Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-07-21

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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. 138/00 -- 21.7.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gurel says confederation only solution.

[02] Denktash: We want our rights to be based on land and sovereignty.

[03] MILLIYET on time limit for Turkey to solve Cyprus problem.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gurel says confederation only solution

He added: "The TRNC is sovereign and will remain sovereign. The Turkish Cypriot people are free and will lead free lives. Turkey is and will always be on the side of the Turkish Cypriot people under all conditions.".

[02] Denktash: We want our rights to be based on land and sovereignty

"We want to make peace but we do not want our rights merely on paper. We want our rights to be based on land and on sovereignty. We do not want an agreement that can be torn up and thrown away. Therefore, assess the situation well. We are soon going to Geneva. These are the principles that we defend and that we will continue to defend.

Do not make us miss this chance by continuing to insist that there is a unitary state and a Cyprus republic, that its sovereignty cannot be changed, or by hiding behind imaginary dreams. Come, let us trust each other. If you want to make us trust you, do not tamper with the guarantee agreement. Cyprus must be protected by Turkey because we do not trust you. Unless we base our rights on land and sovereignty, you may do once again what you did in the past claiming that it is your internal affair. You cannot do anything now because our rights are based on sovereignty and on land. Do not expect us to undo that. Just as we do not ask you to change your name, and just as we recognize you as the republic of the Greek Cypriots in the south, you must also recognize us. We exist and we will continue to exist".

And Denktash added: "My dear motherland, for years we waited for you to come. The day you had to come we were grieved to see that we pulled our motherland into this terrible problem, into war. We love you as we love ourselves. We do not want to see you hurt, we do not want to see you hurt because of us. However, being aware that Cyprus is a fortress of security for the motherland, we could not have forsaken the Turkish character of Cyprus - a character we protected for years".

He concluded: "Together, we now seek our rights, we protect our rights and freedoms. Please do not listen to some of the voices that emanate from among us. The Turkish Cypriots are sincerely attached to their motherland. Nobody can separate the motherland from the child land. Nobody will be able to do that.

If anybody tampers with your rights as a guarantor state, I will not sign the agreement. The entire world should know that. All the ploys that have been organized during the past 36 years aim at eliminating your guarantor rights, to eliminate the Turkish-Greek balance over Cyprus, and to hand over the island to Greece or to create a second Greek republic. Turkey/s guarantees constitute the single strong factor that can prevent that. We will not and cannot reach an agreement by giving them up or by agreeing to a multinational force or a multinational police force. Therefore, there is no use in trying to achieve the impossible".

[03] MILLIYET on time limit for Turkey to solve Cyprus problem

The paper says that this message was conveyed to Ankara by Mr. Gunter Verheugen, the EU commissioner for enlargement, during his recent visit to Turkey.

MILLIYET says that the importance of this message is that this is the first time the EU is setting a time limit regarding the settlement of the Cyprus problem.

MILLIYET columnist Sami Kohen, commenting on this EU message says that the EU diplomats note that this message should not be taken as exercising pressure on Turkey and that they have expressed their disagreement with Prime Minister Ecevit/s view that "if the EU does not interfere in the Cyprus problem, the settlement will be easier. However, so long as the EU continues to intervene the Greek Cypriot side will continue its intransigence".

"It seems" says Kohen, "that EU diplomats do not share Ecevit/s view. As a result of this, EU wants to be active in the settlement of the problem".

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

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