Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-06-17

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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.107/97 14-15-16-17.6.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Hannay and Oymen on Cyprus: Expecting no easy answers.

[02] Denktash: `Envoys should not give orders'.

[03] Denktash criticizes the British.

[04] Denktash denied ever intending to meet Ciller and Erbakan.

[05] Denktash: Turkey will not leave Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Hannay and Oymen on Cyprus : Expecting no easy answers

At a press conference prior to the meeting, Hannay cautioned that talks scheduled for next month between the leaders of the island were not likely to produce any quick solutions.

"I do not think there will be a very rapid conclusion to these negotiations", Hannay proclaimed, adding that the breakdown of barriers will inevitably be a slow and lengthy process.

Undersecretary Oymen, who answered reporters' questions after the meeting, said that they do not want to present an optimistic stand but that the two share fairly common views. "The Turkish and British sides share the view that the resolution of the problem lies in the hands of the two countries' presidents".

"What I do think is a possible objective ... would be what I would call an early harvest.

That is to say, some significant signs of progress after the first two or three sessions", Hannay added.

President Bill Clinton last week appointed Richard Holbrooke as the US special emissary for Cyprus. Holbrooke won fame as the tough negotiator of the 1995 Bosnia peace accord at Dayton, Ohio.

Hannay said a similar, go-for-broke agreement was not expected on the Cyprus issue. "Cyprus is quite different and I notice that Dick Holbrooke has been taking a quite different line about it".

[02] Denktash: `Envoys should not give orders'

Denktash used a sarcastic tone with the reporters who asked him about Britain's special envoy to Cyprus Sir David Hannay's remarks:

"Of course, Hannay has spent all his life in Cyprus, Hannay knows the Greek Cypriots very well and we have come from the moon, thus we don't know the Greek Cypriots at all.

Thus what we say is not true, what Hannay says is correct."

[03] Denktash criticizes the British

According the British of trying to please the Greek Cypriots because of the British Sovereign Bases, Denktash threatened: "If Britain turns a blind eye to the rights and status given to Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people, then the question of her bases in Cyprus will be on the agenda".

Denktash further added that the Greco-Turkish balance established in Cyprus through the 1960 Treaties carries more importance and is more vital to the Turkish side than the British Bases are to the British. "These things cannot be changed" insisted Denktash.

Repeating his known allegations on Cyprus's membership to the EU Denktash claimed: "If Mr Robin Cook does not want the permanent partition of the island, then he has to change his point of view regarding Cyprus. He should not cast a shadow on British justice and neutrality by supporting the Greek Cypriots who since 1963 are doing everything to do away with the Turkish Cypriots' rights".

Denktash further said that at the face-to-face meeting in New York he will test President Clerides's sincerity and that the Line of Peace, decided in the 20 January 1997 Declaration signed with the Republic of Turkey, shall be taken as a basis.

Addressing President Clerides, Denktash said": Study the Peace Line very well, look into it very well. If you do not force me to go below this line, then there is a chance. Otherwise, if you want to create the situation that existed prior to 1974, you will get nothing".

(MY)

[04] Denktash denied ever intending to meet Ciller and Erbakan

Denktash told the Anatolia news agency that the report has no connection with the truth and stated that he paid a brief visit to Ankara to collect an award and that he never intended to meet Erbakan and Ciller during this visit.

As such, he said, no response was necessary from the coalition leaders. The press report quoted a source close to Denktash as saying... "They have not even responded that they are not able to meet, it is a shame (on their part)." Denktash said that he met with President Demirel in the presidential palace where he also received his award.

Denktash said that he had the opportunity to make an in depth evaluation of the Cyprus conflict with Ankara in the course of his visit and has returned home gaining power. Talking to reporters in Nicosia airport (as reported in the paper), Denktash claimed on Saturday that Turkish Cypriots are ready to show flexibility, but that "the time has also come for the Greek Cypriots to make up their". (as written in the paper).

[05] Denktash: Turkey will not leave Cyprus

The warships will stay until Thursday and people will be able to visit them everyday between 14:00 16:30 hours.

The commanding officers of all ships paid a courtesy visit to Denktash. Speaking to the officers, Denktash claimed that the Cyprus government is getting ready to give a naval base to Greece. Denktash added: "We have given the answer to this.

Whatever they do, we will do the same here. If they continue this unnecessary and senseless work to turn Cyprus over to Greece, then our sea ports will be the ports of the Turkish fleet. We say this with all sincerity".

Repeating his known views and allegations Denktash said:

"Cyprus can never be Greek, this is our march. Neither 65 million Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriots will allow this". He went on and said that in order for the Turkish Cypriots to come to this point Turkey sacrificed her sons." We have Ataturk's words. I say this so that Clerides should learn this by heart: Turkey will not leave Cyprus. These are the words of Inonu as well. All the past and present presidents of Turkey have said this. These are their words".

"Had it not been a single Turk in Cyprus, again the balance established by the Treaty of Lausanne between Greece and Turkey would not had been allowed to be tilted. Otherwise the southern shores would have been closed by Greek islands. This is the reason", added Denktash, "why the Turkish leaders say: We would still have a Cyprus cause, even if you were not there".

(MY)

EF/SK

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

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