Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-02-27

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 39/97 27.2.97

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] UK's Hannay's speaks of a new security system for Cyprus.

[02] Turkey says EU accepts Turkish Cypriot presence on island

[03] Turkish Spokesman on EU decision, Cyprus solution

[04] Vehbi Koc chair established at Harvard University

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] UK's Hannay's speaks of a new security system for Cyprus.

David Hannay has held talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller and General Cevik Bir, deputy chief of the General Staff, in Ankara. Hannay will assess the situation with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in London after he concludes his talks in Greece. He will return to Cyprus in March to work with the U.S. officials to find a way to persuade Rauf Denktas and President Glafcos Clerides to agree to hold talks similar to those that were held during the Dayton process to reach a comprehensive agreement in the first half of 1997.

Hannay replied to the questions that were put to him by a group of correspondents prior to his departure last Tuesday. His views can be summed up as follows:

- "The agreement that was reached in 1960 did not call for a bizonal and bicommunal solution. The system that was established at the time was not a federation. It was a state in which the Greek Cypriots made up the majority of the population. The Turk- ish Cypriots were a minority community. No one has called for such a formula in the efforts made to find a solution to the prob- lem. No one has mentioned the status that existed prior to 1974. The effort that is being made to solve the problem is based on the principle of a bizonal and bicommunal federating in which the sides will enjoy political equality.

- We do not share Ankara's view that Cyprus cannot join the EU before Turkey does. And we are convinced that Ankara's view that Turkey and Cyprus should join the EU simultaneously is not legally acceptable. Nor can it be politically realized.

- Cyprus is like a poisonous thorn. The poison has not been removed, which has harmed Turkey's relations with the Western countries, particularly with the EU.

- The existing security arrangement cannot be effectively applied because the number of Turkish military units in north Cyprus has made the people in south Cyprus feel insecure. Meanwhile, the joint defense doctrine between Greece and the Greek Cypriots and the rearming effort in that area have made the people in north Cyprus feel insecure. The present security arrangement makes one of the sides feel secure but it makes the other side feel insecure. That state of affairs does not contribute towards a durable solution.

- We prefer that Denktash and Clerides hold talks to agree on a comprehensive solution, not partial solutions. Agreements on partial solutions failed to yield a result in the past. The deployment of a NATO unit or another kind of military force in the island is an option. The establishment of a security system is of vital importance. The leaders of the two communities will decide on the security system for a comprehensive solution."

[02] Turkey says EU accepts Turkish Cypriot presence on island.

Replying to press questions, Batu alleged it is understood that the EU does not view the Greek Cypriots as it did in the past, and that it has accepted the fact that there is a Turkish Cypriot presence on the island.

Batu said that it would be optimistic to think that the EU stand toward the Greek Cypriots is like showing them a red card. "Even so", he said, "it is like a yellow card, and signals that the Greek Cypriots must come to their senses."

Batu claimed that the developments at the EU meetings are the result of the determined Turkish attitude regarding the missile crisis.

[03] Turkish Spokesman on EU decision, Cyprus solution.

Addressing the weekly news conference, spokesman Akbel claimed again that "first, the Cyprus question should be solved before Cyprus becomes a member of EU."

Stating that direct negotiations between the two communities should start through the mediation of UN Secretary General as soon as possible, Akbel said "the parameters of solving the Cypriot question are obvious."

Responding to a question on the possibility of a change in the Turkish policy on Cyprus within the framework of Turkey's member- ship to EU, spokesman Akbel said: "The reasons for Turkey's policy and attitude on the Cyprus question are clear. Turkey's making any concession on the basic issues of such a case is out of question."

Akbel said that making the Cyprus question or the Turkish-Greek disputes a precondition for Turkey's membership to EU "does not constitute a right and equitable attitude" and stressed that Turkey hoped the two problems of Turkey would be solved peace- fully.

Claiming that Greece is not making a sincere effort in this respect, Akbel added: "In this respect, it is not equitable to have Turkey meet the costs of Greece's attitude within the frame- work of Turkey's membership to EU."

[04] Vehbi Koc chair established at Harvard University

Rahmi Koc, chairman of Koc Holding and son of the group's founder, declared in a written statement that the Vehbi Koc Turkish Studies Chair would be part of Harvard University's Human Sciences and Literature Department and would play a vital international role in promoting Turkey.

He said that the chair would be headed by Cemal Kafadar, a former professor who helped found the Ataturk Chair at Princeton Univer- sity. The Koc group is endowing the chair.