Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-12-04

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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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash holds briefing, says proximity talks process exhausted itself.

[02] Denktash on withdrawal decision: It is time to say stop to the game.

[03] Denktash: Talks will stop if Greek Cypriots join EU security dimensions.

[04] Talat interviewed on solution, economy, Denktash.

[05] De Soto - Cem meeting.

[06] De Soto says Annan invited President Clerides, Denktash.

[07] Akinci on Denktash/ withdrawal from talks on Cyprus problem.

[08] Ertugruloglu: Proximity talks ended, no question of attending 6th round.

[09] Denktash interviewed on Cyprus issues.

[10] Turkey hopes UN to establish basis in line with ``TRNC'' parameters.

[11] ``TRNC'' decision said to have caused liquidity crisis in financial market.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[12] Turkish academics express contrasting views on Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas Holds Briefing, Says Proximity Talks Process Exhausted Itself

Speaking at a meeting held at the ``Presidential Palace'', Denktash gave information to representatives of political parties having ``seats'' at the so- called Parliament, former ``foreign ministers'' and bureaucrats on the decision about withdrawal from the proximity talks and the latest developments about the Cyprus issue.

Meanwhile, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) did not attend the meeting as a protest to Denktas' decision to withdraw from proximity talks.

Stating that the proximity talks process had reached a level which was not beneficial to interests of the Turkish Cypriot side, Denktas said that they had started the proximity talks without any precondition but the form put forward by the United Nations Secretary General included preconditions.

Denktas said, ``we will not enter the European Union (EU) if they do not recognize our sovereignty. All problems should be solved between the two sides on the island to become a full member of the EU.``

He added: ``we can attend the negotiations as a sovereign nation and state. If they do not accept our sovereignty, we do not have the intention to lose our sovereignty and state through negotiations. We have put forward our opinions with good will.``

[02] Denktas on Withdrawal Decision: It Is Time To Say Stop To The Game Anatolia Agency (11:45 hours, 3.12.00) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader

Alleging that a game was being played in the proximity talks process, Denktas said, ``it is time to say stop to the game they are playing.``

Claiming that they did not escape from the negotiation table but the table had been taken away from them, Denktas said, ``we told them every thing, but they did not take into consideration us. The new process should be a way which do not lead us to abyss.``

Denktas stated, ``the fifth round of proximity talks was held in Geneva, Switzerland. But the proximity talks misled us. On every occasion, we told it to the government and Turkey. Our proposals were ignored in the process. Glafcos Clerides, the leader of Greek Cypriot administration, said before that they attended the proximity talks tactically. The Greek Cypriot side`s European Union (EU) process has been continuing. They have allocated an airbase to Greece. They have been also continuing their armament. They consider Turkish Cypriots as a minority on the island. Now, we should say stop to all these developments.``

``We attended the proximity talks without any precondition. But the form which was put forward by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan in Geneva on November 8 includes preconditions. We cannot accept them. The Greek Cypriots are continuing their policy to take whole Cyprus. The proximity talks process ended. The new process should be a way which do not lead us to abyss. I did not take the decision to withdraw from the proximity talks on my own. The government has also decided that the proximity talks process ended. Turkey supported our decision,`` he emphasized.

Denktas said, ``we will collect the opinions which were put forward by the United Nations during the proximity talks process, in a book, and distribute it both in Turkish and English languages.``

He added, ``we did not escape from the negotiations, but we will not use our state as a bargaining element.``

[03] Denktas: Talks Will Stop if Greek Cypriots Join EU Security Dimension Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (11:30 hours, 1. 12.00) reports that Turkish Cypriot

In his statement upon arrival, Denktas recalled that the proximity talks had been launched without any preconditions in order to lay the grounds for the face-to-face comprehensive negotiations. Denktas added: ``It is unacceptable that in the end the UN secretary general presented an approach as though the grounds for face-to-face talks with the Greek Cypriot side were already laid.'' Noting that they were faced with such a fait accompli on the same day that the EU adopted the Cyprus issue as a criteria, Denktas continued:

``We were told that we cannot add anything from the outside and that we can only express our views within this framework. We were also told that the comprehensive agreement will be presented to us if we continue with this exercise.'' Explaining that certain sectors were insisting on a bizonal federation, Denktas stressed: ``It should be known, however, that this kind of a federation, which is what the Greek Cypriots want, is along the lines of the EU norms''.

Stressing that the talks between the ``two states'' will stop if the Greek Cypriots join the EU security dimension and that the walls will rise even higher, Denktas added: ``This is tantamount to pitting Turkey against the EU. In other words, this is nothing but efforts to turn Cyprus into Greece by excluding Turkey with claims that it is occupying EU territory''.

Denktas added: ``Before we put our signature, the existence of the state and the fact that the Greek Cypriots are not our government should be accepted. It should be known that nothing will be gained by putting the pressure on Turkey.''

[04] Talat Interviewed on Solution, Economy, Denktas CNN TURK Television carried a studio interview with Mehmet Ali Talat, leader

In reply to a question on why he criticized Rauf Denktas' decision to withdraw from the proximity talks, Talat says that "it is a vitally wrong and dangerous decision."

In reply to a question on whether Denktas' decision was tactical and whether Turkey seeks in this way to have an upper hand at the negotiation table, Talat says: "This tactic, however, is a mistake." Talat adds that it is the "first time in the history of the Cyprus issue that its solution is linked to timetable" and adds that the EU enlargement process makes it imperative that this issue be resolved as soon as possible.

Talat continues by explaining that "Cyprus will become a EU member" if it is always the Turkish Cypriot side that withdraws from talks and "if it is the Turkish Cypriot side that poses obstacles."

Upon being reminded that he [Talat] has been claiming that Denktas does not want a solution, Talat says: "Mr. Denktas has taken a vow not to resolve the Cyprus issue. Furthermore, he would have been able to pursue these policies if the conditions now were similar to those before Helsinki." Explaining that Denktas panicked when Turkey became a EU candidate in Helsinki, Talat adds: "Denktas is now using all the means in his hands in order to prevent Turkey's EU membership."

In reply to a question on whether the talks were a waste of time, Talat says that the talks could not have been a waste of time since the UN submitted a paper on security, constitutional and administrative issues, border arrangement, and exchange of property. In reply to the question on whether there was progress in the talks, Talat says: "Of course." He explains that it goes without saying that there was progress since the UN secretary general himself said that he only put his thoughts on paper and that he wanted the reactions to these thoughts before drawing the final document.

In reply to a question on whether Talat can envisage giving up the principle of political equality, Talat says: "No. No. This is one of our main demands." Talat adds that they will never give up on Turkey's guarantorship, "because" he says "the majority of the Turkish Cypriot people support this guarantorship.

Talat explains that "Denktas seeks to close the doors of the EU for Turkey, because the Cyprus question should be resolved if Turkey advances on the way to EU." Talat continues by recounting that Denktas, who is 75 years old and who has lived through the Cold War, uses the same tactics and cannot adapt to the world of mutual interdependency.

In reply to a question on how he would solve the Cyprus issue if he was ``president'', Talat says the following: "I would not have endangered the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. In my opinion, Turkey's EU membership is very important. It is important for the Turkish nation and people. I believe that Europe is also interested in Turkey's membership." Talat says that the EU is justified in making demands on Turkey, because any membership in a club involves complying with that club's conditions.

In reply to why the Turkish Cypriots cast their votes for Denktas, Talat says that the Turkish Cypriots are most worried about their security and they consider Turkey as their assurance. "For this reason," Talat adds, "the support Turkey extended for Denktas created a different situation in Cyprus."

In reply to a question on whether Cyprus' membership in the EU before Turkey will pose a danger, Talat says: "On the contrary." Talat expresses belief that it will be better because Turkey's problems with Greece will have decreased with the Turkish Cypriots becoming EU members under equal conditions as the Greek Cypriot side. "In this way," Talat continues, "Turkish Cypriots' membership will facilitate Turkey's EU membership. The erosion of the Turkish Cypriots is out of the question because there will be political equality. For this reason, I believe that it will be very beneficial."

[05] De Soto - Cem meeting TRT 1 Television (1800 hours, 1.12.00) reports that Alvaro de Soto, the UN

Upon being reminded about the statement Annan made in Geneva on 8 November which involved various oral proposal and which caused Denktas to react, De Soto said: ``At that date the honorable secretary general did not make any proposals. He only expressed his views. There is a misunderstanding on the issue. The aim is for the sides to discuss the concrete proposals submitted so far.''

De Soto further noted that the Cyprus problem and the issue of EU accession are two different processes.

[06] De Soto Says Annan Invited President Clerides, Denktas Anatolia Agency (9:55 hours, 2.12.00) reports that Alvaro De Soto, the

Addressing journalists following the meeting which lasted for about one and a half hours, De Soto said that he had held ``interesting and positive`` contacts in Ankara.

De Soto said that United Nations Secretary General Annan had invited Rauf Denktash and President Glafcos Clerides to the new round of proximity talks in January of 2001.

He noted that Denktas would take a decision after assessing the situation, and convey his decision to Annan or to himself.

Pointing out that he would hold talks with Denktas during his visit to Cyprus, De Soto said that he was hopeful about continuation of the proximity talks process.

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent that the Turkish side told De Soto that presence of ``two sovereign states'' on the island and the 1960 guarantee order should be recognized for success of good will mission.

[07] Akinci on Denktas' Withdrawal From Talks on Cyprus Problem KIBRIS (Internet Version, 29.11.00) reports that so-called state minister

Drawing attention to the fact that Annan's remarks contain the minimum amount of conditions for bringing about a solution to the Cyprus problem, Akinci has said that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan must avoid taking steps aimed at assuring the Greek Cypriots.

In remarks he has made regarding the matter, Akinci has said: "These conditions are founded on the principle of equality. Moreover, these conditions require that each side represent itself. An approach must be displayed on the continuation of the talks within the framework of Annan's 12 September statement... That is, instead of saying that we have abandoned the negotiation table and therefore we are not willing to talk, we must say that we are ready for talks but only within this [12 September statement] framework... Otherwise, the deadlock will continue regarding the Cyprus problem and no positive developments will emerge any more."

Meanwhile, Mustafa Akinci has stressed that attention must be paid to balances with regard to the solution of the Cyprus problem. Indicating that the recent developments have accentuated the need for paying attention to these balances, Akinci has said that ignoring the impact of the Turkish- Greek and Turkish-EU relations on the Cyprus problem is tantamount to ignoring the realities.

"The decisions made in Luxembourg in December 1997 had a direct negative impact on the developments on the Cyprus problem. The Helsinki decisions, on the other hand, had a positive impact on these developments. Turkey has been called on in the Accession Partnership Document to contribute toward the solution of the Cyprus problem. Moreover, this contribution has been confined within short-term political criteria. As one can expect, all these have had a negative impact on the issue," Akinci has said.

Drawing attention to the importance of arranging the resumption of the talks on the Cyprus problem within the framework of the 12 September document, Akinci has said that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan must prevent the confinement of the Turkish Cypriot sector within the bounds of the verbal proposals that his special advisor Alvaro de Soto has made during his visit to Cyprus on 8 November. Akinci has added that instead, Annan must make an initiative with the aim of resuming the talks within the framework of the 12 September document.

"However, if they insist on [resuming the talks within the framework of the 8 November proposals], then this will take the appearance of a precondition, whereas the indirect talks have started with the announcement that these talks will be held without preconditions. Therefore, the talks must be resumed without preconditions," Akinci has said.

In remarks about Rauf Denktas' decision to withdraw from the talks, Akinci has said: "Talks resume from the point where they end. This is exactly what happened in the case of the Cyprus problem. The process of negotiations has been continuing for years on end. In some cases, the refusal to sit at the negotiation table has become another form of continuing the talks."

Meanwhile, Akinci has noted that they will assess the issue in a meeting that will be joined by Rauf Denktas and ``prime minister'' Dervis Eroglu, adding that the ``parliament'' will also take up the issue during its Friday meeting. "If there is a problem that needs a solution, then negotiations must be held to tackle the problem. Solving a problem is impossible without holding talks," Akinci has said.

``.the Turkish Cypriot side is not obligated to accept the views that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan introduced on 8 November. The Turkish Cypriot side must resume the talks within the framework of the 12 September statement. That is, instead of saying that we have abandoned the negotiating table and therefore we are not willing to talk, we must say that we are ready for talks but only within this [12 September statement] framework,'' Akinci concluded.

[08] Ertugruloglu: Proximity Talks Ended, No Question of Attending 6th Round Anatolia Agency (11:54 hours, 2.12.00) reports that Tahsin Ertugruloglu,

In an interview with the illegal Turkish Agency-Cyprus (TAK), Ertugruloglu recalled that the proximity talks process had been started in order to prepare an appropriate ground for meaningful, face-to-face and ``state-to- state'' negotiations.

``United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan`s statement on November 8 put forward an irrelevant frame. None of Turkish Cypriot officials has the right to hold negotiations on this basis. This frame is nothing but a preparation for a path which leads to destruction of Turkish Cypriots on the island,`` he claimed.

He stressed, ``it is out of question for us to participate in useless and meaningless initiatives aiming at destroying the Turkish Cypriots. In order to put an end to these arguments, I want to stress once again that the proximity talks process ended. It is out of question for us to attend the sixth round of proximity talks. If a process which is based on state-to- state negotiations starts, we are ready to participate in this process. What we mean to say with the phrase of `state-to-state` is that `the Greek Cypriot side is not the government of whole Cyprus and it does not and cannot have the right to represent whole island, and the state which was founded by the Turkish Cypriot nation's free will should be recognized.` As long as these factors are not accepted, any negotiation process will be nothing but a trick and a waste of time. Such a process aims at giving rise to unnecessary expectations in the public opinion and targets to damage the Turkish Cypriots` point of view towards their own state and Turkey. We are determined to put an end to such scenarios.``

``We have neither the intention nor the right to attend these meaningless negotiation processes aiming at preparing ground for extremely dangerous scenarios. The Turkish Cypriot nation has founded a state 17 years ago. As long as they do not recognize the TRNC, any negotiation process on Cyprus issue will be meaningless. We do not have time to waste,`` he said.

[09] Denktas Interviewed on Cyprus Issues Cumhuriyet (26/11/00 internet version) reports on an interview with Turkish

Part of the interview is as follows:

"Tavsanoglu: What happened in Geneva to make Annan change his tune?

Denktas: As you know, at the fourth round of the talks the Secretary General put forward a road map, which said: "Two units with equal status will be established at the end of this road. Whereby one unit will not dominate over the other, will not speak on behalf of the other, and will not, cannot, and never will, represent the other. These will be the units of the two equal sides. The new structure to be formed will be a new partnership." He was neither defining the units nor naming the partnership. Everything we wanted is included in this new message. This means an eventual result based on two separate states.

Tavsanoglu: In other words is it a confederation?

Denktas: Annan does not call it a "confederation." And leaves it up to us to decide, saying: "You decide among yourselves whether or not this should be called a confederation or a federation." This is the basis.

What do the EU norms say? [subhead]

Tavsanoglu: Is Annan saying "reach an agreement amongst yourselves?"

Denktas: Annan says: "I have now understood that you and the Greek Cypriots will not attain anything." This was a good thing. Of course the Greek Cypriots protested, they shouted and screamed, they boycotted and in the meantime made statements to the effect that "We together with Greece are trying to change this [Annan's 12 September statement]."

While all this was going on we went to the fifth round in Geneva. This time we came face to face with proposals that had nothing to do with the road map of the fourth round and even took us back to pre-1974 era, and even in certain issues back to pre-1960 period.

Tavsanoglu: For example?

Denktas: We are against the joint election of the representatives of the two sides whatever their office or status. Our separate democratic existence is symbolised by separate elections. Then the establishment of the posts of president and vice president was put forward at the fifth round. In other words something similar to the 1960 Constitution. Elections would also be held according to the same method. But that method has ended in fiasco. And the most controversial thing over the property issue is the recognition of the right of the Greek Cypriot refugees to return to their former places. At the fifth round their approach was that since property rights cannot be voided under the EU norms no arrangements can be made in breach of these rights. Just a moment. What do the EU legal norms say? They say that "a person cannot be deprived of his property rights." But they also add: "Unless this is in the public interest and a satisfactory compensation is paid." What was the system up until the time when Kliridhis came out and said "I reject the set of ideas (the former UN Secretary General Butros Ghali's set of ideas on Cyprus)?" The system was the rearrangement of the property issue via exchanges and compensations. We are not rejecting the property rights. The Greek Cypriot will still obtain property [a Turkish Cypriot property in the south] and if its value is less than [his property in the north] then he will also get compensation. [Preceding sentence as understood] The Greek Cypriot side had accepted this formula in the past.

Security Regime [subhead]

Tavsanoglu: So what has happened now to occasion this change of mind?

Denktas: The Loizidou case (the court case filed by a Greek Cypriot woman to get back her property in Kyrenia) resulted not in a legal but a political decision. Furthermore this decision was taken at a unilateral court. It is out of the question that we should support or accept this decision. They know this. So they are saying that the EU norms should be upheld so that there can no further recourse in any form to courts..."

"Tavsanoglu: So what happened to the guarantee agreement?

Denktas: Now they have found a new terminology for this also. They call it the "security regime." Up to now in every document this had been referred to as the guarantee agreement or the alliance agreement. Now suddenly they did away with this. They are now whispering in our ears that Kliridhis does not even want their names mentioned. All fine and well. They even told us something worse: That they have "come up with this security regime so that they could incorporate the [1960] founding agreement in it."

There are many things relating to the British Basis in the founding agreement, many things that grant rights to the British. But there are also many things there that damage us. One is the documentation of the birth of the Cyprus Republic in that founding agreement. This means that the Greek Cypriots would be regarded as the continuation of that republic. Besides, the founding agreement "guarantees the protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Cyprus Republic."

Moreover, the agreement [latest UN proposals] includes a four-to-one ratio repatriation rights to the Greek and Turkish Cypriots living abroad. So a Turkish Cypriot cannot return unless four Greek Cypriots do so. These people are living in a dream world. It is impossible for us to accept these conditions.

They are also talking about an administration system. We have read this but did not understand it. Thank God that Kliridhis too found it too confusing and rejected it. Thus when we look at the whole thing we see that there is an attempt to force upon us proposals, such as the multinational police force, that we have been rejecting from the point of view of our security, and which definitely take us to pre-1974 era and even to pre-1960 period.

Dilatory Strategy [subhead]

Tavsanoglu: What has your reaction been to this multinational police force?

Denktas: We said the following: "This can be done in a place where there is great bloodshed. For example, in 1964 you brought in the UN troops. Now we are making peace. So seeing that we are going to make peace what are your fears to warrant such a force?"

When we cornered them in this issue they again whispered in our ears:

"According to our evaluations there looms a great danger after having reached peace. There is a need for these forces in order to forestall bloodshed."

In other words, the Greek Cypriots do not accept us living in the north, they want their properties, they will persist, they will drag us through the courts, will often come and derange us, and when we reply to them there will be bloodshed, so they [UN] will bring in their police to prevent the bloodshed. We do not want such a peace. They [UN] cannot even tell the Greek Cypriots: "Pull yourselves together. It is your fault that the island has been divided into two. You tried to turn into a Greek Cypriot republic a country that belonged to both of you. Now you can turn the half of it [into Greek Cypriot republic]. You have no rights on the other half." It is not still late to tell this to them. If they [UN] try to impose all these proposals now of course fighting will break out. Can they not calculate this? Could there ever be such a peace agreement?

So in our turn we told them: "You sat down and blended it all together with the idea of pleasing them and us and ended up with this monstrosity. We cannot share out this concoction. This is a very restricted and wrong framework. We definitely will not enter into this framework. Revive the 12 September road map, retract this [fifth round] proposal, so that we can continue with the negotiations." We told them all this in Geneva. But we also added the following: "We will talk this over with our government, our parliament and our Turkey." The statements by Messrs Sezer, Ecevit, and Cem show that their evaluations are the same as ours.

Tavsanoglu: Is the fact that the economic package, the Cyprus clause in the EU Accession Partnership Document, and UN Secretary General Annan's proposals came all at the same time a coincidence?

Denktas: We considered that very carefully. On 8 November this hybrid document came either from the UN General Secretariat or its representative Alvaro De Soto. Again on the same day the EU brought onto the agenda the Turkey-Cyprus issue. A short while ago the European Parliament came up with Turkey's Armenian problem, by a last minute change. A television channel phoned me and asked me the very same question. "All these are not coincidences. These people are preparing files. Let us say that everything has been solved and the acceptance phase has been attained. Then they will say, 'Stop a minute, are we going to admit a Turkey that has carried out a genocide and has not even paid its compensation?'"

These people are doing everything they can to keep Turkey out of the EU. They are preparing files for that purpose. They will continue to prepare more files. This is a dilatory strategy against you. By giving the impression that you would be admitted into the EU, they will first wrest Cyprus from Turkey and then allow Greece a free hand in the Aegean. Once Greece entrenches itself in Cyprus and Turkey leaves the island, Greece will be able to do whatever it likes in the Aegean.

Let me tell you in detail the other things that are on those papers [UN proposals]. There is the territorial issue. The Greek Cypriots will come in amongst us. We are required to make the "necessary amount of territorial adjustment" to accommodate the returnees. We will not discuss the territorial issue. First, the sovereignty of my territory in the north must be accepted, only then we will talk about the territorial issue. Let them by no means bring anything resembling a map. Just in case they pluck up the courage and bring one I told them, "I will definitely abandon the talks."

They did not bring any map, but after having given us this document they relayed the message that "you [the Turkish side] should also prepare yourself to seeing a map in the next round."

'We Must Struggle To the End' [subhead]

Tavsanoglu: What did you say to that?

Denktas: I said: "The Greek Cypriots are trying every path to take possession of Cyprus." What we need to do is to struggle until the end, until the Greek Cypriots come to the right path.

Tavsanoglu: I want to repeat my above question on whether there is a link between the latest developments on Cyprus and the events in the TRNC?

Denktas: I think they are intricately connected. We have experienced all these crises in the period between the fourth and the fifth round of talks. The Greek Cypriots' agents among us also created the following climate:

"It is over. They [Denktas and his supporters] are no more in a position to resist a solution. They will accept just anything you put before them." There is no other explanation to this interconnectedness. Our opponents fully support the state when they are with us abroad. But when at home, they raise the hopes of the Greek Cypriots and Greek Cypriot sympathisers on a federal solution. And the Greek Cypriots' idea of a federation is the "German style of federation." Where anyone calling himself a German can reside in any part of that federation. That is, the Greek Cypriots are offering us something like a municipal authority. Despite this definition of federation by the Greek Cypriots, our own people still insist on a "bizonal and bicommunal federation." But this is not what the Greek Cypriots want. They rather reject it the moment we insist on real bicommunality and bizonality. Anyway, the bicommunal and bizonal formula is dead now. Now that the principle of the right of everyone to return to their homes have been advanced and imprinted on minds, we must now tell the Greek Cypriots:

"Stop a moment, which federation are you talking about?" What I cannot comprehend is that in their [UN] reports more value is attached to the views of those who will not even receive 1 percent of vote in this country rather than to our views.

'EU Membership for Greek Cypriots Wrong' [subhead]

Tavsanoglu: At one time the idea of holding a referendum was advanced. What happened to that?

Denktas: What I am saying is this: "Let us go to a referendum, let us see what our people is saying." Would this people ever renounce its state and Turkey's guarantorship? Would it ever accept a multinational force? Would it ever consent to the return of the Greek Cypriots, to the Greek Cypriot presence all over the island, and to being uprooted from the places it has settled for the last 30 years? I am saying let us ask these questions to the people. We have to consider this issue at one point.

Tavsanoglu: Supposing that such a referendum was held in the TRNC, would the Greek Cypriots accept its result?

Denktas: At this point we are no more concerned with the Greek Cypriots. My cause is now against those who unjustly, illegally, and immorally consider the Greek Cypriots as the "legal Cyprus Government." So I tell these people: "The ball is in your own court. Were you not the ones who called these people the legal Cyprus government? The Greek Cypriots are therefore right in considering themselves so." But the fact is the Greek Cypriots are no more the Cyprus government. Presently, there are two separate communities with two separate administrations in Cyprus. These two communities can no more be held united together with all that highfalutin talk about legal government, unity, and togetherness. This is the wrong way. The plot of opening the EU doors to the Greek Cypriots and linking it to Turkey's membership is no more acceptable. Those who do such things lack goodwill. They want to give this place to Greece like they did Crete. If Turkey is against this, if its geopolitical rights do not permit such a thing, it means that if Turkey is forced to bow to such a defeat in Cyprus it would lose prestige not only on the island but also in the entire region. Turkey's Aegean aspirations will go up in smoke. After losing a just cause like Cyprus, what hope can Turkey inspire in the Turkic republics?"

[10] Turkey Hopes UN To Establish Basis in Line With 'TRNC' Parameters Anatolia Agency (1145 hours 01/12/00)reports that Tacan Ildem, presidential

At his weekly news conference at the Cankaya Mansion, Ildem replied to reporters' questions on the Cyprus issue. A reporter told Ildem: "TRNC President Rauf Denktas announced last week that he is withdrawing from the talks. Various views were expressed on the issue. There has been reaction." In reply, Ildem recalled that a meeting was held on the Cyprus issue at the Cankaya Mansion last week on occasion of Denktas' working visit to Turkey.

Ildem explained that at the meeting held at the Cankaya Mansion, Turkey said that it shares the concerns of the "TRNC" on the issue and expressed its support. Ildem continued:

"Within the light of these assessments made at the meeting, Denktas made a statement. The TRNC is one of the parties involved in the problem. The TRNC is one of the parties on the island and the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot government in the south are the two parties involved in the issue. Therefore, Denktas has made his assessment and has expressed his free will. However, while briefing the media on that meeting, neither Denktas nor I made an announcement on the categorical withdrawal of the TRNC from the proximity talks.

The view expressed by the honorable Denktas is supported by the Turkish Republic. The contacts the TRNC is holding with the United Nations are directed toward ensuring that the parameters it attaches importance to during the dialogue process and, within this framework, the principles of equality and sovereignty are taken into consideration. From now on the responsibility of creating such a foundation falls on the UN secretary general and the United Nations."

[11] 'TRNC' Decision Said To Have Caused Liquidity Crisis in Financial Market Anatolia Agency (1101 hours,02/12/00) reports that Emre Gonensay, one of

Addressing a panel discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Gonensay said that a lack of confidence was created in leading international banks after the Turkish government had stated that it would support the "TRNC`s" decision.

Gonensay said, ``international community perceived this statement in a wrong way. They thought that Turkey did not want a solution on Cyprus and it avoided having contact with the European Union (EU). Leading international banks have begun to withdraw from Turkish markets due to their concerns about Turkey`s future.``

He said that he was not agreed with allegations saying that several Western governments opposing Turkey had guided the banks.

[B] Comments and Editorials

[12] Turkish Academics Express Contrasting Views on Cyprus Milliyet (28/11/00)reports on interviews with Professor Erol Manisali of

Oktener asks the following questions,

" Should Turkey make concessions in Cyprus or should it not? Is Cyprus indispensable for Turkey? If Turkey has to choose between the EU and Cyprus which one should it choose?" Below are two different answers to these questions.

Professor Erol Manisali, President of the Cyprus Foundation, Chairman of the Division of Economic Development and International Economics at Istanbul University:

" The principal point of dispute in Cyprus is over the establishment of a balance between Turkey and Greece and between Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots on the island. The Turkish side has argued for such a balance while Athens and the Greek Cypriot side have insisted on a unitary structure based on Greek Cypriot sovereignty. This is the principal point of dispute in this matter.

Athens and the Greek Cypriots want to annex the island indirectly to Greece under the EU's umbrella. Athens and the Greek Cypriots have been applying pressure on Turkey with the backing of the EU and the United States. This is one of the reasons the problem has not been resolved.

For a settlement of the problem Greece must acknowledge that Turkey has as many historic, strategic, and political rights over the island as itself. In Cyprus it must be acknowledged that Turkish Cypriots have as many economic, political, and cultural rights as the Greek Cypriots.

The island of Cyprus is indispensable for Turkey for historic and current reasons. The TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] is as legitimate as the administration in south Cyprus. The Aegean islands have been militarized.

Cyprus remains Turkey's only outlet by air and sea to the outside world. From that standpoint Turkey cannot accept an island on its south under Greek and Greek Cypriot sovereignty.

When the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline is built Turkey's south will become an important international oil terminal. The domination of the island by Greece and the Greek Cypriots, which are hostile to Turkey in this region, would be vitally objectionable from a standpoint of Turkey's national interests. The prospective opening up of Asia and the Caucasus to the world in the future has turned the Eastern Mediterranean into a strategic region.

The EU could have said: "Turkey, Greece, the TRNC, and the Greek Cypriot administration can live together in the EU." However that is not what it is saying. It is saying: "First give up Cyprus, then I will think about it." It has demonstrated with this posture that it will not admit Turkey in the future. Cyprus cannot be a precondition in Turkey's relations with the EU.

There is no link between the Cyprus dispute and Turkey's membership in the EU. The EU has put before us a long list of demands including Cyprus, the Aegean, the Armenian question, and the Southeast issue.

The issue is not just Cyprus. If Turkey acts on all these issues in accordance with the wishes of Brussels and Athens it would make serious sacrifices from its national interests."

Professor Eser Karakas, Dean of the School of Business at Bahcesehir University:

" I think that Turkey's membership in the EU is much more important than the Cyprus problem and will determine Turkey's entire future. In the short- term priorities of the Accession Partnership Document Turkey is asked to support strongly UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem. No one should misrepresent the issue. The EU has proposed extremely reasonable and comprehensive solutions to all problems. It has put forward demands ranging from the enactment of laws on competition to the prevention of torture which is said to be rampant in Turkey; from freedom of thought and organization to the rights of Turkish citizens to learn and to broadcast in their mother tongues and transparency in public finances. Cyprus is only one of these problems. For some reason Turkey's has been locked on the Cyprus issue since November 8.

I believe that the people running Turkey are concerned not so much about the Cyprus problem but other issues such as the transparency of public finances, the privatization of state-owned banks, and freedom of thought and expression. They are opposed to those demands but they cannot say so explicitly. This is the essence of this whole affair. Turkey's ruling class is opposed to Turkey's full membership in the EU. Because they cannot say that explicitly to the public they have been playing on the Cyprus issue.

There is an organized gang activity to block Turkey's integration with the EU by arousing nationalist sentiments and by pushing the Cyprus issue forward. To stop that everyone who sees Turkey's future in the EU must fight seriously against this organized gang activity.

Imagine 30 years from now. Would you rather live in a Turkey that has joined the EU and that has in some way settled the Aegean problems at the International Court of Justice and the Cyprus problem along the UN's proposals; or a Turkey which has remained outside the EU but which has not made any concessions on the Aegean and Cyprus? The question is very clear. Let us solve the Cyprus problem and let us enter the EU together.

That is where Turkey's future lies. If Turkey were squeezed into a corner and had to choose "between Cyprus and the EU," my choice would be full membership in the EU. Word plays over Cyprus such as geostrategy and geopolitics are nothing more than empty Cold War talk. If Turkey fails to enter the EU because of Cyprus it would be a great crime perpetrated against our grandchildren."

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

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