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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-11-13
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
TURKISH PRESS AND OTEHR MEDIA
[A] NEWS ITEMS
[01] Eroglu: Turkish Cypriots To Assess Situation, Continuing With
Proximity Talks
According to illegal BRTK Television Network(17:30 hours, 11.11.00) in a
statement he issued,so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu pointed out that
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan went back on his 12 September statement,
adding that the "government" will conduct an assessment into the situation.
Eroglu stated that the "government" will assess whether it is beneficial to
continue with the proximity talks after the 20-article oral document Annan
submitted to the sides during the Cyprus talks in Geneva.
Eroglu said the following in his statement: " It is understood from the
document submitted by Annan that the UN Secretariat did not give the
necessary consideration to the detailed position put forward by the Turkish
Cypriots during this process, which was launched in the wake of the
statement issued by Annan on 14 November 1999 inviting both sides to engage
in proximity talks, which were to be held between equal sides and without
any preconditions. By submitting this document, which ignores the existence
of two sovereign states and peoples on the island, Annan has gone back from
the statements he issued on 14 November 1999 and 12 September 2000 at the
opening of the fourth round of proximity talks in New York. Contrary to the
goals expressed in the statements in question, Annan will not be able to
lay the necessary grounds for engaging in meaningful talks, which could
have secured a comprehensive solution.
Annan's remarks such as a common state having one indivisible sovereignty
and a united Cyprus, which will guarantee the basic rights, brings to mind
a unitary structure . The document also contains play on words and gaps
under subheads such as shared authority, security, property, and land
arrangement.
The Turkish Cypriot side will assess whether it is worth continuing with
the proximity talks, which will obviously not yield positive results in the
light of the document, which constitutes a contradiction with the present
process when it says that the relevant UN resolutions and agreements will
be taken into full considerations. In this regard, the Turkish Cypriot side
will determine whether there is any meaning in continuing and participating
in the proximity talks.
It is interesting to note that at the same day that Annan submitted the
document, which caused disappointment among the Turkish Cypriots and which,
even though not binding, encouraged the Greek Cypriot position, Cyprus was
included in the short-term criteria of the EU Accession Partnership
Document in Brussels instead of a brief allusion in the introduction. In
this way, Cyprus became a precondition for Turkey and the Greek Cypriots
were spoilt to intransigence.
It is evident that in addition to the UN Secretariat, which ignored the
Turkish Cypriot side's proposal of confederation, the UN officials insist
on making a connection between two separate issues and exert efforts at
interference even though they have been told on numerous occasions that the
search for a Cyprus solution is not connected to Turkey's EU membership.
It is clear as day that the initiatives launched with an aim at showing
that an entity called (Cyprus Republic) continues, that it has a legitimate
government, and that it should continue by completely disregarding the
equal sovereign status of the Turkish Cypriot people, its institutions
established in line with democratic regulations, and the years of
performance, will not yield positive results.
The Turkish Cypriot people have and will never recognize the fake (Cyprus
Republic), which has always exerted efforts to destroy them. We call on all
concerned circles, mainly the UN Secretariat, to go back from their stand
and give serious consideration to the Turkish Cypriot confederation
proposal, which is the only alternative that can pave the path to
conciliation on the island.
In the event that the goal of the EU and the circles in question is to open
the doors of the EU to the fake (Cyprus Republic) administration with the
pressure of Greece, the Turkish Cypriot side, in turn will against this
policy continue its determination to further deepen its relations with
motherland."
[02] Ecevit on Accession Partnership Document, Says 'No Concession" To Be
Made on Cyprus
SABAH(10/11/00) reports on an interview with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
by Murat Yetkin in Ankara on 9 November. Asked to comment on the inclusion
of Cyprus to the Accession Partnership Document, Ecevit said:
"The document has caused an inconvenience. The Cyprus problem was
emphasized to satisfy Greece. The EU officials made a promise to us in
Helsinki. You will recall that EU officials arrived in Ankara at midnight
to persuade us to agree to the Helsinki document. They promised us that the
Cyprus problem will not be an element in the process for Turkey's
accession. That was put in writing as well. We cannot agree to the way
the problem has been taken up. Furthermore, the fact that it has been
advanced by a year is unacceptable. They cannot achieve a result through
such an approach."
Asked whether Turkey will suspended its relations with the EU as she did in
1997 when she was excluded from the Luxembourg summit, Ecevit replied:
"Strong measures are not necessary because our approach is quite clear. We
explained our viewpoint at various levels when initiatives were made for
the preparation of the document. We will not make concessions on Cyprus."
Ecevit furher claimed:"The document cannot be debated. The process for
Turkey's accession to the EU and the Cyprus problem must not be confused.
Talks are held under UN auspices to solve the problem. We support the
process. So, Turkey's accession to the EU and the Cyprus problem must not
be confused."
Asked whether the present situation will affect the accession process,
Ecevit said:"No, it should not do so. The matter must not be exaggerated.
Turkey has taken measures to fulfill its promises, which are related to the
Helsinki document. It will continue to do so."
[03] Ecevit: Turkey Cannot Accept Cyprus Reference in Accession Partnership
Document
Turkish NTV private channel(1407 hours 11/11/00) aired a live news
conference by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit with unidentified
correspondents at the Prime Minister's Office. During the news conference,
Ecevit inter alia said:
" It is out of the question for Turkey to accept the paragraph on Cyprus
that was included in the document at the last moment. Turkey cannot accept
a connection between the Cyprus issue and the EU candidacy. The Cyprus
issue concerns the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC] and the Greek
Cypriot administration only. Turkey was accepted as a EU candidate even
though its determination on the issue was known.
The letter dated 10 December 1999, which Finland's Prime Minister Mr.
Lipponen sent to me in his capacity as the term president of the Helsinki
Summit, his address at the European Parliament on 10 December 1999, and the
fact that Mr. Solana and Mr. Verheugen came to Ankara on 10 December 1999
in order to hold a meeting with us prove that our stand was understood. I
think, however, that it will beneficial to once again remind the EU
officials of these facts.
The following was said in the letter sent by Mr. Lipponen on behalf of the
EU on 10 December 1999: A political solution to the Cyprus issue continues
to be the goal of the EU. All the important factors concerning the
membership of Cyprus will be taken into consideration once the Council
reaches the stage of adopting a decision. These were the words of Lipponen.
Lipponen's statement means that Turkey's sensitivity on the Cyprus issue
will be taken into consideration."
He further said:
" There is no return from this process. There is no way a conciliation can
be secured without taking into consideration the fact that there are two
separate states in Cyprus. Furthermore, the security of the TRNC cannot be
separated from that of Turkey and even that of eastern Mediterranean
The fact that the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline has been finalized has increased
the importance of peace and security in eastern Mediterranean in terms of
the Turkish Republic.
In the meantime, UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan submitted a paper
under the name of verbal expressions to the sides in Geneva on 8 November.
The Turkish side should not be expected to take seriously the remarks in
this paper. Let alone confederation, this paper is way behind federation
even. A conciliation on the Cyprus issue cannot be secured with an approach,
which disregards the existence of two separate and independent states. For
this reason, I believe TRNC President Mr. Denktas will continue to explain
the Turkish Cypriot views in the next round of the proximity talks with the
full support of Turkey."
[04] Turkey's Yilmaz Assesses EU Accession Partnership Document
Anatolia Agency (2145 hours 09/11/00)reports that Turkish Deputy Prime
Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Thursday that Turkey and the European Union
(EU) have entered into a process of no return in their relations by the
Accession Partnership Accord submitted by the EU Commission.
Yilmaz responded a question regarding the Accession Partnership Accord in a
programme brodcast in private CNN Turk channel.
When asked whether the Accession Partnership Accord was accepted or
rejected, Yilmaz said that the Accession Partnership Accord was a document
of the EU.
Yilmaz noted that Turkey`s acceptance or rejection of this accord is not
important and that the national program which Turkey will prepare by taking
into consideration this accord is important. He added that Turkey`s clear
attitude will be put forward by the publication of the national program.
Yilmaz stated that although the Accession Partnership Accord included one
or two items which concern Turkey, it is a document which takes into
consideration Turkey`s sensitivity.
When asked a question saying, ``the statement of the government said that
`we consider Cyprus question separate.` Will Europe take into consideration
your statement?``, Yilmaz said that they put forward their attitude
regarding the Cyprus question at the Helsinki Summit.
Yilmaz noted that Turkey is requested to extend utmost support to the
political dialogue regarding Cyprus and the initiatives of the United
Nations (U.N.) Secretary General, adding that Turkey is in fact doing this.
There is not any discrimination against Turkey in the EU`s approach to this
issue, Yilmaz stated.
Yilmaz said, ``the EU wants the solution of the Cyprus question. It asks us
to extend support to this end. The EU knows that the Cyprus question cannot
be solved by only our unilateral efforts.``
Stating that the inclusion of Cyprus question in the Accession Partnership
Accord in this way is a change made to satisfy Greece, Yilmaz said, ``but,
a concrete result cannot occur. The support that Turkey can extend to this
issue is equal to the support it has extended so far. We cannot make any
other contributions than that.``
``Turkey will continue to extend the necessary support to the Turkish
Cypriot side. We will not refer to this issue in the national document. We
have announced in the international arena that our former attitude
regarding this issue is still valid and binding for us,`` Yilmaz added.
When Akyol reminded Yilmaz that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas
evaluated the EU`s attitude as hostility against Turkey and success of
Greece, Yilmaz said that he thinks that this is an extreme definition.
Yilmaz noted that he does not agree that this is the success of Greece,
adding that if it is regarded as a success, it is an unreal success.
[05] Cem Tells Annan Turkey Needs To Seriously Reassess Latest Cyprus
Developments
Anatolia Agency (2052 hours 12/11/00)reports that Turkish Foreign Minister
Ismail Cem said on Sunday, ``the Cyprus issue is an important subject. It
can turn into a new Kosovo. We, therefore, are very careful about the
issue.``
Cem who is currently in Qatari capital of Doha to accompany President Ahmet
Necdet Sezer at the Ninth Heads of State and Government Summit of the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), met separately with Rauf Denktas
who is attending the summit as an observer, and with United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Addressing journalists following the meetings, Cem said that he had held a
clear and important meeting with Annan.
Noting that the meeting had taken place within the framework of Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit`s statement on the Cyprus issue and his meeting with
Rauf Denktash, Cem recalled that Annan had explained some opinions to the
sides during the fifth round of proximity talks in Geneva, Switzerland.
He told reporters, ``although it does not have a legal validity, we are not
satisfied with the non-paper submitted to the sides by Annan. I told the
Secretary General that the non-paper does not take into consideration the
Turkish Cypriot side's opinions.``
Cem said, ``the non-paper was synchronous with the phrase included in the
Accession Partnership Accord which was submitted to Turkey last Wednesday
by the European Union (EU) Commission. This situation led us to pay more
careful attention. Turkey, of course, holds consultations with the TRNC. I
told United Nations Secretary General Annan that we needed to seriously re-
assess latest developments on Cyprus issue in detail as a guarantor state.
Although the non-paper is not an official document, it puts forward an
understanding. The Cyprus issue is an important subject. It can turn into a
new Kosovo. We, therefore, are very careful about the issue. We do not
allow Cyprus to become a second Kosovo.``
[06] Talat Urges Turkish Cypriots To Participate in EU Talks, To Stop
'Defying' World
According to illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (11:30 hours, 11.11.00) the Republican
Turkish Party [CTP] has said that it is a patriotic duty to act for the
solution of the Cyprus problem, to demand to participate in the talks
between the EU and Cyprus, and to join in the EU accession process as soon
as possible.
In a written statement he issued, CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat maintained
that the unofficial document posited by the UN secretary general to the
sides need not be rejected totally or accepted totally. He said that rather
than defying the world, the Turkish Cypriots should try to solve the Cyprus
problem.
Talat stressed that the Turkish Cypriots do not want to live under the
conditions that reigned before 1974, and not in Adana or Mersin, but in
their homeland. He charged that once Turkey was accepted as a EU candidate,
the solution of the Cyprus problem became inevitable. The EU does not want
problems among its club members, he said, adding: "No matter how much we
try to separate Turkey/s membership in the DEU from the Cyprus problem, the
two cannot really be separated".
Furthermore, according to illegal Bayrak Radio (16:30 hours, 10.11.00)
Talat has also said that all the developments that have recently taken
place regarding the Cyprus problem show that the problem must be resolved
as soon as possible. He said: "The developments show that the Cyprus
problem must be resolved immediately or as soon as possible and that the
island should be reunited in order to join the EU."
Speaking during his meeting with the Czech ambassador last Friday, Talat
noted that by saying very clearly that Cyprus will most probably join the
EU by the end of 2002, the EU Commission/s Cyprus report is encouraging the
sides to solve the problem and giving out the message that the Turkish
Cypriots must also participate in the membership process.
The CTP leader maintained that the EU membership process is not fair
because the Turkish Cypriot side is not taking part in it. Talat charged
that the omission of the Turkish Cypriots from the negotiations will create
certain important problems in the future. Therefore, he said, the Turkish
Cypriots' participation in the negotiations is inevitable. "This is one of
greatest problems at the moment. Time is running out. My party believes
that the Turkish Cypriots must participate in these talks as soon as
possible. If they do not, certain unexpected developments may take place,"
he warned.
Talat pointed out that EU Commission's Cyprus report mentions the Loizidhou
case too. He said that if Cyprus joins the EU before the solution of the
Cyprus problem, the Greek Cypriots will become members unilaterally, only
they will sign the membership agreement, and they will bring more cases
like the Loizidhou case to the EU, thus making the ownership issues in
Cyprus even more difficult to solve. Talat warned that this will lead to
further tension between the two sides.
The Czech ambassador said that his Embassy is trying to bring about a
rapprochement between the two sides. He noted that he wanted to hear
Talat's views on the EU issue. He concluded by saying that a Czech
delegation will conduct research on the issue of cultural heritage in the
occupied area of Cyprus on Sunday (12 November).
[07] Turkish Cypriot Paper on Possible Changes in pseudostate/s Political
Balances
A report in Halkin Sesi (4/11/00) quotes "reliable political sources" that
have indicated that the political balances will be shifted in the
pseudostate in the coming days and that a number of so-called deputies will
take part in a new political formation that is likely to emerge soon. The
same political sources have said that DP [Democratic Party] leader Serdar
Denktas will resign as party leader (Tr. Note: Serdar Denktash actually
resigned on 6 November) and that he will transfer his position to "Deputy
Assembly Speaker" and experienced politician Salih Cosar.Moreover, rumours
have circulated to the effect that a number of UBP [National Unity Party]
"deputies" are preparing to resign from their party in order to take part
in the new political formation.
A number of UBP "deputies" have criticized the leaders of the political
parties forming the present "coalition government" for violating the same
economic package that they have prepared.
According to political sources, independent "Deputy" Nurten Hudaverdioglu
and independent "deputy" Gulboy Beydagli will reportedly also take part in
the new political formation. Meanwhile, the position that "deputy" Kenan
Akin will take with respect to the new formation has not been made known
yet. Akin had earlier resigned from DP and is presently acting as an
independent "deputy".
It has been learned that DP Leader Serdar Denktas has repeatedly been
telling his close circles in recent days that he intended to resign as
party leader. According to Serdar Denktas' close circle, Serdar Denktas has
decided to resign mainly to pave the way before his father Rauf Denktas and
to put an end to rumors to the effect that Rauf Denktas intends to bring
his son to power as "Prime Minister". Meanwhile, reacting positively to
news about Serdar Denktas' decision to resign as party leader, DP circles
have expressed the view that "this would be a very favorable development."
In remarks about Serdar Denktas' decision to resign as party leader, a
number of CTP [Republican Turkish Party] "deputies" have noted that they
are pleased with this decision, saying: "Although this is a delayed
resignation, it is a favorable development in terms of paving the way
before this country." Meanwhile, noting that they will accept any task that
is entrusted to them within the new political formation, a number of CTP
"deputies" have stressed that they are open to any eventuality.
Meanwhile, it has been learned that there is an atmosphere of tension
within UBP and that eight UBP "deputies" are favorably disposed toward the
new political formation.
Political circles in Ankara, for their part, have said that they are
closely following the developments in the pseudostate and that they are
aware of the new political formation.
Meanwhile, it has been learned that Ankara has felt unease regarding
reports to the effect that the Eroglu "government" has violated the same
economic package that it has prepared and that a number of "Ministers" have
made statements regarding these violations. These violations have
reportedly been committed during the time when talks were being held in
Geneva. As it is known, Ankara was displeased with the Eroglu "government"
ever since its formation..
Meanwhile, the endeavor of a number of UBP "deputies" to openly express
their uneasiness toward the party has strengthened the belief that it is a
matter of a short time before the new formation comes into being. News
about Ankara's unease toward the current situation in the pseudostate has
been seen as one of the factors behind the efforts to resort to the new
formation as early as possible.
[08] 'Deputy' Kenan Akin Joins 'Nationalist Justice Party' Illegal Bayrak
Radio 1 (11:30 hours, 12.11.00) reports that Kenan Akin who
had resigned from the Democratic Party a while ago and was serving as an
independent "deputy", has announced that he was joining the MAP.
(Nationalist Justice Party).
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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