Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-02-27

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] SABAH: "Denktas violated the blackout"

[02] YENI SAFAK discloses the proposals of the two sides at the face-to-face talks

[03] Talat: It is Denktas who leaked the map

[04] Denktas will fly to Istanbul on Friday

[05] Financial Institutions called on leaders to solve the Cyprus problem

[06] Huseyin Angolemli: Denktas and Clerides are not alone in the negotiation table

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Time to be on the offensive

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] SABAH: "Denktas violated the blackout"

It is noted that Mr Denktas and the Turkish side allege that the application for the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU has not been made by the whole of Cyprus, because the Republic established by the 1960 agreements does not exist. Furthermore, they have repeatedly threatened that the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU before the solution of the Cyprus problem will create tension not only in the island but also in the whole region.

Noting that President Clerides has refused to talk to the same Italian magazine, SABAH's correspondent in Rome, Mrs Yasemin Taskin claims that Mr Denktas "explained the Greek Cypriot side's political games to Europe through Limes".

SABAH writes the following:

"The TRNC President Rauf Denktas and the Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Celrides had shaken hands and agreed that they would not talk to the Press during the dialogue which will last until June. The two leaders, who before the Feast (translator's note: the Moslem Feast of Sacrifices) met 13 times, were giving absolutely no information to the journalists about the discussions which were taking place 'inside'. Despite this blackout, Denktas evaluated the recent developments to the Italian magazine Limes, which was published today. While Clerides said 'no' to the proposal of the magazine for an interview, Denktas explained to Europe the political games of the Greek Cypriot side through Limes:

The Greek Cypriots will present us to the EU as a minority

The important thing for us is to solve the Cyprus problem between us, whereas the EU behaves as if the only problem of the island is the accession to the Union. Therefore, the Greek Cypriot side does not approach to an agreement with us. And they have no need for that. They know that they could take the whole of the island to Europe and deceive the world using tricks and showing us as a minority.

England supports the Greek Cypriots for its national interests

Europe has decided from now that the whole of the island belongs to the Greek Cypriots and its government is the Greek Cypriot government. According to the 1960 agreement, the island cannot be a member of an organization to which Greece and Turkey are not also members. England, which is one of the guarantor states of this agreement, knows it. Despite this, England encourages the Greek Cypriots to join the EU and exerts pressure in this direction. England does this for its national interests. It behaves like that in order to protect its own military bases on the island from a possible Greek Cypriot terrorism.

Greece prevents the accession of Ankara to the EU

A German diplomat I have met with, said to me in a sincere way: 'Greece is creating all these obstacles in order to prevent Turkey's accession to the EU'. After that, with the same sincere way, he continued: 'If Athens were not doing this, in any case we (Germany) would have done it. We are not ready to accept Ankara as member'.

Aggressiveness is in the blood of the Greek Cypriots

We have to protect our situation in the north. The Greek Cypriots do not allow us to do this as a sovereign state. On the 'issue of security' we want our own sovereignty. When they attack us, something that is in their blood, we can say that this is an attack of a country against another country.

We are heading towards a conflict

In the end, the Greek Cypriots will enter the EU. The Green Line will become the border of the EU. Who will protect the border? The Greek Cypriots. They will create problems at the borders with the Turkish army and us in order to get hold of the whole of the island. No one will say anything to the Greek Cypriots, because their answer will be the following: 'Didn't you say that we are the government of Cyprus? Didn't we tell you that our country is under occupation? Is abolishing the occupation not our duty?' The Greek Cypriots want this crisis in order to get rid of the Turkish presence. I see that we are heading towards a conflict.

America does not want to lose the Greek lobby

The world does not recognize the TRNC because England wants to protect its army on the island and the USA do not want to loose the Greek lobby. The two countries promised the Greek Cypriots that 'the problems will be solved in your way'. The fact that Cyprus is one state and that the TRNC is illegal was decided a long time ago. Our seat in the United Nations has been taken from us by the Greek Cypriots through the use of force".

[02] YENI SAFAK discloses the proposals of the two sides at the face-to-face talks

Under the title "Difficult Autumn in Cyprus" and the sub-title "Denktas and Clerides could not reach an understanding during the first round of the talks. According to documents, which YENI SAFAK got, hold of, Denktas suggested a package of 21 proposals, whereas Clerides a package of 16", the paper writes the following:

"The differences between the opinions presented in Cyprus where inter-communal talks have started according to UN and EU decisions, can lead to a deadlog the negotiations on Cyprus. The fact that in the talks the Greek Cypriot side does not approach the principle of 'equality' and insists on the name of 'the State of Cyprus' caused the reaction of Denktas.

According to documents which YENI SAFAK got hold of, the Turkish side went to the table with 21 proposals, whereas the Greek side with 16. The sides will discuss the matters for the second time during the second round of talks, which will begin on 1 March. The TRNC President Rauf Denktas and the leader of the Southern Greek Cypriot Part Galfcos Celrides are expected to continue the negotiations until 15 March and after that go to Ankara and Athens to have some conducts.

The issues, which constitute 'a problem' between the sides, are the following:

The problem of equal political rights

TRNC President Rauf Denktas describes as 'unacceptable' the fact that during the talks the Greek Cypriot side does not approach the principle of 'equality' and says on this issue that 'Political equality cannot exist. The 18 % of the population cannot be equal to the 82 % and the 120 thousands cannot be equal to the 600 thousands'.

Denktas wants both 'peoples' to have equal political rights in the common formation to be established. On the other hand, the Greek Cypriot side does not accept the political equality and goes over the matter lightly by saying that 'all citizens have equal rights'.

Partnership of two equal states

The Turkish side gives the example of the former Czechoslovakia and supports that the partnership should be created between two states, that is 'the Turkish State in the North' and the 'Greek Cypriot Republic in the South'. Therefore, prior to this, mutual recognition is necessary. It proposes that 'the President, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Foreign Minister and the important posts must be rotated. In the Federal Council equality must be essential'. On the other hand, the Greek Cypriot side supports that the Federal Government must be powerful and says that 'the President, the Speaker of the Parliament, the Prime Minister and the important posts must be held by Greek Cypriots and their deputies must be Turks. The Council of Ministers must consist of 7 Greek Cypriots and 3 Turks'.

The Guarantees and the presence of the Turkish army

The Turkish side wants the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, which ensures the guarantee of Turkey, to be applied. The Greek Cypriot side supports the guarantees of the European Army, NATO or the UN Security Council and does not want the Turkish Army on the island.

Accession of Cyprus to the EU

The Turkish side opposes participating in the EU accession talks with the Greek Cypriots. The Greek Cypriot side wants accession to the EU before Turkey.

The Turkish proposals for a solution

1) Guarantees, which provide for the unilateral right of Turkey to intervene and maintain an army on the island according to the needs of the Turkish people, are essential.

2) The political equality is an essential condition.

3) The TRNC must be recognized.

4) The Turkish Army, except the force that will stay, will be withdrawn from the island only within the framework of the treaty of guarantee.

5) The TRNC will not be dissolved. It will be one of the equal wings of the federal states.

6) A new partnership based on the two people and two states must be established.

7) The name of the new state must be Union of the Turkish and Greek Republics of Cyprus or Union of Sovereign Cypriot States.

8) The Turks as a separate people have the right of self-determination and this must be stressed very clearly in the agreement. The central formation must be weak and loose.

9) The posts of the President, Speaker of the Parliament and the Foreign Minister must be rotated. The Federal Council must be based on equality.

10) The Federated States, which constitute the partnership, must be able to establish relations separately with third countries.

11) The freedom of movement must be controlled and the rights of settlement and property must be discussed after a moratorium.

12) The Turks must have full sovereignty in their state.

13) 'All the Greek Cypriot refugees returning back to their homes' is out of the question. On the border adjustments, the criteria of productivity, sufficiency, proprietorship and security, which are in the Denktas - Makarios agreement of 1997, must be taken into consideration and the Turkish people must not be displaced for the fourth time.

14) The method of compensations and exchange (of property) is essential.

15) All the authorities, except the limited authorities to be left to the Central Administration, will belong to the republics. The decisions at the Council of Ministers will be taken by majority, whereas in the Parliaments we must have the right of majority.

16) The land left to the Turkish people must be productive and sufficient and defendable, from the point of view of the security.

17) Having Greek Cypriots settled between us must be out of the question.

18) The authority to decide on the status of the citizens of the TRNC belongs to the TRNC. Deporting a part of our citizens from the island cannot be discussed.

19) A possible agreement must be based on the principle of free will and must be presented to both people in separate referenda.

20) The Greek Cypriots cannot become full member of the EU in the name of the 'whole of Cyprus'. Cyprus cannot become a member of the EU without the approval of the Turkish people and before Turkey joins the Union. The Turkish side could participate in the negotiations for Cyprus' full accession to the EU, only after a new joint application or an invitation addressed to the TRNC as a state.

21) In case such a solution is not accepted, the present status is a solution and the TRNC must continue to exist and be recognized.

Solution proposals by Greek Cypriots

1) No Turkish guarantees. Even if there will be Turkish guarantee it shall be watered down. No to right to unilateral intervention and deploying troops on the island. The UN Security Council, OSCE, or the NATO shall decide whether it is necessary or not to intervene and the intervention shall be carried out jointly.

2) There shall be no political equality, because it is not possible for the majority to be equal to the minority. That is 18% of the population to be equal to 82%. It is not possible for 120 thousand be equal to 600 thousand.

3) The Turks should agree with the minority rights and majority sovereignty.

4) All the Turkish troops shall withdraw from the island.

5) The TRNC shall be dissolved.

6) A new state based on two people and two states shall not be established. Certain rights shall be given to the Turks within the framework of the existing constitution and they shall join the existing state.

7) Since the Turks are not a separate people they have no right to exercise the right to self- determination. And to secession.

8)All the impotent posts, President, Speaker of the House and the Prime Minister shall be Greek Cypriots and their deputies Turkish. The Council of Ministers shall not be made up of equal numbers but in the ratio of 7Greek Cypriots: 3 Turks. There shall be no rotation.

9) Provinces (not states) shall not be able to conclude with third countries economic and political relations.

10) The Turks shall not have in their region sovereignty at all.

11) All the Greek Cypriot refugees shall return to their homes.

12) There shall be no boundaries between the two provinces.

13) There shall be no limitation to the Greek Cypriots' right to settlement, freedom of movement and right to own property in the north.

14) All the TRNC citizens who arrived in Cyprus from Turkey and settled in the TRNC shall be sent back.

15) The solution shall be in such a way that it should be a interim stage for reaching to the final objective, which is ENOSIS.

16) Cyprus shall be a full member of the EU. If there is no solution ''Cyprus" again shall be full member. And the Turks, as in the example of Germany should join Cyprus''.

As regards the territorial aspect of the problem the paper writes that the Turkish side wants to take up this issue at the negotiation table taking into the consideration the productivity, security, ownership and sufficiency and do it in'' border arrangement way'' Also it wants to take into consideration the water resources. The Greek Cypriot side, on the other hand, wants the Turkish side to declare prior to sitting around the negotiation table, to announce the percentage of the territory it will make as concession. The Greek Cypriots favour to give 25% territory to the Turks. Especially they want arable lands like Morfu and Famagusta. They plan to settle 100 thousand Greek Cypriots in areas where they will get as concession and 30-40 thousand Greek Cypriots in the Turkish regions. They want the Turkish side to declare before sitting around the negotiation table how many Greek Cypriots it will accept in the north.

The Turkish side accepts the free movement between the states upon signing the agreement. However those people who are considered security risks and put on a black list will never cross into the Turkish side. As regards the settlement and right to own property the Turkish side proposes a memorandum (as mentioned in the text). This period is considered to be between 10-12 years.

After this period the republics if they consider suitable could permit people to own property or to settle. However, this too shall not exceed a certain ceiling. The Greek Cypriot side, on the other hand, wants the three freedoms to be put into practice immediately. The Greek Cypriots object to deciding a ceiling as regards property ownership and settlement."

[03] Talat: It is Denktas who leaked the map

Evaluating the first round of the direct talks, Talat said that resorting to such intrigues are aimed at upsetting the morale of the people.

Expressing the view that the two leaders might be insincere at the negotiation table, he added, that they have no other choice. Talat went on and said that both in Turkey and in the occupied area there are people who want to destroy this process. Noting the press campaign against the EU representative in Turkey, Talat said that those who are against Turkey's EU accession harbour hopes regarding the USA's possible entry to Iraq.

Talat further said that those who are against the EU in the occupied are not staying idle and that he ''has credible doubts'' that the map published in a newspaper is leaked by ''president Denktas''. I have received information that Denktas ,during a visit has shown a similar map to the journalists.

As a Turkish side making territorial concession is inevitable, said Talat and added that the situation has reached to the point that people have started to say ''God bless (insallah) they give our region so that we too are saved''.

The RTP leader added that by 28 February they will submit their views regarding the Cyprus problem to Denktas in writing. However, he said:'' It will not be a detailed new set of ideas regarding the Cyprus problem''. Talat said that regarding the sovereignty issue they consider both side's stance outdated.

Answering a question Talat said that regarding the second round he is hopeful.

[04] Denktas will fly to Istanbul on Friday

[05] Financial Institutions called on leaders to solve the Cyprus problem

The seven financial institutions are consisting of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the 'TRNC' Association of Businessmen, the North Cyprus Association of Young Businessmen, the Union of Turkish Cypriot Hotel owners, the Union of Turkish Cypriot Constructors, the Association of Turkish Cypriot Graduate women and the Union of North Cyprus Banks. These financial institutions called on the two leaders to solve the Cyprus problem and thus have their names written in the history with gold letters.

[06] Huseyin Angolemli: Denktas and Clerides are not alone in the negotiation table

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and President Clerides are not "alone" in the negotiation table, Angolemli said that both Turkey and Greece as well as the European Union are closely following the negotiations and they can interfere when they think it is necessary. He also added that the solution of the Cyprus problem is not left only to the initiatives of Denktas or Clerides.

Alleging that the discussions on the territory issue are aiming at destroying the morale of the people, Angolemli said that although there was obviously no map, maps were published. He added that he will submit in writing his views on the issue to the Turkish Cypriot leader as CLP leader.

Angolemli further said that the economic situation in the occupied areas must be right in order to reach a solution in Cyprus and added: "I have not seen such a suitable atmosphere in my life. The sides must work in order to seize this opportunity and bring a solution in Cyprus."

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Time to be on the offensive

''For the attention of Mr Denktas and Mr Eroglu: I am of the conviction that we should make a good use of the opportunities that will give to us strength in days where direct bilateral talks are being held. For this reason I believe that it would be beneficial if work were carried out on two points.

We have to be helpful to the USA, without expecting anything in return, who under its leadership opened war against our common enemy: the terrorism.

It is the right time to start initiatives to secure to the USA troops and personnel in the Mediterranean, to provide logistic support from the TRNC through Famagusta port and to secure in a friendly and peaceful atmosphere in the hotels and beaches in Kyrenia and Famagusta for our friend and allied USA troops to rest.

This work could start speedily by taking into consideration both sides' mutual interests; it could be also useful in promoting the peaceful, clean and virgin nature of the Mediterranean."

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