Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-03-15

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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. 49/00 -- 15.3.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash/s adviser Olgun comments on property exchange.

[02] Turkish officials, Denktash/s adviser Olgun speak on confederation in University panel.

[03] Project envisages bridge/tunnel connecting Cyprus to Turkey.

[04] Denktash elected "Man of the Year" by Ankara Journalists Association.

[05] Tatari academicians visit pseudostate.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash/s adviser Olgun comments on property exchange

Replying to questions of the program/s moderator Sami Ozuslu, Ergun Olgun also disclosed that new initiatives have been made on relations with the EU that had been frozen after the 1997 Luxembourg decision, adding however, that the application to the EU was made verbally not in writing.

Olgun disclosed their proposal to the Cyprus Government on establishing a joint "Property Exchange Committee" and said that this committee will be formed with the participation of the Turks and Greek Cypriots. Olgun said:

"We admit that the Greek Cypriots have rights over their property in the north. They, in turn, should accept that the Turks have rights over their property in the south."

According to Ergun Olgun, the "Property Exchange Committee" would inventory the property on both sides, determine their value, work out the compensations, and seek resources for the payment of compensations.

Ergun Olgun went on to say that they have also submitted concrete proposals for cooperation in areas other than property exchange, but declined to provide details because of the "secrecy principle". He was only satisfied with saying that among these proposals are issues that concern both sides, such as environment, infectious diseases, and fires that break out in the buffer zone.

In reply to a question, Olgun said that the Cyprus Government knows about these proposals but the Greek Cypriots prefer to discuss issues relating to the Cyprus problem on other platforms.

In reply to another question, Olgun said that if these proposals are accepted and the "joint committee" meetings begin, then the non- governmental organizations might be allowed to re-establish contact.

Olgun stated that in a possible solution the economies should be balanced, disclosing that a team set up by Denktash/s office has already begun work on this issue. He said they have been seeking a reply to the question of "What would north Cyprus/ economic role be in the region after a possible agreement?".

Touching on ties with the EU, Ergun Olgun said that a new relationship is necessary, but they would not accept a relationship linked to the Cyprus Government. Stating that during contacts with the EU officials they have been verbally asking for "direct contact with the Turkish Cypriots", Olgun noted that no written application has been made. He added that this issue would be discussed at the highest level when Verhaugen, EU commissioner on expansion, pays his visit to the island.

[02] Turkish officials, Denktash/s adviser Olgun speak on confederation in University Panel

Ret. Amb. Yuksel Soylemez, head of Turkish Republic State Planning Institute, moderated the first panel on "Confederation".

Noting that if the EU grants membership to the Cyprus Government -which is already recognized by the United States and Britain on the international platforms and which gets all the support it needs from these states-15 more states would join the ones already supporting the Greek Cypriots. Soylemez claimed "such an outcome would be a deathblow to Turkey and Turkish Cypriots. In such a situation, Turkey will have to launch a serious diplomatic initiative on the international platform for the recognition of the TRNC".

Soylemez noted that it was the Untied States that introduced the EU membership issue into the Cyprus negotiations with the aim of stepping up foreign pressure for the solution of the Cyprus problem. "Ambassador Holbrooke was the real mastermind of this idea" Soylemez added.

So-called presidential undersecretary Ergun Olgun declared that confederation is the best model for Cyprus. Elaborating on the concept of confederation in great detail, Ergun especially cited Switzerland and the United States as examples of confederation. Ergun explained that confederation means cooperation between the sides for variety of interests while preserving their independence and national identity.

In juxtaposing confederation and federation, Olgun stressed that in view of the past incidents special importance should be attached to the national identity and to the interest of the nations on the island where a single "Cypriot nation" does not exist, he said.

Olgun noted that while federation serves a single nation, confederation is effectuated between states made up by different nations.

Also alleging the Cyprus question is not a constitutional problem, Olgun added that in federations the territorial sovereignty is often shared or transferred to the central authority, whereas in confederations the states preserve the independence of their constitutional order.

Speaking at the panel on "Confederation", Prof. Dr. Jean Beaufays from the Leige University cited the Belgian example, stating that Belgium does not have a fully federal or confederal structure. In his technical analysis of federation and confederation, Beaufays said that the Belgian model, which is a mixture of two systems, cannot be applied to Cyprus, noting: "This is a model particular to Belgian conditions, it cannot be applied anywhere else, including Cyprus".

Natalie Tocci from the European Political Research Center said that in view of the failure of the methods used over the years, new models should be considered in Cyprus. She said one model could be a confederal Cyprus joining the EU. Arguing that the problems between the "two states" would be easier to solve under the EU aegis, Tocci said that first of all it would help eliminate the economic and social imbalance between the sides.

Tocci also said that the "confidence and security" problem between the sides could also find a solution inside the EU.

Prof. Dr. Haluk Kabaalioglu, Turkey/s Permanent Representative with the EU, declared that before a confederation "the reality of the existence of two separate, equal, and independent states on the island must be recognized".

Noting the conditions peculiar to Cyprus, Kabaalioglu said that it will not be correct to accept the existing models as formulas for a solution. Arguing that the possible confidence building measures in Cyprus would not help the rapprochement of the sides, Kabaalioglu said that the Irish and Middle East problems present a good example of this. He said that first territory and then freedom of movement should be included in the confidence building measures. (preceding sentence as published).

[03] Project envisages bridge /tunnel connecting Cyprus to Turkey

According to the project, part of the 60 km bridge will be a suspension bridge and part of it will be an under-water tunnel bridge.

The bridge will start at the most southern tip of the Anatolia peninsula, Anamur, and will end at the most northern tip of Cyprus, Kormakitis. Both ends of the proposed bridge, which will be15 km-long, will be suspension bridges and the middle part will be a 30 km-long tunnel bridge 30 meters below sea level.

The tunnel bridge will be fixed to the sea bed with steel tendons and there will be artificial islands and emergency escape tunnels.

Prof. Alp said that if the project is realized there will be a tourism boom in Cyprus. He said that he wants this project to be realized as a Greco- Turkish joint project, which will put an end to differences on the island, as he put it.

If the project is realized one will be able to reach Turkey or Cyprus in 45 minutes.

Prof. Alp further believes that this project will help develop tourism towards the Holy Land. He believes that by high speed ferry boats from Cyprus it is possible to reach Israel/s Haifa port in four hours, thus people starting from Turkey will be able to reach Jerusalem in six hours using the proposed bridge and high speed ferry boats.

(MY)

[04] Denktash elected "Man of the Year" by Ankara Journalists Association

The chairman of the Ankara Journalists Association, Nazmi Bilgin, has said that on 20 March a ceremony will be organized at the Cankaya Presidential Mension and Turkish President Demirel will present the prize to Denktash. (MY)

[05] Tatari academicians visit pseudostate

They also visited newspapers and radio and television stations. They will leave the occupied area on Saturday.

(MY)

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

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