Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-02-28

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader may have to undergo heart surgery.

[02] Denktash does not expect the UN to intervene if no solution is reacted by June.

[03] Denktas annoyed by the transfer of the Search and Rescue Operations to the Republic of Cyprus.

[04] Seven Turkish Cypriot organizations on the Cyprus problem.

[05] The so-called municipal elections will be held on 30 June.

[06] Pakistani Minister of Education sent a message of support to "Girne (Kyrenia) American University".

[07] A loan of 220 trillion TL will be given to the pseudostate from Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader may have to undergo heart surgery

Asked by reporters if he is going to undergo heart surgery in August, Denktas said that this will be determined as a result of tests to be conducted in the coming months. He said: "It is not possible to say anything final but the possibility exists. That is one of the factors why we want to conclude the Cyprus issue."

Denktas recalled that he had heart problem in the past and that he has a stent in one of his arteries. He pointed out that he is very comfortable today but he had a few problems in recent months. He affirmed that he was told at the end of certain tests in Ankara and Istanbul in recent months that it would be appropriate for him to undergo an intervention before getting too old.

Denktas said that he is supposed to lose 10 kg before surgery, that he is trying to lose weight, and that he lost only one or two kg so far.

[02] Denktas does not expect the UN to intervene if no solution is reached by June

Alleging that voices coming from the EU are encouraging the Greek Cypriots, Denktas said that this is a wrong intervention, adding that they will look into what can be done with regards to this issue in the second round of the talks. He continued: "Approaches that say that 24 percent of the territory will be given to the Turkish Cypriots and that a specified number of Greek Cypriots will have to right to settle in that territory are not realistic. Such leaks have naturally caused a lot of unrest among our people who, at the beginning of the talks, were confident that reaching an agreement would become easier."

Upon being asked about a possible UN intervention in the event an agreement is not reached by June, Denktas replied: "No, we do not expect such a thing. When the United Nations puts forth something, it does not have the mechanism to force the sides to accept it. Therefore, it will risk its own prestige. This was experienced many times in the past. The UN Secretary-General is in an office that does not allow him to put forth formulas unless the sides so request. The goodwill mission of the Secretary-General consists of keeping the sides at the negotiating table and extending the aid and support requested by the sides. The United Nations might show a path by expressing its views to the sides separately but it cannot force the sides to accept that path by force."

In reply to a question on whether there are any hitches on the territorial issue, Denktas said: "For us to be able to discuss the territorial issue in a sound manner, the fact that our territory is sovereign should be acknowledged. In this manner, if certain Greek Cypriot authorities and youths decide in the future to attack us, then no one will be able to say that this is an internal issue as claimed by Makarios in the past. This is the greatest guarantee for us. There is no better guarantee than that. In this manner, Turkey's guarantee rights will be reinforced. This will constitute a guarantee for the Greek Cypriots as well, because if the issue is resolved based on two sovereign entities, then the Greek Cypriot fear of Turkey entering the south will be eliminated. I do not understand why they have any objections. This is a great guarantee for us. Our fear is about being attacked by the Greek Cypriots. We fear that without Turkey's guarantees they might attack us. This is what happened in the past. It is being said that the Greek Cypriots are afraid of Turkey. The best guarantee they can have against Turkey is the sovereignty of the south. It is the agreement they will sign as an independent state. If they think about it, then they might accept it."

In reply to a question on whether statements made to the effect that Cyprus will accede to the EU irrespective of an agreement are nothing but a bluff, Denktas said that EU representatives have been making such statements to the Turkish Cypriots side and that different assessments are being made, adding that in this way pressure is being applied on the Turkish Cypriot side. Noting that the path is not a clear one and that there are difficulties, Denktas said that the Turkish Cypriot side is being pressured to resolve the Cyprus issue by June and that this is the EU program. Noting that the Cyprus issue does not have any unknown aspects, Denktas said that if the sides reach an agreement on the fundamental principles, in other words on a vision, then the issue can easily be resolved within a few months.

[03] Denktas annoyed by the transfer of the Search and Rescue Operations to the Republic of Cyprus

Noting that the necessary demarches have been made vis-a-vis the United Kingdom and that this move is unacceptable, Denktas said: "The fact that this transfer has coincided with the talks is thought provoking. We cannot and will not accept this. We have a SAR organization. We are in a position to carry out this duty, in cooperation with the military authorities, without fail within our territories. Our security forces, our civil defense organization have all the necessary equipment. The most modern equipment has been ordered. The transfer of these operations by the British to the Cyprus Government is tantamount to granting the Greek Cypriots the right to violate our air and sea fields. If they do not want to create a serious situation, then this transfer should be postponed until the Cyprus issue is resolved, or the authority of each side within its own territory should be recognized. The talks are continuing. Despite this fact, the Greek Cypriots are continuing their military preparations. Their most recent attempt was to purchase 35 assault helicopters from Russia."

In reply to a question on whether there are any measures the Turkish Cypriots can take on the issue, Denktas said that it is not wise to initiate an arms race, stressing that the Cyprus issue can be resolved at the negotiation table.

And Rauf Denktas continued:

"They did not heed my appeals. They are continuing to arm themselves. These helicopters show their intention. They constitute a new obstacle to establishing an atmosphere of trust. Can we not bring here 35 assault helicopters? We can. Then what is the point of holding talks? We expect the Greek Cypriot leadership to change their approach to the Cyprus issue. There are two equal sides on the island. The path to diminishing the crisis and resolving the problem passes through the negotiating table, through equality, through the acceptance of the realities, and through mutual respect."

[04] Seven Turkish Cypriot organizations on the Cyprus problem

The seven organizations, which gave yesterday a Press conference in occupied Nicosia, are the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (TCCC), the Businessmen/s Association of the pseudostate, the Young Businessmen/s Association of Northern Cyprus, the Union of the Turkish Cypriot Hoteliers, the Union of the Turkish Cypriot Constructors, the Association of the Turkish Cypriot Graduate Women and the Union of the North Cyprus Banks.

Speaking on behalf of the seven organizations TCCC's chairman, Ali Erel said that the positions on which the Turkish Cypriot side would not make any concessions are the following: "the issue of not becoming a minority, the security to be ensured by Turkey's guarantees, the issue of not being forced to a new large scale displacement, and a new partnership based on the political equality and the two states".

Mr Erel noted that the greatest danger for Turkey is to be blamed for being the side which is responsible for the interruption of the talks towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. Then, he added, the EU will unilaterally accept the Greek Cypriots as its full member.

[05] The so-called municipal elections will be held on 30 June

[06] Pakistani Minister of Education sent a message of support to "Girne (Kyrenia) American University"

The Pakistani Minister also noted that it is a great event for the students to be accredited in high education institutions of Turkey and the pseudostate and wished "GAU-BIZTEK" success.

[07] A loan of 220 trillion TL will be given to the pseudostate from Turkey

The protocol was signed by Ersan Ekren, Turkish Treasury Foreign Economic Relations director general; and Ahmet Zeki Bulunc, so-called TRNC representative in Ankara.

This loan is being extended in line with Article 6 of the additional protocol signed between Turkey and the pseudostate on 12 January 2001. It will be used to restructure the public administration and the financial sector, for incentives, and to support the real sector.

The loan will also be used to pay the bank depositors in line with an agreement reached during talks held in occupied Cyprus in February.

The first trench of the loan, $40 million, will be given in the first week of March. The loan will be extended in monthly payments and it will be completed by the end of 2002. The first part of the loan, 170 trillion TL, was released with the signing of the protocol today. A new protocol will be signed in the second half of the year for the second part of the loan.

KV/SK

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