Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-11-05

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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. 205/98 -- 5/11/98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] YILMAZ: ``INTEGRATION CONTINUING SUCCESSFULLY''

[02] DENKTASH MEETS ANN HERCUS

[03] ATUN MEETS ALBANIAN DEPUTY

[04] GUREL: ``ACCESSION TALKS HINDER UN PROCESS''

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] YILMAZ: ``INTEGRATION CONTINUING SUCCESSFULLY''

Yilmaz paid a one day illegal visit to the occupied area on Tuesday, where he had talks with Rauf Denktas, ``prime minister'' Dervis Eroglu and members of the ``cabinet''.

Referring to the EU-Cyprus membership talks schedulled to start on Nov. 10, Yilmaz said, ``I want to warn the EU once again that accepting Greek Cyprus as a member before a settlement on Cyprus is reached and before a balance is set up between Turkey and Greece will lead to Cyprus’ partition and will constitute an additional problem on EU’s agenda''.

He said that Turkey ``will not wait forever for the EU to see the realities on the island''.

``Turkey and the TRNC have already outlined their course. In response to Greek Cyprus’ integration with the EU and Greece, Turkey and the TRNC have launched a similar process of integration and have taken important steps'', Yilmaz said.

His remarks were a reference to a Turkey-pseudostate decision last March to establish a common economic area, which is actually economic integration. The move came in retaliation to the EU’s decision at its Luxembourg summit in December to start accession talks with Cyprus, at the same time leaving Turkey out of the enlargement process.

Controversy erupted on whether an economic integration between Turkey and the pseudostate can lead to political integration as well. The pseudostate has preferred to call the process a ``special relationship''.

Yilmaz said that the ``integration'' between Turkey and the pseudostate was continuing successfully, and new measures would would be taken to reinforce this process. Yilmaz asserted that a package of new economic measures to strenghen the integration between Turkey and the pseudostate had been agreed upon. He did not elaborate.

Commenting on the ultimate solution on the island, Yilmaz dubbed as ``fantasy'' suggestions that the Turkish Cypriots relinquish their ``state'' and suffice with autonomy.

``The TRNC will live on, and Turkey will not spare any sacrifice for that... A compromise between the two states on the island is the only option. Mr. Denktash’s proposal for confederation is on the table'', Yilmaz stressed.

He went on to say that Turkey would never give up its strategic interests in Cyprus or in the Aegean. Referring to Turkey’s 1974 invasion in Cyprus, Yilmaz said: ``Turkey will never allow the smallest threat directed at the Turkish Cypriots. In the past there were attempts to test Turkey’s determination, but those who tried faced frustration. I want to underline this once again''.

[02] DENKTASH MEETS ANN HERCUS

Ann Hercus did not make any statement after the meeting. She only said that on Friday she will be meeting President Glafcos Clerides and in a week’s time she will have another meeting with Rauf Denktash.

[03] ATUN MEETS ALBANIAN DEPUTY

During the meeting, Atun briefed Godo on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem. Godo expressed support to the policies of the occupation regime, the paper says.

Godo later had a meeting with CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

[04] GUREL: ``ACCESSION TALKS HINDER UN PROCESS''

He said the issue (of Cyprus-EU accession talks) was discussed and assessed during Yilmaz’s visit to the occupied area the other day.

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

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