Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-02-20

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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. 32/98 -- 20.2.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat urges President Clerides' Denktash to find Cyprus solution.

[02] Cem: No solution in Cyprus if Turks viewed as community.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat urges President Clerides, Denktash to find Cyprus solution

"We have reached a very important juncture in the quest for a solution to the Cyprus problem. The presidential elections in the Greek Cypriot side are over. Local and international initiatives will be undertaken to find a solution. Both the Turkish Cypriot leadership and the Greek Cypriot leadership have a great duty ahead of them in this regard.

While the problems and differences among the Greek Cypriot people, who have just wound up their election process, concern them, they concern us as well. The policies and stands of the elected president of Cyprus concern us and the whole of Cyprus. While we congratulate Clerides on his re-election, we want to underline that the contribution he will make to solving the Cyprus problem will be his real success. We believe that Clerides and the Greek Cypriot side should leave behind the election as soon as possible."

Talat goes on and says that President Clerides should embark on the talks as soon as possible with the aim of reaching a mutually acceptable agreement.

"By the same measure," he adds, "the Turkish Cypriot side should not obstruct the talks by adopting the same assumptions stated by the Greek Cypriot side during the election period to the effect that `there are no grounds for an agreement'. Denktash should not forget that Clerides adopted a similar posture in the past.

Our country Cyprus is as close to a division and a clash as it is to a reconciliation. For this reason, we call on the UBP-DP (National Unity Party-Democratic Party) coalition and, in particular, Denktash, to adopt a constructive approach toward the international efforts to resume intercommunal talks. Instead of blocking this process, he should speed it up and find a solution favourable to the Turkish Cypriot people.

In the same vein, we call on the Greek Cypriot leader, Clerides, to play a constructive role. We draw his attention to the fact that the arms buildup and his unilateral application to the EU, which he kept on the agenda for the sole purpose of being elected, will lead Cyprus to partition and confrontation.

We call on both leaders to account for the 35 years since 1963 and the 24 years since 1974 years that have gone down the drain in the struggle for supremacy. Cyprus and its two peoples are the ones who have lost. The divisionists, the chauvinists, the exploiters, and those who trample on law and order have been the winners so far.

The CTP calls on Denktash and Clerides, these two septuagenarians, to infuse Cyprus with a new spirit of peace and reconciliation to reach a just and mutually acceptable solution.

We call on Denktash and Clerides to extend an olive branch to one another's people, just like the great Turkish poet Hazim Hikmet said in his poems: `A man should plant olive trees when he turns 70".

[02] Cem: No solution in Cyprus if Turks viewed as community

Cem, who has been continuing his visit to the People's Republic of China (PRC) for the last five days, expressed Turkey's views on the Cyprus and Greek issues to the PRC president and foreign minister during his contacts here. Cem also replied to reporters' questions on these issues and assessed the Cypriot election results. He said that "the election results are not viewed as a development that will have a very serious impact on the Turkish cause". Cem said: "We are continuing on our course. If a solution is not sought on the basis of the equality and sovereignty of the TRNC, then we will continue on our path. This means that a federal solution will not be realized. There cannot be a solution if others continue to view the Greek Cypriots as a state and the Turkish Cypriots as a community. Then, the two countries can only discuss humanitarian issues."

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

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