Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-07-18

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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. 130/97 -- 18.7.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] PREVIOUS TURKISH GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF RENOUNCING ITS VETO RIGHT OVER CYPRUS

[02] DENKTASH PROPOSES JOINT TURKISH-GREEK FORCE IN BUFFER ZONE

[03] CEM PLEDGES CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR TURKISH CYPRIOTS

[04] DENKTASH REPEATS KNOWN VIEWS ABOUT EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY, INTEGRATION

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] PREVIOUS TURKISH GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF RENOUNCING ITS VETO RIGHT OVER CYPRUS

In a statement after the ANAP Chairmanship Council meeting in Ankara, Guner charged that Turkey renounced its veto right, which would prevent the EU membership of the Greek Cypriots, for the sake of the Customs Union (CU) agreement. He added that his party asked the previous governments whether Turkey had renounced its veto right and what had been sacrificed for the sake of the CU agreement but that it received no positive reply. Guner said that the warnings issued about the matter were not heeded by the governments at the time and that these issues have accumulated and are not standing in the way of the new government.

"The Turkish presence in north Cyprus, the lofty interests and security of our state, and the balances in the Mediterranean were seriously impaired because those who governed this great nation and this great state implemented their petty policies and did not exercise their veto right. Our lofty nation will ask those who governed our great nation and our state through petty policies to account for their deeds. This account will be given at the ballot box.", he said.

[02] DENKTASH PROPOSES JOINT TURKISH-GREEK FORCE IN BUFFER ZONE

On his arrival from New York, Denktash warned that customary "border" incidents might suddently flare up on 20 July and 15 August. Calling for a team of Turkish and Greek Cypriot policemen to jointly serve on the green line together with the UN forces, Denktash added: "In this way, the fights, attacks, and violence in the buffer zone might be greatly reduced."

[03] CEM PLEDGES CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR TURKISH CYPRIOTS

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem received a delegation headed by so-called TRNC ambassador to Turkey Nazif Borman.

Ismail Cem stressed that Turkey favours the peaceful solution of the Cyprus question and will continue to support "TRNC" to this end.

[04] DENKTASH REPEATS KNOWN VIEWS ABOUT EXCHANGE OF PROPERTY, INTEGRATION

Speaking at the occupied Tymbou airport Denktash said that if both communities are to live in conditions of peace in Cyprus this is a matter of wisdom.

When asked by journalists what was the message he had conveyed to President Clerides in New York, Denktash said: "The two peoples, the two communities in Cyprus are condemned to live together. This is our destiny. Living in peace is a matter of wisdom, it is a necessity for civilized people. It is not possible for the one to dominate the other. The 1960 Agreements are agreements that preclude this. They are measures against this. Turkey's interest in Cyprus cannot be denied. This is a historic and strategic interest. This is a geopolitical interest and it is a valid interest from the point of view of the Turkish Cypriots' existence and security. It is a natural interest. To consider this as non-existing, to attempt to do away with it, will harm the island. It has already harmed it.

The 1960 Agreements, taking into consideration Greek and Turkish interests and policies, have established a balance. Attempting to do away with this balance will not be beneficial for peace. It will render the work difficult. For this reason, by accepting some realities, it will be possible to conclude an agreement that will secure peace in Cyprus, that will secure the continuation of the guarantees. That will not destroy the Greco-Turkish equality, that will accept the equality and sovereignty of both sides in Cyprus, that will preclude the one side's establishing domination over the other. The parametres of this agreement have already been drawn up. Let us do it".

Denktash further said that the two communities on the island will not be able to annihilate one another and added: "We want to solve this in a sensible manner".

Noting that they have concluded the exchange of population together with President Clerides, Denktash said that the necessary thing to create bizonality is to realize property exchange and compensation. Denktash said that he is ready to discuss, to talk about this issue.

Claiming that the pseudostate was established out of necessity, Denktash has stated that he has told President Clerides that "To consider the TRNC as non-existing or to expect its dissolution is futile. So as the case is, we are forced to negotiate. By running away from each other we will not reach anywhere. I have proposed to him to have meetings in Cyprus on normalization. He accepted."

Referring to the Troutbeck meetings Denktash said that neither President Clerides nor himself have accepted the UN to submit documents on territorial, constitutional, refugee and settlement issues.

Denktash claimed that he had very useful meetings with people who are interested in the Cyprus problem and he had the opportunity to explain the Turkish side's stance and approach regarding the Cyprus problem.

Criticizing the EU Commission's report regarding Cyprus EU membership, Denktash said that his reaction to this report was very strong. He had even thought of withdrawing from the negotiations and return to Cyprus.

He said that he will study the EU report together with Turkey and then will decide whether to go to Montreux or not.

Denktash further said that he will have the opportunity to discuss this issue when Ecevit and his delegation arrive in the occupied area today.

The Turkish Cypriot leader has said that President Clerides' approach to the S-300 missiles issue is that "if there is progress in the talks then I will preclude the arrival of the missiles."

Denktash said: "We did not find this satisfactory. Such thing will not and cannot happen. Whether the negotiations progress well or bad... The Cyprus problem one day will be solved on the negotiation table. It will not be settled through the force of arms. They have to realize this".

Denktash also declared that Turkey will take reciprocal steps against every step that Greece and the Greek Cypriots take in Cyprus. He warned that the result will bear serious consequences.

"I still hope that a clever leader like Clerides will not, want to venture into such risk, that he will get rid of the fanatics around him and he will do the right thing", said Denktash.

Denktash said that soon he will call President Clerides to discuss urgent issues such as certain measures regrding the buffer zone.

When asked to comment on President Clerides' statement regarding Turkey's threats for integration in case of Cyprus' EU membership Denktash said: "If President Clerides is of that view then I am really sorry, because in New York I explained to him and told him that he had to take the 20 January 1997 declaration very seriously."

(MY)

EF/MP

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

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