Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-03-26

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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. 54/98 -- 25-26.3.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Cordovez says Denktash to meet Annan in Geneva on 28 March.

[02] Cordovez negative towards pseudostate's call for recognition.

[03] UN "interim formula" for Cyprus rejected by Turkey.

[04] Utkan on Cordovez contacts, armament efforts in Cyprus.

[05] Denktash to repeat to Annan stands expressed to Cordovez.

[06] Demirel reportedly to visit pseudostate 23 April.

[07] Cem meets Cordovez.

[08] Denktash claims Turkish Cypriots are not defying UNSC, EU, or US

[09] Denktash leaves for Geneva via Istanbul.

[10] Women trade-unionists not allowed to attend Cyprus Link meeting in London.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Cordovez says Denktash to meet Annan in Geneva on 28 March

Cordovez, who went to Ankara to hold talks about Cyprus, met with Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime minister.

Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Cordovez said that Annan responded late to Denktash's request for a meeting because of the intense activity caused by the Iraqi crisis.

Responding to a journalist who reminded him of the news claiming that "Cordovez threatened Denktash", Cordovez said that he did not threaten anybody, but just told him that an end to the international relations will cause bad results.

[02] Cordovez negative towards pseudostate's call for recognition

According to the report, it has been ascertained the Cordovez adopted a negative approach toward the "TRNC" call for "equality for the two states" in Cyprus. Cordovez said that the parameters of the UN Secretary General's "good-offices mission" on the Cyprus problem being changed before the UN Security Council adopts a new resolution seems to be impossible. He also said that he has drawn up a report on the Cyprus problem and noted that he will visit the area again to reactivate the peace process in the near future.

[03] UN "interim formula" for Cyprus rejected by Turkey

That will enable them to attend the talks the EU will have with the Greek Cypriots on accession."

Diego Cordovez arrived in Ankara last Tuesday. He held talks with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Minister of State Sukru Sina Gurel, and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. He asked for Turkey's support, noting that Rauf Denktash rejected the formula and argued that the "TRNC" should be recognized as a "state" because the parameters in Cyprus have changed.

Ankara informed Cordovez that it resolutely supports Denktash. Considering Turkey's approach, Cordovez said that the UN Security Council, which is mostly made up of EU representatives, will not agree to recognize the "TRNC". Cordovez cautioned Ankara to reconsider the matter.

[04] Utkan on Cordovez contacts, armament efforts in Cyprus

Speaking at his weekly news conference, Utkan replied to a question on the contacts Diego Cordovez, UN Secretary General's special Cyprus envoy, held on 24 March and claimed that a formula that will bring the two sides in Cyprus together on the basis of "an equal status" should be found. Utkan added: "From now on, they can get together on the basis of an equal status, and they can begin to solve their problems."

Assessing the statement made by Cordovez to the effect that "if the intercommunal talks are not resumed, the situation will get much worse", Utkan said:

"One should not view these words as a threat. It has become clear that the negotiations cannot continue on the basis of the intercommunal talks. Everyone is gradually realizing this fact. The talks, however, must continue."

Replying to a question on the pseudostate's view of the UN peace forces as "pro-Greek Cypriot", Utkan said that meetings are scheduled twice yearly, once in June and once in December, in order to determine UNFICYP's (UN Forces in Cyprus) mandate and activities. Pointing out that these regular consultation meetings could not be held because of difficulties experienced with regard to participation, Utkan added: "At the moment, the situation is frozen. Denktash and the TRNC Administration might have various concerns. Perhaps in the future we shall have the opportunity to return to the former working method."

Recalling a statement he made during a news conference at the beginning of the week saying that the inauguration of the Paphos air base and the deployment of the S-300 missiles on the island were being investigated, Utkan added: "The Greek Cypriot armament efforts on the island will be reciprocated with equally serious measures."

Utkan stated that the Turkish - "TRNC' so-called Partnership Council will hold its first meeting in Ankara on 31 March. He concluded by saying that "special political relations" will be determined at the meeting to be attended by five so-called TRNC ministers and various so-called deputies.

[05] Denktash to repeat to Annan stands expressed to Cordovez

Denktash continued: "If the Greek Cypriots consider themselves a Cyprus government in the south, then we are a state in the north under the name of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. These facts should be acknowledged."

Denktash, who participated by telephone in the "Akis" program carried by illegal Bayrak Television, said that the EU issue is not on the agenda of the Turkish Cypriot side and added:

"We will put the EU issue on our agenda if the Turkish Cypriots become EU members under equal conditions and are granted a status." Denktash continued: "This request for a status has been rejected, and efforts are being made to make our status smaller and smaller. We are being categorized together with the Armenians and the Maronites. Nobody should forget that the Cyprus republic rests on two national communities."

[06] Demirel reportedly to visit pseudostate 23 April

One of the main reasons for Demirel's visit is the implementation of the project for the transportation of drinking water to the occupied area. Water will be transported in large plastic containers pulled by boats to the island. Also, the policy Turkey and the "TRNC" will adopt against the process of the Greek Cypriots' EU accession is expected to be disclosed during Demirel's visit. Turkey plans to strengthen the "TRNC's" economic infrastructure convinced that this will create economic parity between the two sides on the island.

Meanwhile, the United Nations continues its effort to resolve the Cyprus problem through the intercommunal talks.

Cordoves held talks in Ankara last Tuesday. Cordovez is expected to ask the Turkish officials to support the Turkish Cypriot side's participation in the intercommunal negotiations held under UN auspices.

Speaking at his news conference last Tuesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan assessed Secretary of State Madelein Albright's talks with Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos. He said they discussed the new base in Paphos, the deployment of S-300 missiles in Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriot side's effort to acquire new tanks.

[07] Cem meets Cordovez

Cem said he held a very beneficial and constructive exchange of views with Cordovez. Pointing out that importance is attached to the meeting to be held in Geneva between Rauf Denktash and the UN Secretary General, Cem added, however, that a positive mentality is needed for all these efforts. He later commented on Greece and the statement made by Greek Foreign Minister Pangalos to CNN the other day.

"Yesterday, Mr. Pangalos made a statement to CNN which was carried live and replied to various questions on the Cyprus issue. The expressions used by Mr. Pangalos in his replies prove that all of Turkey's claims up until now have been true. Moreover, these expressions clearly show that the greatest obstacle to any kind of hope for conciliation in Cyprus is Greece," he claimed.

Cem said Pangalos clearly expressed the idea of a federation in which a large autonomy is granted to the Turkish Cypriots. He further drew attention to Pangalos' statement portraying the Turkish Cypriots as a minority.

Cordovez said that the negotiation process in Cyprus should continue but that one cannot allow this process to continue for much longer. Pointing out that he is a friend to both sides, Cordovez added that he came to Ankara after holding contacts with the two sides on the island and in Athens. Cordovez said he will proceed to Geneva after concluding his contacts in Ankara and will submit a report to the UN Secretary General, adding that he will then return to the region.

Within the framework of his contacts in Ankara, Cordovez later met with Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. State Minister Sukru Gurel attended the meeting as well. In a statement after the meeting, Cordovez said he held an interesting meeting with Ecevit and Gurel. Cordovez was later received by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. No statement was issued in connection with the meeting, which was held at the parliament.

Meanwhile, it has been learned that the "Partnership Council" established between Turkey and the "TRNC" will hold its first meeting in Ankara on 31 March, the day the EU begins its negotiations with the Cyprus Government.

[08] Denktash claims Turkish Cypriots are not defying UNSC, EU, or US

He further claimed that Greece thinks that it can get all of Cyprus by upsetting the Turkish-Greek factor and through the EU. He said: "Turkey is not in the EU but it lies only 40 miles away from Cyprus."

Denktash claimed that the 65 million Turks have "historical rights" over Cyprus and rights stemming from the 1960 agreements. The world must realize that Turkey will not give up these rights, he said.

He said that Cyprus is the issue of the Greek Cypriots, Greece, the Turkish Cypriots, and Turkey. He stressed that it is impossible to reach a solution by pushing two of these factors aside.

Denktash was speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the Turkish National Youth Foundation. "Because the youth of Turkey and of the TRNC cherish the common national cause of Cyprus", he claimed, "we will win our political struggle as we did in the past. We are not doing anything bad to the Greek Cypriots through this struggle and we do not want any Greek Cypriot rights."

Denktash pointed out that the pseudo-assembly adopted a "resolution" one of whose points is accepted by the opposition parties as well. "We all agree that the Cyprus government is not the government of the Turkish Cypriots", he said, and claimed that it is the duty of the world to tell the Greek Cypriots that they are not the government of the Turkish Cypriots. "The minute this is done, the Cyprus problem will be resolved in one month", he alleged.

[09] Denktash leaves for Geneva via Istanbul

Denktash will stay in Istanbul for the day and will leave for Geneva tomorrow morning.

In Geneva Denktash will meet UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, on Saturday. (MY)

[10] Women trade-unionists not allowed to attend Cyprus Link meeting in London

Without prior warning the three women trade unionists were stopped from boarding the plane at the last moment yesterday.

The three women immediately held a press conference and protested Denktash's dictatorial action, and said that this was against the individual's human right of freedom of movement and against the "Constitution".

The three women were temporarily banned, until 1st April, from leaving the occupied area. The three women trade unionists are Bes-Sen chairwoman Gulev Sidal, Cag-Sen secretary general Cemaliye Volkan, and KTAMS representative Gul Oztek.

KIBRIS says that the three women who are "civil servants" did not secure permission from their superiors and for this reason they were banned from leaving the occupied area. (MY)

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

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