Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-02-09

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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. 27/00 -- 09.02.2000

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot politicians assess Geneva talks.

[02] Turkey- ``TRNC'' Joint Economic committee meeting concluded.

[03] ``Elections'' slated for 15 April.

[04] Illegal BRTK to cooperate with Turkish TV stations.

[05] Denktash reacts to Talat statement that confederation in meaningless.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot politicians assess Geneva talks

Akinci said that the Turkish Cypriot side did not encounter any surprises within the framework of the proximity talks, either in New York or in Geneva. He noted: ``The talks, which began in an indirect manner, are aimed at conducting an exercise to establish the foundation that will lead to a comprehensive solution. This exercise is allowing the sides to outline their positions very clearly. This is what was done in New York and what continued in Geneva''.

Akinci remarked that the expectations regarding the untying of the real knot in Cyprus will emerge in the wake of the ``elections'' in the pseuodstate. Pointing out that the elections in Greece also play a role in terms of the future developments in the Cyprus issue, Akinci asked that this aspect not be ignored. He said the fact that in Geneva President Clerides distributed to the press a written statement in the form of a position paper and disseminated this even to the members of the UN Security Council introduced a new dimension to the Geneva talks, a dimension that did not exist in New York. Akinci added: ``This written statement included a very wrong attitude that is unacceptable to us, regardless of our party affiliation. This attitude asserted that the Cyprus problem can be resolved by means of a few corrections to the constitution.''

Underlining the need to establish a new structure in Cyprus and outline its rules, Akinci stated that this new structure must safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of both sides, take into consideration their sovereignty, equality, and security, and confirm the existence of the ``two states'' as well as these ``two states/ sovereignties'' in their own areas. Akinci declared that as for the international representation of Cyprus in a future agreement, a structure with a single identity can be formed without excluding the subjects that fall under the local states/ sphere of interest.

Akinci reported that during the talks the sides explained their own positions, adding that, contrary to President Clerides/ assertion that there are four essential topics on the table, the sides openly expressed their views on any topic they wished. Noting that the Cyprus problem is not isolated from everything else and there are certain factors that surround this problem, Akinci cited Turkish-Greek relations and Turkish-EU relations as two factors that affect it.

Serdar Denktash, in is statement, said that although the Greek Cypriots openly expressed the constitutional issue as a view for the first time in Geneva, this Greek Cypriot initiative showed that they have been pursuing this same policy for years even when a bicommunal and bizonal federation was being discussed.

Denktash said that the Turkish Cypriot side engaged in a very positive diplomatic manoeuvre by not getting up from the negotiating table, and clearly stressed that the Cyprus problem is not one of constitutional reconstruction and that the subject of sovereignty must be discussed in Cyprus.

Denktash pointed out that elections will be held in the ``TRNC'' and in Greece before the third-round talks, which will also be indirect, adding that in the aftermath of both elections, the ``TRNC'' should assess New York, Helsinki, and Geneva as a whole. He went on: ``I believe that we should proceed to the third round in the light of these assessments''.

He emphasized that ``the TRNC will not renounce its sovereignty, the two- state principle, and Turkey/s guarantor rights in any future solution'', adding that the international community is trying to comprehend these basic unrenouncable assertions of the Turkish Cypriots as well as the reasons for these assertions.

In his statement, Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot stand in favour of two separate states within the framework of a confederation and the Greek Cypriot stand in favour of a Greek Cypriot-strong central structure under the name of federation make it very difficult to find common ground between the two sides. Talat declared: ``In the coming days, Turkey, Greece, the EU, the United Nations, and all international forces will examine how to reconcile the policy of confederation, which is being promoted despite all UN resolutions, mutual understandings, and several signed agreements, on one hand, and the so-called concept of federation which reduces the matter to one of constitutional amendment and which was not made public in the past, on the other''.

Talat charged that confederation cannot be the solution in Cyprus. Saying that a confederation runs counter to all the understandings reached in Cyprus until now, Talat declared: ``The Greek Cypriot view declared through Clerides/ statement on the renovation of the constitution and a transition from a unitary to a federal state is also a very difficult goal to attain. What we must do, however, is adopt the comprehensive Boutros-Ghali Set of Ideas - which builds the legal framework of the Cyprus reality, which forms the Cyprus republic, which takes all the international agreements into consideration, and which also safeguards the existing status quo - as a guide, and act in this direction''.

It would be extremely wrong to assess the second-round proximity talks in an isolated manner, Talat said, adding: ``These talks are related to the elections in the TRNC and even in Greece. The fact that a decision was made to hold the third round and that this round will be held after both elections show that we are not at a negative point''.

[02] Turkey-``TRNC'' Joint Economic Committee meeting concluded

Ahmet Zeki Bulunc, the co-chairman of the Committee and so-called ambassador to Turkey said after the meeting that important decisions were taken which foresee structural change in ``TRNC'' economy.

The meeting lasted nine and a half hours and all the items on the agenda were taken up one by one, said Bulunc and added that decisions were also taken to solve the energy problem of ``TRNC''.

The master energy plan which was prepared in 1995 in ``TRNC'' will also he renewed, said Bulunc and noted that the feasibility study of bringing water by pipeline is being evaluated to solve completely the water problem of ``TRNC''.

The strategic value and geoeconomic importance of the East Mediterranean increases every day so does the role of Turkey in the region, said Bulunc and added that the results of a first draft on the East Mediterranean Regional Planning were taken.

The results of the draft are a common study carried out by Turkey/s State Planning Organization (DPT) and the so-called prime ministry state planning organization (DPO), he said. He noted that a decision was taken to keep the 8,5 year-development plan of Turkey and 4.5 year-development plan of ``TRNC'' in harmony.

A working group was decided to be formed between Turkey and ``TRNC'' to harmonize the laws of Turkey and ``TRNC'' in parallel with the efforts of Turkey to harmonize its laws with those of the EU.

Selcuk Polat, which headed the Turkish wing of the ``Committee'', said in his part ``TRNC is indispensable for Turkey''.

Turkey will be behind the so-called TRNC government regarding all the decisions that will be taken, said Polat and added that Turkey/s support to ``TRNC'' in economic and political fields will always continue.

The sensitivity of Premier Bulent Ecevit in Cyprus issue is known by all public opinion, said Polat and added that all the investment that will be undertaken in Eastern Mediterranean will further strengthen the strategic importance of ``TRNC'' and Turkey in the region.

[03] ``Elections'' slated for 15 April

If none of the candidates reach 50 percent of votes, a second round will be held.

The second round would be held between two candidates who get the highest votes, on April 22.

[04] Illegal BRTK to cooperate with Turkish TV stations

The paper says that representatives of the nine establishments who are currently in the occupied area as the guests of illegal BRTK, will exchange news, documentary and other information with illegal BRTK.

The director of illegal BRTK, Cobanoglu, said that this ``agreement text'' will help them propagate their cause. He noted that a similar agreement has been signed with Turkey/s TRT and the Central Asian Turkish Republics. (MY)

[05] Denktash reacts to Talat statement that confederation in meaningless

Denktash replied to Talat, who was sitting next to him during the press conference he gave after the completion of the second round of indirect talks that were held in Geneva.

In his reply to Talat, Denktash said: ``The statements against my proposal for confederation, that were made by my friend who did not participate in the negotiations, are statements for domestic policy. So, we will evaluate this. Naturally it should not have happened but it has. But in order to enlighten my people I deem it useful to say at this point that he (Talat) is not in a position to make any evaluation related to the negotiations''.

Laughing at a reporter/s question about what will happen if the person who will be elected has views contrary to his own, Denktash replied: `` It you have decided that you are going to see a new person. Of course, this seems will be decided by the people. But what this decision will be, I don/t know''.

Denktash continued: ``My friend/s statement that confederation should not be at the negotiation table is wrong. But because my friend has no chance of getting elected, there is no harm done''.

Asked to comment on Government Spokesman Mr. Papapetrou/s statement that ``we are used to Denktash'', Denktash said: ``I thank Papapetrou for supporting me''.

(DP)

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

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