Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-09-20

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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. 170/99 -- 18-19-20

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CTP stages protest march against Denktash, ``coalition''.

[02] Details on Ecevit schedule in US.

[03] Akinci expresses great regret over Kranidiotis´ death.

[04] Turkey not pleased with new UN Cyprus envoy.

[05] Gurel on Cyprus, ties with US.

[06] Denktash: Turkey´s EU accession can facilitate solution.

[07] ``Presidential elections''.

[08] Turkish postal delegation includes Turkish Cypriot.

[09] Gurel in pseudostate for ``special reasons''.

[10] Ertugruloglu in New York.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] Ali Birand on Cyprus, Turkey´s EU candidacy.

[13] SABAH columnist urges Ecevit to make gesture on Cyprus.

[15] Sener Levent on Eroglu´s ``presidential candidacy''.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CTP stages protest march against Denktash, ``coalition''

During his address to the party members, CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that this protest march was the first in series of future actions and added that such actions will continue. Talat continued: ``We are staging our first protest and issuing our first warning to the indifferent government; Denktash, who is drowning us in problems, and the UBP (National Unity Party)-TKP (Communal Liberation Party) coalition''. Indicating that the pseudostate faces very serious problems, Talat added: ``The most important of them all is that the Cyprus issue has been rendered unsolvable''. Noting that some very important initiatives had been launched recently along the lines of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue, Talat said that Rauf Denktash pursued his personal policies during his contacts in the United States. Talat added: ``We protest the fact that Mr. Denktash pursued an impossible policy in complete disregard of authority, our people, assembly, and other organizations.''

Explaining that all the sectors of the economy and industry in the pseudostate had collapsed and that the people were migrating, Talat added that the ``coalition government'' is increasing the prices in order to balance the budget instead of finding solutions. Talat added: ``We protest the government for the policies it is pursuing.'' Charging that this situation was the outcome of the integration policies, Talat added: ``The CTP seeks to progress together with all our people and integrate our people with the rest of the world in 2000. We will continue to express our views as much as we can.''

[02] Details on Ecevit schedule in US

Ecevit is expected to arrive at Washington D.C. on September 26 accompanied by a delegation composed of Cumhur Ersumer, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources; Recep Onal, Minister of State; Ismail Cem, Foreign Minister, high level officials, businessmen, and journalists.

Ecevit will officially meet with Bill Clinton, the US President, on September 28 in the White House and the two leaders will have lunch following their meetings. Ecevit and Clinton are expected to address the press the same day.

On the same day, Ecevit will also participate in a meeting which will be staged by The Washington Institute, one of the leading think thank organizations of the US.

Prime Minister Ecevit is expected to meet with Trent Lott, leader of Republican majority in the Senate, Jesse Helms, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Dennis Hasterd, Chairman of Representatives Assembly on September 29. During these talks, Ecevit will call for support from the congress leaders against anti-Turkish initiatives which appear from time to time in the Congress.

Ecevit is expected to meet with James Wolfenson, World Bank President, the same day.

Ecevit who will participate in the opening of the annual congress of Turkish-American Associations Assembly on September 30, will later proceed to New York.

He will meet with the leaders of the Jewish community here and will participate in the meeting of Turkish American Associations Federation.

Ecevit, who is planned to meet with Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State, on October 1, will participate in a conference that is jointly staged by the Turkish American Council and the Foreign Economic Relations Council. Ecevit will leave for Turkey after attending another meeting organized by the Foreign Policy Association and theTurkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD).

During the contacts of Prime Minister Ecevit, the aid of the US for the quake and Cyprus issues are expected to top the agenda.

All sides of Turkish-American relations, Iraq, democratic reform process in Turkey, arms sales, energy tenders, and Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline will be discussed during the Ecevit-Clinton meeting.

[03] Akinci expresses great regret over Kranidiotis´ death

Akinci said that Kranidiotis was an important diplomat and personality for Greece and the Greek Cypriot side. Akinci conitnued: ``As a statesman, I share the grief of the Greek and Greek Cypriot officials and people''. Recalling that both Turkey and Greece were faced with the earthquake disaster, Akinci said that he learned with great regret the death of Kranidiotis, who was one of the outstanding names in Greek diplomacy.

In his statement, Akinci expressed the wish for the continuation of the recent positive developments, which show a great rapprochement between the Turkish and Greek peoples.

[04] Turkey not pleased with new UN Cyprus envoy

According to information obtained from diplomatic sources, the restrictions that Norway, which is not a EU country, imposed on the potato exports of the pseudostate in line with the embargo decision adopted by the EU countries plays an important role in this dissatisfaction.

Pointing out that Norway is an European country and that this office had previously been filled with officials from countries outside Europe, diplomatic sources noted the danger in appointing a European diplomat to such a duty, which requires neutrality.

[05] Gurel on Cyprus, ties with US

If we return to the essence of the issue, since it is a problem between two separate national identities and the two peoples on the island, in the final analysis, those two peoples will reach the solution. Maybe the issue has been resolved to a major extent as far as we are concerned, but a final point must be reached with the agreement of these two peoples, a point that will be acceptable to all.

Foreign interference usually leads nowhere or further complicates the issue. Then you have the problem of coordinating the coordinators.''

Asked if Turkey ´s relations with the United States are linked to Cyprus, Gurel replied:

``They should not be. Let us consider our relations with the United States and with the EU separately. The relations between Turkey and the United States form a deep strategic cooperation that far exceeds the Cyprus issue. The United States would never deny Turkey´s regional importance in its eyes by raising the Cyprus problem to the forefront or by turning it into a bilateral problem. I do not think that this is possible. The same thing is valid from our angle too. In other words, Cyprus will not become a bilateral problem between Turkey and the United States, I am sure of that''.

[06] Denktash: Turkey´s EU accession can facilitate solution

``No. But reaching a solution would become easier. Because in this case our opposition to EU membership would come to an end. We say that we cannot enter a EU to which Turkey is not a member because this would mean the upset of the Turco-Greek balance (in Cyprus) and the eradication of Turkey´s rights on the island. And Greek Cyprus´ membership process is a game aimed at all of these. But if Turkey is accepted into the EU, provided that our status is recognized, the way for Cyprus´ entrance into the EU together with Turkey will be shortened and facilitated.

But don´t forget the following: If the EU opens its doors to Turkey and declared it a candidate, the EU will have a leverage to exert more pressure on Turkey. Greece cannot see even this, and by obstructing (Turkey´s candidacy) it gives Turkey a free hand. This is a very strange discrepancy in Greece´s policy.''

Asked if he would prefer a solution through the EU, he said: ``If Turkey becomes an EU member, we will be convinced that the Turco-Greek balance established under the 1960 agreements continues, that the guarantees continue. But the condition for the recognition of our status will still be there. And the EU should talk with us. We have certain reservations. One of them is bi-zonality. The other is a guarantee that the Greek Cypriots will not come to kick us out of our homes. If these reservations are accepted and if Turkey´s accession is accepted the EU can facilitate the solution of the Cyprus problem.''

[07] ``Presidential elections''

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party Mehmet Ali Talat has called on Mustafa Akinci to find a common ``candidate'' for the coming ``elections''. Mustafa Akinci does not wish to make any statement yet about this issue. He said that his party will convene and discuss the matter.

Furthermore, according to KIBRIS (20.9.99) Turkish Cypriot businessman Guney Ramadan, who lives in London, has announced he will be a ``candidate'' for the so-called presidential elections.

In the meantime, according to AVRUPA (20.9.99), Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash may not be a ``candidate'' of the so-called presidential elections 200 because he feels uncomfortable with Ankara´s silence.

If Denktash sees that he has not the power to win the ``elections'' he will not put his ``candidacy'', the paper says.

(DP)

[08] Turkish postal delegation includes Turkish Cypriot

1,800 representatives from 189 countries participated in the congress.

The Turkish delegation, in an announcement to the UPU secretarial, claimed that the Greek Cypriot delegation does not have the right to represent Cyprus nor the Turkish Cypriots.

(DP)

[09] Gurel in pseudostate for ``special reasons''

Gurel will leave Cyprus Monday morning.

(DP)

[10] Ertugruloglu in New York

(DP)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] Ali Birand on Cyprus, Turkey´s EU candidacy

We adopt a hard-line position, but again nobody seems to be bothered. We issue threats, no one cares.

Whichever door we knock on we are confronted with Cyprus.

Presently there are two doors before us. One is the Ecevit-Clinton talks, crucially important for Turkish-American ties.

And Cyprus will form the most important subject of that meeting.

The US President wants to find a solution in Cyprus before his term is over. If after Ireland, the Israeli-Arab disagreement, Bosnia, and Kosovo, he also secures certain progress in Cyprus he would assure himself a place in history. For Washington, finding a quick solution is not even a condition. The only thing that it wants is for the talks between Denktash and Clerides to resume. For the Americans know that finding a solution would require a long negotiation process. That is why they simply want the two sides to take the initial step.

Second Cyprus Door: EU (subhead) The second door opens on the EU.

The sole condition for Turkey´s full accession to the EU is the same:

Denktash and Clerides should come to the table.

The post-earthquake rapprochement with Greece has excited everybody. Because Greece´s abandonment of its old conditions would facilitate Turkey´s candidacy, the EU members are now knocking on Ankara’s door. They know that there cannot be any solution in Cyprus by the time of the EU summit in Helsinki in December, when a decision on Turkey would be made. What they want is for the Clerides- Denktash meeting to take place before December.

Even during Clerides´ latest visit to Athens almost the same idea was expressed. Greek Prime Minister Simitis said that the return of the Turkish side to the table would facilitate Turkey´s candidacy.

Athens´ message is clear: If the two sides resume the talks, the issue of Turkey´s candidacy would be easier to resolve.

But Denktash Rejects (subhead) Looking from a stance it could be thought that `there is no impediment to the resumption of the talks´.

But there is.

And this impediment is the precondition that the Turkish side has put forward for a meeting with Clerides.

According to that condition, for any talks to resume the TRNC should be recognized as a sovereign state.

Having experienced many disappointments in the past and so as not to be confronted with a surprise at the conclusion of the talks, Denktash is saying: `First you recognize me as a separate state. Only after that I will sit at the table´.

Denktash believes that the political conjuncture favours him. The thinking is that if we exert a bit more pressure the United States and the EU would accept our confederation thesis (that is, a confederation made up of two sovereign states).

But Do We Have Strong Hand? (subhead) Putting preconditions for talks is a very risky business. Our hand must be strong.

In foreign policy bargaining, if one side over-bluffs his hand and the other side sees through the trick then the entire money on the table might be lost. Already, dissenting voices have started to emerge in Ankara. Especially the retired diplomats are saying: `This is not the way to bargain. It is a big mistake to create the impression of evading the negotiating table. Rather, we must sit there and work to obtain the solution we want.´ Those who say that we cannot achieve anything by coercive methods, are warning that the Turkish side might in the end lose out on this issue. We are on a very dangerous and slippery road.''

[93] SABAH columnist urges Ecevit to make gesture on Cyprus

``This gesture could open very important new horizons for Turkey, further enhancing Turkey´s international ties already on an upswing since the earthquake.

For this reason, Prime Minister Ecevit´s visit to Washington is of vital importance. The fruit and results of a gesture made here would be great. We are already getting their signals. I am certain that, just as I am getting these signals, so are the Foreign Ministry, the Prime Ministry, and even the Chief of General Staff.

Let us see what kind of a gesture Ecevit could make.

[111] He could withdraw some troops. The number of our fees on the island is greater than 30,000. He could announce the symbolic withdrawal of 5,000.

This would not alter the balance on the island [115] He could say that we will not prevent the start of negotiations on the Cyprus issue. In any case, the obstruction of the negotiations would harm

Turkey´s image with disastrous effects.

[120] He could take the initiative and relay to Clinton another solution method. For example, he could suggest that the five-party talks could take

place with the participation of the United States along with Turkey and Greece.

To begin with, this is what comes to my mind. But he can make a totally different gesture and not use any of these ideas.

But we should all bear in mind that such a gesture will not be merely for the benefit of the United States or aim solely at Greece. It will be deemed as a gesture toward the whole world.

This is a chance that Turkey must not miss. And US diplomacy must assist Ankara at this juncture. Totally ousting Denktash and searching for a solution without him would be a wrong stance. If the US administration wants to solve this problem, the best person to address in the TRNC is still Denktash.''

And he concludes: ``Diplomacy, as the US diplomats are fond of saying, is a matter of give and take. In that case, Turkey´s hand must be strengthened in exchange for the gesture expected from it. And this definitely needs fine-tuning.

If the US diplomats play the game well, if they use their cards just at the right time, everyone will see the start of a new period in Cyprus.

It seems to me that the nature of Ecevit´s gesture will become clear after Denktash´ US trip.

The world is currently changing unbelievably fast, and for Turkey to remain outside this change would be tantamount to suicide.

Let me make myself clear. If we do not want to be left out of the new world order or the globalization process, we must move to solve the Cyprus problem, and especially by starting the process ourselves.

Ecevit, who pressed the button in 1974, must in 1999 `ring the bell of peace´. Not only we, but the whole world is expecting this.''

[159] Sener Levent on Eroglu´s ``presidential candidacy''

Sener Levent, writing in daily AVRUPA (18.9.99) under the title ``Timing'', comments on the announcement of so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu that he is to be a ``candidate'' of the ``presidential elections 2000'' and says:

``Everything has its timing, like fishing, hunting, soccer.

Eroglu has announced his candidacy. But was the timing good?

We cannot know…

We will know on April 2000.

At the very best, the timing is interesting…

Denktash was in New York.

Before any negotiations start…

The NUP convened and took its decision.

Eroglu is an official candidate.

Could Dervis be a candidate if he hadn´t taken the green light from

Ankara?

He could not!

The green light was definitely lit.

This is the important point.

The timing of the light…

While Denktash was in New York…

Before any meetings…

The light was lit!

And Eroglu said,

I am a candidate…

In reality, Eroglu could not plan this timing.

It was Ankara…

Why Ankara?

To give Denktash a fright…

Of course…

Is it maybe because of what Denktash might have done in New York?

In case anything new appeared suddenly..

In case he didn´t follow the directions of Ankara to the letter…

In case he put Turkey in a difficult situation…

What would have happened?

Is it that Ankara does not trust Denktash?

She trusts him unreservedly…''

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

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