Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-12-30

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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. 241/99 -- 30.12.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit on Cyprus.

[02] Poll results.

[03] Denktash: ``Presidential elections not to be postponed''.

[04] Greek Cypriot illegally arrested.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit on Cyprus

Also stressing that ``TRNC'' is important to Turkey and the East Mediterranean, Ecevit underlined that Turkey gained the European Union candidacy without making any concessions on her own national rights or the Turkish Cypriots´ rights.

Ecevit claimed that ``Prime Minister Lipponen of Finland, the Term President of the EU, sent a letter to Ankara on December 10, saying, `in Article 4, the year 2004 is not a deadline for the settlement of the Aegean disputes through the International Court of Justice, but the year during which the EU Council will review the situation relating to any outstanding dispute. Regarding Cyprus, a political settlement remains the aim of the EU. Concerning the accession of Cyprus, all relevant factors will be taken into account when the Council takes the decision´. The TRNC and Turkish Cypriot´s indispensable rights are among these relevant factors'', Ecevit underlined.

Ecevit noted, ``when we were in Helsinki, we underlined that there were two separate states in Cyprus. The EU accepted Turkey as a candidate country being aware of that. Therefore, there is no need to worry about the Cyprus issue. Proximity talks were held between the sides in New York at the beginning of December. Although these talks did not come to a conclusion, they were useful to express the `TRNC´ views to world public opinion''.

Recalling that the proximity talks would resume in January, Ecevit said that it would be easy to reach a compromise between the two sides if the fact that there are ``two separate independent states'' on the island is recognized.

[02] Poll results

KIBRIS says that according to the poll results, the majority of Turkish Cypriots want accession to the EU and notes that ``74.6% of Turkish Cypriots expressed the view for EU accession even if Turkey is not a member''.

The paper adds that according to the results, 36% of Turkish Cypriots favours EU accession after the solution of the Cyprus problem and on condition that Turkey is granted candidacy status.

28% of Turkish Cypriots favours EU accession after the solution of the Cyprus problem while a 15.9% favours accession not only after a solution but also after Turkey´s accession to the EU.

A 9.8% supports the immediate accession of Cyprus to the EU, while a 6.4% is against Cyprus´ EU accession. Finally a 3.1% expressed various other views.

The paper notes that the majority of those who support that Turkey´s EU accession should precede Cyprus´ accession are people over 45 of age and voters of the National Unity Party, the Democratic Party and the Nationalist Justice Party. The voters of the Republican Turkish Party and the Movement of Patriotic Union consider that the solution of the Cyprus problem is sufficient for Cyprus to enter EU.

Furthermore, as regards the type of solution to the Cyprus problem, KIBRIS says the poll results show that ``a 38.5% considers the creation of two independent states as a suitable solution, a 28.2% supports bizonal federation, while a 14.5% supports confederation. A 8.2% favours annexation to Turkey, a 6.6% favours the creation of a unified Cyprus state, while a 3.4% expressed no opinion''.

In addition, KIBRIS says that as regard vote intent, 41.5% of Turkish Cypriots would vote for the National Unity Party, a 17.4% for the Republican Turkish Party, a 17.1% for the Democratic Party, a 12.6% for the Communal Liberation Party and a 6% for the Movement of Patriotic Union.

The paper notes that the ``vote intent'' question was put on 6.12.99. (EF)

[03] Denktash: ``Presidential elections not to be postponed''

Speaking to reporters, Denktash said, ``the elections will be held in April in accordance with the TRNC Constitution. There is not a reason to delay the elections. Elections can only be postponed in case of an extraordinary situation. Today, there are talks between the two sides on Cyprus and these talks will also be in the future''.

Rauf Denktash, Dervis Eroglu, Republican Turkish Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat, and businessman Ramadan Guney who is living in London, earlier announced that they would run candidacy for the ``presidency''.

[04] Greek Cypriot illegally arrested

The investigation of ``police'' is continuing.

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

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