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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-08-14Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 149/97 -- 14.8.97[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Cordovez asks sides to submit views on 2 new documentsAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (13.8.97) the direct talks between Rauf Denktash and President Clerides are continuing in Glion, Switzerland. It has been reported that Diego Cordovez UN Secretary General's special adviser, submitted two new documents to the sides during yesterday's talks. It was noted that Cordovez asked the sides to submit their views with regard to the new documents. In a statement he issued yesterday, Denktash recalled that he will not sign any document during the talks, adding that there is no question of signing a joint declaration.According to Anatolia Agency, the said documents consist of a main document describing the process and an addendum outlining the main issues. It was noted that Cordovez asked the sides to submit their views on the documents during today's talks, which are scheduled to begin at 11:30. Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot side is not expected to submit any views on the documents today because of Denktash's previous statement that he will not sign any document during the Glion talks. [02] Turkish Cypriots term Cordovez documents `not official'According to illegal Bayrak radio (13.8.97) Ergun Olgun, Denktash's special adviser on political affairs, has confirmed that two new documents were submitted to the sides during the direct talks yesterday. Olgun remarked, however, that the situation is no different from that in Troutbeck. Olgun said that the document submitted to the sides is not official, it is only a working document like the nondocument submitted in Troutbeck.Pointing out that the documents submitted in Glion are not binding, Olgun said that the views of the Turkish Cypriot side are clear. He announced that the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to advocate its views on what must be done for the solution of the Cyprus problem, how the balance in the Mediterranean and the balance between Turkey and Greece can be preserved, and how a solution can be maintained. Olgun reported that the talks will resume at 11:30 this morning, adding that talks may be held between the delegations in the afternoon in accordance with the decision to be adopted during the meeting between the leaders in the morning. [03] Turkish Cypriot organizations issue peace call to leadersAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (13.8.97) fourteen democratic mass organizations in the occupied area are sending a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan with a call to the leaders of the two communities for peace.The representatives of 14 organizations held a joint news conference at the so-called "Foreign Press Union" today and gave information on the issue. In a statement on behalf of all the organizations, Cemal Ozyigit, Secretary General of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union, said that the talks on the solution of the Cyprus problem between the two leaders have resumed following a three-year interval, adding that the organizations have decided to take initiatives involving the democratic mass organizations in the free areas in a bid to contribute to peace. Ozyigit said that they had intended to meet with the representatives of 19 organizations in the free areas to formulate and sign a joint text and sent it to the UN Secretary General. He added that, however, this could not be realized because permission could not be obtained for the Greek Cypriot organizations. Ozyigit said that the text that has been prepared will be sent separately by the organizations on both sides. The text to be sent to Annan calls on Rauf Denktash and President Clerides to find a way to benefit from the bitter experiences of the past in order to build a peaceful future. The text further stresses that the conciliation achieved between Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Greek Prime Minister Constantinos Simitis in Madrid is a perfect opportunity to create an excellent intercommunal atmosphere. [04] Soysal rejects talks based on `any document'According to illegal Bayrak radio (13.8.97) as the third day of the second round of talks on the solution of the Cyprus problem draws to an end, efforts to conduct the talks in line with the document submitted by Diego Cordovez, the UN Secretary General's special adviser, have prompted a reaction from the Turkish Cypriot side.According to an Anatolia Agency report, Mumtaz Soysal, Rauf Denktash's constitutional adviser, said it is out of the question for the Turkish Cypriot side to conduct talks based on any document. He said: "We are open to talks, and we are continuing them; however, we will not accept their being put into and presented within a special mold". [05] Turkish side refuses to discuss documentAccording to Ankara TRT television (13.8.97) it was a tense day for the Cyprus talks. The Turkish Cypriot side refused to discuss the document submitted by the United Nations. Cihat Aydemir from the TRT team in Montreux has reported that Rauf Denktash met with President Clerides and with Diego Cordovez, the UN Secretary General's special adviser during the second round of Cyprus talks being held in the town of Glion in Switzerland. It has been known that at the meeting, Denktash stated that he is against the preparation of a document at the talks but that he will continue to attend the talks. Sources close to the talks said that at the beginning of the meeting, Cordovez insisted that a document be signed but when faced with Denktash's determined stand, he made do with the sides expressing their views on the Cyprus issue.[06] Gurel says UN cannot `impose' a solutionAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (13.8.97) Sukru Sina Gurel, Turkish State Minister in Charge of Cyprus Affairs, has stressed Turkey's determination not to leave the occupied area and the Turkish Cypriot community alone in the world. He said that partial integration or special relations to be forged between Turkey and the occupied area in the face of the steps to be taken by the Cyprus government on the path to EU membership will not harm the "independence" of the occupied area.Addressing the Turkish Grand National Assembly today, Gurel gave information on Turkish occupied area relations and Turkey's views on the Cyprus issue. He said that the EU Commission's decision to begin membership negotiations with the Cyprus Government rendered the New York talks on the Cyprus issue meaningless. Gurel said that the Turkish Cypriot side went to the talks in Switzerland despite hesitations on the issue. Drawing attention to the fact that the function of the United Nations regarding the Cyprus issue is limited to its goodwill mission aimed at facilitating the direct talks, Gurel said: The representative of the Secretary General is not in a position to impose a solution or a document on the two sides. Further, Gurel said: "Denktash, as an official representing his people and his state, has the authority and the right to conduct these talks as he wishes and sees fit." "No one, no force in the international area, has the right to impose a stand on Denktash". He stressed that international forces have no right or authority to issue so-called warnings to Turkey, saying that it will be impossible to develop Turkish-EU relations if no developments take place regarding the Cyprus problem. Gurel said that the Turkish Government is assessing the Cyprus problem and the development of Turkey's relations with the EU as two totally separate issues. Noting that Turkey and the EU have mutual obligations to develop their relations, Gurel said that the EU should fulfill its obligations and continued: If it is claimed that we have to make certain concessions on the issue of Turkish-Greek relations or on the Cyprus problem in order for us to develop our relations with the EU, we will disregard these claims, because it is impossible for us to view these issues as criteria for the development of our relations with the EU. [07] Nadir in the occupied areaAccording to KIBRIS (13.8.97) Turkish Cypriot businessman Asil Nadir who jumped British bail and arrived in the occupied area as fugitive stayed in the occupied area for four years and in May this year went to Turkey to follow up his business concerns.Nadir who was on Turkey's stop list because of his income tax debt to Turkish Income Tax office was not allowed to leave Turkey before paying his debts. KIBRIS reports that Nadir returned last night to the occupied area. The paper does not mention whether he had paid his debts or not. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |