Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-04-14

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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. 71/00 -- 14.4.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Cem meets Moses, notes `cautious development/ in Cyprus.

[02] Aytug Plumer: Cyprus settlement requires fresh perspectives and new UN resolutions.

[03] Baku ``representative'' speaks about Cyprus on Azeri State Television.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Cem meets Moses, notes `cautious development/ in Cyprus

In a statement to NTV Cem announced that he met with Moses. He said:

``There is a development regarding the Cyprus issue, but a cautious development''. Cem stated that the biggest step in the wake of the Helsinki summit was taken with regard to the Cyprus issue. He said that the matter and certain facts were explained to the Greek Cypriot side, to Greece, and to the EU, better than ever before.

Assessing his meeting with Moses, Cem said that the recent developments in Cyprus do not indicate that everything on the island will be resolved, and such thinking could lead to disappointment. Cem said that he explained to Moses that a more different approach is needed and the ``sovereign characteristic'' of the two sides on the island must be acknowledged. Cem added: ``I told the special envoy that believing that results will be obtained without these conditions would be misleading them as well as others''.

[02] Aytug Plumer: Cyprus settlement requires fresh perspectives and new UN resolutions

Asked what could be expected from face-to-face talks and what phase such progress would signify, Plumer stated: ``To be able to see progress towards face-to-face talks, we need to see some tangible developments, especially from the Greek Cypriot side. They have to acknowledge our authority in the North, they have to accept our sovereignty as a state, they have to commit themselves to the principles of bi-zonality, and also they will have to make an effort to settle the question of property issues before we can move forward. To ensure security we must maintain the 1960 Treat of Guarantee. If such pronouncements are made by the Greek Cypriot side, and they accept all these principles, then we will be able to make progress in the talks. Everything depends on the Greek Cypriot attitude in the coming weeks''.

Claiming that the EU has done a great injustice to the pseudostate by adopting the embargo on exports from the occupied area and other decisions, Plumer added: ``So far we have not seen any indication whatsoever from the EU which could help the process move forward. On the contrary, the stance of the EU has been very counterproductive. For example, by accepting the 1990 unilateral Greek Cypriot application for EU membership and by processing it throughout the decade, it has not only made it more difficult to resolve the Cyprus problem but also more complicated''.

Stating that a turning point occurred in December 1997 at the EU/s Luxembourg summit, Plumer further claimed that it was a mistake when EU members agreed that the Greek Cypriot side is the sole interlocutor for the whole of Cyprus, a decision which led to the start of accession talks. It was definitely a mistake on the part of the EU, and hopefully they have realized their mistake and will try and remedy this situation by 1) freezing the Greek Cypriot application by not processing it any further until there is a settlement and 2) the EU should stop sending the wrong message - that whether or not the Cyprus problem is settled, Greek Cyprus will be accepted. The EU should be sending the opposite message to Greek Cyprus - that if you don/t resolve the Cyprus problem, you will not be admitted into the EU,'' he added.

Taking into account the decision made at the Helsinki summit in 1999, which granted Turkey EU candidate status, Plumer claimed the EU should try to establish a direct channel of communication with the Turkish Cypriot side. ``The EU should conduct direct dialogue with Northern Cyprus and not try to develop relations indirectly through the Greek Cypriot administration,'' he claimed.

According to him, before a dialogue can begin, ``The EU must acknowledge that the Greek Cypriot administration does not represent the entire island, and that it cannot negotiate the accession of Cyprus. This must be acknowledged by the EU before the EU can enter into a meaningful dialogue with the Turkish Cypriots. If they do this, then the Turkish Cypriot side will be ready and willing to open up channels of communication directly with the EU, to talk about the membership of Cyprus and the future of post- settlement Northern Cyprus'', he said.

He continued: ``In discussing all the above, we must keep in mind Turkey/s candidature to the EU and the prospects given to Turkey for EU membership, because it is essential for us to see that Turkey is also in the EU as a full member before we can become a member as Cyprus. This is because we have to protect and preserve the external balances that have been created by the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee by having Turkey become a member of the EU. The internal balances must be protected by a viable settlement in the form of a confederation between the two states, and Turkey will continue to be a guarantor of Cyprus''.

When asked how Turkey/s guarantor status will be made legally acceptable for the EU, Plumer replied: ``Of course we will ensure that this is part of the agreement that we will sign to establish a confederation. There will be no changes in the guarantorship of Turkey. This is very important for the Turkish Cypriots, and I think for the island as a whole''.

Plumer was asked what his expectations from the UN Security Council are in the future and how the Security Council can help facilitate reconciliation.

``The Security Council needs fresh perspectives. I think that the Security Council can help resolve the problem by changing its resolutions and by adapting them to the new circumstances. By doing so, it can obviously encourage both sides, especially the Greek Cypriots, to come to terms with the realities of Cyprus so that a settlement can be based on these realities'', he claimed.

Asked whether the Security Council has been an obstacle to finding a solution since it recognized the Cyprus Government as the sole representative of the island, Plumer replied that this position has inevitably complicated the problem. ``First, there is the role played by the UN Secretary-General. Negotiations have been held under the auspices of the Secretary-General under a mandate given to him by the Security Council. The Turkish Cypriot side believes that the UN platform is the only viable platform to seek a solution. The other view is the stance taken by the Security Council. This problem began in 1964, as I mentioned earlier. The Security Council has to change its resolutions and adapt them to the new circumstances which have emerged over the years. It has not done this yet. We hope that the council members will adopt a more realistic approach towards Cyprus and change their one-sided resolutions, which itself are a hindrance to finding a settlement and which also make the task of the Secretary-General more difficult'', he claimed.

Commenting on the limitations of the UN Secretary-General, Plumer made these concluding remarks: ``The Secretary-General knows his hands are tied because of these resolutions. No matter how realistic and creative the Secretary-General may wish to be, he has his hands tied. We have to change this, but the only way for change is by adopting new resolutions on Cyprus''.

[03] Baku ``representative'' speaks about Cyprus on Azeri StateTelevision

During the programme Erkmen talked about the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and informed on the economy of the occupied areas.

He invited Azeri businessmen to invest in ``TRNC''. He also added that the rapprochement between Turkey-Greece has influenced positively the Cyprus negotiations. But he pointed out the Turkish side has not changed its position at the negotiations and they are open for an agreement ``within the framework of Turkish Cypriot/s sovereignty and political equality, and the continuation of Turkey/s guarantees.''

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

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