Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-08-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Professor Bakir Caglar stresses that the confederation and integration solutions in Cyprus are contrary to the Treaty of Guarantee.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader met with the UN Secretary-General.

[03] The platform «This Country is Ours» held a rally yesterday.

[04] About 2000 persons were brought to the occupied areas from Turkey in one day. TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA No.164/01 29.8.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Professor Bakir Caglar stresses that the confederation and integration solutions in Cyprus are contrary to the Treaty of Guarantee

After the Republic of Cyprus` 4th Sate Application to ECHR against Turkey, she was found guilty of violating the human rights in Cyprus. Before that the Court had found Turkey guilty of violating the human rights of the Greek Cypriot woman Titina Loizidou, as the Turkish occupation army in the northern part of the island since 1974 invasion prevents her from enjoying her house and property in occupied Kyrenia.

In an interview with «Cumhuriyet» Mr Caglar noted that after these cases another 1500 applications were made to the ECHR by Greek Cypriots against Turkey. Asked about the importance of the Loizidou case, Mr Caglar said that several applications have been made against Turkey by Greek Cypriots «who demand to pass to the Turkish side» and added:

«The `Chrysostomos case` was important from the point of view of the question whether Turkey is a side. The case was related to the violation of the agreement regarding the buffer zone which has been formulated by the UN and is based on the equality of the two communities. The European Commission on Human Rights accepted that the TRNC is `a de facto regime` in this case and found that Turkey was right.

Loizidou case too was related to the violation of the buffer zone, but the case was lost because of some statements like `the non-solution is a solution` which were made by Denktas during the period of the trial. ...».

Asked about the legal mistake of Turkey during the trials, Mr Caglar argued that this was Turkey`s not participating in the trials, because this meant that she had nothing to defend herself with. Mr Caglar noted also that although Turkey does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, she recognises the ECHR, in which there is a Greek Cypriot judge. «This is a paradox», he said.

Asked whether Turkey`s position that the party involved in the case was the so-called «TRNC» is valid, the Turkish professor was very clear: «It is not valid, because the TRNC is a `puppet state` (words used in English). The presence of the Turkish armed forces shows clearly Turkey`s control on the island».

Underlining that Turkey must pay the compensations, because she has signed the European Convention on Human Rights, Mr Caglar added: «...If she does not pay she must take the risk of being expelled from the Council of Europe. However, this will put an end to EU - Turkey relations. Turkey could then turn to the Eurasia alternative, but she could not expect aid from the IMF. ...».

Asked whether one could say that the EU wants to corner Turkey through the ECHR, the Turkish professor said: «The EU`s opinion is the following: If Southern Cyprus becomes a member in 2004 those in the North who have Cypriot passports will leave the island. Those who come from Turkey will remain. While with the integration Turkey will be burdened with the great expenses of the North, the rich South will remain to the Greek Cypriots and to the EU. Meanwhile, if Turkey opposes the European Security and Defence Programme (ESDP), it will officially be declared an `occupier`. She will be held responsible for all the crimes committed against the Greek Cypriots in the island. ...»

Asked about his opinion about the plans of the Greek Cypriots, and the wish of the Turkish Cypriots, Mr Caglar said:

«The Greek Cypriots want to Hellenize the Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriots want federation and freedom of movement. They do not want integration. However, while half of the population (in the north) consists of Denktas` supporters who come from Turkey, no administration which opposes Denktas could come out from the ballot box. However, 40 non-governmental organizations in the island oppose Denktas».

Asked about what Turkey could do, he notes: «She must get rid of Denktas` policy, pay the compensation and sit to negotiate. The confederation and integration positions are contrary to the Treaty of Guarantee».

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader met with the UN Secretary-General

KIBRIS (29.8.01) reports that the meeting lasted one hour and 25 minutes.

Illegal Bayrak radio (28.8.01) broadcast a live interview with Mr. Denktas after the meeting.

The interview is as follows:

Question: How did the meeting go, sir?

Answer: It was a sincere meeting. As you can guess, we placed on the agenda our position in the Cyprus problem, the latest developments, especially the Greek Cypriot officials/ latest statements and their efforts to place us in the same basket with the Maronites and the Armenians and treat us as a minority in a Greek Cypriot republic. The Secretary-General wants de Soto to come to Cyprus and conduct a shuttle diplomacy to see whether there is a unity of views between the two sides. We have been looking forward to that for a long time, because that is the only way to see if there is common ground between us. De Soto will arrive in Cyprus on 29 August. He will meet with Clerides too. So we will conduct this exercise as well.

We are pleased with our talks yesterday and today in the following respect: We informed both the Untied Nations and the EU about our stand, our position, and the realities. This is a good development. A large number of media members asked detailed questions today and placed the Cyprus problem on the world/s agenda. That is a good thing.

Question: Can we say that common ground exists for the resumption of the proximity talks, or that you received the necessary guarantees?

Answer: For the talks to resume, a common ground must be established. That is what de Soto is trying to find out. If he finds common ground, the talks will resume. If he does not, the talks will not resume. If common ground is found, we will decide when and where the talks will resume. For now, we must wait for De Soto to come to the island and to start to work.

[03] The platform "This Country is Ours" held a rally yesterday

The following letter, which was read out, was sent to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

«United Nations Secretary-General, New York USA

1st September 2001

We the undersigned 41 non-governmental organizations and political parties («This Country Belongs to Us Platform»)on this day, the 1st of September World Peace Day, renew our call for a fair, early and lasting solution which will achieve the reunion of our home the island of Cyprus.

In this context, we wish to state the following:

- The intercommunal talks under the auspices of the UN should begin immediately;

- All efforts should be made towards the establishment of a bi-communal, bi-zonal Federal Republic based on political equality in line with the relevant UN Resolutions and the 1977, 1979 Summit Agremeents.

- All efforts should be made to put Confidence Building Measures into effect;

- In the light of the fact that the large majority of the population living in north Cyprus are in favour of a bi-zonal, bi-communal Federal solution and of entering the EU in conjunction with such a solution, that the talks should continue on these bases;

- We fully support the new initiatives that you are trying to develop between the two sides as Secretary-General in order to restart the negotiations; - We emphasize that our organizations do not approve or support the divisionist and separatist policies of Denktas;

- On the important Peace Day H.E. Secretary-General, we call on you to act on behalf of the international community to halt the process of elimination of the Turkish Cypriot community through a fair and lasting solution based on the Summit Agreements and relevant UN Resolutions.

- As organizations rejecting the present status quo in Cyprus, we restate our determination to strive for a solution which will make Cyprus a part of the modern day world.

- We demand that the two community leaders abandon their narrow nationalistic and intransigent policies and do wahtever is necessary for a lasting solution and make every effort to take positive steps towards a solution that is based on the 1977, 1979 Summit Agreements.

This Country Belongs to Us Platform»

[04] About 2000 persons were brought to the occupied areas from Turkey in one day

The paper also wonders whether this is a new transfer of population from Turkey to the occupied areas.

KV/SK

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