Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-02-22

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader briefed the political parties on the first round of talks

[02] Rauf Denktas on the map leaked to the Turkish Cypriot newspaper which supports his views

[03] Rauf Denktas attacks the Turkish Cypriot opposition calling it a minority

[04] Turkish Cypriot politicians on the territorial aspect of the Cyprus problem

[05] Angolemli and Talat meet with the ambassador of Finland; Statements on the Cyprus problem

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader briefed the political parties on the first round of talks

In a statement before the meeting, Denktas said that the political parties will convey their views on the Cyprus issue to him in written or verbal form by 1 March. He also said that he would not make a statement to the press in connection with the meeting.

Following the meeting that lasted about two hours, the political parties said that Denktas conveyed to them his assessment and the atmosphere of the talks.

So-called Assembly Speaker Serter asserted that it is obvious under what conditions the Turkish Cypriot side will be ready to accept a solution. It is as obvious, he said, that there cannot be a solution unless these conditions are met.

Salih Cosar said that the DP finds Denktas' assessment of the situation positive and that it agrees with him. Cosar expressed the hope that during the second round, the Greek Cypriot side will see the realities in Cyprus, take them into consideration, and act more realistically. He said: We believe that if they adopt such a stand, a better path will be found and more progress will be made.

TKP leader Angolemli said that the people should not despair in light of the statements being made in connection with the negotiations. He stressed that the second round of negotiations that will start on 1 March will be tough. In the meantime, he said, the two sides must prepare themselves very well.

CTP leader Talat said that Denktas has been pumping despair into the people with his recent statements. That is wrong, Talat said, and to save the Turkish Cypriots from the current problems, their rights must be defended at the negotiating table till the end, without leaving the negotiations in the middle.

Talat pointed out that the solution of the problem is slated for June and that there is a time limit. He reiterated that the talks on the Turkish Cypriots' accession to the EU must be held till the end.

UDP leader Emin said that both sides are defending their own people and trying to elicit gains for them. We must not be pessimistic, he said, we must be patient. We believe that we will gain something for our people at the end of the talks. We are in favor of continuing with the talks, he added.

Emin pointed out that the political parties must posit a common view during this ongoing process.

[02] Rauf Denktas on the map leaked to the Turkish Cypriot newspaper which supports his views

During a meeting, Denktas said the following in connection with yesterday's KIBRISLI newspaper headline regarding a map on the Greek Cypriots' territorial demands: "The Greek Cypriots did not submit a map. Probably a map was drawn up to show what is included in the 24 percent. Consequently, it is a map that shows the 24 percent and foresees the displacement of 70,000 persons. Let there be no mistake that the Greek Cypriots submitted a map during the talks. I want to correct that mistake. We did not and we are not talking about a map."

Asked if the Greek Cypriots submitted a 24 percent territory proposal during the talks, Denktas said: "Yes, they did. They said that the people who had left the territory that will be left to us will return to it and claim their homes. They are insistent in this regard."

Denktas remarked: "We believe that any talk on territories is futile and unnecessary as long as our sovereignty is not accepted. This has always been our stand. If they want territory from us, this must mean that they accept that we are holding this territory and that it belongs to us. The remaining territory must be territory that must be sovereign after a population adjustment, so that there will not be any intention in the future to destroy another agreement and attack us by claiming that this is an internal affair, so that the world will not regard this as an internal matter in a unitary state, so that the world will view this as an incident between two founding states and not grant the Greek Cypriots the chance it has been granting them for 38 years."

Denktas added: "An outcome that will allow us to look at the future securely can only be achieved within this framework. This does not harm the Greek Cypriots in any way. If we reach an agreement on the functions, and if we agree on how to set up the upper unit, founding our rights on a solid ground would not harm the Greek Cypriots in any way. This would bring about the foundation of a stable future that will inspire full confidence in both sides in the long term."

[03] Rauf Denktas attacks the Turkish Cypriot opposition calling it a minority

Denktas said that he must protect the rights of the Turkish Cypriots as a united whole, but that a small minority is saying different things. He charged that this small minority creates the impression that it speaks on behalf of all Turkish Cypriots. This is regrettable, he said, but we know how the Turkish Cypriots are loyal to their state, to their rights, and to their motherland.

Denktas added: "The world sees the opinion of this small minority as the view of all the Turkish Cypriots, and then declares resolutions accordingly. This minority is causing us great harm. The Greek Cypriots look at what this minority is saying and think that the Turkish Cypriots are desperate to reach an agreement just so that their economic problems can be solved. That is the attitude of the Greek Cypriots when they come to the table.

The world must be told that the Turkish Cypriots are protecting their state, land, and flag despite all the difficulties, and that they will never make any concessions from that. Nationalism is a movement and the Turkish Cypriot cause must be upheld in the form of a movement too. Voices must be raised higher."

On the Cyprus negotiations, Denktas said: "The first round is over but a more difficult period is now before us. Whether a bridge can be built between the very different views of the two sides and whether the difficulties can be overcome will be understood in the second round. I am trying with goodwill to reach an agreement. For a solution to be reached in Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriot state and sovereignty must be accepted and the Turkish Cypriots must not be forced to migration."

When asked if any goodwill was displayed during the first round, Denktas stated that the two sides explained their respective positions during the first round. He said: "Since there cannot be an agreement unless an agreement is reached on all the issues, it would be meaningless to say that everything is going well. We will look at the whole package in the end. If we agree on every issue, we will say we have reached an agreement. We will continue to make efforts until that day."

[04] Turkish Cypriot politicians on the territorial aspect of the Cyprus problem

Replying to a question after the meeting of the political party leaders with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas, who informed them on the progress of the face-to-face talks, Mr Eroglu said the following on the above-mentioned issue, which had been raised yesterday by the pro-Denktas KIBRISLI newspaper:

".You too certainly know that this is not possible. Our views, as party and as government are there. However, such a territorial concession would mean that at least 60 thousand people are going to become refugees. I could easily say that accepting this is not possible. .".

Meanwhile, referring to the same issue, Salih Cosar, chairman of the Democratic Party and so-called "Deputy Prime Minister" alleged that they expect the Greek Cypriots to see the realities in Cyprus. "Such an approach is definitely not realistic", he added and claimed the following:

".Our people should not be displaced for the second time. The most important thing is that we think the proprietorship issue has been solved. How it was solved? Our people have accepted in a way for the state to save the property in order to be rehabilitated. They gave their title deeds to the state and they were given land in the north in return. Therefore, the problem of proprietorship is a very important issue and during the talks with the Greek Cypriots this problem has to be solved with priority and because of this the right of proprietorship there must not be a returning back process. In such a return if the right of proprietorship is put forward, we as Democratic Party believe that an agreement will not be possible. Furthermore, this influences the three freedoms as well. For example, let us suppose that there is an agreement and there is freedom (translator's note: for the Greek Cypriots) to come to the north. If the proprietorship problem is not solved, what will a citizen do when he comes to the north? He will go straight to his property and wish to see it. He will demand his own property. He will go to international courts and demand his property. It means, I believe that this is one of the most vital points of the agreement and it has to be solved definitely. It has to be solved before the solution.".

[05] Angolemli and Talat meet with the ambassador of Finland; Statements on the Cyprus problem

Talking before the meeting, Mr Angolemli described as wrong the attitude of some people and political leaders who are pessimist about the progress of the face-to-face talks towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and added that the decisive round would be the second round, because then "the give and take and the mutual exchange of views will start". "Therefore the sides have arranged their plans in such a way and may be that is why they had high demands", he added.

On the other hand, Mr Talat noted that Cyprus has become a European problem and argued that this is the biggest obstacle in the way of the enlargement of the EU. Mr Talat expressed also the view that the Turkish Cypriots "are face-to-face with a great danger" and noted that they must not abandon the negotiating table because the solution of the Cyprus problem is a precondition for them in order to avoid "falling in the abyss".

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