Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-11-30

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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. 231/00 -- 30.11.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on conditions to resume talks.

[02] Denktash says UN should reveal new approach for new basis.

[03] Denktash: All concerned on Cyprus issue should know Turkish guarantee untouchable.

[04] Turkish Foreign Ministry rejects claims Dentkash does not want Cyprus solution.

[05] Turkish Cypriot Union criticizes Denktash/s withdrawal from talks.

[06] `New Democracy Party/ to be officially announced 12 December.

[07] Eroglu says general strike not solution.

[08] Conference.

[09] Denktash meets Swiss Ambassador.

[10] Turkey - ``TRNC'' joint economic committee meetings.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] Columnist warns against Turkey/s alienation from Europe.

[13] Turkish military said upset over Cyprus inclusion in ESDI.

[15] Turkish columnist criticizes Ankara/s and Denktash/s reactions.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on Conditions To Resume Talks Illegal BRTK Television Network (19:50 hours, on 28.11.00) carries a 60-min

Answering interviewer Mete Tumerkan's questions on Ankara decision to withdraw from the Cyprus talks, Rauf Denktash says that the decision was not rash and haphazard, as at the 5th round of the proximity talks the Turkish side had already realized that the talks have come to an "impasse" because the UN Secretary-General, in breach of the spirit of his 12 September statement, was advancing a unitary state as a solution and confining the talks to the framework of his own views. Rauf Denktash adds that had the Turkish side not put a stop to this process, it would have amounted to empowering the UN Secretary-General to impose his views on the Turkish side.

Rauf Denktash specifically objects to the provision in the UN proposal that an eventual solution should be compatible with the EU norms. "But this is what Clerides wants," Rauf Denktash says, adding that by joining the EU the Greek Cypriots hope to do away with the guarantee agreement and restrictions on settlement and ownership. Denktash adds: "I cannot say yes to this. It is out of question. This is a return to the pre-1974 era."

Referring to UN's call for the next round of proximity talks in January or February, Rauf Denktash says: "Why should I go? I have already said everything I had to. We put down our demands on volumes of paper in great detail. But they did not even look at them," instead the UN insists, mistakenly, on seeing one sovereign and independent Cyprus Republic in which two misbehaving communities have to be reconciled.

Rauf Denktash says if now the UN Secretary-General returns to his 12 September statement that will not be enough, "because now I will insert into that 12 September statement my sovereignty, equality, and equal status."

Further on Rauf Denktash adds: "Let me tell you something: If the talks do not proceed along the lines you want, if it takes an opposite turn from where you cannot manoeuvre back, then it is the duty of the negotiator to withdraw from the talks. But withdrawal does not mean total rejection of talks. It means calling on the opposite side to reconsider the conditions under which the negotiations are held. Where do you [UN] want to take me? I want to reach a specific point. Come to me with a formula that will take me to the point I want. I will then discuss that formula with you. Later on you can bring the Greek Cypriots in too to give opportunity for face-to- face talks."

When asked under what conditions the Turkish Cypriots would return to the talks, Rauf Denktash replies: "Equality, sovereignty, recognition of the existence of our state, or the recognition of the fact that the Greek Cypriots are not our state and government, and the equal treatment of the units [the sides] by the international community."

Referring to criticism by certain Turkish commentators that Denktash is jeopardizing the future of Turkey, Rauf Denktash says these commentators are not familiar with the "Byzantine tricks" of the Greek Cypriots, adding that the Ankara decision was taken with the awareness that Cyprus is important for Turkey as well.

Asked to comment on US Secretary of State Albright's annoyance at not being forewarned about the Ankara decision, Rauf Denktash says: "Who was going to forewarn? If she means Turkey, then this question concerns Turkey, it is not my job. If she is complaining about us not having talked to her, she is someone who does not take us into account anyway. They have done nothing but pressure us through their ambassadors. Whenever we complain that the UN Secretary-General should not act the way he is acting, the Americans, the British, and the whole lot of them come to tell us that our worries are unfounded and that the UN path will actually take the Turkish Cypriots to a good destination. Please, stop, we, not you, are going to live in this country and we are well aware with whom we are going to live. And the most reliable measure against the Greek Cypriots, I repeat, is this:

We want the creation of a situation that would not allow the Greek Cypriots to tell the world that their treatment of the Turkish Cypriots is simply their internal affair. And this is only possible by state-to-state relation. Any other written agreement would give this sort of opportunity to the Greek Cypriots, who would love to use it. This is what exactly the Greek Cypriots would do if they manage to dilute the guarantee agreement by bringing in a multinational police force with our consent."

Commenting on Alvaro De Soto's scheduled visit to the island on 4 December and his intention to invite the sides to a meeting in January, Rauf Denktash says: "But we already told him in Geneva that he should not hurry, because we still have to decide whether or not to attend the meeting. But if despite that he still says he wants to see me in January, it means that he is not showing due respect to us. On top of it he does not understand our difficulty, does not share our policy, but simply says, 'I am telling you and you will have to come.' But does my people deserve such a treatment. Must we go to every invitation by wagging our tail? What is this? Do we have no will? Do we have no right of say? Do we have no right to assess the talks? They not only want us to go there they also want us to accept the following: They will produce a final document and tell us it is the agreement, which we can accept or refuse. They tell me that I have the right to reject it. But I will get the blame if I enter this path, if I walk along with you [UN] in this path where you have the right to make a proposal but not I, and if you finally make a decision and issue a statement to the effect that the Turkish side has rejected UN Secretary- General's proposal. That is what I am trying to prevent."

Noting that the return of the Greek Cypriots to their property is one of the issues that the Turkish side will never discuss, Rauf Denktash says: "Take the issue of the Greek Cypriots' return to their property. We are not rejecting the right to property. We are not saying we have usurped these rights. We are telling them that the property that we have left on the Greek Cypriot side should be given to the Greek Cypriot refugees, and if that is not sufficient we are also willing to pay compensation. In short, we want a redistribution of property. Why? Because we have made population exchange. But the Greek Cypriots want to join the EU to void the population exchange. They say even the population exchange is incongruent with the EU norms. How strange! It amounts to attempting to bring brawling people together, neutralize the guarantor that protects one of them, and then wait on the sidelines and watch them throttle each other."

Rauf Denktash says according to the assessment of the Turkish officials in Ankara, Turkish Cypriots need two years to come out of the economic crisis.

Asked about the fire at the AVRUPA newspaper, Rauf DenktasH says acts of violence cannot be condoned. But he also adds: "There is mention of Avrupa's printing machine. That machine was going to be auction off by bailiffs within the next few days to settle debts owed to me. It could be that rather than giving it to Denktash they may have burned it down. This is a possibility. The police is continuing the investigation."

[02] Denktash Says UN Should Reveal New Approach for New Basis Anatolia Agency (17:26 hours, 29.11.00) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader

Rauf Denktash said, ``we have not fled from the table. We say the talks ended. The talks were to prepare a basis. The basis could not be prepared. The basis meant to bring the sides on the same line and make them to talk the same things. We saw that the things began to slide on the opposite side. Then, we will stop here.``

Alleging that during the talks which took place to prepare a basis, they brought him to a point that would make him the servant of President Clerides, Denktash aid, ``nobody has the right to impose us an agreement. There is bloodshed in places wherever this happened. They did this in Kosovo, there is bloodshed there. They did it in Palestine, there is bloodshed there. You can not make people to accept anything by force.``

Denktash said representatives of countries which mediated, told him that, ``we don't recognize your state, and we will not,`` adding that, ``if this is so, why did they talk the fifth round with us. They knew that I would go to talk about the state and the confederation. It is time to resist and protect our rights. It is not the time to sit at the table with our eyes closed. We protected these and will continue to do so.``

Denktash said they would be in an effort to promote the pseudostate, adding that ``we don't have any other solution. First of all, we ourselves should believe that we are right in this respect.``

[03] Denktash: All Concerned on Cyprus Issue Should Know Turkish Guarantee Untouchable

Denktash met Donald Bandler, the U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus.

Denktash said that they started the fifth round of Cyprus proximity talks without any conditions but that they decided to withdraw from the talks because United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan put forward proposals which could not be accepted by the Turkish Cypriot side.

``The formation of a new partnership in equal status which would represent the two sides on Cyprus, was proposed in the previous talks, Denktash noted.

Denktash stated that they welcomed this proposal, but that an attitude which removed this formula was assumed in the fifth round of proximity talks.

Donald Bandler said that his country supports the proximity talks, adding that they think that dialogue is the best way to find a solution to Cyprus question.

Meanwhile, Denktash left for Istanbul yesterday.

After attending a television program in Istanbul, Denktash will return on Friday.

[04] Turkish Foreign Ministry Rejects Claims Denktash Does Not Want Cyprus Solution

Evaluating the statements of the opposition Republican Turkish Party (CHP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat, a Foreign Ministry official said that the claims of Talat don't reflect the truth.

``It is Mr. Denktash who wants most to have a solution on the island,`` alleged the official and stressed that none of Denktash` views were taken into consideration in the non-paper submitted by the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to both sides. ``This paper even foresees establishment of a unitary state in Cyprus by taking a step back even from the federation,'' said the official.

[05] Turkish Cypriot Union Criticizes Denktash ' s Withdrawal From Talks A report in KIBRIS (28.11.00) says that TURK-SEN, the Turkish Cypriot

In a written statement he has made regarding the matter, TURK-SEN Chairman Onder Konuloglu has said that they expect from Rauf Denktash to find out the demands made by the people who have taken to the streets if he wants to maintain unity within the country. TURK-SEN has added that they expect Rauf Denktash to bring the Cyprus problem into the negotiation table in line with these demands.

Accusing Denktash of making his decisions under the guidance of the Turkish government, Konuloglu has said: "If President Denktash continues to bring his personal weariness to the negotiation table, then another negotiator will be found who can represent the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community equally before everyone, who believes in peace in the same way that the people believe in this peace, and who is dynamic and determined in bringing about peace."

Arguing that the statement that Denktash has made in the airport on the reasons behind his withdrawal from the talks contradicts with the statement he has made in Ankara regarding the same issue, Konuloglu has said that the misunderstandings that have erupted between the EU and Turkey over the Accession Partnership Document are the main reason behind Denktash' decision to withdraw from the negotiation table.

Stating that Denktash performs his functions in line with the decisions made by another state, Konuloglu has said that Denktash must refrain from maintaining such behavior, adding: "While claiming that he is the guardian of his country, President Denktash has presented to his own people as a fait accompli a decision that he has made in another country's capital together with the officials of that country without asking the opinion of his people."

Meanwhile, Konuloglu has stressed that the differences of views with the Greek Cypriot side cannot be used as a pretext for withdrawing from the talks since the main aim of these talks is to eliminate these differences of views.

[06] 'New Democracy Party' To Be Officially Announced 12 December KIBRIS (Internet Version , 25.11.00) reports that the New Democracy Party

The YDP Central Secretariat, which is preparing to take its place in the right group and which has endorsed "liberalizm" [liberalism] as its principle, has indicated that the party is determined to spread democracy throughout the grassroots and that they want to set up the membership structure of the party having this aim in mind.

Reminding that they have earlier planned to officially announce the establishment of the party on 15 November 2000, party officials have said that they decided to postpone this announcement due to their preoccupation with the setting up of the party's membership structure.

YDP officials will officially announce the establishment of the party following a news conference that they will hold on 12 December at their headquarters in the building that used to belong to the former "Association of Bulgarian Refugees." Its emblem consist of a clover.

In a statement it had made earlier to Kibris, the YDP Central Secretariat had said: "This movement is not and will not be a separatist movement that a number of power centers try to introduce out of their fear over their positions. This movement is made up of courageous people who are ready to confront those who put the country and the people in danger with their separatist moves and behaviour for the sake of their personal positions and financial gains."

[07] Eroglu says general strike not solution YENIDUZEN (30.11.00) reports that 41 NGO/s have announced that on 4

In addition, illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (11:30 hours, 29.11.00) reports that so- called prime minister Dervis Eroglu has stated that the current economic situation in the occupied area necessitates certain measures, adding that the ``government'' was forced to take these measures for a better future. Assessing the decision of 41 organizations to stage an indefinite strike as of 4 December 2000, Eroglu said that if the decision to stage a general strike is implemented the ``government'' will assess the situation and, if necessary, will take measures.

He added: ``We received threats, not proposals. Unions, as the democratic institutions of this country, should come up with alternative proposals. It is not sufficient to just oppose. Those who oppose should present alternative views. Strikes are not the solution''.

[08] Conference KIBRIS (24.11.00) reports that the ``East Mediterranean University (DAU),''

Many scholars from USA, Canada and Germany will take part in the conference.

[09] Denktash meets Swiss Ambassador KIBRIS (30.11.00) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had a

In a statement prior to the meeting, Streuli said that he is pleased that part of the proximity talks were held in Geneva since his country could not contribute in any other way.

[10] Turkey - ``TRNC'' joint economic committee meetings According to BIRLIK (30.11.00) the meetings of the Turkey-``TRNC'' so-called

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] Columnist Warns Against Turkey's Alienation From Europe Taha Akyol, writing in MILLIYET (28.1100) inter alia says:

Naturally, the Government had to react to the EU approach on the Cyprus problem and the Aegean disputes. However, its reaction was excessive. None of the diplomatic experts supported it.

Sukru Elekdag, a respected Milliyet columnist who writes about political developments and security, yesterday warned that `such an excessive reaction might put Turkey's main objectives at risk and create unnecessary headaches./

Turkey is the 88th country on the UN Human Development Index! Achieving industrialization as peasants was impossible in the past. Greater economic results cannot be achieved in the "new economic and global" era with our level of human development at the present time.

In his article in Radikal yesterday, Prof. Eser Karakas noted: Countries like Greece, Portugal, and Spain were almost at the same level with Turkey in the 1960s. However, they are among the leading 25 countries now. Turkey is listed as the 88th country.

The main reason for their development is their integration with Europe. Turkey cannot become a national force in the world by remaining within its national borders and holding on to its limited perspectives. Nor can it become a central country in the Turkic world. In fact, the leaders of the Turkic countries said many times that Turkey would be more effective if it becomes a part of Europe... Without Europe, it will be impossible for Turkey to establish balances against Russia, which will pull itself together in 10 years. Let alone establishing the necessary balances, Turkey will even find it difficult to maintain internal peace.

The military forces' anxiety that accession to the EU might divide Turkey have caused concern to a certain extent. In fact, Elekdag asked: "Have the military fears and approach worsened the problem?"

A recent statement by Gen. Nahit Senoglu, Commander of the War Academies, might be taken as a response to Elekdag's question. He said: `We are expected to sacrifice our unitary structure for the sake of individual rights and freedoms.../

So, the military forces are worried about that. No Government can ignore the Army to make a decision in Turkey, that is, apart from deciding to hold a referendum. However, what should be noted is: None of the criteria included in the Accession Partnership Document conflicts with the principle of unitary state. A `unitary state/ and a `monolithic state/ are two different structures. Even Spain, which is made up of autonomous ethnic components, is a `unitary state./

Naturally, Turkey will not relinquish the principle of unitary state. Nor will it agree to the establishment of autonomous ethnic components. Meanwhile, it must be noted that an EU criterion that requires it to change its approach does not exist.

Turkey must not lose or weaken its perspective on Europe. The fate of the nations that remain outside the framework of industrialization is common knowledge. Considering the drive for `global integration/ in our time, it will be useful to say that poverty, authoritarian pressure, communal reaction, and internal unrest will increase if Turkey remains outside Europe.''

[77] Turkish Military Said Upset Over Cyprus Inclusion in ESDI Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli, writing in STAR (29.11.00) says:

The decision was linked to the inclusion of the Cyprus and Aegean issues as conditions in the EU's Accession Partnership Document [APD] for Turkey. However even more ominous developments that concern Ankara are under way in the EU. The military is following those developments most closely. At the Cankaya meeting Chief of the General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu spoke in favor of the TRNC's withdrawal from the talks. Gen. Kivrikoglu's sally actually shows his indignation with EU countries that are interfering in the affairs of the Turkish Armed Forces and the Cyprus question by turning the latter into a `EU problem./

Kivrikoglu's ire was prompted more by the `European Army/ that the EU is forming than the APD. That is because while Turkey was busy with the Cyprus and Aegean issues in the APD, EU foreign ministers quietly took another decision.

They excluded Turkey from the decision-making mechanisms of the European Security and Defense Initiative [ESDI] that is being formed by the EU. More ominously, despite Turkey's vehement objections, they included the Greek Cypriots in the European Army they plan to form.

It was this decision that prompted the soldiers' reaction. While trying to join the ESDI Turkey was also trying to exclude the Greek Cypriots by taking advantage of its NATO membership. Turkey's position was: `EU candidates that are not NATO members should not be included in the European Army./

However that did not work. At Greece's insistence the Greek Cypriots were included in the European Army as a `candidate state./ The Europeans told Turkey: `We accepted the Greek Cypriots. If you want you can also join the European Army/.

The meeting at Cankaya was held under the shadow of the prospect that `Turkish and Greek Cypriot soldiers can fight on the same side./ For that reason Gen. Kivrikoglu's support for Denktas was not at all surprising.

Now Turkey faces the Nice summit of December 7. Turkey will try to change the decision of the EU foreign ministers at Nice. While the civilian wing tries to remove the Cyprus and Aegean conditions from the APD, the soldiers will lobby for the ESDI.

British, Italian Support

Actually Turkey will not be as lonely as is thought in Nice. Britain is expected to support Turkey especially on ESDI. Support on the Cyprus and Aegean issues will come from an unexpected source, Italy. Massimo D'Alema, the same Italian prime minister who admires [Workers Party of Kurdistan leader Abdullah] Ocalan, has already signalled to Ankara that `he will work hard to block the Greek demands./ The British and the Italians will try to settle the dispute at the EU Ministerial Council meeting before the Nice summit in a way that will not offend Turkey. Even if they cannot resolve the problem they will try to gain time by postponing the approval of the APD.

France, the term president of the EU, wants these issues resolved at the Ministerial Council meeting on December 4 before the summit. Bulent Ecevit has been invited to the Nice summit as the `prime minister of a candidate nation./ However whether Ecevit goes to Nice will be based on the decision of the EU ministers on December 4.

France believes that a summit `without Ecevit/ would be a serious failure during its term of presidency. For this reason it wants to put the dispute "in the freezer." Actually not only France and the EU, but Turkey also realizes that the problem cannot resolved before the Nice summit. It is considered virtually certain that the resolution of this dispute will be postponed until the term presidency of Sweden. That means that the losers will be the Turkish people. The Turkish government that has not done anything since Turkey was declared a "candidate" at the Helsinki summit will now suspend its efforts aimed democratization and improvement of human rights. I remember a remark by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem: `Even Bulgaria began full membership talks two years after it was declared a candidate. As Turkey's foreign minister, I could not tolerate to wait for more than two years./

The developments have taken such a bad turn that Turkey will evidently wait for many years before it can start full membership negotiations let alone become a full member.''

[163] Turkish columnist criticizes Ankara/s and Denktash/s reactions Ilter Turkmen, writing in HURRIYET (30.11.00), says that in ``the TRNC the

majority of the people know what they want. They want Turkey/s effective guarantorship in order not to live through the bitter experiences of 1964- 74, and at the same time to secure the social and economic benefits of EU membership.

It is extremely difficult to say that at the Ankara summit meeting held on 24 November, with the participation of TRNC President Denktash, common sense and logic prevailed. The issues were mixed up, and a defiant policy has been adopted that could boomerang and backfire.

In fact, Ankara and Nicosia should have demonstrated their reaction not together but separately.

The proper respondent to the Accession Partnership Document submitted by the EU was Ankara, and again on the same date the proper respondent for the ideas put forward by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to the sides was the TRNC. So, while Turkey could have taken initiatives within the EU, Denktash should have answered to Annan not in Ankara but in Nicosia. In that case no one would miss the relation between the two reactions.

And this was also going to give Turkey the chance not to enter into a path where demonstrating flexibility is very difficult.

Unfortunately the affair did not end there. After the summit, Prime Minister Ecevit made a statement, thus adding a strategic dimension to the issue. He aggrandised the mistake by uttering words which are tantamount to saying that for the security of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, the non-solution of the Cyprus problem and the continuation of the TRNC/s present status should prevail.

Let us think a little bit: It is almost clear in which security parameters the Cyprus problem will be settled. The Treaty of Guarantee and the Turkish military presence in the north which will act as the trigger of the Treaty of Guarantee will be maintained. There will be Greek troops in the south as well. Apart from these forces Cyprus will not maintain its armed forces. Britain will continue to have its bases.

In this situation, how can a threat against the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline come from Cyprus?

Will it came from the British Bases? Or is it Greece that will attack an installation which is supported by the USA and the West for energy security?. Is Egypt a potential danger, with which Turkey plans to connect with a LPG pipeline? Or is it Syria? She is our neighbour, we do not need the Mediterranean to strengthen Syria. There is another possibility - what will happen if Russia dispatches her fleet? If that is the case, will the USA Sixth Fleet be a mere observer?

Another point; don/t you think that if we oppose a settlement in Cyprus, the USA support for the Baku-Ceyhan project might diminish?

Is it reasonable to push the USA to make a choice?

I would like to dwell upon another sorry side of the Ankara Summit. Since the Chief of the General Staff attended the meeting the rumours that the Turkish Armed Forces are against the EU membership and a settlement in Cyprus gained new momentum. I do not believe that the Turkish Armed Forces adopted such a stance. I was minister during the 12 September period and at that time the soldiers, in order not to be excluded from Europe and in order to follow a policy of achieving a reasonable settlement in Cyprus, they fully extended their support to this policy.

It is impossible that the Armed Forces do not to know that unless political and economic security is safeguarded, military security does not carry much value.

I have started considering more and more the proposal made by Mehmet Ali Irtecelik, for holding a referendum regarding the EU membership in order to be able to come out of this confusion of ideas and concepts. It is time to listen to be people/s voice.''

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

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