Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-07-03

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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 Portuguese Prime Minister expresses the support of his country to a solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan plan

[02] Serdar Denktas supports that the occupation regime is obliged by the Third Vienna Agreement to provide facilities to the Maronites who want to use their properties in the occupied areas

[03] Rauf Denktas comments on those who hold passports of the Republic of Cyprus

[04] Talat reiterates that Denktas is an obstacle in the way of finding a solution in Cyprus

[05] The Don Kazak Choir and Moscow's Balalaika Group to illegally visit the occupied areas

[06] Rauf Denktas says that the Turkish side is working on a new plan for Cyprus

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Portuguese Prime Minister expresses the support of his country to a solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan plan

Following their tete-a-tete meeting and meeting between the delegations, Erdogan and Barroso held a joint press conference.

Barroso said that they had discussed bilateral relations at last night's and today's meetings, and they had evaluated Turkey's EU accession process.

Erdogan said that they had exchanged opinions about common issues concerning Turkey and Portugal and added that they also discussed the Cyprus problem, Turkey's relations with the EU and important regional and international issues.

Erdogan noted that he attributed importance to the development of the relations between Turkey and Portugal, which had an important potential of cooperation in the future.

When asked about the proposals for reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem and what he thought about solution of Iraq issue, Barroso said: "At the meetings, we benefited from Mr. Erdogan`s information on Cyprus. Portugal extends full support to Annan`s plan, and it is ready to do its best for a political solution as soon as possible. Recent changes about Cyprus are very important changes, of course. However, this never means that a lasting solution was found in Cyprus. There is a divided island there. I believe that this problem should be solved as soon as possible", he said.

[02] Serdar Denktas supports that the occupation regime is obliged by the Third Vienna Agreement to provide facilities to the Maronites who want to use their properties in the occupied areas

Mr Denktas noted that the authorities of the occupation regime were working on this issue and that soon there would be a result. Mr Denktas said that he had been informed about the problems, which the Maronites are facing in their effort to meet their relatives living in the occupied areas.

"We are obliged to make some arrangements and work on this issue. This should be done according to the Third Vienna Agreement", noted Mr Denktas.

Commenting on information published yesterday in Greek Cypriot daily POLITIS newspaper, Mr Denktas said that the authorities of the pseudostate had not received any demand from 3.000 Maronites asking to live in their occupied villages. Mr Denktas added: "They have their houses, their jobs in the south. We do not expect them to come and settle here, but we are trying to make their visits and using their homes easier".

Asked whether or not the Turkish Cypriot side might make "another opening" regarding the Cyprus problem, Mr Denktas answered the following: "The 'TRNC' is ready to give surprises at any moment. It could give surprises any time. We have this skill".

[03] Rauf Denktas comments on those who hold passports of the Republic of Cyprus

In statements after a meeting with the Employers Union, Mr Denktas said: "The Greek Cypriots are saying: 'Those who are coming to us and getting passport is a team of people who is really against Denktas and naturally they will use their vote to eliminate Denktas' policy at the elections'. However, now a legal issue is being raised. What rights do people who hold two passports have at the elections? On the Greek Cypriot side the Turkish Cypriots, who hold a Greek Cypriot passport cannot vote in the elections. If you take this passport and vote in the elections, it is as if you accept being a minority at that side. Do you have the right to use your vote at this side when you have a Greek Cypriot passport? We must discuss this, we must examine this.."

Denktas said that accession to the EU without an agreement and a solution to the Cyprus problem, means that the Turkish Cypriots will renounce their rights, accept minority status and the right of Greek Cypriots to return to their properties.

"Our state exists and we will continue to exert efforts for an agreement on the basis of two states", Denktas concluded.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily YENIDUZEN newspaper (03.07.03), on its front page, criticizes these statements of Mr Denktas and reminds, inter alia, the following regarding his views and the change of his stance on the issue:

"According to what Rauf Denktas was saying a year ago, those who get a passport of the 'Republic of Cyprus' are traitors! After that, he said: 'We will throw to jail those who hold passports of the South'. But those who delivered their passports to Mr Denktas would be forgiven! ... Four months ago he said: 'Let those who want a passport get it'.

After that the 'government' prepared a 'law' to throw in jail those who were holding passports. Mr Denktas announced to the press in Turkey that this 'is not a Greek Cypriot passport, it is a passport of the Republic of Cyprus, and it is our natural right. Go everyone and get a passport'.."

[04] Talat reiterates that Denktas is an obstacle in the way of finding a solution in Cyprus

After a meeting with Mr Obert Wexler, member of the USA Congress of Democratic Party, Mr Talat stressed that Mr Denktas is unwilling on the issue of coming to an agreement. He also said that the biggest obstacle that Turkey faces on its way to become member of the European Union is the Cyprus problem.

Mr Obert Wexler held also contacts with other Turkish Cypriot politicians. He met with Mr Huseyin Angolemli, the leader of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP), the so-called "speaker" of the pseudoassembly, Mr Vehbi Serter, the General Secretary of the National Unity Party (NUP), Mr Suha Turkoz and the chairman of the Democratic Party, Mr Serdar Denktas.

In his statements after meeting Mr Wexler, Mr Angolemli said that he explained on details his party's positions regarding the current developments on the Cyprus problem. He also told Mr Wexler that President Tassos Papadopoulos stated that he is ready to start talks in the framework of the Annan Plan, but a similar statement is still expected from the Turkish side and Mr Rauf Denktas.

The "speaker" of the "assembly", Mr Vehbi Serter, told Mr Wexler that he blamed the Greek Cypriot side for the non-solution in Cyprus. He claimed that a solution must be based on two separated sovereignties. He also alleged that Cyprus must join the EU after the solution of the Cyprus problem and together with Turkey.

Mr Suha Turkoz said that there is no other alternative than the solution of the Cyprus problem. However, he said that his party did not "look positively" the pressure that is allegedly being put on the Turkish Cypriot side in order to accept a solution within the framework of the Annan Plan.

[05] The Don Kazak Choir and Moscow's Balalaika Group to illegally visit the occupied areas

[06] Rauf Denktas says that the Turkish side is working on a new plan for Cyprus

Upon his arrival in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Denktas replied to a question about the above-mentioned "solution plan" and said: ''It is impossible to give any information about the plan. We are working on it. You know about the factors we focus on. We are not the minority, citizens and subjects of the Greek Cypriots. A state called 'the TRNC' has been founded. It was founded with referendum and upon the will of the people. Why was it founded? Because, we were left stateless.''

Arguing that the state meant 'public order, peace and will of people', Denktas alleged the following: ''This exists there. We resisted against persons who attempted to drag us to some points through Annan's plan or other, and we won as a result of it. Pressures failed and did not work. Now under our existence, a plan is being made which includes issues of how we can cooperate and unite with Greek Cypriots under what kind of conditions and how we can access to the European Union without wasting Turkey's rights. What is the right of Turkey? Cyprus can't join the EU before Turkey's membership. The Greek Cypriot side had made an application to remove this right. If this right is removed, then the Turkish-Greek balance over Cyprus is removed. And if it is removed, there would be no more any Turkish right over Cyprus. While we are protecting Turkey's right, we also protect our existence.''

Noting that declaration of the occupied areas as a free area was the way of overcoming the "embargo" if any result would not be reached in Cyprus, Denktas concluded: "This allows sale of western and eastern world products cheaply and without any duties.''

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