Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-07-16

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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. 128/97 -- 16.7.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit to visit pseudostate on 20 July.

[02] French Ambassador gives reception in the occupied area on France's National Day.

[03] Ecevit: Partial integration inevitable in face of EU stand.

[04] Turkish Foreign Ministry claims EU report "wrong", "illegal" as regards Cyprus.

[05] Denktash assesses Troutbeck talks as `favourable step'.

[06] Serdar Denktash stresses `two state' agreement.

[07] Hakki Atun: A whole Cyprus based on two states.

[08] Ankara considering unification with occupied area.

[09] Denktash on EU report.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit to visit pseudostate on 20 July

Explaining at the meeting that the ambiguity with regard to the future of Cyprus constituted the main reason behind the limping economy of the "TRNC", Ecevit said that this problem can be overcome when Turkey shows the necessary determination along these lines. Noting that he will visit the "TRNC" on 20 July to attend the anniversary celebrations of the 1974 invasion, Ecevit added that the officials of Turkey and the "TRNC" will get together in a bid to undertake work on developing the economy of the "TRNC".

Noting that there were claims to the effect that the "TRNC" posed an obstacle in the way of Turkish foreign policies, Ecevit said: "This is an extremely wrong and unjust assessment". Recalling that until recently Turkey was considered the guarantor of the Turkish Cypriots, Ecevit stressed: "Now, it is the TRNC that is of vital importance in terms of the security of Turkey.

Those countries which will attempt to put the pressure on the TRNC and its esteemed president Rauf Denktash will have to confront the Turkish Republic, which will display a more determined approach than in the past".

In reply to a reporter's question on whether Ecevit would have launched another "Peace Operation" today, Ecevit said:

"Undoubtedly".

[02] French Ambassador gives reception in the occupied area on France's National Day

HALKIN SESI reports that the reception was under the patronage of the French Ambassador and of the Turkish Cypriot - French Cultural Centre.

HALKIN SESI adds that it is the first time that the National Day of a foreign country is being celebrated in the occupied area under the patronage of that country's ambassador.

Moreover, KIBRIS (16.7.97) reports that addressing the guests during the reception Ambassador Henry Jacolin declared that the "14 July celebrations are a holiday for all those who love freedom and diverse cultures. For this reason we are very happy to organize such an event here".

In his turn the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot - French Friendship Association, Guner Erdal, said that they are very happy to have such a celebration in the occupied area for the first time. (MY)

[03] Ecevit: Partial integration inevitable in face of EU stand

In a statement he issued prior to the meeting, Ecevit claimed that the existence of "TRNC" is a reality and that it was irresponsible of the world not to recognize the "TRNC" until now.

Ecevit said: "The fact that the EU closed its doors to Turkey and opened it to the Greek Cypriot Administration for full membership while the direct talks between the two community leaders in New York were under way can only be described as an initiative to sabotage the meetings in question. In light of the EU stand nothing can be achieved from the intercommunal dialogue", and added: "Turkey and the TRNC will not be taken in by this ploy". And he concluded: "In face of these developments and on the condition that the TRNC and our Turkish Cypriot brothers give their consent, a partial integration between Turkey and the TRNC becomes inevitable if the EU and the Greek Cypriot Administration do not change their stand. Partial integration means that the TRNC will continue to be an independent state. Turkey, however, will officially take charge of the TRNC's external security and foreign relations. Furthermore, the economic cooperation between the two countries should attain higher levels. In my opinion, the economy of the TRNC is the main issue that needs to be settled in terms of Turkey".

Borman, in turn, said that he was proud to pay a visit to the prime minister of the 1974 invasion in its 23d anniversary and added: "The reasons for launching the 20 July Peace Operation and the Greek Cypriot plans have still not changed".

[04] Turkish Foreign Ministry claims EU report "wrong", "illegal" as regards Cyprus

A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry claimed that this approach was not in line with the promises made by the EU that it will apply equal criteria and objective standards to all the candidate countries. Alleging that Turkey was not lagging behind any other candidate countries included in the EU Commission proposal, the statement said that Turkey was even more advanced in numerous aspects from the other candidate countries. Claiming that not proposing that Turkey be part of the mechanisms which were going to be applied to all the candidates for full membership, in line with the final declaration issued at the recent Amsterdam summit, reflected a discriminatory and mistaken approach, the statement added: "The EU report contains conspicuous contradictions between the views expressed and proposals submitted with regard to the other candidate countries and the assessments voiced in connection with Turkey."

The following was alleged in the statement: "The EU Commission's proposals on Cyprus is a blatant violation of the international agreements. The agreements, which founded the Cyprus state, do not allow Cyprus to become a member of any international organization, which does not include Turkey. In this way, the EU Commission showed that it persists in the mistaken decision made by the EU council of Ministers on 1995.

Inviting the Greek Cypriot Administration to partake in full EU membership negotiations under the name of the Cyprus republic is illegal and an extremely wrong political approach.

Mr. Rauf Denktash, president of the TRNC, had previously said that such a proposal by the EU Commission will cast a shadow over the intercommunal meetings, render them meaningless, and that the situation should be reevaluated in light of these developments.

The Foreign Ministry shares the concerns and views of Mr. Denktash in this regard. Turkey's stand on this issue was made public by our Ministry on 14 July 1997. The statement in question said that this issue will be assessed in detail and the public briefed thoroughly once the EU Commission makes public its final report. The statement called on the EU countries not to take into consideration the EU Commission's wrong assessment, which is far from being objective, and added that it expects that approaches befitting the realities and international agreements be adopted on the issues of Turkey and Cyprus."

[05] Denktash assesses Troutbeck talks as `favourable step'

Denktash continued his statement as follows: "It is an appropriate moment for the international community and the United Nations to launch initiatives at this time when the Turkish Cypriots are under the threat of the S-300 missiles, which the Greek Cypriots purchased from Russia and which they plan on deploying in southern Cyprus."

[06] Serdar Denktash stresses `two state' agreement

"Beautiful days like these are very near and will certainly be attained as long as we walk shoulder to shoulder with the motherland and act together."

The ceremonies organized by (Istanbul's) Beyoglu Municipality on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the Cyprus invasion and occupation opened at the Beyoglu Municipality Art Gallery with the exhibition that included the photographs of Ergin Konuksever, who covered the invasion, and such items as bullets and helmets.

In his opening statement, Denktash said that "what is being celebrated now is the 23th anniversary when the Turkish soldiers and Turkish Cypriot fighters embraced each other."

Noting that this year's celebrations are being marked in a different atmosphere then the previous ones because of the talks in New York, the EU membership issue, and the problems in the pseudostate, Serdar Denktash added: "Really, we have to recall the past at this juncture. It is at this juncture that with this exhibition our friend Ergin Konuksever is displaying the memory of that glorious embracement of the Turkish soldiers and the Turkish Cypriot fighters. We have to remember those days so that when signing the agreement to be put before us we will not again make our children experience those old days. We have to sign such an agreement that would preclude us from experiencing the pre-1974 days."

And concluded: "Our sole struggle now is to advance further our state that we formed within the borders drawn by the Turkish soldiers and the Turkish Cypriot fighters by dying in each other's embrace and by shedding their blood, to ensure the survival of a truly second Turkish state on the island, and see to it that, if there is going to be an agreement, it should be one based on two states. We are holding the talks in this direction. Beautiful days like these are very near and will certainly be attained as long as we walk shoulder with the motherland and act together."

[07] Hakki Atun: A whole Cyprus based on two states

A 40-man delegation from Turkey composed of mayors of local administrations, deputy mayors, and legal advisers paid a visit to Hakki Atun.

The local administration officials, who are in the occupied area to attend a seminar on local administration, visited Atun and presented him with various gifts, including a Quran.

Atun, who took the Quran, kissed, and placed it on his forehead.

Pointing out that the visits from Turkey to the "TRNC" aim at giving the message that "look, we are coming to the TRNC in droves; we are in this together," Atun indicated that this should be well understood by the opposite side and well assessed by those who attempt to support the latter.

Claiming that a "state" has been established and that the world knows it but is shameless enough not to recognize it, Atun alleged: "It is not us but they who should be ashamed of it."

Stating that the Turkish Cypriots want nothing from anyone, Atun added: "If regardless of that, they still want a solution in Cyprus, then they should see the existing realities and assess well the foundation for a lasting peace and solution.

And this means the recognition and putting on record the Turkish Cypriot people's political equality, its existence here, and the situations that it has created by its own hands.

The opportunity to create a whole Cyprus still exists provided that conditions are created based on two states and political equality whereby one side does not oppress the other.

If America, Britain, and the UN still insist (on a solution), our hands have always remained extended for peace under the above conditions."

He added that a strong Turkey in itself is a guarantee for the Turkish Cypriots. Stating that history and geography have ordained that Cyprus remains attached to Anatolia, Atun said that there cannot, therefore, be a more natural thing than for the Turkish Cypriots to say that "it is attached to Anatolia".

[08] Ankara considering unification with occupied area

The EU Commission's decision was assessed during the two-day-long meetings in Ankara under Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. The meetings decided on steps to be taken toward Turkey's unification with the "TRNC" in case the EU begins full membership talks with the Greek Cypriots.

President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz have been informed of the decisions taken at the meetings attended by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, State Minister responsible for EU-Cyprus affairs Sukru Sina Gurel, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen and high-ranking bureaucrats.

A statement on the issue is expected to be made public this week.

A high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said: "Cyprus and the EU were assessed at the meetings. We are assessing what could be done and what could not be done in light of the EU's invitation to Cyprus for full membership. This will lead Turkey to entering into an even closer tie with the TRNC. We will assess this once more with Denktash on his return from New York and then inform the public about it."

The security dimension on the island was also taken up during the meetings. It was decided to set up naval and air bases in the occupied area.

According to the paper these are some of the decisions taken at the meetings: "1. The work to set up naval and air bases in the TRNC will be commenced immediately. 2. The aggression and faits accomplis against Turkey and the TRNC will be prevented jointly and the joint military coordination and planning necessitated by it will be executed. For this purpose, a joint defense concept between Turkey and the TRNC will be formulated. 3. The TRNC representatives will be included in the Turkish delegations in every kind of international meetings that concerns Cyprus but in which the Turkish Cypriot people are not recognized. 4. Measures will be taken to revive the TRNC economically and their immediate implementation will be ensured."

[09] Denktash on EU report

Alleging that the EU wants to turn Cyprus into a Greek Republic, Denktash claimed that with its report the EU "has accepted the Greek Cypriots' application for membership as a legal application, making them a Greek Republic and us a minority in this Greek Republic.

This is what makes us be frightened of the EU and have no hope in the EU. For this reason we are telling the EU `Don't trouble us: that's all we want from you. While the talks are going on, don't interfere. This is the security Council's decision as well. The two communities will manage this issue without outside interference. With your decisions and the hopes you are giving to the Greek Cypriots you are rendering this issue more difficult. Please, see this and don't do it, please stay behind'. They are not listening to us of course. I have told Mr. Cordovez that I want to see and study the whole of the EU report, that I will then talk to the interested parties in Cyprus. If need be, I will go to Turkey and assess the situation there and accordingly decide whether to go to Montreux or not."

Commenting on Mr. Cordovez's statement that relations between President Clerides and Denktash are excellent, Denktash said: "I hope these talks have restored the warmth existing between us. However, this is not a personal issue between Clerides and me. It is a national cause that both sides have been defending for years. There are issues for both sides on which going back is impossible".

Denktash said that he shares the views of Mr. Cordovez that the Switzerland summit will be a decisive one.

KIBRIS further alleges that during the Holbrooke-Denktash meeting, Mr. Holbrooke was addressing Denktash as "President" but this is not reflected in the official US papers because the US does not recognize the occupied area. Holbrooke also allegedly admitted to Denktash that accepting late President Makarios as the legitimate Cyprus government was wrong. (MY)

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

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