Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-03-12

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

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 46/97 -- 12/3/97

[A] ÍÅWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH MEETS MADDEN, COMMENTS ON HIS HEALTH

[02] TALAT REGRETS DENKTASH IMPLICATION OF BEING SOLE SAVIOR

[03] DENKTASH: WE MAY STARVE TO DEATH, BUT WE WON'T GIVE UP INDEPENDENCE

[04] DENKTASH PRESENTED WITH THE GREAT ADSIZ PRIZE

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] PAPER ON RECENT PANGALOS STATEMENT AS RELATED TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH MEETS MADDEN, COMMENTS ON HIS HEALTH

Replying to press reports on his health, Denktash said that he had a bad case of the flu and that the sensitivity of his skin was due to blood poisoning.

[02] TALAT REGRETS DENKTASH IMPLICATION OF BEING SOLE SAVIOR

In a written statement he issued, RTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that everybody knows that from the moment it was established, the RTP has been pro-peace. He said that the RTP regrets Rauf Denktash's implication that he is the only person to have the eternal mission of saving the Turkish Cypriot community from problems and traps. He noted that the RTP's approach toward Cyprus' EU membership is quite clear, adding: "Furthermore, Turkey would greatly benefit from that."

Talat emphasized that the resumption of the intercommunal talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem is extremely important for the vital interests of the Turkish Cypriot community.

[03] DENKTASH: WE MAY STARVE TO DEATH, BUT WE WON'T GIVE UP INDEPENDENCE

"We may be condemned to starve to death.... We may starve to death, but, we shall never give up our independence", Denktash told the fourth Congress of "Turkish Cypriots Living Abroad," which got underway on Tuesday.

"It is our duty to consolidate our republic, which we established by our own free will. This our duty. The guarantee of our identity, our future, is our state", he said.

Complaining of the deficiency in the coordination of efforts aimed at promoting the Turkish Cypriot "state" abroad, Denktash said each and every Turkish Cypriot living abroad must speak knowing the realities on the island. "We must know the balances between Turkey and Greece and speak accordingly. If we do not know these delicate issues, we should refrain from talking," he said.

Bored with international pressure, the paper writes, Denktash said European Union diplomats keep on advising Turkish Cypriots that they should not "miss the train" and join the Greek Cypriot delegation in talks with the EU for the accession of the island into the European bloc.

"They say we should not miss the train. Which train? The Greek Cypriot train. The day we accept to enter the European Union, the guarantee system will be terminated and the Greek Cypriots will displace people when returning to their former houses, Cyprus becomes part of Greece and Hellenism succeeds in Cyprus....", he claimed.

He stated that for establishment of a federal settlement on the island, the two sides should be willing to live together. "It is impossible to have a Cyprus accord by pushing aside our state, our sovereignty...", he alleged.

Disclosing that European Union Commissioner Hans van den Broek told him during his recent meetings on the island that a moratorium could be applied regarding the freedom of movement, settlement, and of owning property if the two sides agree on a Cyprus settlement, Denktash said he rejected the offer because it would place the future of the Turkish Cypriot people under a mortgage, as he put it.

Denktash also warned Turkish Cypriots seeking asylum in Britain and asked the Turkish Cypriot delegates from Britain, "Please tell those people asking for asylum in Britain to give up and return to their homeland. We have spoken about this issue with British High Commissioner David Madden today. If these insolent people travelling with Turkish Cypriot passport and asking for asylum from Britain don't give up and return, they should know that all of them will be expelled by the British authorities. But, if they wait until Britain expels them, they should know that they will not have a home here either. The TRNC is a free country. Whoever is unhappy has the right to go. But, asking for asylum is a big lie because no one is oppressed here. This is a country where all citizens enjoy full freedom" Denktash claimed.

The Turkish Cypriots Living Abroad Congress, held biannually, aims at establishing cordination of promotion efforts of the Turkish Cypriot associations and foundations abroad. According to the paper, 110 delegates representing around 350,000 Turkish Cypriots living in Turkey, Britain, Canada, Australia, Germany and some other countries, are partaking in the congress. Seven delegates are representing Turkish Cypriot organizations in Turkey.

Meanwhile, YENIDUZEN (12/3/97) strongly criticizes the Congress branding it a "one-side Congress". It says "a one-side Congress can not bring about solutions." The paper adds that at the congress the opposition was denied the right of making its voice heard. It says that Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat, Mr. Mustafa Akinci and Mr. Alpay Durduran are more sensitive and have more right to saying regarding the Cyprus problem than Prof. Mumtaz Soysal and Prof. Erol Manisali.

(MY)

[04] DENKTASH PRESENTED WITH THE GREAT ADSIZ PRIZE

VATAN says that the Greek Adsiz Prize was given, among others, to Azeri nationalist and chairman of the Azerbaidjan People's Front Ebulfez Elcibey. (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] PAPER ON RECENT PANGALOS STATEMENT AS RELATED TO THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

However, Batur continues, Turkish diplomats say Pangalos has adopted a realistic policy and noted that he is convinced that Turkey will be less dangerous if it waits at the EU's door.

Under the subhead "Unknown Aspect of the Pangalos Affair", Nur Batur writes: "Why has Pangalos, who has come to be known for his hostile approach to Turkey, made such a statement? That is what diplomats are considering. Meanwhile, they want to establish what U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright discused with him.

The Clinton administration argued that the Cyprus problem will be solved in 1997. Consequently, it wants to avoid a diplomatic failure on the matter. So it is determined to do whatever is necessary to have the problem solved. However, an important condition has to be fulfilled. In other words, the sides in Cyprus have to establish a sincere dialogue. The United States is ready to help them, if it is asked to do so. Pangalos was informed of that again during the talks he had with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Reportedly, Albright drew his attention to the two important mistakes the Greek and Greek Cypriot side recently made on the Cyprus problem. They were:

1. Acquisition of missiles from Russia.

2. Greece's rejection of a 'moratorium on military flights over Cyprus', which the Turkish side has supported.

Pangalos responded by reiterating his known complaints. Meanwhile, it has been ascertained that Albright informed him as follows: 'The United States supports Turkey's accession to the EU. Turkey becoming an EU member will pave the way for the solution of the problems between Turkey and Greece, including the Cyprus problem'."

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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