Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-01-07

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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. 3/99 -- 6-7.1.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] EROGLU EXPLAINS OMISSION OF CONFEDERATION FROM "COALITION" PROGRAM

[02] EROGLU COMMENTS ON "GOVERNMENT" PROGRAM

[03] ANKARA AWAITS MORE PRESSURE ON CYPRUS, BUT STILL ADAMANT

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] EROGLU EXPLAINS OMISSION OF CONFEDERATION FROM "COALITION" PROGRAM

Pointing out that the "government" is according priority to the economy, Eroglu said that short-term measures will be adopted to be ready against a possible crisis and encourage investments. He said that the real goal is to increase investments and consequently employment. To this end, Eroglu remarked, incentives will be provided for private sector investments with a view to alleviating the burden on the so-called public sector. Eroglu explained that the "government" is working on special incentives for investments in occupied Karpass Peninsula and Morphou, adding that the policy of expanding the good relations with Turkey and the economic assistance from Turkey will continue.

The undertaking in the "coalition protocol" that foreign policy will be conducted in cooperation with Turkey will be preserved in the "government program" as well, Eroglu announced. Asked to comment on Rauf Denktash's request that the "government's" Cyprus policy be more clearly outlined in the "government program", Eroglu said: "We will not include the word confederation in the program, because even a confederation is based on the principle of two states. Having stated that we will protect the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and we will conduct our Cyprus policy in cooperation with Turkey, we did not find it necessary to incorporate the concept of confederation." He added: "In the final analysis, a confederation requires two states. The Greek Cypriots must accept the reality of the TRNC if we are to sit at the negotiating table. The confederation proposal cannot be discussed unless this reality is accepted." Eroglu said that the confederation option was not included in the election platform because it was rejected by the Greek Cypriot-Greek side; instead, the "two-state" principle was cited, and therefore the "two- state principle" must be accepted. Expressing the belief that the "coalition government" will not experience any problems with regard to the Cyprus issue, Eroglu noted: "Both parties have adopted as their main goal the strengthening and promotion of the TRNC. We will protect the state until a conciliation is reached and the talks resume. We will exert efforts to strengthen and promote this state. We clearly recorded that we will conduct the Cyprus policy in cooperation with Turkey."

[02] EROGLU COMMENTS ON "GOVERNMENT" PROGRAM

The "government program" emphasized that the foreign policy of "TRNC" will be accepted and carried out by the cooperation of Turkey. It also put forth that the "government" will be the supporter of the peace and security and that a foreign policy which gives priority to the interests of the Turkish Cypriots and "TRNC" will be carried out.

The program noted that the European Union issue can be taken on the agenda within the framework of a policy determined together with Turkey only after a compromise is reached on Cyprus, and on condition that the Turkish-Greek balance on the island is preserved.

Stressing that the "government" will make a new taxation arrangement and that it will put into effect a "law" against money laundering, the program stated that the education and health systems will be full day service systems. The general meeting on the program will be held on January 9. If the general meeting ends the same day, the vote of confidence will be held on January 11.

[03] ANKARA AWAITS MORE PRESSURE ON CYPRUS, BUT STILL ADAMANT

Turkish diplomats say that the international efforts would most probably concentrate on the inauguration of a demilitarization process in Cyprus in which the Turkish side is expected to come under pressure to give concessions as a response to the S-300s' cancellation.

Commenting on Cyprus' decision to deploy the missiles, a foreign diplomat said, "it was a wrong decision which led to positive results (from the Greek Cypriot point of view)".

High-level Turkish officials speaking on the condition of anonymity defied Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who said that the cancellation of the S-300s deployment in Cyprus was "Turkey's victory."

"The cancellation is not Turkey's victory. It has already become a bargaining chip - although not due to the policy which Turkey carried out," an official closely related to the Cyprus issue told the Turkish Daily News. However, the official said that Turkey cannot be expected to make any concessions as a response.

"The withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island before an ultimate settlement is reached is out of the question," he stressed.

Western diplomats say that Turkey will come under pressure on the following issues: the reduction of arms and troops; convincing the Turkish Cypriots to restart inter-communal talks aimed at the establishment of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation; and encouraging the Turkish Cypriots to join Cyprus' accession talks with the EU.

Ankara, however, does not expect that the year 1999 will bring any significant breakthrough and categorically rejects a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation as a final solution, the paper says.

"Actually the parties are content with the current situation on the island - the Turkish Cypriots have their state and have been living safely for years; the Greek Cypriots are the only internationally recognized government and have the prospect of EU membership," the Turkish official said.

He stressed that Ankara would continue to support the confederation proposal of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

He stressed that the establishment of a federation was out of the question due to Cyprus' EU membership process. In the past, the federation proposal supported by the Turkish Cypriot side and the United Nations included certain restrictions on the movement of capital and people due to human and economic factors. But these restrictions are contradictory to the basic principles of the EU, which Cyprus is planning to become member of, the paper says.

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

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