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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-08-03
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA
No. 147/00 -- 3.8.00
[A] NEWS ITEMS
[01] Denktash/s adviser Soysal comments on Geneva talks, "TRNC"
NTV (15:30 hours, 2.8.00) carries a report on an interview with Mumtaz
Soysal, adviser to Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in Geneva.
Asked what is the latest stage reached in the Geneva proximity talks,
Soysal replied: "I wish we had reached some stage. The stage we have
reached is one of nonstage. What could have been accomplished? We should
have prepared the ground for direct talks. It is not easy, however, to
prepare this ground. There are still great differences between the sides.
Therefore, we cannot say that a stage has been reached".
Asked whether Washington is applying pressure on them, Soysal said: "When I
say pressure, I do not mean that we are being subjected to torture. We are,
however, feeling the atmospheric (last word in English) pressure".
To a question whether Turkey has been convened on the Cyprus issue in
connection with the EU, Soysal replied:
"Turkey has been cornered on the issue not since the Helsinki decisions but
even before that. When the Customs Union was declared at a time when the
TRNC was not recognized and when customs negotiations were initiated with
the republic in the south, Turkey should not have been part of such a
process. In short, Turkey should have been able to say that it would not be
part of the Customs Union before north Cyprus is also included in that
process. This was not said. On the contrary, it was tacitly implied - it
is not clear how this was done - that Turkey consented to the Customs Union
negotiations between south Cyprus and the EU. Although later denials were
issued, the Europeans claimed and still claim that our officials consented
to the issue. Since then Turkey has been part of this process, this tunnel.
We are advancing toward some objective. It remains to be seen what that
objective is".
Asked whether he had a formula in mind for the future and restructuring of
the pseudostate, he said: "It seems as though there is a bipolar discussion
concerning the parliamentary system as opposed to the presidential system.
Whereas, it is possible to find other formulas such as the semi-
presidential system. There might also be solutions that will render the
current system, the parliamentary system more energetic. One does not have
to jump from one branch to the other, but one can dwell on the problems
with a sound mind and find a solution".
Answering a question on the Cyprus talks that are scheduled to continue in
New York, Soysal said: "We will be going to New York without having
prepared a common ground. Therefore, for a while we shall examine whether
there is such a ground. If there is no such ground, then it is probably
absurd to expect a solution. Therefore, with the consent of the two sides
or with a UN resolution the talks should end saying that good relations
should be established between the two existing states. This is how the
curtain should go down. No blood is being shed. There are no clashes
between the two peoples. Therefore, if the current situation is improved,
then the status quo can continue".
[02] Turkey declines to comment on possible summits with "TRNC" leaders
According to illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (15:30 hours, 2.8.00) Turkish Foreign
Ministry deputy spokesman Huseyin Dirioz, speaking at his weekly news
conference, replied to questions on the recent developments in the occupied
area.
In reply to a question on press reports to the effect the "prime minister"
Dervis Eroglu requested a meeting from the Turkish prime minister and that
he received a negative response, Dirioz said that he has no official
information on the issue. Commenting on reports that Rauf Denktash will go
to Ankara after the Geneva talks to discuss the problems in the "TRNC",
Dirioz said that in the event such a meeting is planned the press will be
informed, adding that there is no definite information on the issue yet.
Dirioz declined to reply to a question on whether a tripartite meeting
among Eroglu, Denktash, and Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is being
considered in Ankara. In reply to a question on whether the Aegean and
Cyprus conditions will be included in the EU-Turkey participation document
to be signed in the fall and on whether Greece will refuse to sign the
document in the absence of these conditions, Dirioz said that Turkey will
accept no view other than the paragraph on Cyprus included in the document
on the Helsinki Summit. The first sentence of paragraph nine of the
Helsinki document noted that the EU expects all the concerned countries to
contribute to the proximity talks to begin in New York.
[03] Eroglu waiting for Turkey/s answer, rules out "cabinet reshuffle"
BIRLIK (3.8.00) reports that the so-called council of ministers is
discussing the banking problem and the economic package. So-called prime
minister Dervis Eroglu replied to reporters/ questions before the meeting.
Eroglu pointed out that the Turkish Cypriot "government" wants to discuss
the economic package with the Ankara politicians, and that he explained
this situation in a letter to Ankara. "We do not expect an answer for a few
days", he said "given the Supreme Military Council meeting currently being
held in Turkey".
He asserted that their demand for a meeting has not been rejected, that
they expect a response from Turkey any day, and that they did not receive a
message saying their demand for a meeting had been rejected.
Asked if there is going to be a "cabinet reshuffle", Eroglu said: "That is
always possible. A cabinet does not go on for five years unchanged. Changes
are always made. There is no rule that says there will not be any changes
in our government. This is not the first cabinet I have set up. I have
carried out cabinet reshuffles in the past, whenever they were necessary.
As always, we can make a cabinet reshuffle now. At the moment, however,
there is not going to be a cabinet reshuffle".
[04] Turkish Cypriot NGO/s say right for self-rule does not mean being anti-
Turkey
A report in YENIDUZEN (3.8.00) says that forty-one unions and organizations
have said that certain circles in the occupied area are trying to create a
rift between Turkey and the pseudostate.
Ali Seylani, leader of the "Turkish Cypriot Civil Servants Union", issued a
written statement on behalf of the 41 nongovernmental organizations (NGO/s),
stating that a policy of divide and rule is being pursued in the "TRNC".
Certain circles are trying to create the impression that demanding the
right for self-rule means being anti-Turkey, the statement said, and
certain columnists in Turkey are leading this campaign by portraying the
Turkish Cypriots as lazy parasites and trying to create a rift between them
and the people of Anatolia.
Seylani noted in the statement that the people and students from Turkey
living in the "TRNC" are being used against the Turkish Cypriots and a
distinction is being made between Turks and Turkish Cypriots. He then said:
"We believe that a solution in Cyprus, democratization, and membership in
the EU will serve the common interests of the Turkish Cypriot people as
well as the Turkish people."
[05] Tremor of 3.7 hits Cyprus/ northwest coast
An Anatolia Agency report (11:59 hours 2.8.00) says an earthquake measuring
3.7 on the Richter scale happened early on Wednesday off-shore northwestern
Cyprus.
The so-called meteorology department of the pseudostate said that the earth
tremor had happened at 08:30 a.m. and that the epicenter of the quake was
in the sea, off-shore northwestern Cyprus.
[06] Turkey expects "TRNC" to put order, surmount economic, political
problems
TRT 1 Television (10:00 hours, 2.8.00) reports that Turkey has said that it
expects the pseudostate to surmount its domestic economic and political
problems and create an environment conducive to put order in the "country".
In his weekly news conference, Turkish Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman
Huseyin Dirioz said that Turkey will continue to extend the planned support
to the "TRNC" so that it can surmount its economic and political
difficulties.
"It is our natural expectation that the TRNC, in turn, will create the
property environment for putting order in the country within its democratic
framework and customs", he said.
[07] Yilmaz said to support Eroglu
A report in KIBRISLI (1.8.00) says that following the December 1998
"general elections" in the occupied area, Ankara had sought the formation
of a UBP (National Unity Party)- DP (Democratic Party) "coalition
government".
In view of his solidarity with UBP, ANAP (Motherland Party) leader Mesut
Yilmaz, for his part, had involved himself in the developments by
constantly getting in touch with UBP leader Dervis Eroglu on the telephone.
ANAP had declared UBP as a sister political party during former President
Turgut Ozal/s era. Contrary to the wishes of civilian and military offices
in Ankara, Mesut Yilmaz has viewed favourably Eroglu/s proposals on the
formation of a UBP-TKP (Communal Liberation Party) "coalition government".
Let alone maintaining a favourable approach toward the formation of a UBP-
TKP "coalition government", ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz had called Turkish
Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash with the aim of engaging in a delaying tactic.
Later on, Eroglu has handed over to Yilmaz a copy of a "protocol" reached
between UBP and TKP. After expressing to Eroglu his approval of the
"protocol", Yilmaz had called Denktash, saying: "Mr. President, it appears
that these two political parties have reached an understanding. Therefore,
please study the protocol and express your view toward it before an
unfavourable situation emerges on the Cyprus issue".
According to the report, Rauf Denktash had been extremely offended by these
remarks and had then perceived the fact that Yilmaz is acting insincerely.
After learning about the issue, Bulent Ecevit and Suleyman Demirel have
reproached Yilmaz and told him that he was making a mistake.
The report goes on to claim that the present situation is a proof that
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and former President Suleyman Demirel were
right when they said that the formation of the present "government" was a
mistake.
However, civilian and military authorities, especially Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit, are not attaching any importance to the support that Yilmaz
is extending to UBP and Eroglu. Moreover, it is a well-known fact that
Yilmaz does not have an influential role in the Turkish cabinet.
[08] Turkish leaders said divided over Cyprus
A report in Turkish daily HURRIYET (31.7.00) says that disagreement has
emerged at the highest echelon of the Turkish state on various issues.
Differences of opinion are said to exist between the President, Prime
Minister, and the military wing on issues including Cyprus and the EU. This
difference, which has been around for a while, resurfaced at the National
Security Council meeting held in Istanbul last week.
As regards the EU and Cyprus in particular, the report claims that the
military are definitely not in favour of taking any backward step in
Cyprus. And they specifically draw attention to the two letters sent by
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to EU Term President Finalnd/s Prime Minister
Lipponen. The military insists that "Cyprus/ status" cannot be negotiated
in the course of the EU membership. And this view of the military is also
supported from within the government.
Cracks have also appeared inside the Turkish government over the sanctions
in the pseudostate (on withholding aid to Dervis Eroglu/s "government").
Yilmaz is opposing the suggestion to form a "government" of technocrats as
a way of extricating the pseudostate out of the economic crisis because he
believes it will be another "12 March Model" (period of apolitical
governments formed in Turkey from 1971 to 1973 after the warning issued by
the military on 12 March 1971). Whereas, Ecevit and the soldiers believe
that there is no other way out.
[09] Japanese tourists
All of today/s newspapers (3.8.00) refer to the arrival of Japanese
tourists in the occupied area.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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