Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-05-06

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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. 78/98 -- 6.5.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat, Durduran blame Turkish policy for Holbrooke failure.

[02] Gurel comments on Holbrooke's visit.

[03] Denktash says Holbrooke "struck a balance" between the two sides.

[04] Eroglu: Idea of two separate "states" should be accepted.

[05] Denktash: If missiles come, the wall be raised completely.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat, Durduran blame Turkish policy for Holbrooke failure

Otherwise, he said, we are playing into the hands of the Greek Cypriots, we will be blamed by the entire world, and our erosion will continue.

Alpay Durduran, leader of the New Cyprus Party (YKP), charged that after the EU, the Turkish Cypriot policy contravened the United States too, and created an impasse. In a written statement he issued, Durduran maintained that the impasse created in the wake of Holbrooke's contacts is an impasse for the Tukrish Cypriots, not the United States. The YKP leader stressed that the people must realize this and seek a solution. He called on everyone to seek a solution to the impasse.

[02] Gurel comments on Holbrooke's visit

"Mr. Holbrooke arrived on the island to conduct an intensive experiment. He brought with him certain concrete proposals for both sides. When looking back, however, it becomes evident that he sought to explore the possibilities of a rapprochement between the two sides. He also realized, in the end, that the views of the sides are different to such an extent that this issue cannot be resolved in a couple of days by securing an rapprochement between the two sides and having them sit at the table. The main reasons for this is along the lines of the statement I issued to the public yesterday and the assessment conducted by Mr. Denktash after Holbrooke's visit."

Repeating the known Turkish claim that a progress on the Cyprus issue can be achieved only if a solution is secured on the "two-state" principle, Gurel added:

"Mr. Denktash has from the beginning stressed that equality at the table is possible only if the same equality is secured outside the table as well. In other words, it is meaningless to tell the Turkish Cypriots that they will be considered equal on the negotiation table when they are told that they are nothing outside and the Greek Cypriot side is recognized as a state. It is impossible to secure equality on the table when the sides do not consider themselves equal on the outside. For this reason, the right way would have been for the Greek Cypriot side to recognize the TRNC as its equal -- as a state -- and sit at the negotiation table. In other words, the TRNC and Mr.

Denktash have never said the following: We will only sit at the table after the whole world recognizes the TRNC. Mr. Denktash only wanted the Greek Cypriot administration to acknowledge that it does not represent the Turkish Cypriot community and people and that those who represent the Turkish Cypriot people have the right to sit at the table as the representatives of the state set up by these people."

Asked what are his views on Cyprus and what course will the problem follow from now on, Gurel replied:

"The recent solutions secured on other areas of conflict were given as examples for a Cyprus solution. It was said that even the Irish conflict, which has been ongoing for long years, has embarked on a solution track. We were told that even in Bosnia, where there was such great bloodshed, a Dayton peace process was launched. Actually, what we have to do is to better explain ourselves to the world on this issue. In this vein, the elements of the north Ireland peace initiatives, which are not final yet, are very similar to the Cyprus solution secured in 1959-1960. In other words, we should very easily respond to those who call us to secure a solution similar to the one in north Ireland that we had actually secured such a solution in 1959-1960. This solution, however, never worked because one of the sides, mainly the Greek Cypriot side, put into practice its claims to govern the island on its own, turn the Turkish Cypriot people into a minority status, and launch a genocide against the Turkish Cypriot people since the end of 1963.

In reply to our views on the Dayton process, however, we should be able to say that the finale sought in the Dayton process was actually secured in Cyprus on 1974. It becomes evident when looking at the Dayton process that the initial target of having various ethnic groups -- people with various national ethnic identities -- live separately in their respective safe areas and cooperate was not achieved. The Dayton process could not even achieve to have these people live in their respective safe areas and cooperate was not achieved. The Dayton process could not even achieve to have these people live in their respective safe areas. You see that serious clashes occur in Bosnia-Herzegovina today.

The two peoples on the island who were separated since the end of 1963, however, have secured safe borders to live in since 1974. That is, the Turkish Cypriot people, the 3 percent of the island's population who lived among themselves in villages on the Turkish side of Nicosia under the cruel embargo of the Greek Cypriots since 1963, obtained safe borders in 1974. Since then, two national identities started to live separately but in such a way as to be able to develop and attain prosperity and security.

In other words, a better Dayton process was achieved in Cyprus on 1974. For this reason, the Dayton process should not be given as an example."

[03] Denktash says Holbrooke "struck a balance" between the two sides

Denktash was speaking to the press after meeting Gustave Feissel, the UN Secretary General's acting special envoy to Cyprus yesterday. Denktash said that by saying that President Clerides does not represent the Turkish Cypriots "Holbrooke put a smile on the faces of the Turkish Cypriots. On the other hand, by saying that it is unrealistic to expect the Greek Cypriots to withdraw their application from the EU, he made a compromise to the Greek Cypriot side. I believe that in this way Holbrooke struck up a balance between the two sides."

Asked if Holbrooke has any concern about the Greek and Greek Cypriot lobbies in the United States, Denktash said: "There is a very powerful Greek lobby in the United States which makes or may make Holbrooke concerned. We will see. We will see how that lobby's pressures, initiatives, and so on will affect the situation."

Asked when Holbrooke will come to the island to resume his shuttle diplomacy, Denktash replied that nothing definite can be said at the moment.

Asked to comment on the rejection by EU's van den Broek of Holbrooke's remarks that the EU committed a mistake by excluding Turkey, Denktash claimed: "The EU's attitude toward Turkey's membership is beyond a mistake."

[04] Eroglu: Idea of two separate "states" should be accepted

Turkey and the TRNC believe that the idea of two separate states on the island should be accepted to find a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem. Therefore, they have assumed a state policy towards all the negotiations will be held in framework of the two states on the island. The peace initiatives which didn't accept the two states couldn't reach a solution."

[05] Denktash: If missiles come, the wall be raised completely

Asked if Holbrooke brought any proposal, he said: "What Holbrooke wants to do is to bring the two sides to the table, to initiate talks. We are telling him that we are not the side that left the table. Go to the side that removed the table from the room. Ask why it removed it. Holbrooke is replying that the Greek side has not removed the table and that the parameters still exist. Dear fellow, just go and ask and see if Clerides accepts the Set of Ideas. To that, Holbrooke replies that the Set of Ideas is not on the table. But who removed the Set of Ideas from the table? It was Clerides, the EU. Like everybody else, you too say that the Set of Ideas is not on the table. If so, what do we have on the table? Nothing. We are now putting our state on the table. You too put your state there so that we can we have the same chips on the table and start building bridges and discuss cooperation. Could there be a more reasonable approach then this?"

Asked to comment on his proposal for a "United States of Cyprus," Denktash said: "I wanted to say that we have to start from a point so as to initiate the process of the reunification of the two sides. Since the Set of Ideas and similar other proposals are not on the table, we have to start from some other point.

What is that point? It is the existence, equality, and statehood of the two sides. We can establish bridges between the two states and forge cooperation to advance toward a united Cyprus state and eventually declare a united Cyprus state. It is another matter if you want to turn that united state into a federation or confederation years later. But this should be the starting point. There is no alternative. It is the only alternative."

Asked about the Pentagon official accompanying Holbrooke Denktash said: "I cannot know the reason for his visit. However, we gathered from his contacts that he has come here to point out that the situation in the region is gradually worsening and the introduction of the missiles may further escalate the tension, to learn what each side thinks about and wants to do as regards security, and to work to prevent the introduction of the missiles. He has come on such a fact-finding mission and our soldiers told him that they are prepared for any eventuality and that, though they will be happy if the missiles do not arrive, they are at the same time not panicking over the arrival of the missiles."

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

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