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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-02-21Cyprus 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. 35/00 -- 21.2.00[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] DENKTASH SPEAKS OF "ACKNOWLEDGMENT"Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (1130 hours, 18/2/00) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has criticized Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou for comparing the Turkish Cypriots to the Turkish minority in Western Thrace. He added that the Cyprus Republic was a partnership republic and that therefore Cyprus was not a unitary state, neither has it ever been a unitary Greek Cypriot state.Denktash claimed that "there have been two peoples, two democracies, two administrations and two governments on the island for the last 36 years", adding: "The path to uniting them passes through their acknowledgment. What we expect from Papandreou is for him to help Cyprus. We expect him to tell the Greek Cypriots the following: You cannot be the government of Cyprus on your own. You have no right. Accept your former partner, the Turkish Cypriots, as a friend and a neighbor. Work toward establishing cooperation bridges between the two peoples." Alleging that European efforts to make Cyprus a EU problem will not yield any results, Denktash expressed the belief that the EU will not be willing to take upon itself a problem such as the Cyprus issue. Referring to the New York talks, Denktash said that they will be attending the New York talks under the conditions that were present during the first round of the New York talks, adding that they will not accept a change in the invitations which was extended without any preconditions. Noting that negotiations without any preconditions and the freedom to bring up all issues open the path of the negotiation process, Denktash said that the Greek Cypriots and Russian sides, which want to bloc this channel, added to the recent statement issued on the subject the phrase that talks will be held within the framework of the UN Security Council resolutions. He continued: "As far as we are concerned this statement has no value. We will continue our contacts with the UN secretary general on the issue." [02] ERTUGRULOGLU REPEATS PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATE "STATES"Anatolia Agency (1306 hours, 18.2.00) reports that Tahsin Ertugruloglu, so- called minister of foreign affairs and defense, has stressed that the pseudostate/s policy on the Cyprus issue is based on the principle of "states".In reply to off-agenda speeches on the bilateral contacts being considered between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities at the pseudo-assembly last Friday, Ertugruloglu said: "It is impossible for us to adopt an approach based on Cyprus as a community instead of one that is based on talks between two states." Noting that they are sensitive regarding the acceptance of the so-called TRNC reality, Ertugruloglu continued: "It is impossible to understand those who are sworn in as the deputy of a state and who then say that the important issue is not the state but the community." Ertugruloglu claimed that no one is opposed to holding contacts with the Greek Cypriots, drawing attention to the fact that Greek Cypriot signs on the contacts indicate that "the TRNC will not be recognized." Stressing that it is impossible to accept approaches that deny the existence of the "TRNC", Ertugruloglu continued by saying that "they never adopted an approach which said that citizens can never be trusted." [03] ECEVIT ON CYPRUSCNN TURK Television (1900 hours, 18.2.00), broadcast a live studio interview with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit by Taha Akyol on "CNN Turkish Desk" program. Inter alia, Ecevit responded a question on the Cyprus problem and said: "Although it is not being uttered publicly, almost everyone, all those who do not want to deceive themselves, accepts the existence of two separate states in Cyprus. This is a reality that can no longer be ignored. The Turkish Cypriots were faced with obstacles that are rarely erected in the world. For example, an embargo that is more rigid than the one imposed on Iraq is imposed on the TRNC. This embargo is being imposed by the Greek Cypriot Administration, Greece, and the EU. Despite that, the TRNC has continued to develop. It has continued to exist. It has succeeded in safeguarding its independence. No country other than Turkey has officially recognized the TRNC. It has, however, six universities recognized in the entire world although its population is some 180,000. The diplomas of these universities are recognized throughout the world. They have professors from Britain and the United States. In other words, the TRNC is a reality that cannot be denied. Once this reality is accepted it will be easy to reach an agreement. Naturally, it is difficult for the Greek Cypriots to digest this fact. If, however, there is not much outside interference on the issue, a solution can be reached."Asked whether the EU will accept Cyprus as a member before a solution is reached on the island, Ecevit says that there are differences of opinion on the issue in Europe. [04] NORWEGIAN MP TO HAVE CONTACTS IN OCCUPIED AREAKIBRIS (21.2.00) reports that the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Norwegian Parliament and leader of the Labour Party, Haakon Blankenborg, will have contacts in the occupied area as the guest of the Communal Liberation Party.The Norwegian Ambassador to Tel Aviv who is also accredited to Nicosia, Svein Seather, visited yesterday the so-called state minister and deputy prime minister Mustafa Akinci, to discuss the programme of Blankemborg/s visit to the pseudostate. Blankenborg will meet today with CLP leader Mustafa Akinci. Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will give a lunch in honour of the Norwegian MP. On Tuesday (22.2.00) Blankenborg will have contacts with the leaders and officials of the NUP, DP and RTP. [05] TURKISH CYPRIOTS TO ATTEND EURO CHAMPIONS LEAGUEAccording to KIBRIS (19.2.00), six persons from the pseudostate will attend the "Europe 2000 Football Champions League" that will be held in June.They are the so-called youth and sports minister, Tansel Doratli, the "Director" of the "sports department" Suleyman Coktas, the chairman of the "Football Federation" Omer Adal, the vice-chairman of the "federation" Olgun Ustun and sportswriters Songuc Kursad and Erbay Gonelli. [06] DENKTASH MEETS FOREIGN DIPLOMATSAccording to Ortam and Yeni Demokrat (19.2.00) Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash yesterday had various meetings with diplomats.Denktash met with the French Ambassador to Nicosia, Jean Bernard de Vaivre. The meeting lasted 45 minutes. Denktash then met with the Iranian Ambassador, Bahman Agharazi. In the afternoon, he had a meeting with the British High Commissioner, Edward Clay. There were no statements after the meetings. [07] REPORT ON UN/s "ROAD MAP" KIBRISLI (19.2.2000) reports under the banner headlines "The UN/s Road Map"and says that the mystery behind the UN move to build roads in the buffer zone that will connect the inhabited areas of the north and the south is yet to be solved.Quoting unnamed reliable sources, the paper says that these roads are being built to speed up the putting into practice of a possible settlement whose outline has already been decided. KIBRISLI further reports that neither the UN nor the Greek and the Turkish sides say anything officially as to the purpose for which these roads will be built. It adds that the tender to build these roads was won by a Turkish Cypriot firm. The paper publishes a map and says that these roads start from occupied Pergamo village and go up to Paphos. The roads will connect inhabitted areas on both sides. KIBRISLI further reports that Turkish Cypriot contractor Unal Ozbilenler, who will build these roads, has secured the necessary road building machinery and will soon start realising the project. KIBRISLI (20.2.2000) elaborates further on the issue and wonders weather the Americans are behind the project. It reports that not one but three Turkish Cypriot construction firms took part in the tender. They are Ozbilenler Ltd., Gasiler Transport and Akansu Ltd. Sources close to Gaziler Transport and Akansu Ltd. have said that tender results will be announced on Wednesday and that it is not possible that Ozbilenler has won the tender. KIBRISLI further reports that there is a news blackout regarding the project. According to the project six roads will be built each one having a distance of seven kilometers. "With this project" reports KIBRISLI "the crossing points which are now three, will be eight once it is completed". The paper concludes by reporting that feasibility studies are being carried out regarding the building of joint schools, hospitals and a TV station in the buffer zone. (MY) [08] NATIONAL REVIVAL PARTY NOT TO NAME OWN "PRESIDENTIAL" CANDIDATEAccording to KIBRIS (19.2.00) the National Revival Party announced yesterday that it will not have its own candidate for the so-called "Presidential Elections 2000 April".The leader of the party, Enver Emin, said that they have not decided yet whether they will support any of the present candidates. (DP) EF/MP 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 |