Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-03-05

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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. 38/99 -- 5.3.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash´s views on Cyprus after Ocalan capture.

[02] Turkey: ``Greek attitude towards terrorism not helpful in resolving Cyprus question''.

[03] Denktash faults UN resolution for Cyprus issue.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash´s views on Cyprus after Ocalan capture

Declaring that ``we have now reached a deadend in the Cyprus problem'', Denktash dwelled on two points, Kohen writes:

1. There cannot be any talks before the conclusion of the Ocalan trial and the dust settles.

2. The Greek Cypriot recognition of the existence of the ``two states'' in Cyprus is mandatory for the talks. Without it there is no benefit in talking, and no grounds for an agreement can be found.

And Kohen continues: ``Last July, after consultations with Ankara, Denktash declared that the Turkish thesis would henceforth be based not on federation but confederation and forwarded this proposal to Clerides.

The TRNC and Turkey then defended that thesis for months. That is, until the Apo incident. In recent days Ankara has been issuing the message that even the confederation proposal is about to be shelved.

Denktash shares that view by pointing out that `with this trend, the Greek Cypriots will even miss confederation, let alone federation´. As he put it, the Clerides administration, with its statements and deeds, has `left no grounds´ even for the discussion of such a solution. And the world has failed to measure up to the task of holding the realities up to him.

Under these conditions, therefore, the idea of confederation might practically fall from the agenda. In which case, the present situation will continue for a very long time to come. Hopefully, nothing worse than that happens, such as Turkish-Greek tension, or even a clash, spilling over to the island. Could there be such a spillover? According to Denktash there could be, for the Greek Cypriots draw constant encouragement from their existing `joint defense doctrine´ with Greece.

Also, if the confederation too is suspended what will be left?. What alternative is there? To the TRNC leader´s mind `the alternative would be the completion of integration with Turkey´. But he hastens to stress the following: `Let it not be misunderstood; that does not mean annexation. It does not mean unification with Turkey but the establishment strong ties with it´.

And Denktash is leaving an open door by saying that the idea of confederation could stay on the table `pending the realization that an agreement could only be possible between two states´.

But what is obvious is that there is no likelihood of that ever happening, especially now,'' Kohen concludes.

[02] Turkey: ``Greek attitude towards terrorism not helpful in resolving Cyprus question''

Addressing a weekly press conference Atacanli claimed:

``Without doubt, the support given to terrorism targeting Turkey by Greece and the Greek Cypriot side administration, shows how insincere they are in their search for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus question''.

Atacanli added, ``reaching progress in the solution of Cyprus issue is closely related to a change in the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side. The Greek Cypriot side administration, like Greece, must also stop supporting terrorism''.

Atacanli also said that they hope the relations with Greece would be back to normal in near future.

Atacanli added: ``We maintain our attitude supporting dialogue. If this is not done, Turkey will continue to protect its rights and interests stemming from international law.''

[03] Denktash faults UN resolution for Cyprus issue

Denktash said ``our independence cannot be bargained and will not be in future. We will never use our state or our independence as a bargaining element.''

Pointing out that it is time for a new approach and a new evaluation on Cyprus now within this framework, Denktash described 4 March 1964 as a bitter day for the Turkish Cypriots and a day when a grave mistake was made by the United Nations.

Reminding that the United States and Britain had promised the Turkish Cypriots before the resolution in question was adopted that ``the Cypriot Government does not mean the Makarios´ Government. It is a constitutional government. The Turkish Cypriots do not need to worry. The matter is to deploy a peace-keeping force on the island and to stop bloodshed. We recognize President Makarios in order to find a responsible person. The constitutional rights of the Turkish Cypriots will not be damaged,'' Denktash noted that United States had given the same promise to Ankara as well.

Rauf Denktash alleged that the UN peace - keeping force that recognizes the Cyprus Government as the legal government; Britain, a guarantor that approved such a ``mistake'' intentionally; and the US that supported this ``mistake'' for its own interests, have caused the Cyprus Government to survive as the legal government for 36 years.

Noting that the UN resolution dated 4 March 1964 and the other resolutions which were dependent on the former, cannot be changed anymore, Denktash added, ``the Cyprus question will continue like this, unless someone tells the Greek Cypriots that they are not the Cypriot government mentioned in the resolution''.

``They say that they do not admit the confederation all the time. It means that they prefer the current situation on the island. The current situation is the principle of two separate states. They cannot annihilate Turkey´s rights on the island. Turkey will continue to protect us as our guarantor state. We maintain close cooperation with Turkey'', Denktash said.

Denktash added, ``thus, the expressions which say `we will not accept confederation. We agree to talk within the framework of UN resolutions´ have no validity.''

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

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