Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-12-03

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TURKISH CYRPIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.218/96 3.12.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu comments on upcoming visit by EU officials.

[02] Denktash repeats views on EU issue.

[03] Denktash meets German Ambassador.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu comments on upcoming visit by EU officials

Eroglu and Serdar Denktash, "state minister and deputy prime minister", held their routine weekly meeting with Rauf Denktash. They mainly discussed the contacts the EU representatives will hold in the pseudostate today. In a statement after the meeting, Eroglu said that the aim with which the EU representatives will be coming to the pseudostate is important. "If they consider the Turkish Cypriots to be a people that can live under the mercy of the Greek Cypriots", Eroglu said, "that is unacceptable". Eroglu called on the EU to lift the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.

Eroglu said that if they ask for a meeting, the "TRNC officials" will meet with the EU officials.

Asked to comment on the special meeting of the Turkish National Security Council which discussed the deployment of a NATO peace force in Cyprus, Eroglu said that he found out about this issue from the press. He noted that the National Security Council can always discuss the Cyprus problem, adding: "We may reassess the latest developments concerning the Cyprus problem among ourselves and with the officials of the Turkish Republic". Asked if the reassessment may mean a change of policy, Eroglu said that a change of policy is always on the agenda.

Eroglu stated that they also discussed economic issues with Denktash adding that the preparations for the economic protocol to be signed with Turkey have been completed. He said that Turkey looks warmly to all the proposals made by the pseudostate and that the Turkish Council of Ministers discussed the matter and announced that it will extend every kind of support to the "TRNC".

[02] Denktash repeats views on EU issue

He said that time has come for the so-called Council of Ministers of the pseudostate and the pseudo-Assembly to evaluate the latest developments and take a decision on the EU.

Denktash claimed that he has believed in the peace in Cyprus, and to this effect he has made the necessary concessions. However, he alleged, he does not believe that the Greek Cypriot-Greek side will be ready to sign any agreement or that they will let the agreement last and be viable.

Commenting on the EU Irish presidency term representative on Cyprus Kester Heaslip's visit and the planned meeting with him, Denktash said: "As an isolated side for the last 33 years, we welcome anybody who knocks on our door. However, if this person who knocks on our door comes and tells us: `I am coming to you furnished with the 6 March decision which was taken without consulting you, without asking you, without considering you, it was taken in line with the Greek Cypriot desire. I am coming to you with the knowledge and consent of the Greek Cypriots whom we consider at the legitimate government of Cyprus. My duty and authority is to tell you what you will win upon entry into the EU', then he will receive an appropriate answer from us. However, if he asks 'why you do not want to enter into this beautiful establishment, what are your objections'-and we are receiving him with this understanding - then we will tell him about the justice and wrong-doings of Europe and the EU to us and about the end of the intercommunal talks."

Denktash went on and alleged that it should be told to the Greek Cypriot side that without an agreement on the resumption of the intercommunal talks it is not possible to enter into the EU.

Denktash said: "No one is giving an answer to the question how the Cyprus problem will be solved. We have given the answers. The UN Secretary General tabled them and we tell them: 'The parameters are on the negotiation table'. However, the Greek Cypriot side thinks that it has entered through the EU gate and is dragging the whole of Cyprus with it. They are openly telling that the federation they are envisaging is not the federation envisaged in the 'Set of Ideas'. This is tantamount to saying `we do not favour a settlement that includes Turkish Cypriots' equality and sovereignty', that is, they do not want reconciliation.

We have nothing else to do but conduct sincerely and in a healthy way the policy of strengthening the TRNC, developing people's welfare and strengthening the ties with Turkey."

When asked to comment on Turkey's National Security Council's last session where the Cyprus problem was also discussed, Denktash claimed that he has no information about the meeting. He said: "Cyprus is a national issue, and is always on Turkey's agenda. We are aware of the fact that Turkey as well has realized that the Greek Cypriots do not favour a federation and their priority is to enter the EU. And now Turkey is seriously considering this issue. The way Turkey diagnosed the problem is a healthy sign and approach. When the problem is diagnosed then giving an answer to that problem becomes easy", concluded Denktash. (MY)

[03] Denktash meets German Ambassador

During the meeting the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the EU process were discussed.

Prior to the meeting Ambassador Garbers told the journalists that this was a routine meeting and that as a whole, the EU member-countries fully supported the goodwill mission of the UN Secretary General. (MY) EF/SK