Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-07-06

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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. 127/00 -- 6.7.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktash says meeting with Kofi Annan was `very positive/ Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash who is participating in the third round of proximity talks, has said that the meeting he held with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was very positive adding: "We came to Geneva to hold serious talks" Anatolia News Agency reported on( 5.7.00). In a short statement to the media after his meeting with Mr. Annan on the first day of the third round proximity talks, Denktash said that Greek Cypriot press reports to the effect that "Denktash is not going to Geneva with serious intentions" are unfounded. He continued: "We came here having conducted work on 15 chapters. Serious developments closely concern us". Denktash said that the proximity talks will continue with Annan/s Cyprus envoy Alvaro do Soto on 6 July.

[02] Turkish Prime Minister on Cyprus talks Speaking at a press conference in his office on Thursday, 5th July, Turkey/s Prime Minister touched on the Cyprus issue and made the following statement regarding the Geneva talks under the UN: "Finally, I would like to dwell on the Cyprus talks being held in Geneva. As you know, Mr. Rauf Denktash, is in Geneva in order to attend the new round of the proximity talks. I am not very hopeful of these Geneva talks because the Greek Cypriot side is still unwilling to accept and digest the Cyprus reality. Whereas, there have been two separate and independent states in Cyprus for many years now. This reality cannot be denied. So long as this reality is ignored a solution satisfactory to the sides in Cyprus cannot be found. Not only the Greek Cypriots but certain EU member countries are also responsible for this. Through their stand they are encouraging the Greek Cypriots to adopt an intransigent attitude. If they leave us alone, in other words, if the EU leaves the Turkish and Greek Cypriots alone, then I believe that the Greek Cypriot side might adopt a more realistic stand."

[03] Turkey says reports on Turkish Cypriots/ attempts to change military balance are exaggerated Ankara has declared that statements to the effect that the Turkish Cypriots are upsetting the military balance on the island by changing the place of the sentry box in the no-man/s-land are issued by the Greek Cypriots with the aim of creating a pretext to hide behind during the talks. According to a TRT 1 report on 5.7.00, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said that Turkey has not changed its stand regarding the Cyprus proximity talks being held in Geneva, adding: Our expectation is for the talks to succeed. Speaking at the weekly news conference (5.7.00) held at the Foreign Ministry, Dirioz replied to reporters/ questions. In reply to a question, Dirioz said that announcements and reports to the effect that the Turkish Cypriots are changing the military status quo on the island by earmarking a new area for guard duty in the village of Akyar (Strovilia) are extremely exaggerated. In reply to a question on his assessment of the complaint Greece has filed with the United Nations, Dirioz said that the Greek Cypriot side should not hide behind pretexts on the eve of the talks

[04] Turkish commander raps Turkish Cypriot politicians HURRIYET reports (4.7.00) that Rauf Denktash, has put an end to the row between the "government" and the Turkish Security Forces Commander, who is appointed from Turkey by the General Staff, over the issue of attaching the "police force" to the so-called Interior Ministry. Denktash intervened on behalf of the military authorities when the row reached the point of undermining the Turkish side/s international position with the statement of so-called Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Akinci to the effect that "we want to administer ourselves". Noting that the civilian administrations have politicised the bureaucracy by degenerating it, Denktash said: "This is why it is not yet the time to attach the police force to the "Interior Ministry". Turkish Cypriot AVRUPA newspaper has been publishing reports against Turkey and the Army for some time now. The failure of the so-called state and government authorities to reply to the newspaper/s corrosive allegations was creating uneasiness among the military circles who were left alone to defend themselves against these allegations. The row then flared up with the following mutual recriminations:

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Forces Commander Ali Nihat Ozeyranli declared last week that they have been struggling against internal and external threats, adding,

[02] The left-wing parties reacted to the Commander in their statements in the parliament, calling on the Army "to return to the barracks".

[03] In response, Brigadier General Ozeyranli issued a harsh statement against the "government" on 29 June. He said: "If an attempt is made to

[04] "Deputy Prime Minister" Mustafa Akinci, who is also responsible for tourism, reacted to Ozeyranli/s statement and left the ceremony during which

[05] Upon that Ozeyranli continued with his statements and accused the "government" of killing the spirit of struggle and of fragmenting the

[06] Pointing out that the so-called state broadcasting organs have been censoring his statements of late, Ozeyranli called on "Prime Minister"

[07] Mustafa Akinci replied to Ozeyranli in a news conference of his own. Akinci said that "with his statements in the last few days the commander has

[08] And finally Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the lefty-wing Republican Turkish Party (CTP), called on the Turkish General Staff to remove Ozeyranli

The 2,000- strong "police force" is attached to the Army Command under the Provisional Article 10 of the "Constitution". The National Unity Party (UBP) and the Communal Liberation Party (TKP), the latter is headed by Mustafa Akinci, had promised in their coalition protocol to attach the police force to the "Interior Ministry".

[05] Turkish Cypriots awaiting funds from Turkey to pay salaries

The latest situation of the economy of the illegal "TRNC" was discussed at a meeting of the so-called Council of Ministers.

In a statement after the meeting, Akinci said that recently the "Council of Ministers" has been focusing on economic issues, adding that work is continuing to overcome these problems. Routine issues were also discussed at the meeting, Akinci added.

[06] Bayrak radio begins satellite broadcasting

"The BRT satellite radio broadcasts, which began experimental broadcasts on 5 July, can be heard in all of Europe, the Middle East, and the area extending to Azerbaidjan in the east".

[07] Tourist arrivals

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Resumption of indirect talks on Cyprus in Geneva

A new problem had to be solved prior to the "resumption of the third round of the indirect talks in Geneva" today. Denktash was seriously upset by the UN Security Council/s failure to mention in its resolution on the presence of the UNFICYP in Cyprus that the Turkish Cypriots/ approval should be sought for the extension of its mandate. At one time, he planned to react to the change in the UN approach, which was due to the Greek Cypriot side/s pressure, by not participating in the talks in Geneva. However, he later changed his mind because the Turkish Cypriot side would have been accused of being the side that abandoned the negotiations. Nevertheless, he still reacted by having measures taken to limit the UNFICYP activities in north Cyprus. So, the talks in Geneva will be resumed with the new dispute in the background.

The crisis created by the UNFICYP mandate will probably be on the agenda of the third round of the indirect talks. The measures taken to limit the UNFICYP activities made the UN organization very uneasy. The problem will definitely be discussed between UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Mr. Denktash as soon as they meet. The Turkish Cypriot side/s measures placed the UN organization in a difficult situation. So, all the sides that are concerned with the talks are anxiously waiting to see the formula it will find to solve the problem. Obviously, the UNFICYP mandate has created a new problem, as if those that already existed were not enough.

The third round of the talks were not expected to yield a result (even before the new problem came up). The contacts that were held prior to the Geneva meeting showed that the sides persistently maintained their positions and refrained from putting forward new ideas to facilitate the solution of the problem. In fact, Denktash, Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides, and many UN, US, and other diplomats said that they do not expect the third round to yield a result. But hope must not be lost in diplomacy.

It is a fact that basic views have not changed. Denktash insists that the principle of equal sovereignty in Cyprus must be accepted in advance. Clerides continues to strongly object to that and insists on single sovereignty. Nevertheless, it must be noted that a common basis might be found if certain terms and names , which irritate the sides, are left aside and matters related to the main subject and the process to be adopted are discussed. For example, a way might be found to achieve progress if "constructive" ideas are put forward on various issues, from matters related to the constitutional order to the territorial issue and from the embargo on the Turkish Cypriots to the status of Varosha. At least, such a method might pave the way for the sides to agree to hold direct talks instead of maintaining their indirect negotiations. In fact, that is what the foreign diplomats expect the sides to do.

According to many analysts, the main reason for the failure of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides to solve the problem is the success they had in maintaining their separate existence for many years, without being forced to adopt a resolute "give and take policy" to settle the dispute.

Considering that, the question that should be asked is whether or not they are now determined to solve the problem? The truth is that whether or not they have reached that point is still unclear. So, the outcome of the talks in Geneva might be a sign for that.

AC/SK

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

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