Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-02-03

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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. 23/00 -- 3.2.00

[01] Denktash: Clerides statement torpedoes conciliation.

[02] Reaction to Clerides statement.

[03] Atacanli: Turkey aims at lasting slution.

[04] Soysal: special envoys damage solution process.

[05] FYROM: "No diplomatic relations with Greek Cyprus.

[06] Cem and Verheugen.

[07] Solution only with recognition.

[08] Bank probe.

[09] Cyprus invasion safeguarded Turkey/s security.

[10] Lifting of visa formalities requested.

[11] Muradov farewell.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[12] Turkey should take note of EU/s reaction to Austria.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: Clerides statement torpedoes conciliation

Denktash recalled first of all that there is a news blackout on the talks and went on to say that "our people should realise from the statement Clerides made in his anger that we are defending our cause to the best of our abilities and that those listening to us understand our cause". He said that the aim of President Clerides/ statement was to provoke the Turkish Cypriot side and drive it away from the talks. "We do not take into consideration these statements and do not attach any importance to them. If these are their politics and their claims, it naturally means that they are not interested in conciliation and agreement. They have, in this way, rejected all possible grounds for securing a conciliation", Denktash declared and continued:

"They think that the Cyprus issue is a matter of constitutional change. They are talking about the 1960 constitution. I ask you: What is the constitution? This constitution, which Makarios said was dead and buried and in which they introduced one-sided amendments, recognising to us minority rights. They expect that changing this constitution, will resolve the Cyprus issue. They say that all the refugees have the right to return to their homes and that Turkey poses obstacles. In other words, Clerides statement torpedoes all the conditions necessary for conciliation and agreement. We are not fleeing from the talks. We are waiting for the third round in which they claim the real discussion and settling of accounts will take place. We would like to see what will happen during the third round of talks for the sake of our people. We would like to leave it to the discretion of our people after explaining to them our proposals and those of the Greek Cypriots".

Denktash expressed the conviction that the United Nations and the diplomats assisting the UN Secretary General have realized that the Cyprus issue is not a constitutional issue and that it cannot be settled through a constitutional change. Clerides statement, he added, revealed his position.

Asked about the UN approach, the position of the Turkish Cypriot side at the talks and the atmosphere at the talks, Denktash said, undoubtedly the UN Secretary General, Alvaro De Soto and his colleagues, listen with great interest trying to understand the issue by asking vital questions. They consider, he went on, that a true assessment of the situation cannot be made before the third round. We are happy with the course of the talks, Denktash said adding that nobody "should throw cold water on the talks by issuing statements in anger".

Reiterating his claims that the Turkish Cypriots have gone through fire and that they cannot be saved without Turkey/s intervention, Denktash asserted that he is pursuing a line aiming at uniting "two peoples, who have been separated for 36 years. The Greek Cypriot stance, however, is to own the whole of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots, who have not allowed this for the past 36 years, will definitely not allow it in the future. Nor will Turkey ever allow this".

Denktash went on to say that the Greek Cypriots feel threatened because the steps Turkey has taken toward the EU has destroyed all their plans of becoming a EU member before Turkey. I hope, however, that they will be able to formulate other plans in a cool-headed manner. They have to accept certain realities if they seek conciliation and if they approach us in full knowledge that these realities cannot be eliminated", he added.

Explaining a previous statement about foreign interference (Turkish Mass Media Bulletin 22/00) Denktash said that Cyprus coordinators of different countries following the talks do not keep silent but communicate information. Naturally, he claimed, this can have an adverse effect on the process. I believe, he said, Clerides got angry because he heard of our contacts with the EU and because they were following a positive course. These coordinators, Denktash continued, recognize the Greek Cypriots as the Cypriot government and this is exactly what the Greek Cypriots want: more people involved so that the situation becomes more complex and, in this way, we will be forced to face all those countries which recognize the Greek Cypriots as the Cyprus government. This duty was assigned to the UN Secretary General Denktash said adding that the Secretary General should be allowed to work alone. "This issue can be resolved only if decisions such as recognizing the Greek Cypriots as the Cyprus government, which we have never accepted, are eliminated and the UN Secretary General is given a free hand", he claimed.

Asserting that the Greek Cypriots violated the ban on issuing statements, the reporter asked Denktash if he thinks that the Greek Cypriots will be able to continue such behaviour.

Denktash said that Mr. De Soto explained that President Clerides was responding to his (Denktash/s) statement. Denktash responded asserting that he reacting to "the lie that Turkey prevents 180,000 refugees from returning to their homes and to the violation of the press blackout by Clerides. Clerides now says that he will make a clearer statement in response to my statement. This only proves that they are not ready for a conciliation, that they do not need a conciliation." Regarding de Soto/s call to stop all statements to the press, Denktash said he will not feel the need to issue any more statements if he is not faced with a lie. He added that he takes extreme care not to talk about the essence of the talks but in reply to reporters/ questions, he explains his cause and will continue to do so in the future.

Asked if he is hopeful that the Cyprus issue will be resolved, Denktash expressed the conviction that all the views will be expressed during the third round. "It will be the decisive round and it will show the course that the issue will run in the future. If we pursue the same course as the one decided upon at the third round, then the majority of our demands will have been met and a structure formed that protects our rights. We will tell the public the truth in the event that the course follows the wishes of the Greek Cypriots and our proposals are not taken into consideration".

Denktash considered that the talks are running a positive course and they will run even a better course. "I believe that the blunder committed by the Greek Cypriots today has opened everyone/s eyes. We have had several contacts after this blunder and every one is amazed at how Clerides could issue such statements, he claimed.

The reporter then asked Denktash about the presidential elections. the presidential elections.

Denktash said his concern right now is the talks, the cause and how to settle it in the best manner. This is why, he said, his competitors accompany him in Geneva. They too, he said, were affected by Clerides blunder. Denktash said "elections" is not a vital issue for him. If he is reelected it will mean that he has carried out his duties satisfactorily for the past five years. He added "it goes without saying that I would like my people to assign me this duty because I have shouldered this cause for all these years. It could also be that the people say that they would like a change between the second and the third rounds and take chances. This is up to them and they can elect somebody else. All the polls, however, show that I am in the lead. All my colleagues confirm this finding. I believe that I am serving my people to the best of my abilities. The decision lies with the people."

[02] Reaction to Clerides statement

Serdar Denktash, leader of Democrat Party, said Clerides openly violated the ban asserting "with his statements Clerides wanted to dynamite the proximity talks".

Denktash also criticized the statement that only a constitutional change was necessary on Cyprus, and said "the Greek Cypriot side tried 36 years ago to change the constitution unilaterally. Clerides knows very well that there are two constitutions and states on the island now."

Denktash said not only the Turkish Cypriot side but all the sides interested in the Cyprus question, reacted to Clerides/ statement.

Moreover, KIBRIS (3.2.00) reports that Communal Liberation Party leader Mustafa Akinci and Republican Turkish Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat reacted against the statement made by President Clerides yesterday in Geneva.

Akinci called President Clerides statement "unfortunate" and said that what is happening in the intercommunal talks is not what President Clerides claims "amendment of the constitution". Akinci added that in this state of affairs the Republic of Cyprus does not represent the Turkish Cypriot people. Unless this reality is realized, it is not possible to reach positive results, he said.

For his part Mehmet Ali Talat said that President Clerides/ "style was extremely tough and provocative". He said it was wrong to make such a statement.

(MY)

[03] Atacanli: Turkey aims at lasting solution

[04] Soysal: special envoys damage solution process

[05] FYROM: "No diplomatic relations with Greek Cyprus"

The report says that the statement was made in response to the Cyprus Government Spokesman/s statement.

Dimitrov/s statement adds: "The constitutional name is a condition for establishing diplomatic relations with the Greek part of Cyprus."

The paper says that this categorical stance created a stalemate in the negotiations with Nicosia on the establishment of diplomatic relations.

Political observers in FYROM, it is added, assess that the process has been stopped because of the strong objection of the domestic audience to the announced activity of the government, which can seriously damage the relations between FYROM and Turkey.

Ankara had announced unofficially that if Cyprus were recognized, the Turkish government would lower the level of diplomatic relations between the two states and recommend to Turkish businessmen to leave FYROM.

The party of the Turkish minority in FYROM strongly objected to the establishment of diplomatic relations with Cyprus.

The paper cities experts and commentators in FYROM which warned that such an action is excessively hasty at a moment when Ankara and Athens are trying to achieve progress in the negotiations on Cyprus.

[06] Cem and Verheugen

A meeting between Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Gunter Verheugen, the European Commission chief for enlargement, was followed by a joint press conference where both ministers said that they held talks in the light of the positive atmosphere created by the Helsinki summit, at which Turkey had been named a candidate for EU membership.

Verheugen said the Turkish-EU Partnership Council would meet on April 11 for the first time and he said that he was planning to visit Turkey in March.

He went on to say that the EU would present Turkey with a road map in Autumn regarding the course it will have to follow to become a full member. This will determine the financial help that Turkey will receive, while committees will be set up to help Turkey adapt to EU rules and regulations.

Verheugen said the EU plans to give 175 million euros in financial support and 600 million euros in credit to Turkey. Stressing the importance of Turkish-Greek relations, he said that the solution of the Cyprus issue would have a positive impact on Turkey-EU relations.

He said Ankara was displaying "tremendous will" to reach the ultimate goal for full membership and added "I trust Turkey will succeed".

Considering the Brussels meeting a good start, Cem said the government was continuing the reform process. He said Turkey had been held up in this process because of the sacrifices it had to make for European security and the fight against terrorism.

Meanwhile Cem stated that Turkey was the only candidate country which is also a member of the European Customs Union and said this was done without financial backing from the EU.

Cem was cautious on Turkish-Greek ties but said the two countries had done more in the last six months to improve their relations than they had in the previous 40 years.

[07] Solution only with recognition

Pointing out that he is against a federal solution, Yilmaz Isik criticized President Clerides/ statement on confederation.

Finally, Yilmaz Isik said, "If the Greek Cyprus administration is accepted as the Cyprus government, the negotiations cannot continue".

(DP)

[08] Bank probe

YENIDUZEN says that Prof. Gurel holds Dnektash/s regime responsible for the crisis. "What we can do is to extend support so that the financial system stands on its own two feet" Gurel declared.

(MY)

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia (31.1.00) reported that the administrators of Everestbank and Cyprus Yurtbank are being investigated. The activities of the banks have stopped because of their weak financial condition and "in line with the TRNC Council of Ministers decision".

The so-called Chief Prosecutor Akin Sait explained that a criminal investigation is being carried out against the administrators of Everestbank and Cyprus Yurtbank while of both have been forbidden to leave the country and measures were taken concerning their assets.

Sait briefed the so-called Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu on the situation. Sait said that there are allegations that Everestbank granted loans to other firms without sufficient guarantees.

[09] Cyprus invasion safeguarded Turkey`s security

[10] Lifting of visa formalities requested

During the meeting the MPs told the committee members that MPs in the British Parliament still favour continuation of the visa formalities for the Turkish Cypriots. The committee members met with Stephen Twigg - Labour Enfield-Southgate, Joan Ryan (Labour) Enfield North and Andy Love-(Labour) Edmonton.

(MY)

[11] Muradov farewell

Muradov thanked the staff for their cooperation adding that he is preparing a book in which he will include the two interviews he gave to KIBRIS. (DP)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[12] Turkey should take note of EU/s reaction to Austria

So when the Europeans raise hell and start reacting to events in Turkey we have to realize that this is not because they want to interfere in our internal affairs and divide the country but because they want Turkey to abide with the rules that bind the nations of Europe together.

We have to put our house in order if we do not want to be criticized by the EU member states, by the Commission and by the term presidency. There are no ifs and buts and the Austrian example is crystal clear."

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

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