two separate states in Cyprus could not be ignored, and the more the Greek Cypriot side administration and EU integrate, the more we are resolved to integrate with the TRNC''.

[02] Ecevit: Denktash justified in reaction to EU

Ecevit said on Tuesday that the European Union/s (EU) discussion of the Cyprus issue at Helsinki summit was unlucky while the proximity talks on Cyprus were continuing in New York.

Responding to questions of journalists Ecevit said that Rauf Denktash was right in some of his reactions.

Ecevit said that Denktash had certain ``reactions, not worries'' adding ``Denktash has always been conscious of the importance Turkey attributes to Cyprus issue, so he can/t have any worries about this issue. Mr Denktash is right in showing reaction to discussion of the Cyprus issue at the Helsinki summit''.

Ecevit pointed out that he met with Rauf Denktash almost every day and formed views together during the time he spent in New York adding they will have the opportunity to have a detailed meeting with Denktash by the participation of Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister in Istanbul today.

[03] Denktash says Cyprus talks to resume toward end of January

In reply to a question on whether he will participate in the new round of the talks Dentkash said ``Yes, we will meet again toward the end of January''. Denktash, who refrained from giving information on whether the new round of talks will be direct or indirect, said that the talks will continue in the united States but did not give information on the venue.

[04] Denktash sets conditions for uniting ``2 states'' under EU

Drawing attentions to the fact that ``it is possible for the two states in Cyprus to unite under the EU umbrella,'' Denktash enumerated the Turkish Cypriot conditions for such a possibility as the exchange of property and compensation, respect for the property rights of the two sides, continued Turkish guarantees over Cyprus and the preservation of the Turkish-Greek balance.

Denktash was to leave New York for Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight last night .

It is reported that Denktash who is expected to hold a meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit today will accompany Ecevit to Ankara.

[05] Bahceli views EU decision

Addressing his party group meeting, Bahceli briefed about the European Union/s (EU) foundation process and its relations with Turkey .

Bahceli inter alia said the road map, which has been put in front of Turkey, was purified from prejudices and additional conditions and noted that ``expressions related with Cyprus and Aegean problems don/t include new insistences towards our country and does not have a dimension that disturbs. Turkey has always favored a lasting and just peace on the island so far. It believes that solutions that will be found by unilateral insistences will not be actual solutions. Such a way will express a positions that is unacceptable for Turkey. Nobody should expect us to consent faits accomplis in Cyprus and in the Aegean and endure injustice''.

[06] Eroglu welcomes Turkish candidacy, raps Cyprus decision

Speaking at a news conference, assessing the results of the Helsinki summit Eroglu read the text of a statement which he said reflects the views of his ``government''. He expressed the belief that the granting of candidacy status to Turkey at the summit constitutes the beginning of a new era of the Turkish nation and Europe.

Noting that the decision adopted at the summit will open new horizons for both Turkey and Europe Eroglu continued: ``I hope that this decision will be auspicious for the Turkish nation of which we are an indivisible part. We are fully confident that our motherland Turkey, with its strong structure and its geopolitical and geostrategic importance, will take the place it deserves with Europe within the shortest possible period''..

Referring to Cyprus, he claimed: ``Although we are in favor of a viable agreement unless the EU renounces this erroneous stand as soon as possible it will be more difficult to attain a viable and acceptable agreement on the island.

The fact that the Turkish state and the government officials have announced that their stand on the Cyprus issue remains unchanged and the fact that this view was clearly conveyed to the EU officials have dissipated our concerns over the developments. We will continue to defend our national cause in full harmony with Turkey in the future, as was the case up to now, and we shall attain the result we deserve''.

Eroglu later replied to reporters questions.

Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriots should not be concerned over the decisions adopted at the Helsinki summit regarding the Cyprus issue. He noted that he held telephone conversations with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, and ANAP (Motherland Party) leader Mesut Yilmaz.

Noting that from the conversations he held with the Turkish government officials and from the statements these officials have issued he understood that there is no room for concern for the Turkish Cypriots, Eroglu added that a peace agreement to be reached in Cyprus will be one that will be satisfactory for them. Eroglu added:

``There is no need for our people to be concerned. As has been stated in our government program we will defend our national cause together with our motherland Turkey. Let no one doubt that. An agreement to be reached will definitely satisfy the TRNC people. It will be an agreement that will not raise concerns for the future. We, as the government,are in favor of peace, an agreement and a conciliation. If the Greek Cypriots adopt a similar stand, then there is no reason for not reaching a peace agreement in Cyprus. We expect the EU to act with more sensitivity on the issue''.

Eroglu said that a detailed assessment will be made when the ``TRNC'' delegation which is currently in New York to attend the proximity talks returns to the island.

Describing the decision on Turkey/s EU candidacy as ``an extremely positive development, and one that Turkey deserves,'' Eroglu expressed the belief that Turkey/s membership will be realized in a short period.

In reply to a question, Eroglu said that ``they are at peace'' with regards to the New York talks and that the sides have tried to put their views on the table.

[07] FP and DYP against concessions in Cyprus and the Aegean

True Path party (DYP) deputy leader Mehmet Ali Yavuz said that the party is pleased about Turkey/s EU candidacy but that it is opposed to any concession in the Aegean and Cyprus. At a news conference in Ankara Yavuz pointed out that candidacy at the EU will lead to very positive results, and that Turkey will catch up with Europe/ standards and norms.

``However, the concessions in Cyprus and the efforts to turn the Aegean into a Greek sea are food for thought. The DYP will always follow and protect our rights in Cyprus and the Aegean. We are opposed to any concession regarding these two issues. Our greatest desire is to see that our national interests in Cyprus and the Aegean are not hurt. In this process we hope to see that our democracy will be further strengthened with all its rules and institutions. We hope that this process will not last long and that we will not become a country that gave concessions but got nothing in return'' he said.

[08] Denktash evaluates proximity talks

Denktash held a press conference yesterday at the end of the first round of the proximity talks. He said that following his insistence direct talks turned into proximity talks. He said ``we have substantially defended confederation. It is not difficult to guess what the other side defended. They are hiding themselves behind the pseudo - Cyprus government. It seems that Turkey/s EU candidacy has been accepted. Our EU approach will be positive if the TRNC is accepted by the EU. This our sovereignty will be <recognized> through the EU and unification under the EU umbrella will be possible''.

Saying that the UN Secretary General/s wish is to continue the second round of proximity talks, Denktash noted ``we have accepted this''. Claiming that the confederation proposal is a unifying proposal, Denktash said that fulfilling the promise he had given to the Turkish Cypriots he is returning to Cyprus with peace of mind.

``We came to New York saying that the state can not be put on auction, that sovereignty can not be a subject for bargaining, that Turkey/s rights on Cyprus cannot and will be written off.

I believe we are returning to Cyprus stronger with our confederal proposals''.

Saying that in the second round of talks work will continue to prepare the ground for direct talks, Denktash said the second round of talks will also last around ten days.

``In the Set of Ideas we have agreed, we have realized population exchange. Half of the Turkish Cypriot population is displaced, they have come from the South to the North, they have left behind all their land and in the Set of Ideas we have agreed with Vassiliou that there will be exchange of this, and need be compensation will be paid''.

Denktash further claimed that President Clerides refuses to discuss this issue with him saying that ``This is a human rights issue'' Denktash further added that in case they become an EU member the Greek Cypriots will visit the north under a quota and will be subject to special permission.

Dentkash referring to the confederation proposal, said that no pressure was exerted on them and with great ease they explained the confederation proposal. ``Among those diplomats who listened to us there are people who admit that there is a way out, because there is no other way out'', he said. Denktash declared that during the proximity talks he did not make any concessions.

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

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