Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-03-08

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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. 45/00 -- 8.3.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat to Clerides and Denktash: don't sabotage developments.

[02] Soysal on confederation.

[03] Denktash on Turkish Cypriot position.

[04] Women from Norwegian Labour Party visit pseudostate.

[05] German soccer players in the occupied area.

[06] Ancient tomb.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat to Clerides and Denktash: don/t sabotage developments

Illegal Bayrak radio(6.3.00) reports that in a press release Talat said Denktash/s and President Clerides/ statements sabotaged the positive developments that emerged in the wake of the OSCE meeting and the Helsinki summit. Talat said that President Clerides/ declaration that he wants to transform the Cyprus Republic into a federation and Denktash/s statement (through his so-called under secretary) that the ``TRNC'' has officially applied to the EU for cooperation are contrary to the guarantee and alliance treaties, the 1977 and 1979 summit, agreements as well as the spirit of the proximity talks.

Pointing out that Denktash is encouraging non-solution, Talat recalled that in a speech, Mr. Denktash admitted that he is toying with intransigence by saying that he has doubts even about a confederation.

Furthermore, Talat described as provocative President Clerides/ statement on a constitutional amendment and a return to a federation although these issues were not even discussed with regard to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[02] Soysal on confederation

Soysal said nothing much happened behind the closed doors in New York and Geneva. The blackout imposed on the talks is not very important, because you cannot conceal what is already in full public view, Soysal said. He explained that each side presented its views and the UN officials did not convey each side/s views to the other.

What we want is obvious, Soysal went on. ``We are saying that a state has been established here and it must survive. Only a solution that ensures its survival is acceptable. We do not want renewed fighting or war in Cyprus. The solution should enable the people of northern Cyprus to govern themselves in peace on their own territory, it should also debar others from claiming ownership to these lands. Let all these problems be solved. Let us then live side by side as states without meddling in each other/s affairs too much. And if some joint work is needed, such as foreign policy and so on, then the representatives of the two states at the highest level should make joint decisions.''

Asked if this would be under a joint umbrella, Soysal replied positively explaining that ``the joint umbrella should not be too large to prevent us from seeing the rest of the world. Joint work could be conducted on certain issues through a common will shaped with the contribution of our own free will. In law this is called confederation. In the past we called for a federation with a common constitution in which the federated states would have maintained their existence. But when we talked about federation, the other side tried to impose on us the idea of a unitary state under the guise of federation by increasing the powers of the central authority in its favour. We, on the other hand, motivated by the desire to preserve this state, tried to bring the concept of federation closer to our thesis''.

This time we are more open in the call for a confederation, Soysal pointed out, adding that if the EU, UN or the others involved really want a solution, then confederation is the easiest path to it.

Describing the essence of confederation Soysal said: ``The states would remain as they are. That is, their sovereignty over internal order, laws, territory, and population would continue. But in some common areas, such as foreign policy, monetary issues, and foreign trade, or on meteorological and environmental issues that at first might look unimportant, the sides shall on their own free will, establish some common rules at summit level. But even these rules will be applied by the states separately''.

Asked, if like Denktash, he believes that Europe and the world are showing interest in confederation, Soysal said: ``Had we talked about confederation in the past, everyone would have objected saying that the Denktash-Makarios and Kyprianou-Denktash summit agreements in 1977 and 1979 provide for a federation. But this time no such objection was raised, because before going to the talks we put the precondition that everything could be raised at the talks. We wanted the talks to take place here but eventually settled with New York. But in return they accepted our condition that each side should talk about anything without restriction. So, when we spoke about the confederation it was already a condition that it should be heard with tolerance but also with interest. They even asked questions and took notes''.

Soysal expressed the view that they (EU and the world) too regarded the confederation thesis as tenable, because the UN achieved nothing when the Turkish side was talking about federation, and the other side too was ostensibly talking about a federation for twenty years. Soysal added:

``Our confederation thesis announced in August 1998 was therefore a novelty. That is, it was an answer to the criticism from within and without that we were not creative and original enough. And this is an originality that could easily lead to a solution, if the sides genuinely desire to live together in peace without interfering in each other/s affairs, while forming a mechanism that could solve the common problems. And I think the UN has discerned this as a way out.

But we have also noted that just when we made this new opening, the Greek Cypriots slammed the door shut, as evinced by their statement to the press''.

Soysal agreed with an observation by the interviewer that at one time the Turkish Cypriots were on the defensive whereas now the roles have changed. Soysal added :

``They have started saying: We do not want even federation, let us only amend the 1960 Constitution the - constitution that they themselves destroyed and denied to us - to ensure reunion. Let us remove the changes that were made to the 1960 constitution in the absence of the Turkish side, let us give the Turkish side a reliable minority status, let us take them under our protection, and let us live together under the constitution of a single state. Of course this has convinced neither us nor the UN. We have, therefore, been sensing since then that the confederation thesis has found endorsement''.

Asked if the confederation thesis has been endorsed only by the UN or other European capitals have also shown interest, Soysal corrected his statement about endorsement saying that what he meant to say is that it will find endorsement. ``You push a product to the market and it immediately becomes apparent if it will sell or not. This is a sellable product. Because it makes both a solution possible and preserves the sides/ separate identity. As with the UN, some EU countries have started seeing it as tenable. We are learning about their positions indirectly''. Soysal elaborated further:

``We have not received absolute endorsement from any country to date. But of late, especially after the idea of solving this problem through the European channels within the framework of admitting the north and south together as a single united Cyprus, countries like Belgium, which itself has a similar (federal) structure, and Germany - which in the past played no role in Cyprus, or if any, a negative one, but now seems to be a bit more eager on this issue in part to offset excessive British activism - have started thinking that may be the confederation is tenable and the easiest way of bringing the sides together''.

He said Denktash/s meeting with the German Foreign Minister was the first time that a European Foreign Minister was officially meeting with the ``President of the TRNC''. ``But we gathered from President/s talks there that the Germans, like the UN, listened to him with interest. This means that confederation will come to pass'', he claimed.

Commenting on the interviewer/s position that on the one side of the balance there is the confederation thesis and on the other there is the idea that this problem could be solved if the Turkish Cypriots join the EU, Soysal said: ``Confederation means two states. Hence, whatever is going to happen with the EU, then we, as a state, should know about it through a separate channel, and convey our demands to Europe also through this separate channel. And it seems Europe is willing to open such a channel. It has to open eventually, because we do not want to talk with Europe under the Greek Cypriot umbrella. We want Turkey to be involved in the process too.

That is, no matter what the solution, even if it absolutely protects our state, for the Turkish people of northern Cyprus to join the EU alone or together with the Greek Cypriots would mean once more facing assimilation, destruction, displacement, and strangulation under the Greek Cypriot economic pressure. A balance could be established only if the accession takes place together with Turkey, that is, if Turkey/s umbrella is also present. Otherwise, in the presence of Greece and numerically superior Greek Cypriots, the people of the TRNC might be deprived of a humane existence. Yes, there is a love affair with Europe, but we have to think well when and under what conditions this could turn into a genuine bond.''

[03] Denktash on Turkish Cypriot position

``TRNC and Turkey have decided to work together and harmonize their laws with EU norms'', Denktash stated. He added that they will continue the Cyprus proximity talks with good will and that they will not discuss the territory issue and other issues unless the sovereignty of the ``TRNC'' is recognized.

Efforts to make the world understand the confederation proposal are being exerted, Denktash said, adding that the peaceful approach will continue.

When asked how the security will be ensured, Denktash said that the Turkish and Greek contingents will remain in the ``TRNC'' and in the Greek Cypriot side, as he put it. The NATO force is not included in their agenda, Denktash added.

[04] Women from Norwegian Labour Party visit pseudostate

The Norwegian delegation, who is headed by the Mayor of Gran Kommune, Rigmor Aasrud Jahren, yesterday visited Mustafa Akinci, leader of CLP.

Akinci said that he is really pleased that relations between the two parties have increased.

He further said that his party wants to see peace on the island and that they support any initiative toward this direction. He said that peace will be possible only if the Greek Cypriot side accepts the fact that in the northern part of the island is a separate administration.

Speaking on behalf of the women/s group, Gran Kommune Mayor Rigmor Aasrud Jahren said that she is hopeful that their contacts will be useful. On the Cyprus issue, Jahren wished that peace would soon prevail on the island.

The Norwegian group, who visited occupied Famagusta and Karpasia, today will visit occupied Kyrenia and Nicosia. They will depart tomorrow. (DP)

[05] German soccer players in the occupied area

The soccer players belong to Germany/s SSV Jandelsbrunn soccer team. The German team will play a friendly game with a Turkish Cypriot soccer team.

[06] Ancient tomb

According to the article, in the occupied areas of Tziaos and Lyssi villages many ancient tombs have been found.

(DP)

FD/EF/SK

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

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