Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-02-17

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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. 29/98 -- 17.2.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: "No face to face negotiations unless principle of the state is accepted".

[02] Denktash says Madden represents Britain, not EU.

[03] Eroglu claims President Clerides to "sustain intransigence" in last term.

[04] Denktash claims President Clerides "elected by Greek Cypriot Republic".

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: "No face to face negotiations unless principle of the state is accepted"

Especially so long as our Turkey, our motherland, our guarantor state fully supports us and is together with us on this issue; defending the contrary is, I believe, rather impudent. I am saying that we should not do this. The intercommunal talks at the point we left them tied our hands, bound us to the intercommunal negotiating table, prevented our wish for recognition, obstructed our opposition to unjust decisions, and gave the Greek Cypriots the opportunity to go around the world as the Cyprus Government and to generate new decisions against us".

And he went on: "The intercommunal talks have ended. We did not end this process. The Greek Cypriot side ended this process. From the day he was elected, Clerides turned his back on the Set of Ideas. After the EU decision, he declared that the Set of Ideas will never be included in the agenda. All the political parties on the Greek Cypriot side clearly announced that they do not envisage a federation as stipulated in the Set of Ideas. They announced that they favour a European-style federation, whatever that means. In other words, they announced that they favour a federation in which everyone will live, settle, and work in the place of their choice."

Denktash further claimed that they have not run away from the intercommunal talks and that the intercommunal talks ended on their own. "They were exhausted on their own because the Greek Cypriots rejected the results attained within that very framework", he said.

And he continued: "I will not conduct talks with the Greek Cypriots whom you consider to be my government and who believe themselves to be that. I am, however, ready to discuss with all those concerned the reasons why I will not conduct talks with the Greek Cypriots, the stage in which I will be prepared to engage in a dialogue, the need to prepare a common denominator, and the arrangements necessary for preparing this common denominator. We will be discussing these issues."

Elaborating on his demand for negotiations on the basis of "two states", he said: "What will our advantage be if we conduct the negotiations based on the principle of a state? We will conduct the negotiations with more ease. Will the issue of sovereignty be accepted when we, as the negotiator, sit at the negotiating table with the Greek Cypriots and the issue is included on the agenda? They are saying that this issue will be considered at the end of the negotiations and that ultimately we will anyway be jointly sovereign. If I am deceived by these tales and concede, then the issue of sovereignty will never be included on the agenda. This is my concern. Therefore, if we start from the premise of a state, the issues to be discussed will be limited and a balance will be achieved. This is the benefit of the principle of a state. If the Greek Cypriots sincerely desire peace, then they can have only one objection to the formula of conducting negotiations between two states. They can say: We do not accept your borders, let us discuss them.

We have, from the very beginning, stated that we will be making border adjustments. They can say: Based on what conditions can a joint government be established? Let us discuss it; it is open for discussion.

However, if no results are achieved at the talks, then the Greek Cypriots will be unable to leave the negotiating table, as they did during the intercommunal talks, and go and force international resolutions under the title of the government of Cyprus. If no results are achieved at the talks, then we, as Turkish Cypriots, will continue to exist as a state and will proceed on our path. I will not be once again condemned to a certain position as a community. All our rights -- our rights to express our views, to conduct negotiations, and to travel will not be curtailed. We will seek recognition as a state. We will embark on the path of seeking that recognition. We harmed ourselves through the concept of a federation because we did not embark on the path of seeking recognition. We continued to experience various difficulties because we were late in seeking recognition."

On the EU membership issue, Denktash claimed: "I ask you: What is our choice mentioned here? We either join the EU without Turkey, without an agreement, and without a status, at the end of which we are finished. Or division. Absolute division.

Which one do you prefer? You must say it. You cannot solve the problem by saying: Denktash prefers absolute division. Partition. He has always wanted partition. If these are the alternatives, then what will it be? Integration with the Greek Cypriots and a life worth nothing under the Greeks and Greek Cypriots? Or continuing with our separate status and state and reducing to zero the obstacles between us and Turkey by developing our special ties with it? What do you want? Say it clearly. You cannot say you want none of the alternatives."

Denktash concluded: "When you tell the world that Denktash wants absolute separation, tell the world why he wants it: because the other side wants Cyprus in its entirety. Tell the world: We, including Denktash, do not want to give in, and this leads us to absolute separation. Absolute separation is not shameful. If that is what is going to save us, there is nothing shameful about that. The Greek Cypriots will not want to unite with us unless we separate, unless they see that the separation has become permanent. We must be determined. Kasoulides claims that even though I say I will not come to the negotiations, in the end I will. I am telling you: There will not be any face-to-face negotiations with the Greek Cypriots unless the principle of the state is accepted. However, I would go anywhere and speak with anyone in order to prepare common grounds. I will not negotiate with the Greek Cypriots who are recognized as the legitimate Cyprus government by the whole world as if they were the legitimate Cyprus government. What I want you to do is confirm this."

[02] Denktash says Madden represents Britain, not EU

Denktash said that the pseudostate views Madden only as the Cyprus representative of guarantor state Britain.

Denktash held a meeting with Madden yesterday. The meeting, which was also attended by the under secretary of the High Commissioner, continued over luncheon as well.

Madden was reminded that he was informed that from now on the "TRNC" will participate in the Cyprus talks only on the basis of "two states" and was asked to comment on the issue. He said:

"This is one of the issues I will discuss with Mr. Denktash today. We will discuss what will be the best course to take".

[03] Eroglu claims President Clerides to "sustain intransigence" in last term

Rauf Denktash held his weekly meeting with Eroglu and "deputy prime minister" Serdar Denktash yesterday. In a statement to the press after the meeting, Eroglu said the election results in the free areas were assessed and added: "As we have already stated, the Cyprus policy of the south will not change, nor will ours, regardless of the election results."

Eroglu said that talks will be held on the basis of "two states", alleging that an agreement on the Cyprus issue cannot be reached as long as the reality of the TRNC" is not accepted.

Claiming that President Clerides adopted an intransigent attitude in the direct negotiations held during the last five years, Eroglu said that the views of all the political parties are clear and added: "When the issue is reviewed in the light of all these developments, one can see that Clerides will continue his intransigence during this term as well".

"One cannot expect the 77-year-old leader, during his last term, to give land to the Turkish Cypriots, acknowledge the north, and sign an agreement. It is certain he will not want to go down in history as the person who has done all these things", he claimed.

[04] Denktash claims President Clerides "elected by Greek Cypriot Republic"

Commenting on the measures that have been adopted in connection with the Ledra Palace crossings, Denktash said he respects the decision adopted by the "government". Expressing the hope that the decision will be implemented without any hitches, Denktash said that from now on, no one should come to him for permits and take up his time, adding that from now on everyone should apply to the "foreign ministry" in connection with the crossings.

Commenting on President Clerides' election, Denktash said the world press reported it as the election of the Cypriot president, claiming that this "mistake", as he put it, should be rectified. In a statement to the press after his weekly routine meeting with Eroglu, Denktash said: "Our press, our parties, our government, our institutions, our civilian mass organizations, and our unions should help our people rectify this mistake and should inform the establishments they are in contact with that Clerides was elected by the Greek Cypriot Republic in the south." Pointing out that he has begun to take the necessary initiatives to inform all the world governments of "this reality", Denktash added that the concerned countries, primarily the United States and guarantor Britain, are aiding the Greek Cypriots in perpetuating this "lie".

Denktash continued: "I congratulate Clerides as a person who has won the presidential elections of the Greek Cypriot people in south Cyprus".

In reply to reporters questions on whether there will be direct talks from now on, Denktash said the EU will begin membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side, claiming that the EU is the reason why the intercommunal talks can no longer be held. He reiterated that the negotiations to be held from now will be based on the principle of "two states". Pointing out that holding contacts with the representatives of the Cyprus problem will be beneficial in order to establish a new framework, Denktash said: "I will not hold contacts with EU representatives. We did not close the door the government representatives. Naturally, they will come and go". Denktash said he is now informing the special Cyprus envoys that they cannot arrange a meeting between President Clerides and himself, adding that there is no point in holding negotiations before a common denominator is established.

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

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