Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media 96-07-25

From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.134/96 25.7.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit, Denktash interviewed on the Cyprus problem

"Sadikoglu: What are your proposals for a solution?

Ecevit: Especially following the issue of EU membership, I am stressing even more that an autonomy agreement should be signed between Turkey and the TRNC in a bid to save the Turkish Cypriots from these mounting dangers and pressures. Naturally, this agreement would be signed if the Turkish Cypriots consent to it. This is what I mean: The TRNC would remain as an independent state, with its own flag, president, parliament, government, police, and civil servants. Turkey would be responsible for the external security and international relations of this republic. This is the actual situation to a large extent. We would be basing this on a legal foundation. There are successful examples of this in the world. For example, there are the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man to the south and west of the United Kingdom. These two states have exactly such agreements with Britain."

To a question on the issue of security, Ecevit said, inter alia: "With the consent of the Turkish Cypriot people, Turkey will assume the responsibility for the security of the TRNC. Turkey will be the one to face the outside pressure on this subject.

Turkey, which succeeded in conducting the peace operation in 1974, is now even in a better position to provide this, as long as it displays the necessary political will to this end."

"Sadikoglu: You held a long meeting with Erbakan some time ago. You disclosed that you discussed the Cyprus issue. What is the government's approach to your proposal?

Ecevit: When I proposed an autonomy, Mr. Erbakan went further and said that the TRNC should become a province of Turkey. Therefore, I am curiously awaiting the government's decision. We referred to Operation Provide Comfort as well, but the main subject of our discussion was Cyprus. I said that above all, the TRNC economy must be rendered productive."

In his turn, Denktash claimed: "I concur with Mr. Ecevit's proposals. The Greek Cypriots established the partnership republic in order to attain enosis, which is banned by agreements, and to turn Cyprus into a Greek island. When a partnership collapses, the other partner establishes its own institution and begins working with its own capital. Our capital consisted of our autonomy, our equality, our right to sovereignty, and the Turkish guarantee system. They destroyed the partnership, but were unable to destroy us; therefore, these principles have also survived...

Our protector is Turkey and the Greek Cypriots' protector is Greece. Because they plan to change and annul the guarantee system when they join the EU, the Greek Cypriots concluded a military agreement with Greece now. We say that we should conclude the same agreement with Turkey, with the condition that the guarantee system and agreements remain valid. When the time comes and Europe asks about this agreement, we can say that it is equal to the one signed between the Greek Cypriots and Greece. It will also become apparent that the Turkish Cypriot community has the same right as the Greek Cypriots to sign such an agreement with their motherland.

Second, with regard to foreign affairs, they do not accept us, they exclude us, and they do not treat us equally. Therefore, we are unable to effectively conduct and foreign affairs. Let us transfer this to Turkey and conduct them together with Turkey under a protocol. This is what Mr. Ecevit is proposing. We are obliged to do this."

[02] Ecevit departs at end of 1-day visit

In a predeparture statement at occupied Tymbou airport, Ecevit said that Turkey should contribute to the economy of the pseudostate and render it productive. Ecevit added that he conveyed this view to Turkish Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan as well. Ecevit reported that during his stay he held meetings with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, "Prime Minister" Hakki Atun, Democratic Party leader Serdar Denktash, and National Unity Party leader Dervis Eroglu.

Pointing out that a period has begun in which radical decisions must be adopted with regard to Cyprus, Ecevit noted that the "government problem" in the "TRNC" must be surmounted as soon as possible and that he issued well-intentioned advice to the leaders in this direction. Ecevit declared that he has never interferred in the internal affairs of the pseudostate but he found the opportunity to convey to the leaders "his sensitivity and recommendations with regard to the matter's aspect that concerns the national cause."