Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-09-08

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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. 162/99 -- 8.9.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Albright reportedly hints at concessions by Turkey on Cyprus.

[02] Denktash urges Annan to suspend move to hold Cyprus summit.

[03] Denktash says G-8 countries ignore Cyprus ``realities''.

[04] Turkey rejects link of EU full candidacy with Cyprus problem.

[05] Denktash´s speech in Washington.

[06] Turkish mafia in London.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Albright reportedly hints at concessions by Turkey on Cyprus

Cekirge claims Albright said: ``You have a very tragic situation. The wounds must be quickly healed. We are ready to extend every kind of aid for that purpose. We will do everything we can for you on matters that concern the IMF and the World Bank''. Smiling, Cem replied to her sincere remarks as follows: ``The aid Turkey might receive from the IMF and the World Bank will be very important for us. I am confident that you will do everything you can.'' Madeleine Albright responded to him by reassuring him on the meeting that will be held with the World Bank on 20 September.

Cekirge adds that the two officials discussed relations between Turkey and the United States over time. According to him their most important conversation was as follows: Albright asked whether the PKK fighters will actually lay down their arms and said that if so, that will be a very positive development. Cem adopted a very careful approach on the sensitive issue. He said that ``various initiatives can be taken more easily when terrorism is placed under control. The initiatives that are being taken now could have been realized a year ago if a similar situation existed at the time''.

Cekirge adds that the developments in northern Iraq and reports on the effort for the establishment of a Kurdish state were almost untouched. Albright said that the structure the opposition forces will establish in northern Iraq will be a very sensitive issue from the point of view of the region´s future. What she said indicated that the United States will not retreat even a centimetre from its policy against Baghdad. And Cekirge concludes:

``Yes, the two officials discussed the relations between Turkey and Greece and, naturally, focused on the Cyprus problem as they approached the earthquake zone. Albright made a sensitive statement which might bear directly on Turkey´s accession to the EU. She said that concessions on the problem will be very important from the point of view of the effort that is made to defuse tension in Cyprus and the region. Naturally, Albright did not intend to put pressure on Turkey with what she said. Nevertheless, her view indicated that a favourable development between Turkey and Greece might be linked to Cyprus. All that showed that Cyprus will be one of the important items on the agenda of the talks President Clinton will have with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in Washington.''

[02] Denktash urges Annan to suspend move to hold Cyprus summit

Speaking to the A.A correspondents and Cyprus newspaper journalists, Denktash said he won´t respond favourably to the invitation if Annan sends him a letter of invitation.

Annan is expected to send letter of invitation at the end of September or early in October.

Noting that Kofi Annan was under great pressure, Denktash said, ``in our meeting on September 9, we will request Mr. Annan not to send that letter.''

``The good will mission means bringing together the two sides. Saying `no, you have to do´ to a side which says `I won´t do´ means a biased manner and means that you are for the other side. We will ask Mr. Annan to try to prepare basis where the two sides can come together, and ask him not to be biased.''

When asked what kind of an attitude Kofi Annan might take towards those requests, Denktash said, ``there are two things that Mr. Annan will do:

either he says `you charged me with this duty but one of the two sides talks about these, thus I still do not have a situation to bring them together´; or he says `he did not come although I invited him´.''

Explaining the reasons for his decision, Denktash said, ``we can´t go if he invites us. A national decision has been taken. The Turkish Parliament took a decision in Turkey. We signed protocols at the highest level. Also, the TRNC Parliament and government have taken decision.''

``They know these, and they say `invite them and make them hold a tete-a- tete meeting´ as if these had not occurred. This offends us. They are taking decisions by themselves, saying `we will go on like this´ as if there were not a Tukrey, and we had not made a statement. Let´s see,'' he said.

Denktash stated that he will tell Annan that he can´t get a result if he submits that pressure.

Stressing that the Washington administration knows everything, Denktash claimed ``Americans know all realities but they can´t tell the truths due to the Greek lobby''.

[03] Denktash says G-8 countries ignore Cyprus ``realities''

``We want to find a method which will contribute to get a result and this depends on accepting the realities'', said Denktash, adding that ``G-8 countries ignored the realities and wanted to bring the two leaders on the island together. The US was also behind them. They even tell us what to speak. They want us to re-discuss a formula which caused us to lose 20 years. We are trying to explain that this is impossible. We can talk from state to state. There are two separate states, two democracies and two peoples. For 36 years they have been governing themselves. Unless these realities are accepted, there is no need to lose time. The UN Secretary General knows these realities, but I see that he is under pressure.''

Denktash said that he will convey the message to UN Secretary General on Thursday that the G-8 countries should not send letters asking for tete-a- tete negotiations with Greek Cypriots.

When the A.A correspondent said ``the earthquake that rocked Tjurkey and the aid extended by the EU countries to this end softened the atmosphere'' and asked would this have any effect on the Cyprus problem, Denktash said ``this humanitarian aid is very good of course. Yet, expecting the sides to give concession from their national cases will be too much optimism.

Yet, the softened atmosphere may help the problems to be negotiated in a more positive atmosphere''.

[04] Turkey rejects link of EU full candidacy with Cyprus problem

Irtemcelik said: ``The Helsinki Summit is one of expansion. There are no missing cards on the table. Given the situation, Turkey´s will on its relations with the EU is clear. Turkey will take determined steps on the path of the contemporary world. This might happen with or without the EU. Turkey´s clear choice, however, is to advance on this path together with the EU''.

Irtemcelik said that in the event Turkey is granted the status of a candidate state a path on which Turkey will advance should be determined, adding: ``Naturally, after this status is granted there will be a path on which Turkey will advance and stages which it will have to go through. We are aware that there will be certain criteria. We have no problem with that. We accept all the objective criteria applied to all the other candidate countries.''

Noting that such a path has to be mapped out, Irtemcelik added: ``If we are granted the status of a full candidate state then we have no problem with the path to be mapped out. We will anyway need it. This path, however, should be two sided. The candidate countries have certain requirements to fulfill during this candidacy process. In exchange, the EU has certain obligations as well. This is a path on which we shall advance together.''

In reply to a question on whether the Aegean and Cyprus problems will be included on the path to be mapped out, Irtemcelik said: ``No, such a move would take us back to the Luxembourg stage. One should not mix apples and pears''.

Noting that it would be necessary to resolve the disputes in Turkish-Greek relations with the commencement of the candidacy process, Irtemcelik said:

``This is what we want. Placing as a precondition the solution of these conflicts only in line with Greece´s expectations, however, is unacceptable to us''.

Irtemcelik continued: ``Granting Turkey full candidacy status will naturally help reinforce the positive atmosphere desired in Turkish-Greek relations''.

[05] Denktash´s speech in Washington

Speaking at the conference, Denktash said: ``I will tell the UN General Secretary Kofi Annan that the ground for negotiations is not ready''. An unfair negotiation will worsen everything, he added.

Denktash claimed that the Greek Ambassador in New York wanted to participate in the conference. But his request that the title ``President of TRNC'' for Rauf Denktash be retracted from the invitation was denied by the CSIS. So, he didn´t take part in the conference.

Denktash stated that ``the USA are pressing the two sides for solution to the Cyprus problem, which is unfair''. And added: ``Only state to state negotiations can bring peace and reassurance in Cyprus''.

He claimed that they want a solution in Cyprus and that is why ``on the negotiation table there is only one proposal solution and this is the confederation, which is based on the realities''. Denktash further added:

``We´ll talk as state to state, we´ll cooperate, but we won´t negotiate as a minority. The embargo against the TRNC must be lifted.''

Asked by a participant to explain the difference between federation and confederation, Denktash said: ``I don´t have time to continue this discussion. There must be a different agreement than the one in 1960. The Greek Cypriot side destroyed the government that was founded by international agreements. The federation proposal has never been accepted. The world must understand that the confederation is an organized matter.''

When asked ``In case that Turkey is given the right to enter EU, what would be the attitude of the `TRNC´ ?'', Denktash replied: ``At that time as TRNC we´ll be ready to evaluate the work of entering the EU. We´ll surpass all our discomforts and we´ll talk with the Greek Cypriot side within the framework of the EU. It´ll be a good development when Turkey, who protects our rights in Cyprus, will be a full member of the EU.

If North Cyprus enters the EU, we´ll integrate with Turkey. Our goal is not to be abandoned in the hands of the Greek Cypriot side.'' (DP)

[06] Turkish mafia in London

According to the report, the ``Turkish mafia distributes the 90% of heroin in London streets''. They also do money laundering through the Turkish Cypriot banks in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(DP)

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

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