Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-06-15

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader briefed journalists attending a symposium in occupied Nicosia.

[02] Strong criticism against Denktash regarding his statements about the NPM and the «spies of the Greeks».

[03] Ismail Cem explains how he understands confederation for Cyprus.

[04] Church at occupied Thermia to be turned into a night club.

[05] Nelson Ledsky calls for immediate resumption of the talks for Cyprus.

[06] English professor claims that the 1960 agreements provided for a confederation in Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader briefed journalists attending a symposium in occupied Nicosia

The report is as follows:

«A top U.N. official will be visiting both sides of the island, in mid-July in an attempt to revive the stalled Cyprus proximity talks process. Meeting a group of foreign journalists attending a conference on "Past and today of the Cyprus problem and perspectives for the future," Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said he expected Alvero de Soto, the special Cyprus envoy of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to come in mid-July to prepare a "new ground" for the proximity talks process stalled last November.

Denktash recalled that the talks were deadlocked on November 8 when U.N. Secretary-General Annan said the settlement of the Cyprus problem would conform with the norms of the European Union and attempted to present to the two sides a framework for settlement as if a consensus was established over it. Denktash said the Annan's attitude was in complete contradiction with his September 12 statement opening the fourth round of the talks in which he had described the process as one aimed at establishing a new partnership between the two peoples on the eastern Mediterranean island and underlined that neither of the two sides could represent the other or could dominate the other.

Annan's September 12 statement had almost laid the groundwork for the start of substantive talks, which the proximity talks were aimed to arrive at. But, when Annan made that statement, the Greek Cypriot side boycotted the talks for two days, contacts were made and they were somehow convinced to return to the process. And on November 8 we saw what kind of a deal was made and how Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides was convinced to return to the process. That attitude of the secretary-general devastated the framework of the proximity talks process. "For resumption, we need a new framework and de Soto will apparently try to prepare a new framework," Denktash said.

The Greek Cypriot leadership has already declared that it would boycott the process if the United Nations produced a new framework for the proximity talks.

Stressing that as long as the Greek Cypriot leadership maintained its claim to be the government of the entire island there could not be a settlement on the island, Denktash said the resolution of the Cyprus problem must be a win-win situation for both peoples.

Increased social contacts between the two sides could help the establishment of a better understanding on the island, Denktash said, but warned that if Greek Cypriots continued to describe northern Cyprus as "occupied territories" and greet people coming from north to south as "guests to free areas from occupied zones" such contacts were counterproductive. Denktash said the realities of the island must be acknowledged by the two sides and a new settlement must be built on the reality that there are two sovereign states.

"If the Greek Cypriot administration insists on being the sole legitimate government of Cyprus, that claim is a threat for us. And if that threat is repeated every day, the need to have the Turkish troops on the island for our security will continue," Denktash said.

[02] Strong criticism against Denktash regarding his statements about the NPM and the «spies of the Greeks»

According to «Yeniduzen» (15.06.01), Republican Turkish Party (RTP) leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, issued yesterday a statement saying that Mr. Denktash «tarnishes the honour of his own people» and «harms his own state». Mr. Talat noted also that «by creating imaginary enemies Denktash is trying to create a kind of fascism similar to the one of Hitler».

Patriotic Union Movement's (PUM) leader, Izzet Izcan said that if something happens to any progressive and democratic member of the Turkish Cypriot community, the responsibility for this will belong to Denktash and to the hawks of Ankara who support him.

On the other hand, «Avrupa» (15.06.01) writes that Denktash`s statements give courage to the bombers and the murderers who are preparing a new action plan.

Meanwhile, according to «Yeniduzen» (15.06.01), the leader of Dev-Is, Ali Gulle demanded from Mr. Denktash to make public the evidence he claimed he has about the existence of so-called Greek spies within the Turkish Cypriot community and give them to the «competent authorities». «Denktash must know that hiding crime elements and evidence is tantamount to committing a crime», Mr. Gulle added.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers/ Union leader, Ahmet Barcin, stated yesterday that in the last few days Mr. Denktash has become aggressive and that he has gone off the limits calling on him «to come to order».

[03] Ismail Cem explains how he understands confederation for Cyprus

Speaking on the programme Cem said that Turkey supported and adopted the confederation proposal put forward by Denktash. He said that he himself considers this proposal the only very sensible proposal if one envisages a unified Cyprus.

At this point Mehmet Ali Birand intervened and said: «As Denktash says two separate states». Cem replied and said: «That is different, at the beginning it was like that. I have always told my counterparts, my interlocutors, that when we say confederation, of course we do not mean the confederation between confederal New York State and confederal New Jersey state, but a confederation, a kind of partnership third state established by agreements. Of course this will have its principle, it has its details. We support such an approach put forward by Denktash. We totally support this. «During off the record discussions with my many American, British and other interlocutors they tell me that this (confederation) is a very good consistent model, and fair model. However, they cannot make the Greek Cypriots accept it. If that is the case the Turkish side cannot accept the other solution», Cem said.

He then referred to his interview to a Greek TV Channel in which he said that Turkey can do everything, everything is possible, «they were alarmed» Cem said and added. «I told them that I am one of the few persons that worked hard to reach a mutually acceptable solution in Cyprus. I do believe in this and this is my government/s policy, however you have to know the following. If this does not happen (agreement) Turkey really can do everything».

At this point Birand intervened and said: «Does this mean to abandon the EU?» Cem replied: «It is the EU that abandons us. We, as Turkey, defend our interests, Turkey, cannot write off her interests in the East Mediterranean nor its future generations/ interests. So, under these conditions does the EU abandon us? It is up to the EU, it is its problem.» When asked whether Cyprus and the EU were to be put on a scale which are weighs more, Cem said: «I do not consider it that way. I will defend Turkey/s interests in Cyprus to the very end. The EU as well is very important. We have two major aims and one of them is the EU. However, we cannot change our Cyprus policy because we will enter the EU. I am not in it, may be I expressed myself wrongly, Turkey is not in it, my government is not in it. Turkey will not give up its rights in Cyprus, nor in the Eastern Mediterranean».

[04] Church at occupied Thermia to be turned into a night club

The paper writes that a restaurant will also be built in the cemetery. The architects of the project have already put their signs in the place warning that it is dangerous to enter the construction.

Referring to the situation of the church, «Avrupa» writes that only its dome and walls exist. Inside on the walls there are some «obsene writings».

[05] Nelson Ledsky calls for immediate resumption of the talks for Cyprus

According to «KIBRIS» (15.06.01), Mr. Ledsky said that the USA can force Turkey to persuade Rauf Denktash to go back to the negotiating table. Mr. Ledsky noted, among other things, the following: «Only the 30 thousands Turkish troops on the island constitute a threat. One condition of the solution is the withdrawal of at least one large part of the Turkish soldiers. To take Cyprus into EU in its present form is tantamount to making the Turkish Forces uneasy from the European forces on the other side of the Green Line, and to increasing the tension. Considering these results the EU shoud act carefully».

[06] English professor claims that the 1960 agreements provided for a confederation in Cyprus

On his part, retired general Necati Ozgen referred to the UN Peace Keeping force in Cyprus, claiming that among the reasons which make UNFICYP behave in a non-neutral manner in Cyprus are the propaganda of the Greek lobbies which shows the Greek Cypriots being treated unfairly, the fact that the men of UNFICYP live for 37 years with the Greek Cypriots and they have the same religion.

The advisor of Rauf Denktash, Ergun Olgun said that the uncertainty in the region will increase in case the Republic of Cyprus enters the EU. Mr. Olgun expressed the view that the Turkish propaganda is not successful and underlined that the Turks must be more active in the struggle in the legal field.

The Ambassador of Turkey to London, Korkmaz Haktanir, expressed the view that no conditions for a solution to the Cyprus problem have been created and that the possibility of finding a solution is very weak. Mr. Haktanir claimed that peace in Cyprus could be ensured only with the existence of two states.

The symposium ended last night with a speech by Rauf Denktash. «Yeniduduzen» (15.06.01) wrote that there had been «a call for terror» by the symposium and added: «We are neither afraid nor scared. We are only ashamed»!

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article