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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-03-11Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 44/98 -- 11.3.98[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Denktash on "assembly" resolution, Miller visitIllegal BRTK (8:00 hours, 10.3.98) broadcast live a telephone interview with Turkish Cypriot community leader Rauf Denktash by Mete Tumerkan on the "Agenda Program" on the morning of 10 March. Asked to assess yesterday's heated "assembly" session, Denktash, inter alia, claimed: "The real issue was not that we evaded or wanted to evade the talks or that we changed the agenda. The real issue is that the agenda has already been altered by the Greek Cypriots and the EU. We had to make a new reassessment after this change of agenda. This has now been done. This prolonged game, under the mask of intercommunal talks, of regarding us as equal at the table but them as the government, our government, could not last any longer". And added: "Let them accept our identity and individuality, and the existence of the TRNC. They stand to lose nothing from that. Since they cannot wipe us out of existence, the only logical path open to them is to accept this fact."Asked about his meeting with Thomas Miller, he said: "Our agenda will naturally include the Cyprus problem. He will probably want to know why we have adopted this decision. We will thoroughly explain it to him. There is also the issue of the missiles. What are they going to do about the missiles? The United States has promised us that the missiles will not arrive. They cannot ask us for one thing or another in return for the missiles. The presence of missiles in Cyprus would be a new aggression after 24 years next to a side that does not want an agreement and conciliation. They should be stopped. Miller must also do something to lift the embargo. The embargoes on the one hand, and the restrictions imposed on our people, such as the British visa, on the other, are unacceptable," he claimed. [02] Paper reports on main guidelines of new Turkish policy on CyprusAccording to a report in CUMHURIYET (9.3.98) considering the EU summit's decisions in Luxembourg, Turkey and the "TRNC" have decided that the concept of a bizonal and bicommunal federation in Cyprus is "unrealistic". They said: "The Turkish Cypriots will not be able to defend themselves over the EU, even if the desired conditions are created for the establishment of a federation."The EU and Cyprus will hold talks on accession in three weeks. Meanwhile, Turkey and the "TRNC" maintain their effort to draw up the policy they will adopt, the report says. According to high-ranking Turkish Foreign Ministry officials, some of the main guidelines of their new policy are: 1. The Turkish Cypriot side agrees to participate in the talks that will be held for the island's full accession to the EU if the "TRNC" is treated as an entity that has equal status with the Greek Cypriot side. However, the participation of the Turkish Cypriots in the talks as part of a Greek Cypriot delegation only as observers who do not have the right to speak will conflict with the 1959 and 1960 founding agreements 2. Even if all the Turkish Cypriot side's conditions are met and a federation is established, the Turkish Cypriots will not be able to defend themselves in the political and economic fields if the new federation joins the EU before Turkey becomes a member of the organization. 3. The federation model advocated by Turkey and the "TRNC" called for limited free dom of movement for individuals, property, and capital. That will safeguard the weak Turkish Cypriot economy against the wealthy Greek Cypriot economy. However, the EU upholds the principle of freedom of movement for individuals, capital, and property. In view of that, the restrictions called for by Turkey and the "TRNC" will be unacceptable to the EU Court of Justice. 4. The Turkish Cypriots will not be able to have their rights confirmed if a constitutional problem similar to the one in 1963 emerges after a federation is established. According to the procedure, the Turkish Cypriots will launch a complaint with the EU. The organization will deliberate on the matter in the absence of Cyprus. However, Greece is a EU member. So the organization will not be able to make a decision that will safeguard Turkish Cypriot rights. That state of affairs will eventually lead to the Hellenization of Cyprus. 5. The US policy on Cyprus is similar to the EU approach. Even the UN body seems to be willing to uphold the EU initiatives. That has further complicated the problem. [06] The "TRNC" proposes that the Greek Cypriots agree to acceptthe Turkish Cypriots as a political entity in the north, the democratic and political infrastructure of which is similar to the democratic and political infrastructure in the south.Furthermore, the "TRNC" insists that the following problems be solved: a. Exchange of property. b. Final demarcation of the "border" between the two sides. c. Removal of matters that create security problems. A nonaggression pact should be singed for that purpose. 7. There are indications that tension will escalate in Cyprus. A base has been opened in Paphos and a number of S-300 missiles will be deployed on the island in August. All that will increase the tension. So, holding talks on the establishment of a federation will be wrong, the report concludes. [03] Asil Nadir's `KIBRIS TV' test broadcasts in the occupied areaAccording to KIBRIS (10.3.98), KIBRIS TV (K-TV), affiliated with the KIBRIS Publications Company, the chairman of the board of which is Turkish Cypriot businessman Asil Nadir, began its test broadcasts last Monday night, showing the "colour-bar".After the newspaper KIBRIS and KIBRIS FM, KIBRIS TV becomes the third investment by Nadir in the occupied area media sector. K-TV's test broadcasts, relayed through a transmitter commissioned at the KIBRIS Publications Company's headquarters on Dr. Fazil Kuchuk Boulevard in the occupied part of Nicosia, could be followed briefly only in Nicosia and its environs on Channel 49 on the UHF band. Once the application submitted by KIBRIS Publications Company to the so- called supreme broadcasting council is processed and a second broadcasting channel allocated to K-TV, its broadcasts will be spread throughout the occupied area by two transmitters to be installed at two of illegal BRTK's (Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation) installations. In a statement marking the start of K-TV broadcasts, Asil Nadir, chairman of the board of KIBRIS Publications Company, expressed pleasure at the inauguration of KIBRIS TV soon after KIBRIS FM, adding that the real aim of KIBRIS TV is to engage in "international broadcasting", that the broadcasts will soon be upgraded to make it viewable throughout the occupied area Cyprus, and that soon afterward it will be broadcast to Turkey and third countries via satellite. KIBRIS TV was set up soon after KIBRIS FM in October 1995 under the guidance Asil Nadir. After the completion of the first leg of the project for the radio and television broadcasts, KIBRIS FM formally went on the air on 1 May 1997. With KIBRIS FM broadcasts taking shape, work on KIBRIS TV, the second leg of the project, was intensified. The newspaper KIBRIS, Asil Nadir's first investment in the occupied area media, began its publication life on 11 July 1989. Infrastructural work is continuing to increase KIBRIS' pages to 48 this year; it started with 24 pages and then increased to 32 and 40 pages in subsequent years. [04] Akinci briefs Miller on TKP views on CyprusAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (16:30 hours 10.3.98) Thomas Miller, US State Department special coordinator for Cyprus, visited the Communal Liberation Party (TKP) yesterday and held a meeting with party leader Mustafa Akinci. US Ambassador Kenneth Brill was also present at the meeting. Miller did not make any comments after the meeting. Asked if he is going to meet with the other parties, he replied that he will not be able to because his visit is very short.In a written s tatement he issued at the end of the meeting, Akinci said he briefed Miller on the TKP's views on the Cyprus question. He said that the accession talks with the EU were also discussed at the meeting and that they exchanged views on the conditions under which the Turkish Cypriot community can participate in these negotiations. Akinci said that unless the Turkish Cypriots' status is determined, they will not participate in the accession talks. He stressed that Miller agrees with this view. The TKP leader pointed out that if the guarantors act simultaneously and positively, the problems can be solved more easily. [05] Paper says pseudostate has broken its links with the Cyprus GovernmentAccording to a report by Teoman Turan in Turkish daily ZAMAN (10.3.98) the pseudostate has broken its links with the Cyprus Government. The pseudo- assembly made a "historic decision" related to the intercommunal negotiations, the report says and adds that the Turkish Cypriots will avoid the talks on the Cyprus problem if the existence of "two states" on the island is not accepted. Heated debates took place from time to time during the debate.The "draft resolution" that was jointly submitted by the National Unity Party and the Democratic party was adopted. It called for the recognition of the existence of "two states" in Cyprus. It will be recalled that the decisions Turkey and the "TRNC" made in January and July 1997 called for the realization of a program for partial integration between the two sides, in parallel with the accession of the Greek Cypriots to the EU. The "resolution" has been viewed as a strong reaction to the talks the EU will hold with the Greek Cypriot side on accession on 30 March, the report says. [06] Denktash comments after meeting with MillerAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 10.3.98) Rauf Denktash yesterday morning met Thomas Miller, US State Department special coordinator for Cyprus, and conferred with him for approximately two hours and 15 minutes. Also attending the meeting were Ergun Olgun, "under secretary of Denktash's Office", and US Ambassador to Nicosia Kenneth Brill.In a statement after the meeting, Denktash said that they discussed all aspects of the Cyprus problem in detail and sincerely, like two friends. Denktash said that Miller reiterated that the United States wants to do its utmost for the solution of the Cyprus problem and that he, in turn, explained to Miller that the way to help achieve a solution is by comprehending the facts. Denktash recounted that he explained the situation to Miller within the framework of the letter he wrote to President Clerides in line with the recent "resolution" adopted by the pseudo-assembly. Denktash pointed out that the "draft resolutions" submitted by the Republican Turkish Party and the Communal Liberation Party contained acceptable aspects and emphasized the existence and equality of the "TRNC". Despite this, Denktash noted, these "draft resolutions" differed from the "draft" submitted by the "government" with regard to the essential issues. He said that if the details are set aside, one can see that the Turkish Cypriots never accepted and will never accept the Greek Cypriot side as the government. Noting that important details on whether to sit at the negotiating table were also discussed, Denktash said he believes that here lies the difference between the two opposition parties and the "government". Denktash expressed satisfaction over the "resolution" adopted. In his statement after the meeting, Miller said he held a very positive meeting on an initiative with Denktash and noted that the matter was discussed in detail. [07] Ozgur, Durduran criticize pseudo-assembly "resolution"According to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 10.3.98) the Patriotic Union Movement has reacted to the "resolution" that was adopted at the pseudo-assembly with a majority of votes and that bases the continuation of the negotiations on the principles of "two states". A joint written statement issued on behalf of the Patriotic Union Movement and signed by Ozker Ozgur and Alpay Durduran declared that the "resolution" violates the basic agreements between the two communities and the UN resolutions concerning Cyprus and runs counter to the parameters formulated within the framework of the United Nations with regard to the solution of the Cyprus problem.Ozgur and Durduran charged that the resolution was adopted on the basis of the logic that a nonsolution is a solution and aims at accelerating the integration process by obstructing the talks. The statement stressed that the intercommunal talks should start immediately without any preconditions. [08] Denktash claims the EU will change its policy on CyprusAccording to CUMHURIYET (11.3.98) Turkish Cypriot community leader Rauf Denktash has claimed that according to information he had received, the EU will introduce a policy change and will exercise an "open-close system" as regards Cyprus's EU membership talks.Denktash also claimed that the USA has given up supporting the EU settlement. CUMHURIYET reports that if Denktash's information becomes concrete, the EU will change its policy that envisages exerting pressure only on Turkey and considering the Cyprus government as the representative of the whole island. (MY) [09] Eroglu claims federation impossible, explains reasonsAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (6:00 hours, 11.3.98), so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu has claimed that a federal solution is impossible in Cyprus, and even if one is reached, it is impossible to keep it alive. He said: "We were even late in adopting our new position."Eroglu met with students from the international relations departments of the "Easter Mediterranean University" and the Marmara University. He pointed out that negotiations were held for years for a federal solution, but that it is impossible to reach a solution with the goodwill of only one side, as he put it. He claimed: "There is blood between the two peoples in Cyprus. There is no trust. The religions, languages, customs are different. Under such conditions, a federation is impossible". Replying to the students' questions on the pseudo-assembly "resolution" that has been adopted and on the EU process, Eroglu explained that the position that the negotiations must be held on the basis of "two states" was adopted as a "state" policy at the recent "assembly" session. "Our problem is economic, not political. It is difficult to keep the population on the islands. That is what our struggle is about." 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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