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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-09-07Cyprus 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. 163/98 -- 5-6-7.9.98[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Ecevit: Confederation proposal last chance for unity According to TRT Television network (10:00 hours, 5.9.98) Turkish DeputyPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit has termed the confederation proposal by Rauf Denktash as the last chance for the unity of Cyprus. Ecevit went to the pseudostate on a one-day illegal visit.The plane transporting Ecevit landed at occupied Tymbou airport. Ecevit was met by Denktash and ``prime minister'' Dervis Eroglu. In an airport statement, Ecevit noted that ``Denktash´s confederation proposal is the last chance for Cyprus´integrity, but the Greek Cypriot - Greek pair failed to exploit this opportunity''. In turn, Denktash remarked that the Turkish Cypriots view Ecevit as a savior, not just the prime minister of the time. [03] Ecevit: ``Nobody should wait for concessions''; Denktash: ``Proud ofbeing a part of Anatolia''According to Anatolia Agency (9:43 hours, 6.9.98) Bulent Ecevit, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, who paid a one-day illegal visit to the occupied area, said on Saturday that ``the Cyprus question has been solved in respect of Turkey and TRNC''. Addressing a ceremony Ecevit inter alia claimed that he has defended the federal state on Cyprus for a long time, and alleged that Greek Cypriots acted as if they accepted the federation, but their real will was to return to the period before 1974. Ecevit said: ``There is an independent Turkish state and it´s not possible to break off the cooperation between this state and Turkey. From now on the TRNC is a guarantee for Turkey. Nobody should wait for concessions. As long as Turkey exists, so does TRNC.'' Rauf Denktash said on his part that ``we are proud of being a part of Anatoia. The Turkish Cypriots are better today by the things that are done by Turkey.'' [03] Ecevit on Denktash proposal NTV Television (8:10 hours, 5.9.98) broadcast a live interview with BulentEcevit, Turkish state minister and deputy prime minister, by Ahmet Takan in the occupied part of Nicosia.In reply to a question on Denktash´s confederation proposal, Ecevit inter ail claimed: ``The federation was automatically eliminated from the agenda when the EU opened its doors wide to the Greek Cypriots but closed them to Turkey. The Greek Cypriot Administration has in fact established de facto federation relations with the EU and Greece. Mr. Denktash´s confederation proposal is a last chance to prevent the island´s sharp division. It is understood, however, that the Greek Cypriots and Greece will not take this opportunity. If they do, however, an easy solution will be possible to relations with the EU. Meanwhile, as I have said on other occasions, the Cyprus question has been resolved as far as the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey are concerned. The reason is that there has been uninterrupted peace in Cyprus for the past 24 years, ever since the Turkish peace operation. Before that, there used to be constant fighting.'' Asked how long will the Turkish side keep the proposal on the agenda, Ecevit replied: ``Of course, with his endless experience, Mr. Denktash will assess that. As far as I know, he used the term a reasonable period of time. assess that. As far as I know, he used the term a reasonable period of time. He will decide when. The Greek Cypriots and Greece rejected the proposals, however, without even feeling a need to study them. This indicates how unwilling they are to set up a dialogue. Meanwhile, we are increasingly deepening our relations with the TRNC. Almost all the infrastructure needs of north Cyprus have been met. We have also started to meet its water needs. We are determined to develop our economic and commercial relations. Unfortunately, there are certain bureaucratic obstacles in Turkey in this regard. I will raise this point at the next Council of Ministers meeting, and I believe that I will be able to ensure that a final decision will be adopted at that meeting. All the ministers have goodwill in this regard, and once we overcome certain legal or bureaucratic obstacles, I believe that there will be a boom in the TRNC´s economy.'' [04] Denktash briefs envoys on his proposal According to Anatolia Agency (12:22 hours, 4.9.98), Turkish Cypriot leaderRauf Denktash is briefing the ambassadors to Cyprus on the ``confederation proposal'' he submitted to the Greek Cypriot side.Denktash met last Friday with the Egyptian ambassador, British High Commissioner David Madden, and Alexandra Bugailishis, the Canadian high commissioner to Cyprus who is also accredited to Damascus. In a statement after his meetings Denktash claimed that the intercommunal talks were misused by the Greek Cypriot side and the parameters of the talks eliminated. Further claiming that it was again the Greek Cypriot side that rejected the property exchange, the principles of bizonality and sovereignty, and Turkey´s guarantees, Denktash continued: ``At this stage, there is no alternative but to hold talks between two states''. Pointing out that foreign diplomats are in constant contact with him in a bid to learn the reasons for the ``confederal solution proposal'', Denktash claimed that despite the fact that it was the Turkish Cypriot side that accepted the 1977-79 summit agreement and abided by the UN resolutions, the Greek Cypriots have not put forth any proposals. Dentkash added that Greek Cypriot propaganda attempts to the effect that the occupied area will be annexed to Turkey ``while ignoring the fact that they have granted bases to Greece and are constantly arming themselves'' prompted him to make this ``confederal solution proposal''. Stressing that the only guarantee is to uphold the ``state'', Denktash continued: ``We favour a partnership between two states. We have insisted on our security, and we will continue to do so because we do not want to be another Crete''. Upon being reminded of Greek Cypriot press reports to the effect that ``the United States is behind the confederation proposal'', Denktash said that these reports ``are a ploy to activate the Greek lobby in the United States and to force a decision against the Turkish Cypriot side''. In a statement after his meeting with Denktash, Madden said that they discussed the ``confederal solution proposal'' but that he would not elaborate on the details. Noting that his country supports every initiative that will facilitate the solution of the Cyprus problem, Madden added: ``Our view, however, is that the best solution is a federal one''. Madden concluded by saying that they were interested in Article 5 of the ``confederal solution proposal'' which deals with the EU. [05] Denktash claims non-aligned resolution ùnilateral and unjust´ According to TRT Television Network (10:00 hours, 4.9.98) Rauf Denktash wasquick to react to the decision adopted at the Nonaligned Conference. Denktash claimed: ``It is our duty to take measures against injustices and not to bow down to unilateral and unjust decisions.''In a statement Denktash recalled that in 1983 the nonaligned countries, ``casting aside all the parameters on the negotiating table and in line with the wishes of the Greek Cypriots'', adopted an ``unjust'' resolution which condemned the Turkish Cypriots, put them in the position of a minority, and portrayed Turkey as an occupationist force. Alleging that the Turkish Cypriots were called to the negotiating table under the shadow of that resolution, Denktash added that, in response, the Turkish Cypriots declared the ``TRNC''. He continued: ``Therefore, it is our duty not to bow down to unilateral and unjust decisions. The principle of law is not to reach a decision before listening to the sides involved''. And added: ``Naturally, no one can respect such a resolution. The Greek Cypriots are well aware that they cannot achieve anything through such resolutions, that these resolutions will increase the gap between us, and that such resolutions will lead Cyprus nowhere. They are resorting to these methods in a bid to deceive their people and gain some more time''. [06] More on Akinci reaction to confederation proposal According to illegal Bayrak radio (15:30 hours, 3.9.98) in a newsconference last Thursday, Communal Liberation Party leader Mustafa Akinci said that the system in Switzerland is called a confederation but in actual fact it operates as a federation. Alleging that the EU decisions adopted in Luxembourg played an important role in the recent impasse reached in the Cyprus question, Akinci claimed that these decisions, which gave a green light for membership to the Greek Cypriot side and excluded Turkey, served to further solidify the division rather than act as a catalyst for a solution.Akinci claimed that the tension in Cyprus, which has been escalating through tactical wars, is in danger of turning into a real war because of the S-300 missiles. On several occasions, his party proposed that if the path to new wars is to be blocked, the arms race and the purchase of missiles must be abandoned, deconfrontation measures must be implemented on a priority basis, a reciprocal troop reduction must be effected within the framework of an agreement, and an understanding must be reached on the demilitarization of the island other than the forces that will remain in Cyprus for the long term. Akinci stated: ``The fact that President Rauf Denktash, who is demanding a confederation from the Greek Cypriot side, has so far failed to gain the recognition of even one other third country constitutes the biggest contradiction.'' Akinci described the lack of any serious effort in this regard for years as an unforgivable foreign policy failure. In his news conference, Akinci also listed the moves that must be undertaken at this point by those who are party to the Cyprus issue and who claim to contribute to the solution of the problem. He said that the resumption of the UN process must be given a chance. Underlining the importance of active US involvement within the framework of NATO to defuse the tension in Turkish-Greek relations, Akinci asked that above all Cyprus relinquish the S-300 missiles and accept the deconfrontation measures with a view to contributing to the reduction of the tension. ``It is important for the TRNC, in turn, to realize that its confederation demand for Cyprus is not realistic without gaining the recognition of its separate state identity even by friendly countries other than Turkey'' he said. Furthermore, Akinci noted, the pseudostate must join the UN process and exert efforts to reach a solution on the basis of the Set of Ideas, and clearly indicate that it accepts EU membership after reaching a solution. Also referring to the method of Denktash´s confederation proposal, Akinci termed unacceptable the fact that the opposition parties were informed about the proposal only one hour before it was announced to the world. He charged that this is a grave case of neglect. [07] New Cyprus Party changes name to Patriotic Unity Movement According to illegal Bayrak radio (10:30 hours, 6.9.98) the New CyprusParty (YKP) held its fourth congress yesterday and decided to change its name to the Patriotic Unity Movement. The congress convened at the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union headquarters. A 12-article statutes and program amendment proposal was submitted to and adopted at the congress. In accordance with the amendment proposal, the YKP changed its name to the Patriotic Unity Movement. The circles in the party emblem were removed, and the emblem was redesigned as the map of Cyprus over a blue background. The number of members in the party council was increased from 20 to 30. The authorities of the party leader were transferred to the party executive council secretaries general.[08] Pseudo-minister resigns According to KIBRIS (6.9.98) the so-called minister of culture education,youth and sports of the pseudostate, Gunay Caymaz, has submitted his resignation to ``prime minister'' Eroglu.KIBRIS reports that Eroglu accepted the resignation. Speaking to KIBRIS, Gunay Caymaz has declared that he will leave politics and will not be a NUP candidate during the forthcoming ``elections''. Caymaz said that at this stage he does not consider resigning from the NUP. Meanwhile, the pseudostate´s so-called finance minister Erdal Onurhan has also decided to leave politics. He denied reports that he will settle down in Ankara. Other NUP ``deputies'' who decided not to be candidates during the next ``elections'' are Ayhan Halit Acarkan and Esher Serakinci. Meanwhile, YENIDUZEN (6.9.98) reports under banner headlines that there is a conspiracy behind Caymaz´s resignation, claiming that Caymaz refused to appoint Eroglu´s daughter Gencay Eroglu as director to the Ataturk Teachers College in the occupied area. Arguing with Eroglu, Caymaz decided to submit his resignation. (MY) [09] Serdar Denktash reelected DP leader KIBRIS (7.9.98) reports that the National Unity Party ( NUP) and the NewCyprus Party (NCP) held their extraordinary General Congress yesterday and the DP its annual Congress.During the NCP´s General Congress the party´s name was changed from New Cyprus Party to Movement of Patriotic Unity (YBH) In its turn the DP held its annual congress in occupied Famagusta during which Serdar Denktash, who was the sole candidate for chairmanship, was elected unanimously. 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 |
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