Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-11-16

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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. 221/00 -- 16.11.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit refers to ``UN plot'' regarding Cyprus.

[02] Turkey/s Gurel promises full support to `TRNC/, Denktash, confederation.

[03] Ecevit letter to EU Premiers claims Cyprus cannot be political criterion.

[04] Turkish Foreign Ministry Assesses EP Report on Turkey.

[05] Turkey/s `Action Plan/ on Accession Partnership Document, Cyprus problem.

[06] Turkey/s Cem asks EU Foreign Ministers to Omit Cyprus from EU Accession Document.

[07] Turkey/s Yilmaz takls to German reporters on Cyprus issue in EU ties.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Columnist warns about Turkish policy on Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit refers to ``UN plot'' regarding Cyprus TRT 1 Television (11:00 hours, 15.11.00) reports that Turkish Prime Minister

``We know that if we are taken in by the tricks of the Western countries, the Turkish Cypriots will face greater disasters than the ones encountered in Sarajevo and Kosovo. We cannot allow that. Not only would the security of the TRNC but that of Turkey would also be threatened. Therefore, we can absolutely not allow that. Greece would then surround Turkey not only from the west but from the south too. The eastern Mediterranean would also be endangered. It is out of the question for us to allow all that.

When our candidacy in the EU was becoming finalized at the 1999 Helsinki summit, we clearly stated that we could not allow a linkage between our candidacy in the EU and the Cyprus problem. We said to them: The Cyprus issue is an issue between the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots, and you must not interfere.

The EU granted us our candidacy aware of our determination regarding this issue. We were also given certain guarantees in this regard. We said yes to the Helsinki criteria but we said that we would accept no other criteria. A tendency is being observed now as if the EU is going back on its word. We absolutely cannot accept or allow that. We keep every promise we make. And we expect every state and every organization to keep the promise it made to us'', Ecevit said.

Commenting on the remarks by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit used harsh words and said that these remarks further complicate the issue.

``The plot that is being hatched is obvious. They are saying that a joint state should be established in Cyprus, a joint state that is inseparable and indivisible. They are saying that there should be a single citizenship in Cyprus, that a large amount of territory should be given to the Greek Cypriots, that since this would not be enough, they say, a large number of Greek Cypriots should be able to go to the north and settle. They are also saying that the Turkish soldiers -- who are the only guarantee for the Turkish Cypriots -- should withdraw from Cyprus. If you look at all this, you will see that certain circles are not willing to have even a federation in Cyprus, let alone a confederation.

None of these imaginary scenarios can be accepted by the Turkish side. Everybody must come to terms with the fact that an agreement cannot be reached so long as the existence of two separate states in Cyprus is ignored. Today, I sent a letter to the ministers of all the EU member countries and all the EU offocoa/s explaining our determination in this respect in all its frankness. The Turkish Cypriots will be free and independent as long as the Turkish Republic exists''.

[02] Turkey's Gurel Promises Full Support to 'TRNC,' Denktas, Confederation Illegal BRTK Television Network (0900 hours 15.11.00) aired live the speech

In his speech, Gurel inter alia said:

``The hurting of peace and stability through the deployment of TOR M1 missiles or the establishment of air and naval bases under the name of the joint defense doctrine in eastern Mediterranean or Cyprus is unacceptable. In line with our contractual and historical responsibilities, we can never allow a return to pre-1974. Nothing can be achieved by ignoring the existing realities in Cyprus or the existence of the TRNC. Today, there exist on the island two separate peoples, democratic orders, and states that are equal in every respect. It is impossible to reach a lasting solution in Cyprus without accepting the existing realities on the island or the equal sovereignty rights of the Turkish Cypriot people. First, the two equal sides must solve the basic problems between them and create together the conditions for a peaceful coexistence on the island. The road to the solution that will be based on the principle of two states passes through the establishment of the equality of their status and mutual trust, and through the lifting of the unjust embargoes. With this understanding, we have supported the proposal Mr. Denktas made on 31 August 1998 for a confederation. I would like to emphasize now that Turkey's active and effective guarantee will continue within such a framework.

If a solution is reached, in other words, if a partnership is established on the basis of a confederation, then in line with the 1960 agreements, Cyprus can only join the EU simultaneously with Turkey. Any attitude to the contrary can only make the division in the island permanent.

Turkey and the TRNC have posited their common views and attitude regarding the Cyprus issue through joint declarations they have issued in recent years. As always, honorable President Denktas has been waging our national cause within the framework of these common views and on extremely constructive and realistic foundations. Mr. Denktas has our full support in this struggle. On behalf of my government, I would like to express our gratitude to him once again.'' He added that as in the past, the Turkish Republic will continue to extend all kinds of aid and support to the ``TRNC'' and stressed Turkey`s unshakable support for the ``TRNC'' once again.

Gurel further said:

``The Middle East Technical University campus -- the cornerstone of which we will lay today -- will be the second largest educational project in the TRNC, after the East Mediterranean University. We will continue to support these projects with all our might, with the aim of raising the number of students in the TRNC to 40,000.

We are aware of the economic difficulties of the TRNC and we follow them closely. As in the past, we will continue to work hand in hand to try to solve these problems. The Turkish Cypriot people will continue to live as independent and sovereign people under the TRNC which it established with its free will. Our cooperation will expand and deepen in every field.

My esteemed president, my dear brothers, concluding my remarks I would like to state this: We will build the future together. As the world of the coming century begins to take form, Turkey emerges as a country of production and investment in the region. With the energy and water terminals on the one hand, and the GAP project of which we are proud on the other, the prosperity of Anatolia, eastern Mediterranean, and Cyprus will integrate. We will share our prosperity as well as our sorrow and joy with the Turkish Cypriot people who are an inseparable part of the Turkish nation. We will march to the future together. The TRNC will be a foundation stone of prosperity and stability in the eastern Mediterranean.''

[03] Ecevit Letter to EU Premiers claims Cyprus Cannot Be Political Criterion Anatolia Agency (15:24 hours, 15.11.00) reports that Turkish Prime Minister

Ecevit said in the letters which he sent to his counterparts in the European Union (EU) member countries that the Accession Partnership Accord generally includes elements which Turkey is ready to fulfil, and this is a positive development for Turkey-EU relations. The unofficial Turkish translation of the letter was distributed to the press.

Stating that they can work to further the mutual initiatives for Turkey`s EU membership, Ecevit emphasized the existence of a point which must certainly be placed in the right frame.

Ecevit continued, ``the point is the inclusion of a paragraph regarding Cyprus in the short term targets chapter of the Accession Partnership Accord. Trying to determine the Cyprus issue as a political criterion for Turkey is not possible within the framework of Helsinki 1999 results of the European Council. In fact, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem made a warning about the Cyprus question in the letter he sent to the foreign ministers of the EU member states and the EU commissioners for enlargement on August 31, 2000.

Cem had said in his letter that Turkey is definitely against setting up a connection between Turkey`s EU membership and Cyprus question. To this end, my government cannot accept such a condition or fulfil it. None of the chapters of the Helsinki conclusions mention Cyprus question as a political criterion for Turkey`s membership. On the contrary, the EU officials guaranteed during the Helsinki Summit that not a new criterion was added to the Copenhagen criteria and that the statements in paragraphs 4 and 9 (a) of the document were not related with the accession criteria but were related with only political dialogue,`` Ecevit said.

Ecevit added, ``this understanding was confirmed verbally and in a written way by the EU during the adoption of the Helsinki conclusions in the Council and during the adoption process of Turkey.``

Ecevit noted that Turkey has supported the good will mission of the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General in Cyprus for years.

``As a guarantor country, we will continue to support the efforts to find a lasting and fair solution by reaching an agreement between the two sides on Cyprus. But, finding a solution and implementing the solution is the responsibility of the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots. The support of a third side to the efforts of the U.N.

Secretary General is not a sufficient condition for these efforts to give a successful result,`` Ecevit said.

Stating that to this end, the Turkish government assumes itself as only liable to the statements includes in the Helsinki results, Ecevit continued, ``the EU Ministers Council should behave in respect to the Helsinki conclusions by being respectful to the same understanding. Thus, it should refrain from turning the Cyprus question into a problem between Turkey and the EU. The EU should not be insistent on setting up a connection between the Cyprus question and Turkey`s candidacy.``

Ecevit said, ``elimination of all references regarding Cyprus from the Accession Partnership Accord will serve to this aim. Such an approach will be beneficial for the relations between Turkey and the EU.``

``This issue carries vital importance if finding a solution to Cyprus question which can be accepted by the two states and two sides on the island is sincerely wanted. I rely on your support in direction of the interests of our people and our common future in the EU,`` Ecevit added.

[04] Turkish Foreign Ministry Assesses EP Report on Turkey Anatolia Agency (17:03 hours 15.11.00) reports that the Turkish Foreign

A Foreign Ministry statement said that the report prepared by Philippe Morillon had some correct approach, but it also included some ``unlucky'' expressions. ``The EP decision talks about withdrawal of Turkey`s soldiers from Cyprus, bringing solution to the so-called Kurdish problem, and the so- called genocide claims on Armenians,'' the Ministry said.

The Ministry said that Turkey does not want the relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) to be taken out from the framework of the Copenhagen criteria.

``Although we have repeated many times that we won`t accept any approach other than the Helsinki declaration, we`ve felt the necessity to underline the importance of this issue once again upon the recent report adopted by the EP,`` the Ministry said.

The EP has assumed an important role in the relations between Turkey and the EU, the Ministry said and noted that the Parliament has to make constructive observations based on real historical data and take objective decisions rather than taking decisions on the history and culture of countries and judging them. This will be beneficial, said the Ministry.

``Some expressions in the resolution of the EP and particularly the claims of genocide stem from the complexes of some regarding history and Turkey and the longing of some others to regard Turkey from the aspect of religious opposition. The expressions were included in the report under the leadership of these people. It is apparent that such initiatives which are also supported by those who don`t know both their history and also Turkey, will be manipulated by those who want to negatively affect the Turkish-EU relations,`` said the Foreign Ministry.

The statement claimed that the reference to the Cyprus issue in the resolution of the EP is an ``unlucky development'' not only for the relations between Turkey and the EU, but also for the proximity talks on Cyprus.

``The permanent peace and stability on Cyprus can only be found by the two states on the island'', it was noted and added that ``we are against any connection between the Turkey`s relations with the EU and the Cyprus issue. We strongly reject the expressions which describe the Turkish forces on the island as invader and the other expressions which demand the withdrawal of them from the island.``

``The Turkish soldiers in TRNC ensure the peace and security on the island by the approval of the TRNC'', said the Ministry.

The statement added that it is not Turkey, but the ``TRNC'' which is the interlocutor concerning issues such as Loizidou case or Strovilia issue. These issues shouldn`t have been included in a decision about Turkey-EU relations, it was claimed.

[05] Turkey's 'Action Plan' on Accession Partnership Document, Cyprus Problem A report in daily SABAH (15.11. 00) says that on the occasion of the 17th

The Foreign Ministry and the Turkey-EU General Secretariat have drawn up an "action plan" in accordance with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's instruction. Meanwhile, Ecevit conveyed a letter to the prime ministers of the EU countries. The draft of the letter was drawn up by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the ambassadors of eight EU countries, including the ambassador of France which is the EU term chairman. Three warning messages were conveyed to them by Logoglu. The ambassadors were informed that the initiatives the Greek Cypriot side has made to join the European Security and Defense Identity [ESDI] made Turkey ``uneasy''. The Greek Cypriot side proposed to assign military units to ESDI and allow Europe to use its seaports and the airport in Paphos.

Considering the London and Zurich Agreements, Ankara claimed that ``the use of the sea ports and airport in south Cyprus is impossible'' and that they can be used only in accordance with a joint decision by the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides.

The second message was related to the effort made to place a draft resolution on the Armenian genocide on the European Parliament's agenda. The eight ambassadors were informed that the effort made Turkey very uneasy.

The most important message was on the Accession Partnership Document. Logoglu reacted to the link that was established between the Cyprus problem and Turkey's accession to the EU. He recalled the promise that was made to Ankara during the Helsinki summit that a link would not be established between the solution of the Cyprus problem and Turkey's accession to the organization.

Ankara will continue to convey similar messages during the next few days. Meanwhile the following initiatives will be made:

[01] Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will meet his counterparts in Marseilles (15.11.00). He will emphasize that the Cyprus problem cannot be

[02] Logoglu will meet, Ambassador Fiis Arne Petersen, Foreign Ministry Secreatry General of Denmark, in Ankara (15.11.00)

[03] Foreign Minister Cem will participate in the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Vienna from 27 to 28 November. That will give him an

[04] The Turkish ambassadors in the EU countries will inform their counterparts on Turkey's views.

[05] President Sezer will call his counterparts and convey letters to them to inform them on Turkey/s approach.

[06] Turkey's Cem Asks EU Foreign Ministers To Omit Cyprus From EU Accession Document

Sources said that Foreign Minister Cem, in those separate meetings, asked the EU foreign ministers to exclude those phrases from the Accession Partnership document that was expected to be approved next week.

Foreign Minister Cem said that the phrases about Cyprus ``overshadowed the EU`s respect to laws.'' Cem stressed that those phrases included legal inconsistencies and contradict the decisions taken at the Helsinki Summit.

Cem said that Turkey couldn`t accept a connection between its EU candidacy and the Cyprus issue.

[07] Turkey's Yilmaz Talks to German Reporters on Cyprus issue in EU ties Anatolia Agency (13:42 hours, 15.11.00) reports that Turkish State Minister

Receiving the German journalists, Yilmaz said that Turkey expected the conditions of Helsinki summit regarding the Cyprus issue to be also valid in the Accession Partnership document, but this didn`t happen.

Yilmaz said that ``the Cyprus issue is an issue which has to be solved between the two peoples living on the island'', adding that bringing the solution in Cyprus as a precondition for Turkey`s EU membership is unacceptable.

Yilmaz stressed that the approach of Turkey regarding the Cyprus issue didn`t change.

Another sensitive issue is minorities, said Yilmaz and noted that the definition of minority is even different among the EU countries. There are only religious minorities within the framework of the Lausanne Treaty, said Yilmaz and listed them as Greeks, Armenians and Jews, adding that the other ethnic groups other than these three are citizens having equal rights.

Yilmaz stressed that they won`t permit the efforts of creating a new minority from the citizens having equal rights.

The Aegean problem between Turkey and Greece carries vital importance, said Yilmaz and added that if Greece increases its territorial waters from 3 miles to 12 miles, the Aegean will turn into a Greek sea, adding this is unacceptable for Turkey.

``The armament of the Dodecanese islands by Greece, the issue of continental shelf, and the transformation of Cyprus into a Greek island all constitute a threat for the security of Turkey'', said Yilmaz and added that Turkey does not only protect the Turks living on the island by defending the Cyprus cause, but it also protects the security of the country.

The problems between Turkey and Greece should be solved through dialogue and independently from the Turkey-EU relations, said Yilmaz, adding that Greece didn`t respond to the call of Turkey regarding this issue.

Yilmaz pointed out that firstly both sides have to be ready to talk about all the problems to find a satisfying solution for both sides.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Columnist warns about Turkish policy on Cyprus Yalim Eralp in his column in MILLIYET (15.11.00) says: ``Cyprus/ inclusion in

I had written earlier. It is neither a goal nor an offside. These are tricks of playing with words. The substance of the issue is Realpolitic that has been continuing since Helsinki.

Subtitle: To use EU as a shield Why shouldn/t Greece use the EU membership advantage? Wouldn/t you do the same? See what we have done in the Islamic Conference Organization (ICO). We submitted draft (proposals) regarding the Cyprus and Western Thrace issues. Despite the fact that nobody pays attention to the ICO.

Subtitle: Confederation-Federation Neither confederation, nor federation. A ``common state'' which is stronger than federation, that is a partnership state. On top of it, in certain sections of the document there are signs of confederation. But, once the common state is established, there is no more secession, nor unification with another country. Someone has to tell this to esteemed Prime Minister (Ecevit), because he is mixing everything up.

Subtitle: Yilmaz/s evaluation The EU is naturally interested in Cyprus. The EU carries negotiations with Cyprus. On the other hand Turkey is only a candidate. Greece is a member. Is it possible for the EU not to be interested? Yilmaz decoded very well the reasons for this interest. However his conclusion is wrong; He says Greece should not use the EU.

Subtitile: What about Ciller Ciller says that the government is not engaging in tough negotiations! Well, very good. Wasn/t she the one who was saying, `I want Customs Union at any cost/! And she was right in saying that. Why is she so enraged then now?

Subtitle: A thin line If we refuse reasonable settlements in Cyprus and Cyprus starts to be seen in Turkey as an stumbling block before EU membership, I am afraid the support of the Turkish people and of the Turkish bureaucracy for the TRNC will start to diminish. On the other hand, the people in the TRNC have started to consider balancing their stance taking the Greek Cypriot side as an example.

It is not impossible to see the signs of this stance: `The syndrome of getting rid of the saviour/ .

Subtitle: Yenimahalle-TRNC The TRNC has one third of the population of one of the counties of Ankara -Yenimahalle. See the results of the assistance we have given to the TRNC over the years, and see our degree of failure!

We have successfully exported all the diseases that Turkey has contracted:

Gangs, bank frauds etc. No one should dare use the TRNC embargo as an excuse to justify the failure. As if 150 thousand people have something to export to 65 million strong Turkey and Turkey does not buy it! For this reason I say: Be ware of the getting rid of the saviour syndrome. TIME IS NOT IN OUR FAVOUR''.

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

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