Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-04-15

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gurel keeps on accusing the EU for not having progress in the negotiations towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem; Claims that Turkey/s duty is to "complete whatever we have started in Cyprus".

[02] Once again Denktas attacks the EU stance on Cyprus.

[03] Yugoslav Foreign Minister notes that "It is difficult to say" that the agreement between Serbia and the Montenegro can be applied in Cyprus.

[04] Denktas says that OIC General Secretary has postponed his visit to the pseudostate because of the situation in the Middle East.

[05] Cem proposes an interim agreement for Cyprus.

[06] Illegal Bayrak television described the bi-communal festival "provocateur".

[07] The church of occupied village Patriki has been turned into a mosque.

[08] Robin Cook: "The Turkish Cypriots will benefit the most by Cyprus/s accession to the EU".

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gurel keeps on accusing the EU for not having progress in the negotiations towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem; Claims that Turkey's duty is to "complete whatever we have started in Cyprus"

Pointing out that these negotiations have an impact on Turkey's relations with the EU, Mr Gurel claimed that that it is impossible to expect the Greek side to adopt a positive stand in these negotiations.

Mr Gurel said also that he noted this to a Dutch parliamentary delegation, which has recently visited Turkey.

Noting that Turkey is making efforts to improve the economy of the pseudostate Mr Gurel explained that there are many proposals with regard to this issue and that he is certain that important investments will be made in the occupied areas of Cyprus within the next two years. Referring to the Cyprus problem Mr Gurel said, among other things, the following:

"The efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem with the schedules that have been imposed by other people have not led to successful results. I do not believe that it is appropriate to impose schedules on the sides. As a matter of fact, the EU has made a major mistake by linking Turkey's relations with the EU to the Cyprus issue and to Turkey's relations with Greece. If the EU does not correct its mistakes, the EU will be responsible for the stagnancy and the deterioration in Turkey's relations with the EU. .

The Danish Prime Minister has also referred to the decisions made during the Helsinki Summit and noted that 'they will take all these issues into consideration' when making a decision regarding Cyprus' membership. He did not say anything however, with regard to the framework, within which we accepted the Helsinki decisions. This is because Prime Minister Ecevit had sent a letter on this issue to the Prime Ministers of all the relevant countries. This letter explained how we interpreted the Helsinki decisions and on what basis we accepted them.

We have to differentiate between the individual stands of the EU countries and the decisions and the stand of the EU as an institution. I am certain that as an institution, the EU does not want to confront Turkey, to create an additional problem in Eastern Mediterranean, or to destroy the balances in the relations between Turkey and Greece. In this regard, I believe that as an institution, the EU will understand that it is more beneficial to persuade Greece to realize the expansion program even if Cyprus is not accepted as EU member. In other words, I am certain that if the EU makes a rational evaluation, it will understand that it is less costly to persuade Greece to realize the expansion program. This, however, is dependent on whether or not the EU, as an institution, is able to make a wise decision."

Furthermore Mr Gurel noted that if the EU makes a decision -- any decision -- regarding Cyprus, Turkey and the others would also be free to make a decision with regard to this issue.

He also threatened that Turkey has no limitations with regard to what it can do regarding the Cyprus and said:

"They will put the EU membership on one side of the scale and the Cyprus issue on the other side of the scale. There is no such thing. Furthermore, no matter what we do regarding the Cyprus issue, there are no guarantees that we will become EU members. Most important is that it is our national duty to complete whatever we have started in Cyprus. We will not abandon our national duty in return for any guarantees." The Turkish Minister repeated the allegations about the existence of "two different peoples" in Cyprus with different national identities and claimed that these "two peoples" have organized as "two different states".

Mr Gurel concluded as following: "The political will in Turkey and the TRNC will continue to insist on equal sovereignty. They will never abandon this goal. The other side does not intend to accept this, however. This is because the EU is saying to them every single day: 'No matter what you do, you will become EU members.'"

[02] Once again Denktas attacks the EU stance on Cyprus

Mr Denktas met Friis Arne Peterson, permanent secretary for the Foreign Ministry of Denmark, which will assume the EU term presidency.

In reply to a question on his views with regard to the report prepared by EP Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Elmar Brok and the part concerning Cyprus ' becoming full member of the EU, Mr Denktas said:

"These are Brok's own views. On the contrary, the fact that southern Cyprus is viewed from the perspective of a full EU member creates difficulties in the talks and prompts a dangerous situation. The direct talks with the Greek Cypriots are being conducted in order to surmount this danger. There is nothing we can do if they are still incapable of appreciating this initiative and continue to encourage the Greek Cypriots.".

When reminded by a BRT correspondent that the EU membership will be open only to a sovereign Cyprus state, Mr Denktas alleged that "there would not have been UN forces deployed for 39 years on the two equal sides if there was only one sovereign state". In addition, he concluded, "talks for uniting the two sides would not have continued for so long".

[03] Yugoslav Foreign Minister notes that "it is difficult to say" that the agreement between Serbia and the Montenegro can be applied in Cyprus

Asked on the proposal of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas regarding the application in Cyprus of a model similar to the agreement between Serbia and Montenegro the Yugoslav Minister expressed the opinion that this model cannot be applied in Cyprus because "there are big differences between Cyprus, Montenegro, and Serbia".

The interview published in HURRIYET is the following:

"Question: What is the meaning of your visit to Turkey?

Answer: Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem visited Yugoslavia last year. This was a very successful visit and it became the beginning of our relations with Turkey. We are also supporting the inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue initiated by your country. Encouraging the inter-cultural dialogue is very important for the struggle against terrorism that has become a priority today.

Question: The memories of the incidents that took place in Kosovo and Bosnia are casting a shadow on your relations with Turkey. How and from where will you start the relations now?

Answer: Our business circles maintained their economic relations with Turkey even during the [Milosevic] era. We must now establish relations in a manner that these relations respond to our new needs. We will sign free trade agreements in the coming period with Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania. Our relations with Turkey may be revised within this framework. A section of this corridor will link Belgrade, Sofia, and Istanbul with one another.

Question: You accepted the handing over of the individuals responsible [for human rights violations] during the Milosevic era. Are you so much determined in your EU membership target?

Answer: Yes, we are. We want to join the EU. Our cooperation in this regard started and I believe that we will start the talks at the end of this year or early next year for signing a Partnership Agreement with the EU.

Question: You signed an agreement of union with Montenegro. Rauf Denktas showed this as a model for Cyprus.

Answer: It is difficult to say that this agreement can be regarded as a model for the solution of the Cyprus problem. To be more exact, it is still too early [to regard this agreement as a model for a solution to the Cyprus problem]. Moreover, there are big differences between Cyprus, Montenegro, and Serbia".

Meanwhile, semi-official Ankara Anatolia (12.04.02) reports that when asked on the same issue, Turkey's Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that "developments in Yugoslavia could contribute to bringing some concrete points of view about Cyprus", but the final decision was up to the two communities of the island.

[04] Denktas says that OIC General Secretary has postponed his visit to the pseudostate because of the situation in the Middle East

Replying to a question before his Friday meeting with President Clerides within the framework of the third round of the face-to-face talks, Mr Denktas said that Belkeziz postponed his visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus to a later date because of the Middle East developments.

[05] Cem proposes an interim agreement for Cyprus

Mrs Batur notes that Mr Cem said that in case President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas reach an agreement on principles regarding the creation of a new state based on two founder states and having one international personality, then the road towards a solution will be opened.

Furthermore, Mr Cem argued that the guarantees of Turkey and Greece must be continued and threatened once again that Turkey will react in case Cyprus becomes an EU member before the solution of its political problem.

The Turkish Minister claimed that in case his proposal is accepted the island will be reunified and the new state will join the EU.

Mr Cem expressed the opinion that if a solution accepted by both sides is found, then a "fine tuning", as he said, could be made in Cyprus's relations with the EU and added: "I do not think that this will be a problem for the EU. There is the example of some EU member states. I believe that the EU will try to ensure harmony to the reality in Cyprus. However, if there is a settlement, this would be a great progress for the EU. I believe that both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots would do everything they can. .".

[06] Illegal Bayrak television described the bi-communal festival "provocateur"

The left-wing AKEL's youth branch, EDON and the youth organization of RTP organised on 13 April at Ledra Palace, in the UN - controlled buffer zone, the 2nd Bi-communal Youth Festival. About five thousand Turkish and Greek Cypriots participated in the festival.

Soyer stressed that the illegal Bayrak television covered the festival, but in the main bulletin news at the night, they characterised the festival as provocateur. This is a typical example that the so-called state broadcast is under the directions of the National Unity Party and the secret services, Soyer added. He also said that they tried to disgrace us.

[07] The church of occupied village Patriki has been turned into a mosque

[08] Robin Cook: "The Turkish Cypriots will benefit the most by Cyprus's accession to the EU"

"If Turkey sees its future within the EU, it must facilitate finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and ensure Cyprus's accession to the EU as a whole", noted Mr Cook, adding that this would create a situation in favour of Turkey's accession to the EU.

Asked whether Britain has a plan for the solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr Cook said that his country will not propose a plan to take the process outside the UN procedure.

KV/SK

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