Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-06-21

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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. 106/99 -- 19-20-21

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gurel: Formula without pre-conditions not accepted.

[02] Demirel seen giving importance to Dervish Eroglu.

[03] Denktash calls on G-8 countries not to interfere.

[04] Regarding a US plan on refugees.

[05] Gurel on ties with EU, Ocalan trial, Cyprus question.

[06] Denktash asks President Clerides ``to quit dreams of Hellenism''.

[07] Ecevit comments on Cyprus issue.

[08] Denktash: ``Walls in minds are hampering the Cyprus solution''.

[09] Ecevit: No concessions in Cyprus.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Columnist on Ecevit agenda for meeting with Clinton.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gurel: Formula without pre-conditions not accepted

Addressing journalists at the Ataturk Airport, Gurel noted that he will come together with Italian Defense Minister, and with high-level representatives from several public and private sectors.

When asked whether or not the US and the G-8 countries will impose sanctions on the Turkish government about the Cyprus question, Gurel stressed that their confederation offer is still valid. He stressed that a formula without pre-conditions will not be accepted neither by Turkey nor by Rauf Denktash.

Gurel emphasized that Turkey supports Denktash´s attitude on the issue.

Recalling that an advisory decision was adopted at the G-8 Foreign Ministers meeting, but it is not clear yet whether or not the Cyprus question will be brought onto the agenda, Gurel said, ``Turkey welcomed G-8 countries` interest in the Cyprus question so far. We always welcome positive and productive talks. But the Cyprus question is not an issue that can go forward with the external interventions''.

[02] Demirel seen giving importance to Dervish Eroglu

Afterward, Dervis Eroglu left for Tekiridag.

Eroglu, who had flown to Bursa on Saturday, 12 June, at the invitation of Bursa Governor Orhan Tasanlar, took part in the inauguration of the 38th International Bursa Fair. While in Bursa, Eroglu visited historic, touristic and industrial sites as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Security Directorate of Bursa.

[03] Denktash calls on G-8 countries not to interfere

Addressing journalists, Denktash criticized the attitude of the G-8 countries about the Cyprus question, adding ``interference with the Cyprus question from outside further encourages the Greek Cypriot side.''

``Don`t interfere with the Cyprus question from outside. The more others interfere with this issue, the more uncompromising attitude the Greek Cypriot side has. Besides, those who interfere also support the Greek Cypriot side by calling them as the `Cypriot government´ which is in fact a fake title. On the contrary, the Cypriot issue stems from the fact that the Greek Cypriot side is not the Cypriot government. They try to solve the question without taking into consideration certain foundations. First of them, is the balance between Turkey and Greece. The issue of the European Union (EU) was put forward to disturb this balance. The other one is the equality and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots with the Greek Cypriots. They try to put this away by the mediation of the EU. This is a political initiative and it contributed to removing the Set of Ideas'', Denktash claimed.

Alleging that the G-8 countries are in an approach to satisfy the Greek Cypriot side, Denktash said that G-8 wants to bring the two sides on Cyprus together, make them sit around a negotiation table, and urges the UN Secretary General to realize this.

``The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General has been visiting the two sides on Cyprus for a period of time and she knows that there is nothing the two sides can jointly put to the negotiation table. Thus, she can´t gain anything by forcing us to sit around a negotiation table. We insistently say that we can negotiate with the Greek Cypriot side upon the `state to state basis´'', said Denktash.

``Please leave this issue to the concerned parties'', said Denktash, adding that the parties were determined by the 1959 UN Resolutions and there were the signatures of the parties under the 1960 agreements.

[04] Regarding a US plan on refugees

Ergun Olgun, so-called adviser to Rauf Denktash, said that such a proposal has definitely not been submitted to the Turkish Cypriot side, adding: ``This is an illusion''.

Olgun claimed that both sides had earlier agreed on ``a separation of territories'' adding that this issue cannot be solved through outside intervention and that it should be discussed between the two sides.

Describing as ``an illusion'' the proposal on the refugees claimed to have been prepared by the United States, Olgun concluded by saying that it is impossible to implement such a proposal.

[05] Gurel on ties with EU, Ocalan trial, Cyprus question

Speaking to an A.A correspondent in Rome, Gurel said that he will make a speech in the meeting about the membership to the European Union (EU) and the foreign policy of Turkey.

The ASPEN Institute arranges meetings on policy and international affairs every year and politics, economy, culture and many other issues are discussed in these meetings.

Responding a question if promises concerning the EU membership are given to Turkey in these meetings, Gurel stated that some countries always try to reach a point by tricks and cheatings and that this is not new.

Stating that the Cyprus question and the trial of Abdullah Ocalan can be discussed in the meeting, Gurel said, `` the trial of Ocalan is a trial which concerns many people. But, Ocalan will be tried under the procedures of the trial of a person who is accused of a normal crime. To this end, Ocalan does not have a special position. I will say these if anyone asks about this''.

Speaking about Cyprus, Gurel claimed inter alia: ``Turkey did exactly the same what NATO did in Kosovo. In fact, NATO caused a considerable destruction whereas we did not cause so much destruction on Cyprus. We did not bomb the Chinese Embassy, the civilian people and the refugees. To this end, we had done a more efficient work on Cyprus. We had done what the United Nations (UN) peace force which was deployed on the island, could not have done since 1964.''

[06] Denktash asks President Clerides ``to quit dreams of Hellenism''

Addressing a meeting with administrators of the ``Commemoration of Martyrs Association'', Denktash responded to the statement of President Clerides which said there was no force that will make him sign a solution which envisages confederation. He claimed they revealed the confederation proposal to establish ``a state to state'' cooperation bridge between the pseudostate and the Greek Cypriot side.

Denktash again claimed that there were ``two states'' in Cyprus even if the Greek Cypriot side accepts it or not, adding that ``Clerides may not want confederation. Yet, there are two states in Cyprus and these two sides will live. They are not able to prevent this.''

[07] Ecevit comments on Cyprus issue

[08] Denktash: ``Walls in minds are hampering the Cyprus solution''

In an exclusive interview with the Turkish Daily News at his office, Denktash claimed that as long as the world recognizes the Greek Cypriot leadership as the sole legitimate government of the entire island, ``Greek Cypriots would preserve the walls within their heads that render them incapable of seeing the realities and thus reconciling with Turkish Cypriots.''

``The real obstacle to a Cyprus settlement are the walls in Greek Cypriot heads. …As long as they see Cyprus as a Hellenic island and consider us a handful of people that they would sooner or later get rid of and consider Turkey as the sole impediment to that, the lifting of these walls preventing a settlement is far more difficult than lifting physical walls'', Denktash claimed.

He alleged he wants a Cyprus settlement but that this settlement should definitely close all doors ``to any Greek Cypriot attempt to devastate peace and portray themselves as the solve government of the island.'' He said for that reason, any future Cyprus settlement should be a product of negotiations between ``two states'' on the island.

Branding Archbishop Makarios as the ``teacher'' of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosovic, Denktash claimed that American and other Western diplomats keep telling him that they had not been able to act on Makarios in the same way they acted on Milosovic because of the Cold War.

``Since you would have acted had it happened today, correct your mistake, then… What was your mistake that day? Because of the Cold War, you recognized a non-government as the government. Give up that recognition, then! If you cannot give it up, at least declare that `You are not the government of the Turkish Cypriots as well´. The moment you say that, the Greek Cypriots will have to abandon their utopias and agree to a reconciliation'', Denktash claimed.

He also warned the G-8 (the Group of Seven industrialized countries plus Russia) to avoid getting involved in the Cyprus problem.

[09] Ecevit: No concessions in Cyprus

``We will not allow events that happened in Bosnia - Herzegovina or in Kosovo to happen in Cyprus.''

``It is out of question to make any concessions on this issue'', he added. (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Columnist on Ecevit agenda for meeting with Clinton

``I spoke with some of my friends in Washington. You know them from these columns; they are from `inside the Beltway´ and they know everything that goes on in the capital of the United States.

Just to show you that they hear everything it should be suffice to remind you that when I was in Washington last April with the President for the NATO Summit they whispered to me just before the Demirel-Clinton meeting that `Clinton will invite your new Prime Minister here shortly. He will announce this at the bilateral talks´. I wrote about this news at the time. I also wrote about what Clinton said to Demirel at the bilateral talks way back in April.

This time I asked my friends once again: `What has happened to the invitation?´.

`It is done, scheduled for the beginning of August´ they said.

`Why schedule it for such a time? What is all this haste? Washington will be empty in August´, I protested.

They interposed: `Herein lies the fine point of the issue, Sedat. It would be wrong if Prime Minister Ecevit accepts this invitation. Why? Because by scheduling the visit for August the Clinton administration is aiming to give separate messages at home and abroad. The message to be delivered at home to the Greek and the Armenian lobbies will be: He came and we pulled his ear. Whereas, the message to be given to Turkey will be something like: We have shown that they are our most important ally by immediately inviting their prime Minister. Clinton´s men will leak these two separate messages to each side separately. So, is Ecevit, who will visit the United States after 20 years, going there to have a mere 45 minute or maybe 1 hour meeting with Clinton? What about Congress? What about meeting wit leading names in Congress?´

I intervened: If so, then would it not be better if the visit was made end of September when Congress is working?´

The reply was: `Of course it would be much better. Congress opens early September. Everyone will be here´.-

Now it was my turn to talk: `By the end of September Turkey will have adopted the budget, opened the south-eastern package, and taken steps on human rights. That is Ecevit would be coming here with files under his arm. He can then put these before Clinton and demand: `Do not involve the G-8 in the (Cyprus) problem, give your full support on the EU issue, and do whatever is necessary to Greece the involvement of which in terrorism has been proven beyond doubt. Also, you should not arm Kurds in north Iraq without our knowledge. We oppose that. If these arms are necessary then give them to us and let us distribute them´.

They in turn went a step further: `Clinton wants to attend the OSCE summit to be held in Istanbul in November. If he does not his already very limited clout will vanish. But Turkey was told that in order for Clinton to come Ankara must do certain things. This is necessary so that Clinton can justify this visit at home. We think that end of September would be a good time for Ecevit´s visit. But definitely not before. He must not fall into the position of an admonished Prime Minister. Because this is the way they will present the incident. We will talk again´.

Now look at what they said about Ocalan and the Workers Party of Kurdistan (PKK): `You are facing an unbelievable misinformation campaign on Ocalan and the PKK. Certain people within the administration, like Henry Barkley, whom you often mention, are posing a serious problem to you people. He has turned his entire attention to this issue. Your Foreign Ministry must immediately summon US Ambassador Mark Parris and have a talk with him. We know that Marc Grossman whom you and we all trust is doing the wrong thing. We can talk later in detail about what he has been saying and pursuing at the formal gatherings of the Ocalan lobby.´

I continued: `What else?´

After a pause they said: `The FBI is opening a bureau in Turkey in 2000. The three year preparatory work has been completed.´

I will keep you informed on this subject and others in detail,'' Sertoglu says.

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

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