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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-06-25Cyprus 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. 110/99 -- 25.6.99[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Demirel warns of Turkish-Greek clash if solution forcedAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (15:30 hours, 24.6.99) Turkish President Suleyman Demirel has warned that a forced solution in Cyprus would create a clash between Turkey and Greece. Assessing the G-8 initiative to illegal BRT, Demirel said that the Cyprus issue is an issue on its own and must not be included in the network of relations between Turkey and the United States or between Turkey and Europe. ``If that is the case, the world will be faced with three rather than two problems'', he said.President Demirel received Turkish Cypriot correspondents for a program on the Cyprus issue at the Cankaya Mansion yesterday. He made the first high- level official reaction to the G-8 initiative on the Cyprus question. Recalling that the G-8 call has been referred to the United Nations and that the UN Secretary General issued an invitation, Demirel noted that this invitation has just been issued. Demirel asked: ``What will the stand be? Under what status will the people meet? We realize that it is without preconditions, but what are the titles to be used?'' Demirel answered his own question claiming: ``If they are to sit at the table as two community leaders, but one of them is the president of the Cyprus state and the other the leader of a minority when they emerge from the negotiating room, this will not achieve anything''. Demirel further claimed: ``We want a solution more than anyone else, because it is the Turkish Cypriots who suffer most. If a solution is being sought, the de facto situation must be accepted. In other words, the existence of two sovereign states must be accepted. The two states must discuss how they can live together on the island. Otherwise, the experience of the past 25 years has shown that nothing can be achieved by opening up old books''. Underlining what is unlikely to happen regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem with these words, Demirel then called on the world. Stressing in particular that even these days will seem desirable in the future unless a just and lasting solution if found for the Cyprus problem, Demirel added: ``Today we have peace. We will yearn even for this''. Threatening that a forced solution would create a confrontation between Turkey and Greece, the Turkish president continued: ``We have reached the current stage without having such a confrontation. However, they should be very careful. After a certain stage, imposed solutions do not work. The conflict to result from this lack of functioning would create a confrontation between Turkey and Greece. This is my warning to everyone. This is not a threat. As I said before, the Cyprus problem is a problem on its own. It is wrong to incorporate this issue into the existing issues between Turkey and the United States. It is also wrong to include it in the web of issues between Turkey and Europe. If this is done, the number of problems facing the world would be increased from two to three.'' At the end of the meeting, the Turkish Cypriot reporters presented to Demirel a ``TRNC flag'' and a banner carrying the 25th anniversary emblem of the Turkish invasion. Demirel kissed the flag and asked that it be hung behind his desk. [02] Denktash on Annan offer; refuses to meet President CleridesAnatolia Agency (15:32 hours, 24.6.99) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash stressed on Thursday that he would not sit at negotiation table with President Glafcos Clerides apart from international consultations and noted that ``Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, cannot be expected to make a call for an unconditional negotiation as there is a precondition of Greek Cypriot side to be treated as the government of whole Cyprus''.Speaking to reporters, Denktash said, ``I can meet Annan in New York, but I will not talk to Clerides under the hat of Cyprus government. I don`t expect Annan to make a call to us for negotiation as there is the (Cyprus Republic) precondition of the Greek Cypriot side''. He said he did not think Secretary General would make the call in an atmosphere when one of the sides refuses to attend the talks with this or that reason. Denktash claimed this will contradict with the good will mission of Annan and that he could not force the sides to do this or that. Denktash said, ``an invitation may take place when the sides express readiness for negotiations'', adding that Secretary General can not reverse the decision of one of the sides. Otherwise, this will mean that he supports one of the sides, he said. Pointing out that Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, seemed to be impressed by the statement issued by G-8 countries on Cyprus issue, Denktash claimed the call of G-8 ``voiced the precondition of the Greek Cypriot side that they are the government of whole Cyprus''. Denktash alleged ``in this call, they expect us to accept sovereignty, independence, and existence of the Cyprus Republic. Thus, they put obstacles to the consultations themselves''. Recalling that ``we told Ann Hercus, the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary General to Cyprus that there is no any other offer except of confederation'', Denktash claimed that ``the confederation offer is the only reasonable offer that will enable the two communities, and two states on the island to live together in peace.'' Denktash noted, ``Our confederation offer is a formula which we have agreed on with Turkey. It is a formula which our people have accepted. Many international jurists have also accepted it, and described confederation offer as the only reasonable way. We want the Greek Cypriots to evaluate this offer properly. Because their path will not lead Cyprus into peace. Their path is the path to swallow Cyprus. But the people of TRNC have always proved that they are not a piece which can be swallowed.'' [03] Opposition parties, union react to Annan call for talksAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (10:30 hours, 24.6.99) Republican Turkish Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat has declared that the sides must comply with the UN Secretary General�s call for talks. Commenting on the Secretary General�s Cyprus report, Talat asked that rather than react against Secretary General Kofi Annan�s call on the two communities to hold talks on the basis of political equality without preconditions, they must exert efforts to turn the emerging situation to the advantage of the Turkish Cypriots. Talat added: ``What we must do is comply with this appeal. Rather than react negatively and defy the world, we should turn the emerging situation to our favour. Dismissing the whole issue by saying that it is not binding on us may be a possible reaction, but it certainly cannot benefit northern Cyprus.''Claiming that the approach that `this is not binding on us� is aimed at evading the essence of the issue, Talat added: ``This is a call for negotiations. How can it be not binding on anyone? This is merely a proposal for talks. What can be binding on us is the agreement we will sign. Therefore it is to our benefit and in our interest to approach the issue positively and participate in the talks. This is our view.'' On the contrary, Our Party has announced that the decisions adopted at the G-8 summit on the Cyprus issue are unacceptable. In a statement, Our Party leader Okyay Sadikoglu claimed that the G-8 call, ``which ignores the Turkish Cypriot state'', is a one-sided decision. Sadikoglu noted that this demonstrates the kind of Cyprus solution favoured by the G-8 countries, which he described as a Christian club. Pointing out that the existence of the pseudostate should be the primary goal with regard to the Cyprus problem, Sadikoglu said that Rauf Denktash should convene the so-called national council. In addition, the so-called Turkish Cypriot Civil Servants Union has stated that the relevant sides should respond positively to the UN Secretary General�s initiatives if the Cyprus problem is to be resolved at the negotiating table through peaceful means. Union leader Ali Seylani, in a statement he issued remarked that the Cyprus question continues to occupy the agendas of the relevant countries and the world public despite the ``TRNC officials�'' statements that the problem has been resolved. Seylani said that peace is as urgent and inalienable a need for the pseudostate and the region as bread and water. ``It is impossible to achieve anything by getting angry at the world and becoming isolated'', he said. [04] Smuggled brandy allegedly contains harmful substanceKIBRIS (25.6.99) reports that alcoholic beverages smuggled from the free areas and sold especially in restaurants in the occupied area contain elements harmful to health.KIBRIS alleges that following analysis carried out for ``Cyprus Brandy (31)'' it has been found that it contains methanol, which is very harmful to human health. The paper, quoting so-called health and environment ministry under secretary Levent Direncay, says that the analysis also showed that alcohol content in these beverages was very low. He accused both the Greek Cypriot producer of these beverages as well as the Turkish Cypriot smugglers of cheating the public. The so-called director of the customs department, Mustafa Numan, has declared that they will continue to persecute smugglers and restaurants selling smuggled beverages. (MY) [05] Teacher�s union supportive of G-8 proposalKIBRIS (25.6.99) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Trade Union (KTOS) in a statement comes forward supporting the G-8 proposal for negotiations without preconditions.The statement says that the UN Secretary General�s invitation to the sides in accordance with the G-8 call for negotiations without preconditions was the right approach. The KTOS statement further stresses that non-solution of the Cyprus problem is not in the benefit of neither the Turkish nor the Greek Cypriots nor the countries of the region. ``A lasting settlement is important for the Turkish Cypriots to protect and maintain their own identity and existence. Since it is envisaged that the sides should come together under equal conditions under the UN auspices, then putting forward the TRNC�s recognition as precondition by esteemed Denktash and the likes of him is nothing but an intention to keep the integration gate open'', the statement concludes. [06] Tataristan ``minister'' in the occupied areaKIBRIS (25.6.99) reports that the ``Minister of Culture'' of Tataristan Marsel Kaisev (as mentioned in the paper) visited the so-called East Mediterranean University (EMU). He was briefed by the so-called deputy president of the EMU, Prof. Abdullah Oztoprak, on the activities of the ``university''.Kaiser is visiting the occupied area on the occasion of the ``Opera Day'', organized by the Common Administration of Turkic Cultural Arts (TURKSOY). He said that there is a small number of Tatar students studying at the ``EMU'', and following on the spot briefing he will help more students come to the university. (MY) [07] Turkish Cypriot journalists not allowed to attend seminars at Ledra PalaceAVRUPA (25.6.99) reports that the occupation regime has denied permission to the Turkish Cypriot journalists to attend seminars organized by the European Journalists Centre between 25-27 at the Ledra Palace Hotel.AVRUPA adds that Denktash�s so-called council of ministers has refused to allow the Turkish Cypriot journalists to attend the seminars. (MY) [08] Orphans visiting the occupied areaKIBRIS (25.6.99) reports that 109 orphans from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey have arrived in the occupied area.The group will stay a week in the occupied area, at the Mare Monte Hotel. (MY) EF/SK -------------------------------------------- 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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