Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-01-07

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas: 'The Cyprus problem equals the Turkish Government'

[02] Erdogan stresses that Europe has to compromise to Turkey's civilization

[03] Statements by Gul on his Middle East trip

[04] The deputy leader of the Felicity Party said that the Greater Middle East Project are Great Israel Plans

[05] Milliyet alleges that the Israeli government gave the Israeli companies permission to invest in the stolen Greek Cypriot properties

[06] Statements by Talat on the Cyprus problem

[07] Mr Talat on excavations of mass graves of Greek Cypriots in the occupied areas

[08] Ankara's occupation regime proposes to Greek Cypriots to use their occupied ports for trade with Turkey

[09] 'The Northern Civilian Initiative' group is sending a letter to the UN Secretary-General asking for the starting of negotiations regarding the Cyprus problem

[10] The New Cyprus Party will boycott the so-called elections of the occupation regime

[11] Mr Erdogan will ask support from Mr Putin for the Cyprus problem

[12] Mr Kutlay Erk discussed the Cyprus problem with EU officials in Brussels

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] Commentary in Halkin Sesi argues that the Greek Cypriots are comtemplating the two-states solution

[14] Turkish Cypriot columnist argues that the Turkish side will win in Cyprus if it remains a little bit more firm on its position, because the Greek side began to want the two states solution

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas: 'The Cyprus problem equals the Turkish Government'

Arguing that the Annan Plan that was put to a referendum aimed to eradicate the Turkish Cypriot people from Cyprus in four to five years, Denktas recalled that 35 percent of the Turkish Cypriots voted "no" and 65 percent voted "yes" in that referendum. He said: "Actually the 35 percent ('no' vote) was a great success. However, at this stage 40 to 50 percent of the Turkish Cypriots who voted 'yes' on the Annan Plan now regret it because the Greek Cypriots have been unmasked. It is now known that none of the promises they made were credible."

Stating that he considers the youth very important in the protection of Cyprus, Denktas said: "Despite unemployment and all types of problems, there is still a majority that has not lost its nationalist sentiments in Cyprus."

Denktas said that the posture of the Turkish government is important for him. He continued: "Joining international agreements with the government or the representatives of the government that we say 'we do not recognize' does not mean recognition. As of now the position Turkish government officials have articulated suggests that they will not recognize the Greek Cypriot sector. Consequently I think that the important issue here is intent.

Moreover if Turkey is important for the EU, it must state its position by giving the necessary answer to the Greeks and Greek Cypriots. However if they do not want to admit Turkey, they will use their veto and raise many issues that may go as far as the so-called Armenian genocide. That is because the EU needs not a strong Turkey but one whose wings have been clipped."

Stating that Cyprus will not be lost as long as Turkey keeps its soldiers here by insisting that it recognizes the occupation regime, Denktas said: "However Cyprus may be lost if Turkey says 'yes' to an agreement that envisions to remove Turkish soldiers from the island and eliminates Turkey's guarantees." He continued:

"At present I am caught between a rock and a hard place. I look at the de facto situation and tell my people that 'Turkey recognizes us.' Then I look at the Annan Plan that was accepted and I am terrified. After all independence did not fall from the sky. There are rows of martyrs lying there. There was much excitement when fireworks were shot into the sky during the reception marking the liberation of Adana. However the sound of those fireworks reminded me of the rifles and artillery guns that were fired during our war of liberation. I was stirred and moved."

Denktas noted that he will not rerun as a candidate in the so-called presidential elections to be held in the occupied areas in April but that his battle for the preservation of the puppet regime's independence will continue, and added:

"The TRNC is now 21 years old. There is a TRNC that was founded in very difficult conditions, that is now 21 years old, and that is like my child. However things were brought to a point whereby my people said or was made to say 'yes' to a decision that would put the TRNC in a difficult position. This saddened me. Now new promises are being made in Cyprus, just as they were before the referendum, and new scenarios have been prepared. Now the TRNC government is taking certain steps. If it was up to me I would not take them. They are taking those steps so that the promises made are kept. I do not have any role or executive power over those. If I just sit where I am and remain an onlooker to these developments, the people may think: 'Denktas is there and these things are happening. So they must be alright.' If things break they might say 'they broke during Denktas's time.' Since they declared me to be 'intransigent' I do not wish to be a negotiator. There is no need for me to continue. As it turns out 65 percent of my people has said 'yes' to something else, and I can see that this is harmful. Consequently I can join the 35 percent that voted 'no'--I think that this group now numbers 75 to 80 percent--and continue my battle with them."

Denktas concluded: "It is not true that the Cyprus problem equals Denktas. The truth is that the Cyprus problem equals the Turkish government. Whatever the Turkish government says will happen regardless of whether I am there. On the Cyprus issue I trust not what is said and written in the press but the pledges the Turkish government has made to me and my people."

[02] Erdogan stresses that Europe has to compromise to Turkey's civilization

Making a keynote speech at a meeting of his Justice and Development Party (JDP) in north-eastern city of Rize, Erdogan said that they told the EU that it should admit Turkey as a member if it wanted to prove that it was not a Christian club.

Erdogan said: ''If you want compromise among civilizations, you have to admit Turkey in the Union.''

Noting that Turkey was aware of its responsibilities in the Middle East, Erdogan said: ''After we finalized our contacts in the EU, we have started contacts in the Middle East, being aware of our responsibilities. We have very important responsibilities here, and we will fulfil them. It is not important whether our efforts yield in result or not. But, we will continue our efforts.''

Recalling that the inflation rate decreased to a one-digit figure for the first time in 35 years, Erdogan said: ''We had an inflation rate of 9.32 percent. We are ranked at the first stage in regard to stability among OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries.''

Declaring his decision to visit the South Asian countries hit by Tsunami, Mr Erdogan said: ''I regard as a mission to travel to South Asia to meet all presidents and prime ministers in the region and to visit the region hit by the quake.'

Asked when he would visit the region Erdogan said: ''The Red Crescent exerts efforts there. We also launched several campaigns. I am planning to travel to the region after completion of the efforts.''

[03] Statements by Gul on his Middle East trip

Gul, conveying the message that Turkey might take on an important role in bringing about peace between Israel and Palestine, said: "Turkey will, in the period ahead of us, carry out very visible work in this region."

On his contacts Mr Gul said:' We discussed very substantive topics with both sides. We are being asked a great many questions as to whether we will be intermediaries. But there is a great difference between diplomacy and magazine-writing. We are trying to accomplish something. It is like digging a well with a needle, and not something that is completed in one stroke. Both sides reiterated their confidence."

Noting that the Palestinians under occupation are in a difficult situation, Gul said that a process of change is being experienced in Palestine and Israel, as indeed everywhere in the world.

Pointing out that Turkey is one of the few countries that have relations with both sides and with which both sides can reach understanding, Gul said: "You cannot just count three countries in this way. This trip of ours was very useful, and very frank discussions were held."

[04] The deputy leader of the Felicity Party said that the Greater Middle East Project are Great Israel Plans

At a news conference at the party headquarters, Gundogan also said that the United States knew of the tsunami disaster in the southeast Asia four or six hours earlier. Declaring that the US officials are simply trying to absolve themselves of responsibility by saying that they had "sent e-mails to the relevant authorities," Gundogan added: "I ask you: Your president directly calls the heads of state and government over the fate of a single American soldier and makes requests. How come he does not, cannot, call the five heads of state of the region and forewarn them? Had the approach of that disaster been notified four hours earlier, the victims now would have numbered only a few tens. This incident has once again demonstrated that the West has no lesson of civilization to teach us."

Noting that EU's offer of help in the face of the disaster is quite insignificant, Gundogan said that civilization is an indicator of how the mankind surmounts difficult times. Mete Gondogan added that the United States and the EU have no humanitarian and democratic worries. Gundogan went on to say that because of the wrong policies of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul "the Turkish nation has simply been reduced into a mere garnish on top of such a [Western] civilization."

Declaring that the [government's] foreign policy has reduced the country into a satellite, wrecked the nation's resolve, and has impaired the country's social, economic, and financial structure, Gundogan said: "We have been turned into a country with an excessive debt, a country that can no more repay its debts with further borrowing. It is impossible to belittle this fact by the argument that 'debt acts like an incentive for the brave man.' You are actually leaving this brave man hungry and unemployed and then turning around and flogging him. This means that this debt has become a fetter to the brave man. We are being reduced into slavery."

And commenting on former DLP [Democratic Left Party] deputy leader Rahsan Ecevit's statement [that she fears for Islam in the face of Christian onslaught after the EU date], Gundogan said: "It is really tragicomic when in the face of apology-like statements of those who once oppressed the religious institutions, the JDP [Justice and Development Party] is merely reminding them of their past. If the JDP really believes that certain institutions have been weakened and destroyed then it should start repairing them. It has no excuse for not doing it."

When asked how he assesses the developments inside the RPP [Republican People's Party], Gundogan said that they "remind him of the developments inside the FP." Gundogan added: "What first comes to our mind are the Great Israel plans under the guise of the Greater Middle East project in the region and policies that have been stitched onto the JDP after the JDP's assumption of power under the guidance of foreign circles following the developments inside the FP. There seems to be signs that similar developments are taking place [inside the RPP this time]. These developments remind us of what we experienced inside the FP. I hope yet another party [RPP] is not dragged into a similar adventure."

[05] Milliyet alleges that the Israeli government gave the Israeli companies permission to invest in the stolen Greek Cypriot properties

'The Israeli Government has reportedly given Israeli companies permission to invest in the TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]. Turkey, in turn, has asked Israeli businessmen to persuade their government to allow direct flights to the TRNC.

Israeli businessmen who met with Foreign Minister Gul in his hotel asserted that investors will be more interested in Turkey after the EU's decision to commence the negotiations with Turkey. The businessmen told Gul that they are especially and closely interested in the privatization tenders in the field of telecommunications. It was noted that the Turk Telecom tender constitutes the priority item on the Israeli companies' agenda.

Subtitle: Let the trade volume grow

Gul announced that they will be pleased to see Israeli companies in Turkey in order to ensure the further growth of the trade volume between the two countries which currently stands at $2 billion.

Explaining to Gul that Israel also took a new step where the Cyprus issue is concerned, the businessmen reported that the government has officially approved the investments that Israeli businessmen will make in north Cyprus. Noting that it is very pleased with this decision, the Turkish side demanded that Israeli businessmen impose pressure on the government for ensuring that Israel also takes steps regarding direct flights to the Ercan Airport.'

[06] Statements by Talat on the Cyprus problem

'In a call on the Greek Cypriot leadership 'TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] Prime Minister' Mehmet Ali Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot side is prepared for negotiations aimed at the resolution of the [Cyprus] problem.

Stating that the main goal is the solution of the Cyprus problem, Talat said that the parliamentary and presidential elections to be held in the north do not constitute a hurdle to the resumption of negotiations.

Talat said: "The problem must be resolved as soon as possible. The Turkish Cypriot people are ready for a solution. We are also prepared to start negotiations. We will do whatever is incumbent upon us."

Stating that free trade within the island is of utmost importance in the process of the Cyprus problem, Talat pointed out that the ports in the north were opened to Greek Cypriot use for this purpose. He said that a free trade environment will materialize if the EU and the Greek Cypriot administration take a positive approach to this opening.

However Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Georgios Iacovou described the 'TRNC' decision to open its ports to commercial use by Greek Cypriots as "illegal and entirely without basis." Iacovou insisted that only the Greek Cypriot administration can decide whether these ports are legal.

Describing the 'TRNC' as an "occupation regime," Iacovou said: "The decision taken by the occupation regime has no legal basis." He added that Turkey has been forced to sign the customs union agreement [with the new EU members] and that, as a result, it will have to open its ports to Greek Cypriot merchant ships.

The 'TRNC Council of Ministers' had earlier decided that 'TRNC' ports can be used for trade between south Cyprus and Turkey and other countries.'

[07] Mr Talat on excavations of mass graves of Greek Cypriots in the occupied areas

So-called Prime Minister Talat, responding to a question about the excavations said: ''Nothing could be found during today's excavations. It was just a research. Experts have not reached the point of exhumation yet. They searched the region whether there were any human remains.''

Meanwhile, Rustem Tatar, the Turkish Cypriot member of the Committee on Missing Persons, said: ''Experts searched the area, one of the three places of graveyard which was pointed out by the Turkish Cypriot side in 1998. The Greek Cypriot side located 22 graveyards on the map. Four of them allegedly took place in TRNC.''

[08] Ankara's occupation regime proposes to Greek Cypriots to use their occupied ports for trade with Turkey

The so-called Minister of Health and Social Assistance Huseyin Celal explaining the decision said that the ports can be used by individuals or companies for trade.

Celal said that the purpose of this step is to promote the use of the occupied ports, which as he alleged, are more advantageous for trade between Turkey and the free areas of Cyprus. He added that the ports will be opened and that requests to this end have been received from private entrepreneurs in the free areas of Cyprus.

Celal said: "It is different when a product is shipped from Limassol or Larnaca to Turkey as opposed to when it is shipped from Kyrenia. Moreover there is an established transportation system that exists between north Cyprus and Turkey. This does not exist between the south and Turkey. We will use this advantage we have."

Answering a question Celal said that he does "not think that the Greek Cypriot government will take a positive view of this decision." He added: "They will probably try to block it. However how much can this be blocked in a free trade environment? That is a separate issue. "

Celal also said that when the ports are used this way, the goods shipped will be treated as transit goods and will not be taxed.

Mr Celal also said that there are 29 hotels with a capacity of 2,073 beds under construction in the Kyrenia region at present and that this intense construction activity is straining water resources. He added that it has been decided to provide 'state' assistance to sea water desalination projects that will supply these hotels with drinking and utility water. He explained that, according to the decision, the state will pay directly for 20 percent of the cost of such projects and the Development Bank will offer low-interest long-term loans for up to 60 percent of their cost. Celal said: "This way we will provide an opportunity for obtaining fresh water by desalinating sea water, a process whose cost has been reduced substantially in the last few years. This may become a more general practice in the future."

Moreover, commenting on the occupied ports offer, Mehmet Levent, writing in Afrika on 7 January 2005, describes the decision as contradiction because the Turkish Cypriots claim that they are under isolation but all of a sudden declare that they open the occupied by Turkish troops ports to the Greek Cypriots.

Mr Levent likens the decision with the so-called Compensations Committee set up in the occupied areas to examine applications by Greek Cypriots for their occupied homes and properties and argues that since this proposal was not successful the occupation regime is trying various methods to show good will.

He said: 'If our ports were closed to the international trade until today the current decision is the best proof that we have applied the embargo and the isolation on ourselves. If they were open, then whom are you trying to persuade that you opened what?'

And Mr Levent concludes: 'As long as we remain outside the international law it is not possible to precede even one step. It is obvious that the only legal way ahead of us is to acquire our rights in the Republic of Cyprus.'

[09] 'The Northern Civilian Initiative' group is sending a letter to the UN Secretary-General asking for the starting of negotiations regarding the Cyprus problem

Speaking on behalf of the group, Mr Mustafa Damdelen stated that 'The Northern Civilian Initiative' will go to Ledra Palace hotel today and will hand to the UN representatives there a letter for Mr Annan, which will contain the group's demands. As the paper writes, 'The Northern Civilian Initiative' group demands from Mr Annan 'to insist in order for negotiations on the Cyprus problem to start again, a solution to be found before the 3rd of October 2005 and the United Cyprus to become member of the EU'.

[10] The New Cyprus Party will boycott the so-called elections of the occupation regime

The NCP, which also boycotted the last 'elections' of the 14 December 2004, calls on the Turkish Cypriots not to vote on the 'elections', stressing that 'the struggle is taking place in the streets and not in the ballot-boxes'. It also supports that no democratic 'elections' is possible to take place, unless changes occur in the pseudostate and stated that 'Turkey's administration does not give permission for the expression of the free will in north Cyprus'.

The party also declares that it says 'no' to 'an administration with instructions'. 'Turkey plays with time and wants to keep Cyprus hostage for its own benefits', the NCP concluded.

[11] Mr Erdogan will ask support from Mr Putin for the Cyprus problem

Moreover, Mr Erdogan will also discuss the Cyprus problem during the World Economic Forum, which will be held in Davos between 26 -30 of January. He will meet there with the UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, and will ask for the resumption of the Cyprus settlement talks based on the last plan, reports SABAH.

[12] Mr Kutlay Erk discussed the Cyprus problem with EU officials in Brussels

During contacts with members of the European Parliament and officials of the EU Enlargement Committee, Mr Erk said that they must exert pressure on the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Papadopoulos, in order to reach a solution to the Cyprus problem until 3 October. He also added that the EU has a great responsibility to put Mr Papadopoulos back to the negotiation table. He alleged that the steps, which should be taken for the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, will contribute to the solution.

Mr Erk explained to the EU officials and deputies that the vision of the Turkish Cypriots for a solution is continuing and that the Turkish Cypriot side is ready for a resumption of the negotiations based on the Annan plan.

Noting the importance of the Direct Trade and Financial Aid Regulations, which are on the agenda of the EU Commission, Mr Erk said that they want Luxemburg, which is the EU term presidency from the 1st of January, to start very soon the discussion about the regulations. He also said the regulation for the direct trade is very important for the Turkish Cypriots and added that the two regulations should not be separated.

On the direct flights issue, Mr Erk said that every country should decide alone on this issue. He also added that the Turkish Cypriots cannot work in the EU institutions due to the 'mother tongue' problem.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] Commentary in Halkin Sesi argues that the Greek Cypriots are contemplating the two-state solution

'Speaking out may have too little effect politically, but the mere whispering of a "solution based on two states" should be important. Up until now, thinking about such a thing, let alone voicing an opinion on it, was banned in the political circles of both Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration in south Cyprus!

Nowadays, though, Greek newspaper Kathimerini, for instance, is able to reveal that, "A solution based on two states may be accepted." Halkin Sesi highlighted this story under banner headlines recently, and Akay Cemal commented on it in his column.

Those that have been talking to the Greek Cypriots have conveyed to us that the Greek Cypriots agree to any kind of solution "on condition that they will be able to claim their properties."

Moreover, [displaced] Greek Cypriot residents of Varosha are now able to state, "We are prepared to return to Varosha under the Turkish administration in case it is opened for settlement."

Pandora's Box Opens: Our pro-Annan circles interpret the visits by the Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples from the North to the South and from the South to the North, their observing of each other's socio-economic makeup, their experiencing of each other's systems, and even their eating together and coming together in "joint" activities, as progress toward the creation of the "United Cyprus." It is not so, though. The proof of this, which they [pro-Annan circles] also admit, is the Greek Cypriot leadership's aspirations that call for extending its domination to the entire island.

For instance, we do not brush aside the remark made by Talat, who after a long time made reference to the TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus], reinforcing this with the word "independence," and who declared that he works for independence almost more than Denktas. We still do not ignore his remark although this might be a tactical shrewdness that relates to election propaganda.

The new understanding that emanates from the contacts with each other of the two peoples that live in the two areas gives an idea about not only a united Cyprus, but also about the possibility that the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples, while they live in two areas under two separate administrations, could formulate a more sound and reliable solution beyond the one that would put peace at risk, such as living together mixed. Experience has proved this.

They have got used to a bizonal and bicommunal relationship to such an extent that they, moreover, demand the opening of more gates, the easing of controls and liberalizing of trade.

Rules do not Apply Retroactively: Since 1963, Cyprus has been going through a historic process of future formations aimed at bringing about security of life and property that would govern the relations between the two peoples. A bizonal and bicommunal system constitutes a natural and national status that exactly fits this process.

It would be ridiculous to turn the status around and, for instance, refer to the Republic of Cyprus. It would be dangerous to demand of Turkey to recognize the Greek Cypriots within this context. It would be equally ridiculous and dangerous to change the bizonal, bicommunal and the two state character with a view to imposing a Cyprus solution, to be described as united Cyprus, which would amount to putting the Greek Cypriot majority on top of the Turkish Cypriot minority.

The Greek Cypriot and Greek circles that have started to see this fact will probably not be able to influence Tassos Papadhopoulos in the short term. They will, at least, remind all that "there are solution alternatives beyond the Annan Plan." We naturally have to point out that first our leaders should remember this and make good use of such political opportunities.'

[14] Turkish Cypriot columnist argues that the Turkish side will win in Cyprus if it remains a little bit more firm on its position, because the Greek side began to want the two states solution

'Al the signs coming from Greece and the Greek Cypriot side are showing that we shall win the Cyprus case if Turkey and the TRNC remain firm for a little bit more. At this point someone could ask: What is the Cyprus case? Yes what is the Cyprus case under the light of the realities of today?

The Cyprus case is (Cyprus) not to become a Greek island, the Turkish people not to enter under the Greek Cypriot sovereignty but live independent, sovereign and free eternally in peace and security and Turkey's guarantees to be safeguarded. Those elements could be expressed in one word: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

While saying that 'we shall win the case of Cyprus if we remain firm for a little bit more and we are at the last stage of the struggle', I want to say that in case we remain firm all the sides concerned will see that there is no other way out than an agreement on the basis of the two states where the TRNC will be accepted. What pushed me to this estimation are the new assessments of Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration and the statements of Papadopoulos and the Greek Cypriot leaders. Instead of equally sharing the sovereignty with the Turkish Cypriots, instead of accepting the rotating Presidency, instead of taking the Turkish Cypriots who will have the right of veto in to a state 100 % composed by Greek Cypriots, instead of sharing his wealth with us, instead of reaffirming the guarantee rights of Turkey over the whole island, instead of lifting the borders which means that they will hand over themselves to the Turkish population flowing into the island from Turkey having the dream of Europe, Papadopoulos will prefer to accept the two separate states, that is the Velvet Partition or the Euro-Partition.

The polls conducted in the south shows that this tendency is being strengthened within the Greek Cypriot people. Of course with time they will prefer this through an agreement and not to become by itself.

Subtitle: What could Papadopoulos want in return to a solution of two independent states?

What are these conditions?

1. Reducing the territory of TRNC to 24 % and giving (to the Greek Cypriots) both Karpass and Morfou.

2. Changing of the Treaty of Guarantees and limiting Turkey's right to interfere to be valid only within the limits of TRNC.

3. The border between the Greek Cypriot state and the Turkish Cypriot state to become an EU border.

4. Turkey to give permission to the Greek Cypriot state to join the ESDP and NATO (not to use its right of veto).

5. The Greek Cypriots who will not accept the exchange, selling and compensation for their old properties left in the Turkish state to be given the right of living in the Turkish state and their property to be returned to them.

6. The flow of population from Turkey to the Turkish state to be stopped.

7. The UN Security Council to guarantee this agreement and the borders of the Greek Cypriot state.

Subtitle: What could dissuade Papadopoulos from the two states solution?

Even if we accept these conditions, the only element that will dissuade Papadopoulos from the two states solution, is Turkey and the TRNC to stop resisting and accept the minority status that the Greek Cypriot administration is offering us. That is, if we accept the four conditions put by Papadopoulos in order to begin the negotiations and sit at the table on the basis of the 3rd Annan Plan and abandon the principle of 'an agreement on the basis of two equal, founding, partner states' by accepting an agreement even beyond this plan. And as a continuation of this, Turkey to humiliate itself before the 3 October pressure and recognize the Greek Cypriot state as the legal government of the whole Cyprus before an agreement.

Subtitle: Negotiating the seven points which safeguard the Greek Cypriot interests is possible

"I think that the negotiation of these seven points in return of the acceptance of the TRNC as an independent - sovereign state by the world, could easily be conducted when the new world conditions and the reality of the EU are kept into consideration. We could make our proposals in return of these points. For example we could insist on 29 % instead of 24 % and reach a common point. We could for example demand the TRNC to have a special relation with the EU which to include the right of free movement, free employment and free trade. For example the creation of a Common Council with the participation of equal number of representatives which will ensure the cooperation between the two states. For example it could be registered that the island will never be used for hostile actions against Turkey. For example it could be demanded that the number of the Greek Cypriots who will want to live in the TRNC in no way to exceed 3%. For example an agreement of nonaggression could be demanded to be made between the two states. For example, conducting propaganda in the two states aiming at the hostility towards each other and the creation of paramilitary groups could be forbidden. For example, we could insist on the issue of facilitating the trade between the two states, the movement and the possibilities to work.

Subtitle: The Turkish side must undertake the initiative

I think that Turkey and the TRNC could undertake an initiative and put forward a new plan and stop insisting on a very complicated plan like the Annan Plan, which is impossible to be implemented and in the future will definitely cause new conflicts and discomforts. This plan could be supported by the USA and Britain and even by the EU which is distressed because of a problem it had imported. Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration, which is under the pressure of the Annan Plan and of recognizing the TRNC as it is, could be more easily be convinced for this solution.

Basically the Turkish side submitted the proposal of Confederation which is a proposal very close to that, in spite of the fact that it is narrower in scope, during the visit of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to the TRNC on 31 August 1998. But it was instantly rejected by the Greek Cypriot side because it did not meet the Greek Cypriot demands summarized in the seven articles and because the Greek Cypriots were not faced yet so much with the TRNC reality. Undertaking an overall initiative by rearranging this proposal in order to include the above-mentioned seven points, would be much more effective than obstinately insisting on the Annan Plan'.

EG/

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