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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-11-13

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH PRESS AND OTEHR MEDIA

[A] NEWS ITEMS

  • [01] Eroglu: Turkish Cypriots To Assess Situation, Continuing With Proximity Talks According to illegal BRTK Television Network(17:30 hours, 11.11.00) in a statement he issued,so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu pointed out that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan went back on his 12 September statement, adding that the "government" will conduct an assessment into the situation. Eroglu stated that the "government" will assess whether it is beneficial to continue with the proximity talks after the 20-article oral document Annan submitted to the sides during the Cyprus talks in Geneva. Eroglu said the following in his statement: " It is understood from the document submitted by Annan that the UN Secretariat did not give the necessary consideration to the detailed position put forward by the Turkish Cypriots during this process, which was launched in the wake of the statement issued by Annan on 14 November 1999 inviting both sides to engage in proximity talks, which were to be held between equal sides and without any preconditions. By submitting this document, which ignores the existence of two sovereign states and peoples on the island, Annan has gone back from the statements he issued on 14 November 1999 and 12 September 2000 at the opening of the fourth round of proximity talks in New York. Contrary to the goals expressed in the statements in question, Annan will not be able to lay the necessary grounds for engaging in meaningful talks, which could have secured a comprehensive solution. Annan's remarks such as a common state having one indivisible sovereignty and a united Cyprus, which will guarantee the basic rights, brings to mind a unitary structure . The document also contains play on words and gaps under subheads such as shared authority, security, property, and land arrangement. The Turkish Cypriot side will assess whether it is worth continuing with the proximity talks, which will obviously not yield positive results in the light of the document, which constitutes a contradiction with the present process when it says that the relevant UN resolutions and agreements will be taken into full considerations. In this regard, the Turkish Cypriot side will determine whether there is any meaning in continuing and participating in the proximity talks. It is interesting to note that at the same day that Annan submitted the document, which caused disappointment among the Turkish Cypriots and which, even though not binding, encouraged the Greek Cypriot position, Cyprus was included in the short-term criteria of the EU Accession Partnership Document in Brussels instead of a brief allusion in the introduction. In this way, Cyprus became a precondition for Turkey and the Greek Cypriots were spoilt to intransigence. It is evident that in addition to the UN Secretariat, which ignored the Turkish Cypriot side's proposal of confederation, the UN officials insist on making a connection between two separate issues and exert efforts at interference even though they have been told on numerous occasions that the search for a Cyprus solution is not connected to Turkey's EU membership. It is clear as day that the initiatives launched with an aim at showing that an entity called (Cyprus Republic) continues, that it has a legitimate government, and that it should continue by completely disregarding the equal sovereign status of the Turkish Cypriot people, its institutions established in line with democratic regulations, and the years of performance, will not yield positive results. The Turkish Cypriot people have and will never recognize the fake (Cyprus Republic), which has always exerted efforts to destroy them. We call on all concerned circles, mainly the UN Secretariat, to go back from their stand and give serious consideration to the Turkish Cypriot confederation proposal, which is the only alternative that can pave the path to conciliation on the island. In the event that the goal of the EU and the circles in question is to open the doors of the EU to the fake (Cyprus Republic) administration with the pressure of Greece, the Turkish Cypriot side, in turn will against this policy continue its determination to further deepen its relations with motherland."
  • [02] Ecevit on Accession Partnership Document, Says 'No Concession" To Be Made on Cyprus SABAH(10/11/00) reports on an interview with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit by Murat Yetkin in Ankara on 9 November. Asked to comment on the inclusion of Cyprus to the Accession Partnership Document, Ecevit said: "The document has caused an inconvenience. The Cyprus problem was emphasized to satisfy Greece. The EU officials made a promise to us in Helsinki. You will recall that EU officials arrived in Ankara at midnight to persuade us to agree to the Helsinki document. They promised us that the Cyprus problem will not be an element in the process for Turkey's accession. That was put in writing as well. We cannot agree to the way the problem has been taken up. Furthermore, the fact that it has been advanced by a year is unacceptable. They cannot achieve a result through such an approach." Asked whether Turkey will suspended its relations with the EU as she did in 1997 when she was excluded from the Luxembourg summit, Ecevit replied: "Strong measures are not necessary because our approach is quite clear. We explained our viewpoint at various levels when initiatives were made for the preparation of the document. We will not make concessions on Cyprus." Ecevit furher claimed:"The document cannot be debated. The process for Turkey's accession to the EU and the Cyprus problem must not be confused. Talks are held under UN auspices to solve the problem. We support the process. So, Turkey's accession to the EU and the Cyprus problem must not be confused." Asked whether the present situation will affect the accession process, Ecevit said:"No, it should not do so. The matter must not be exaggerated. Turkey has taken measures to fulfill its promises, which are related to the Helsinki document. It will continue to do so."
  • [03] Ecevit: Turkey Cannot Accept Cyprus Reference in Accession Partnership Document Turkish NTV private channel(1407 hours 11/11/00) aired a live news conference by Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit with unidentified correspondents at the Prime Minister's Office. During the news conference, Ecevit inter alia said: " It is out of the question for Turkey to accept the paragraph on Cyprus that was included in the document at the last moment. Turkey cannot accept a connection between the Cyprus issue and the EU candidacy. The Cyprus issue concerns the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC] and the Greek Cypriot administration only. Turkey was accepted as a EU candidate even though its determination on the issue was known. The letter dated 10 December 1999, which Finland's Prime Minister Mr. Lipponen sent to me in his capacity as the term president of the Helsinki Summit, his address at the European Parliament on 10 December 1999, and the fact that Mr. Solana and Mr. Verheugen came to Ankara on 10 December 1999 in order to hold a meeting with us prove that our stand was understood. I think, however, that it will beneficial to once again remind the EU officials of these facts. The following was said in the letter sent by Mr. Lipponen on behalf of the EU on 10 December 1999: A political solution to the Cyprus issue continues to be the goal of the EU. All the important factors concerning the membership of Cyprus will be taken into consideration once the Council reaches the stage of adopting a decision. These were the words of Lipponen. Lipponen's statement means that Turkey's sensitivity on the Cyprus issue will be taken into consideration." He further said: " There is no return from this process. There is no way a conciliation can be secured without taking into consideration the fact that there are two separate states in Cyprus. Furthermore, the security of the TRNC cannot be separated from that of Turkey and even that of eastern Mediterranean The fact that the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline has been finalized has increased the importance of peace and security in eastern Mediterranean in terms of the Turkish Republic. In the meantime, UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan submitted a paper under the name of verbal expressions to the sides in Geneva on 8 November. The Turkish side should not be expected to take seriously the remarks in this paper. Let alone confederation, this paper is way behind federation even. A conciliation on the Cyprus issue cannot be secured with an approach, which disregards the existence of two separate and independent states. For this reason, I believe TRNC President Mr. Denktas will continue to explain the Turkish Cypriot views in the next round of the proximity talks with the full support of Turkey."
  • [04] Turkey's Yilmaz Assesses EU Accession Partnership Document Anatolia Agency (2145 hours 09/11/00)reports that Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Thursday that Turkey and the European Union (EU) have entered into a process of no return in their relations by the Accession Partnership Accord submitted by the EU Commission. Yilmaz responded a question regarding the Accession Partnership Accord in a programme brodcast in private CNN Turk channel. When asked whether the Accession Partnership Accord was accepted or rejected, Yilmaz said that the Accession Partnership Accord was a document of the EU. Yilmaz noted that Turkey`s acceptance or rejection of this accord is not important and that the national program which Turkey will prepare by taking into consideration this accord is important. He added that Turkey`s clear attitude will be put forward by the publication of the national program. Yilmaz stated that although the Accession Partnership Accord included one or two items which concern Turkey, it is a document which takes into consideration Turkey`s sensitivity. When asked a question saying, ``the statement of the government said that `we consider Cyprus question separate.` Will Europe take into consideration your statement?``, Yilmaz said that they put forward their attitude regarding the Cyprus question at the Helsinki Summit. Yilmaz noted that Turkey is requested to extend utmost support to the political dialogue regarding Cyprus and the initiatives of the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General, adding that Turkey is in fact doing this. There is not any discrimination against Turkey in the EU`s approach to this issue, Yilmaz stated. Yilmaz said, ``the EU wants the solution of the Cyprus question. It asks us to extend support to this end. The EU knows that the Cyprus question cannot be solved by only our unilateral efforts.`` Stating that the inclusion of Cyprus question in the Accession Partnership Accord in this way is a change made to satisfy Greece, Yilmaz said, ``but, a concrete result cannot occur. The support that Turkey can extend to this issue is equal to the support it has extended so far. We cannot make any other contributions than that.`` ``Turkey will continue to extend the necessary support to the Turkish Cypriot side. We will not refer to this issue in the national document. We have announced in the international arena that our former attitude regarding this issue is still valid and binding for us,`` Yilmaz added. When Akyol reminded Yilmaz that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas evaluated the EU`s attitude as hostility against Turkey and success of Greece, Yilmaz said that he thinks that this is an extreme definition. Yilmaz noted that he does not agree that this is the success of Greece, adding that if it is regarded as a success, it is an unreal success.
  • [05] Cem Tells Annan Turkey Needs To Seriously Reassess Latest Cyprus Developments Anatolia Agency (2052 hours 12/11/00)reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Sunday, ``the Cyprus issue is an important subject. It can turn into a new Kosovo. We, therefore, are very careful about the issue.`` Cem who is currently in Qatari capital of Doha to accompany President Ahmet Necdet Sezer at the Ninth Heads of State and Government Summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), met separately with Rauf Denktas who is attending the summit as an observer, and with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. Addressing journalists following the meetings, Cem said that he had held a clear and important meeting with Annan. Noting that the meeting had taken place within the framework of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit`s statement on the Cyprus issue and his meeting with Rauf Denktash, Cem recalled that Annan had explained some opinions to the sides during the fifth round of proximity talks in Geneva, Switzerland. He told reporters, ``although it does not have a legal validity, we are not satisfied with the non-paper submitted to the sides by Annan. I told the Secretary General that the non-paper does not take into consideration the Turkish Cypriot side's opinions.`` Cem said, ``the non-paper was synchronous with the phrase included in the Accession Partnership Accord which was submitted to Turkey last Wednesday by the European Union (EU) Commission. This situation led us to pay more careful attention. Turkey, of course, holds consultations with the TRNC. I told United Nations Secretary General Annan that we needed to seriously re- assess latest developments on Cyprus issue in detail as a guarantor state. Although the non-paper is not an official document, it puts forward an understanding. The Cyprus issue is an important subject. It can turn into a new Kosovo. We, therefore, are very careful about the issue. We do not allow Cyprus to become a second Kosovo.``
  • [06] Talat Urges Turkish Cypriots To Participate in EU Talks, To Stop 'Defying' World According to illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (11:30 hours, 11.11.00) the Republican Turkish Party [CTP] has said that it is a patriotic duty to act for the solution of the Cyprus problem, to demand to participate in the talks between the EU and Cyprus, and to join in the EU accession process as soon as possible. In a written statement he issued, CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat maintained that the unofficial document posited by the UN secretary general to the sides need not be rejected totally or accepted totally. He said that rather than defying the world, the Turkish Cypriots should try to solve the Cyprus problem. Talat stressed that the Turkish Cypriots do not want to live under the conditions that reigned before 1974, and not in Adana or Mersin, but in their homeland. He charged that once Turkey was accepted as a EU candidate, the solution of the Cyprus problem became inevitable. The EU does not want problems among its club members, he said, adding: "No matter how much we try to separate Turkey/s membership in the DEU from the Cyprus problem, the two cannot really be separated". Furthermore, according to illegal Bayrak Radio (16:30 hours, 10.11.00) Talat has also said that all the developments that have recently taken place regarding the Cyprus problem show that the problem must be resolved as soon as possible. He said: "The developments show that the Cyprus problem must be resolved immediately or as soon as possible and that the island should be reunited in order to join the EU." Speaking during his meeting with the Czech ambassador last Friday, Talat noted that by saying very clearly that Cyprus will most probably join the EU by the end of 2002, the EU Commission/s Cyprus report is encouraging the sides to solve the problem and giving out the message that the Turkish Cypriots must also participate in the membership process. The CTP leader maintained that the EU membership process is not fair because the Turkish Cypriot side is not taking part in it. Talat charged that the omission of the Turkish Cypriots from the negotiations will create certain important problems in the future. Therefore, he said, the Turkish Cypriots' participation in the negotiations is inevitable. "This is one of greatest problems at the moment. Time is running out. My party believes that the Turkish Cypriots must participate in these talks as soon as possible. If they do not, certain unexpected developments may take place," he warned. Talat pointed out that EU Commission's Cyprus report mentions the Loizidhou case too. He said that if Cyprus joins the EU before the solution of the Cyprus problem, the Greek Cypriots will become members unilaterally, only they will sign the membership agreement, and they will bring more cases like the Loizidhou case to the EU, thus making the ownership issues in Cyprus even more difficult to solve. Talat warned that this will lead to further tension between the two sides. The Czech ambassador said that his Embassy is trying to bring about a rapprochement between the two sides. He noted that he wanted to hear Talat's views on the EU issue. He concluded by saying that a Czech delegation will conduct research on the issue of cultural heritage in the occupied area of Cyprus on Sunday (12 November).
  • [07] Turkish Cypriot Paper on Possible Changes in pseudostate/s Political Balances A report in Halkin Sesi (4/11/00) quotes "reliable political sources" that have indicated that the political balances will be shifted in the pseudostate in the coming days and that a number of so-called deputies will take part in a new political formation that is likely to emerge soon. The same political sources have said that DP [Democratic Party] leader Serdar Denktas will resign as party leader (Tr. Note: Serdar Denktash actually resigned on 6 November) and that he will transfer his position to "Deputy Assembly Speaker" and experienced politician Salih Cosar.Moreover, rumours have circulated to the effect that a number of UBP [National Unity Party] "deputies" are preparing to resign from their party in order to take part in the new political formation. A number of UBP "deputies" have criticized the leaders of the political parties forming the present "coalition government" for violating the same economic package that they have prepared. According to political sources, independent "Deputy" Nurten Hudaverdioglu and independent "deputy" Gulboy Beydagli will reportedly also take part in the new political formation. Meanwhile, the position that "deputy" Kenan Akin will take with respect to the new formation has not been made known yet. Akin had earlier resigned from DP and is presently acting as an independent "deputy". It has been learned that DP Leader Serdar Denktas has repeatedly been telling his close circles in recent days that he intended to resign as party leader. According to Serdar Denktas' close circle, Serdar Denktas has decided to resign mainly to pave the way before his father Rauf Denktas and to put an end to rumors to the effect that Rauf Denktas intends to bring his son to power as "Prime Minister". Meanwhile, reacting positively to news about Serdar Denktas' decision to resign as party leader, DP circles have expressed the view that "this would be a very favorable development." In remarks about Serdar Denktas' decision to resign as party leader, a number of CTP [Republican Turkish Party] "deputies" have noted that they are pleased with this decision, saying: "Although this is a delayed resignation, it is a favorable development in terms of paving the way before this country." Meanwhile, noting that they will accept any task that is entrusted to them within the new political formation, a number of CTP "deputies" have stressed that they are open to any eventuality. Meanwhile, it has been learned that there is an atmosphere of tension within UBP and that eight UBP "deputies" are favorably disposed toward the new political formation. Political circles in Ankara, for their part, have said that they are closely following the developments in the pseudostate and that they are aware of the new political formation. Meanwhile, it has been learned that Ankara has felt unease regarding reports to the effect that the Eroglu "government" has violated the same economic package that it has prepared and that a number of "Ministers" have made statements regarding these violations. These violations have reportedly been committed during the time when talks were being held in Geneva. As it is known, Ankara was displeased with the Eroglu "government" ever since its formation.. Meanwhile, the endeavor of a number of UBP "deputies" to openly express their uneasiness toward the party has strengthened the belief that it is a matter of a short time before the new formation comes into being. News about Ankara's unease toward the current situation in the pseudostate has been seen as one of the factors behind the efforts to resort to the new formation as early as possible.
  • [08] 'Deputy' Kenan Akin Joins 'Nationalist Justice Party' Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (11:30 hours, 12.11.00) reports that Kenan Akin who had resigned from the Democratic Party a while ago and was serving as an independent "deputy", has announced that he was joining the MAP. (Nationalist Justice Party).

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


    Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
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