Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-05-15

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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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: Date, venue of talks not determined.

[02] Turkish TV airs live intercommunal debate from Cyprus.

[03] Ambassador Bandler visits sewage treatment installations at Mia Milia.

[04] Polish diplomat Wlosowicz named new UN envoy in Cyprus.

[05] Human Rights Association chairman accuses EU

[06] Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties issue joint declaration.

[07] Denktash meets German Ambassador. 13-14-15.5.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: Date, venue of talks not determined

In a statement at a meeting he held with a delegation of Turkish Foreign Ministry civil servants, Denktash recalled rumours to the effect that the proximity talks will be held in Geneva at the end of June, adding that, however, nothing definite has been fixed. Denktash continued: "The UN Secretariat General has said that the final decision will be made after contacts with us. A decision will probably be made in the next few days. We will find the opportunity to work for another month. We will make the most of it".

Pointing out that he will be going to Ankara to participate in the presidential duty transfer ceremony to take place in Ankara on 16 May and to receive the Ataturk Peace Prize on 19 May, Denktash said that during these visits he will also find the opportunity to confer with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

[02] Turkish TV airs live intercommunal debate from Cyprus

Kirca points out that the program is being carried live on Greek Cypriot radio and on the internet, and that Greek television stations will broadcast extensively on the program. The first speaker is Kaiti Clerides who says that a way must be found to bring the two communities together. She notes the positive atmosphere reigning at the moment and says that it is the result of the amelioration of the Turkish-Greek relations and of Turkey/s candidacy in the EU. Asked what kind of a solution she foresees, Kaiti Clerides replies that "a biregional and bicommunal federation" may be a solution. She says the two communities should have their own autonomous regions as well as a strong federal government.

Serdar Denktash is the second to speak, and he says that "There is a long way to go to reach a solution. However, this is the closest we have ever been to one". The most important reason for that, he says, is Turkey/s candidacy in the EU. He says the Turkish Cypriots/ proposal is "a confederation established by two equal and sovereign entities and having a much weaker central government". He adds: "We believe that starting off in this way and ensuring that Turkey joins the EU simultaneously with Cyprus will be the most important factors in achieving a lasting solution that will prevent a repetition of the past."

Serdar Denktash points to the good atmosphere reigning in the room and asserts that there are no human or personal problems but that there is a political problem. That problem, he claims, "is the failure of the world to accept the fact that Cyprus has two owners. The problem has not been resolved for so long because the world views the Greek Cypriot side as the only owner of the island".

Later on, Serdar Denktash asserts: "Our confederation proposal which is based on the principle of two states does not in any way involve the partitioning of the island". He goes on to say that bridges must be built between the "two states" and the two must march toward the EU together, as one entity. He stresses that the main reason why the Turkish Cypriots want to be recognized as a "state" is for their own protection. He then says that it will be difficult for the Turkish Cypriot youths to embrace the Greek Cypriot youths as long as the "embargoes" exist and prevent the former from having any contact with the world. He emphasizes that the "embargoes" have a negative effect on the relations.

Kaiti Clerides replies that the Greek Cypriots accept the Turkish Cypriots as founding partners and calls on the Turkish Cypriots not to dwell on the "embargo" issue. "The EU will guarantee the rights of both communities", she adds.

Ergun Olgun says that the two sides must come to an understanding on the reasons of the Cyprus problem. If this is done, he says, "the two sides may apologize to each other and this will start a healing (last word in English) process in Cyprus. This may turn help create mutual trust". He then cites the requisites of peace and cooperation as "respect for the supremacy of the law, respect for democracy, and respect for human rights". He charges that these requisites are not being met in Cyprus. He says that "there is a need to develop mutual trust before the direct negotiations".

Ali Kirca asks Olgun if the Turkish Cypriots will posit certain conditions such as the confederation before the talks. Ergun replies: "No, there are no conditions, there are criteria. The EU wants Turkey to abide by certain criteria such as democracy and human rights before it admits it as a member. A new partnership and cooperation will be established in Cyprus too. This also calls for the meeting of certain criteria". Olgun explains that equality is one of these criteria and adds: "These are not preconditions but the basic rules of a new cooperation".

All participants express their views one by one, and pose for a group photograph at the end of the program.

[03] Ambassador Bandler visits sewage treatment installations at Mia Milia

KIBRIS calls Ambassador Donald Bandler, "the USA Ambassador in South Cyprus" (Guney Kibristaki).

Ambassador Bandler praised the work carried out at the installations saying that it will serve both communities on the island. He said it was of vital importance for Nicosia.

The Mia Milia annexes were built at a cost of four million US Dollars "with us tax payers/ money", as Ambassador Bandler put it.

[04] Polish diplomat Wlosowicz named new UN envoy in Cyprus

Wlosowicz, 45, took up his post as Poland/s UN envoy in February 1993 and was a member of the Security Council in 1996-97.

For the past two years he has been a special adviser on inter-governmental affairs with the UN Development Program. An expert in international law, Wlosowicz holds a doctorate from the Jagiellonian University in Cracow.

In addition to being Secretary-General Kofi Annan/s acting special representative in Cyprus, he will also be acting chief of the UN peacekeeping force stationed on the island since 1964 and now numbering about 1,250 troops and civilian police. UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said Annan/s special adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, who was to have moved to Cyprus this spring as the secretary-general/s special representative, would remain based at UN headquarters, to give priority to good offices efforts now under way.

[05] Human Rights Association chairman accuses EU

He further claimed: "It is clear that they want to spread Greek Cypriot hegemony over the whole island. The EU knows very well that the Turkish Cypriots will not be dependent of the law of the Greek Cypriots."

He accuses the EU of putting obstacles by creating social and economic problems to the Turkish Cypriots. He says the EU must put aside the promises and give an end to the privileges and support they give by supporting the Greek Cypriot "embargoes".

[06] Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties issue joint declaration

Delegations of the two parties headed by UD Deputy President, Government Spokesman Michalis Papapetrou and PUM General Secretary Izzet Izcan met last Saturday at the UD offices in Nicosia, while earlier they visited President Glafcos Clerides at the private clinic in Nicosia where he is recovering from an operation to remove a polyp from his large intestine.

A joint declaration issued by the two parties says a solution to the Cyprus problem is "long overdue and should be solved without any further delay" and stresses that "everything should be done to promote intercommunal rapprochement."

The two parties, that pledged to meet regularly, also believe that the process of Cyprus/ accession to the European Union could be a catalyst for the reunification of the island.

The UD and the PUM said they will coordinate their efforts for a united Cyprus and will work together for an independent, sovereign and territorially integral, demilitarized federal Cyprus.

Speaking through an interpreter the Turkish Cypriot delegation, also comprising Ozger Ozgur, Alpay Durduran, expressed the view that the conditions created after Turkey was given an EU candidate for accession status can back efforts for a settlement in Cyprus.

Replying to questions, Izcan referred to the living conditions of Turkish Cypriots in the occupied areas of Cyprus, noting that they are the ones suffering most since the 1974 disaster on the island.

The bad situation in the occupied areas, he said, has forced many of our compatriots to leave Cyprus and added that they are in danger of becoming a minority in their own country.

[07] Denktash meets German Ambassador

No statement was made after the meeting.

The meeting was within the framework of routine meetings Denktash has with foreign diplomats. Denktash/s advisors Ergun Olgun, Necati Munir Ertekun and Mustafa Evran were also present at the meeting.

/SK

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

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