NEW OPENING FROM TRNC…

PRESIDENT DENKTAS SENDS LETTER TO ANNAN PROPOSING COMPREHENSIVE CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES PACKAGE

The TRNC following its unilateral confidence building measure involving the easing of the free movement of peoples between the two sides, is preparing to put her signature on another initiative which would prepare the ground to overcome the crisis of confidence between the two sides and reach a permanent settlement on the island.

TRNC President Rauf Denktas sent a letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on July 11, regarding the new initiative.

President Denktas said that he had also sent a copy of his letter that he had sent to Annan about the TRNC’s new openings to the Greek Cypriot leader, Tasos Papadopulos.

President Denktas said: “Taking advantage of the positive environment that has arisen following the opening of the gates, we are saying that taking a new step would be beneficial and the continuation of reciprocal confidence building measures would contribute to preparing the ground for settling the longstanding Cyprus issue and overcome the deep mistrust between the two sides. We request the Secretary General to bring onto the agenda the confidence building measures put forward in 1993-94, which were carefully studied and accepted in principle by the two parties.”

President Denktas said this means opening Nicosia International Airport to serve both sides and in return for this the opening  of one part of the closed city of Varosha under the administration of the UN for the benefit of the two sides as  was previously envisaged in the 1993-94 confidence building measures package and added that details on this would be discussed afterwards.

President Denktas stressed that in the event of positive steps being taken on the issue and following their consultations, the Turkish government would open Turkish sea and air ports to Greek Cypriots and start reciprocal trade relations.

The full text of President Denktas’ letter to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on July 11, 2003, is as follows:

“Your Excellency,

As you are well aware, following the refusal of the Greek Cypriot side of our confidence building measures package of 2 April 2003, the Turkish Cypriot side implemented a unilateral confidence building measure involving the facilitation of free movement of peoples between the two sides. Although the Greek Cypriot side was reluctant to reciprocate to this major step, both the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people have reacted positively.

            In view of the encouraging results of our first initiative, we would like to seek Your Excellency’s support for initiating another major undertaking. Secretary-General Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali had also assessed in the early 1990s that the deep crisis of confidence between the two sides had to be addressed through the creation of a new climate of confidence, thus facilitating a comprehensive settlement. Based on this assessment, he had proposed a confidence building measures package. Negotiations on this package continued in 1993 and 1994 but the package could not be concluded.

            I firmly believe, however, that if we could, for example, open Nicosia International Airport again to serve both sides on the basis of the final UN confidence building measures proposals of 1993-1994, this would greatly enhance the confidence building efforts that we have initiated and would, in turn, substantially contribute to efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement.

            In my consultations with the Turkish Government regarding this package, it has been confirmed to me that if this new confidence building package is implemented Turkish Authorities could be able to contribute to this positive move by opening Turkish sea and air ports, as well as Turkish air space, to Greek Cypriot ships and aeroplanes. In this context, they have also expressed their wish to develop reciprocal trade relations.

            Of course, this package cannot be implemented unilaterally and would require the cooperation and agreement of the Greek Cypriot side and of the UN. I would appreciate it, therefore, if Your Excellency would use your good offices in moving this proposal forward with the objective of securing an early and positive result. I believe this is important in order to maintain the positive climate that has come about as a result of our first initiative.

            In any case, it is high time that the restrictions and embargo weighing so heavily on the Turkish Cypriot people, especially as regards overseas travel, tourism, trade and exports/imports, are lifted.

            Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

EROGLU: “WE ONCE MORE DISPLAYED OUR GOOD WILL”

TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu pointed out that with the newly announced confidence building measures the Turkish Cypriot side’s goodwill to reach a settlement was once more displayed.

Expressing his hope that the Greek Cypriot leader, Tasos Papadopulos, would warmly welcome these proposals, Prime Minister Eroglu said: “We, as the Turkish Cypriot side and with Turkey’s acknowledgement, are making sacrifices. We hope this will be taken into consideration. 

The Prime Minister said: “We wish to reach a lasting settlement by moving forward the reality of two states. Everyone wants to live in peace, however, the path for this passes through the acceptance of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by the Greek Cypriot administration.”

TURKEY READY TO CONTRIBUTE TO IMPLEMENT TURKISH CYPRIOT SIDE’S PROPOSAL

In a written statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, it was stated that Turkey totally supports the recent proposal made by TRNC President Rauf Denktas and is ready to make all kinds of contributions for implementing the proposal.

Expressing the wish that the interested parties, the UN, EU and the international community would also evaluate and support this important opening with the same understanding, the statement said: “We, as Turkey, are ready to make all kinds of contributions for the implementation of President Denktas’ proposal. In the event of  President Denktas’ proposals being accepted, the opportunity for the airline companies from  the Greek Cypriot administration to use Turkish air space and airports, would arise”.

Stressing that it was also expected that, the inhumane embargoes and restrictions imposed upon the Turkish Cypriots in the fields of air and sea communication would soon be ended, the statement said it was envisaged to develop reciprocal trade relations and sea transport  with the Greek Cypriot administration with the aim of contributing to this process.

The statement pointed out that the implementation of this proposal by the parties would result in strengthening the positive and constructive atmosphere that emerged following the steps taken by the Turkish Cypriot side in April, and pave the way for achieving a comprehensive reconciliation and settlement on the island.

Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, expressed the full support of Turkey, for the  opening of Nicosia Airport for international traffic, and said: “Mr. Denktas made a new statement in order to be conveyed to the UN Secretary General. That is, besides the opening of Nicosia Airport in the buffer zone to international traffic, to put it  into service for the use of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Turkey fully supports this. We envisage to open our ports and airports for the Greek Cypriots and to develop trade relations with South Cyprus and within this framework to improve our sea transportation. This step has three basic dimensions. We give our support for lifting restrictions on the reciprocal sea and air transportation.”

For his part, the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, said that Turkey positively welcomed the new proposals put forward by President Denktas and also submitted to the Greek Cypriot administration within the framework of confidence building measures.

Pointing out that in the event of these proposals being accepted, the Greek Cypriot aeroplanes and ships could use Turkish ports and airports, Gul expressed that Turkey supports  the steps taken within the framework of confidence building measures and added that if we sit at the negotiating table under these conditions, then we will be confronted with better conditions.

INONU MARTYRS REMEMBERED

The martyrs of Inonu, Ali Hasan, Mehmetemin Ibrahim, Yusuf Hasan, Ali Mustafa and Ahmet Mehmet  who were murdered by Greek Cypriots while on their way to work in Famagusta on 12^th of July l958 were remembered with a ceremony the previous day, during which wreaths were first laid on their Monument.

Addressing the ceremony, TRNC President Rauf Denktas underlined the fact that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should be maintained in order to prevent the repetition of the bitter incidents of the past.  President Denktas said: “The protection of  peace passes through maintaining our state”.

Referring to the fact that whether the international community recognises it or not, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus exists, President Denktas said: “At this phase of the Cyprus issue, we should make the voice of the Turkish Cypriots heard by the whole world that no agreement can be signed unless the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is accepted.”

GREEK CYPRIOT DEFENCE MINISTER MAVRONIKOLAS: “REARMAMENT EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE”

Kiryakos Mavronikolas, the Greek Cypriot Defence Minister, said: “As long as a settlement is not seen on the horizons, we will continue with our rearmament efforts.”

According to the Greek Cypriot press, Mavronikolas, during a visit he made to the training centres of inexperienced soldiers from Limasol and Paphos, referring to his recent visit to Athens, said: “Both ministries, will continue in their efforts to improve the level of the Greek Cypriot National Guard, as long as the Cyprus issue remains unsolved and no settlement is seen on the horizons.”

The Greek Cypriot daily, “Politis”, announced that the Greek Cypriot administration, by ending the freezing of their rearmament campaign have already made an agreement worth 61 million Cyprus pounds with importing firms in order to upgrade their land to air Aspide and Mistral missiles.

Stressing that the Greek Cypriot administration is undertaking efforts to significantly improve the weapons systems of the Greek Cypriot National Guard, the daily reported that the Greek Cypriot Defence Ministry had reached an agreement a short while ago with the importing companies of the Aspite and Mistral missiles, for the restructuring and modernisation of the launching ramps for these missiles.