Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-06-24

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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. 109/99 -- 24.6.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu: Overseas countries cannot determine Cypriot fate.

[02] Denktash meets British envoy, conveys reaction to G-8.

[03] Turkey´s NSC discusses Cyprus problem.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] Columnist on US Plans for Cyprus.

[06] US officials said engaged in anti-Turkish activities.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu : Overseas countries cannot determine Cypriot fate

Eroglu stated that the policy which was put forward is being supported by Turkey.

He stressed that if the UN Security Council decides to unite the two sides on Cyprus to have negotiations without any preconditions, the ``TRNC'' will not start the negotiations without a precondition.

Stating that the UN Security Council has taken many decision until today, Eroglu emphasized that the UN Secretariat General should know that the ``TRNC'' will not comply with such a decision.

Pointing out that there can be shuttle diplomacy between the two sides on Cyprus, Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriots will not start negotiations without knowing their status.

Eroglu said, ``they say that we will start negotiations without any preconditions. But, the Greek Cypriot side is sitting at the table under the title of republic of Cyprus. This means that they have a precondition. We cannot accept this. If two states start the negotiations, an evaluation of the present situation can be made. Maybe, the proposals we had earlier submitted, can be evaluated.''

[02] Denktash meets British envoy, conveys reaction to G-8

In his speech at the meeting, Denktash said that the Turkish Cypriots can sit around a negotiation table with the Greek Cypriots only upon the basis of equality, and they can talk about bilateral problems only from ``state to state''.

Clay said in his part that they discussed the reaction of the Turkish side to the decision of G-8 regarding the Cyprus issue in detail at the meeting, adding ``I´ve clearly taken the view of the Turkish side, and I suppose Denktash has clearly explained the response he immediately gave after the announcement of the G-8 statement''.

Noting that the G-8 group tries to encourage the position of the UN Secretary General and encourage him to bring the two sides for a negotiation, Clay said that he does not want to further evaluate on the issue.

Noting that the statement of G-8 about the Cyprus issue is very clear, Clay said that ``the issues are on the table and they are just like an official dinner. You can´t eat all menu at one time. You wait, think and discuss first. However, the game is within the supervision of the UN Secretary General''.

[03] Turkey´s NSC discusses Cyprus problem

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] Columnist on US Plans for Cyprus

``We tried to find out what is going on from our friends, whom you already know, inside Washington´s Beltway.

Question: `What is going on?´

The following answer came after a pause: `Some time ago, two Americans came to Turkey. One of them was Henri Barkey, who is regularly featured in your column because of what he has done against Turkey.´

Question: `Who was the other person?´ Answer: `The other one was Barry Lowenkron´ , Question: `What does this person, Barry Lowenkron, do?

Answer: `He works in the National Intelligence Council, which is very closely associated with US intelligence services´.

Question: `To whom does the council report?´ Answer: `This council reports to Ellen Laipson, a lady who occupies an important position at the CIA. This lady is the wife of Henri Barkey, who has to step down this year because his two-year contract with the administration runs out.´

Question: `What specific issues in Turkey is Barkey interested in?´

Answer: `He always turns up behind anything that is anti-Turkish. At some point he argued that the best course for Turkey would be a moderate Islamic government whatever that means or a government that would incorporate that form of Islam. Then he argued that Turkey must negotiate with the PKK (Workers Party of Kurdistan). When he realized that he was wrong on those counts, he found himself a new hobby; Cyprus. Recently he wrote a memorandum to his Department. In that memorandum he says: `Since Ecevit started the Cyprus problem, he should also end it. Let us propose to Ecevit and Denktash something that will induce them to accept the solution we want´.

We immediately remembered what Denktash said to his close circle after he was invited to the US State Department during the Eagleburger period. Denktash may disclose those remarks if he wants to.

Let us return to our question-answer session.

Question: `Is this Henri Barkey out of his mind?´ Answer: `Our State Department is in confusion. It is clear that they will launch an initiative on Cyprus. For now it seems that they are in a fantasy world. Interestingly, Barkey has been promoting himself as an expert on Turkey because he knows Turkish well and because he has served in the Turkish army. If you are stupid you believe him, of course´.

Question: `We hear that the head of Turkish desk at the State Department, Dworken, also thinks to some extent like Barkey on the PKK, Islam, and Cyprus. Where can a policy that is formulated with the mentality of people like Barkey and similar people lead?´

Answer: `We hope that they will revise their plans on Cyprus before Ecevit comes to visit (Washington). There is also a strong opposing view on this issue. The truth is that if they persist in their present posture, they will not be able to do anything on this issue. For example, the package of confidence building measures can be revived on this issue. They can return to the concept of a loose federation. These are normal, and they are also good proposals for Turkey. They may ask that negotiations start within that framework. Meanwhile, you can explain that the interference of the G-8 in this matter, and continued talks between the Greek Cypriots and the EU on full membership could have an adverse impact on the resolution of the problem. However, you should also accept that this framework is reasonable.''

[75] US officials said engaged in anti-Turkish activities

Now let us turn to a new plot.

Some circles in Washington have launched an intense propaganda campaign to the effect that `the US administration is opposed to (Workers Party of Kurdistan or PKK leader Abdullah) Ocalan´s execution´. We asked some individuals who know the US State Department intimately: `Is this true? Also, what are they saying about Ecevit?´

We received the following reply: `No. Moreover, the US administraiton is extremely careful on this issue. Of course there are some figures who are fiddling with this issue. In particular, Henri Barkey, who works at the State Department, is the most active person on the PKK. He is very active on issues ranging from his opposition to Apo´s execution to the granting of federal status to the Kurds. However, the administration is keeping him under control for the moment. Barkey is already well known. What he has done in the past is well known. He was even on MED-TV once. However, he identifies himself as a State Department bureaucrat in such appearances. That is wrong. Your Foreign Ministry must have a serious talk with Washington on this issue.

Everyone still remembers how rudely Barkey treated the Turkish Ambassdor in Washington in public during Hikmet Cetin´s tenure as foreign minister. He can leave the State Department and do whatever he wants. Then it is his business to whom he talks, the PKK, the Fethullahists, or other religious groups. There are also certain CIA figures in this plot. They disseminate their views as if they are the views of the administration. That is absolutely not true and they are very few in number. Another point that we find objectionable is that this man (Barkey) has recently appeared frequently with Assistant Secretary of State Marc Grossman. Marc appears to have changed. We can discuss that separately. In any event, the reports Barkey and his crew are disseminating about Ecevit are also wrong. The administration would be more than happy to deal with a Turkish Prime Minister who has a 300-seat majority in the National Assembly. What is Ankara saying about this issue?´.

We gave the following answer: `Making a Barkey-style proposition to Turkey could have extremely dangerous consequences. Not only would Ankara reject such proposals, but they may also open wounds that may be hard to heal. No one would benefit from reverting the relations between the two countries to what they were in 1974. When you consider that anything can happen at any time in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and the Middle East, it would not be in the interests of the United States to lose Turkey´s support. In any event, what Barkey wants is to break the dialogue between Washington and Ankara. We do not think that the US administration will make such a historic mistake. In any event, you can tell Barkey that if he is so enamoured with democracy he should first deal with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Iraq, and Iran´.

We asked again: `What else is happening on this issue?´

The answer came after a brief pause: `When Abdullah Ocalan was in Rome, two Americans tried to see him. From what we hear, they were Graham Fuller, who is a private citizen and has the right to speak to anyone he wants, and Henri Barkey. Then, for some reason, Barkey dropped out and was replaced by US Ambassador to Bosnia Peter Galbraith, who is not unfamiliar with Kurdish issues. Now the State Department is denying that such a meeting took place. However, other sources, those who arranged the meeting with Ocalan, confirm it''.

Let us end this article here. On Wednesday we will discuss this issue again and Cyprus.

The things that are happening. If you only new the plots in which some are participating knowingly, and others unknowingly.''

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

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