Turkish Chief Of General Staff: Annan Plan Has Positive And Negative Sides

TURKISH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF SAYS IT WON'T BE SUITABLE FOR HIM TO EXPRESS VIEW ON SIMULTANEOUS REFERENDA TO BE HELD IN CYPRUS

It would not be suitable for him to say ''yes'' or ''no'' to the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus in the simultaneous referenda to be held in Cyprus on April 24, Turkish Chief of General Staff said.
Asked if he could say ''yes'' or ''no'' to the Annan plan, Ozkok said, ''the plan mainly consists of federal laws and international agreements. It concerns everybody. I won't be suitable for me to say ''yes'' or ''no'' to this plan.''
When asked to comment on words of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas should express his views in Cyprus instead of Turkey, Ozkok said, ''it won't be right for me to express my views on an issue on which the prime minister expresses his view. It is TRNC President who will decide on this issue.''
TSK SEES SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF U.N. PLAN FOR CYPRUS
''We believe that it is important to review federal laws and international agreements which are the determinants of a new order to be established in the island and to make necessary changes and arrangements for a fair and lasting order,'' Ozkok said.
Ozkok stated that he had expressed his views on strategic importance of Cyprus for Turkey's security in his press conferences and briefings for many times.
Therefore, he did not want to reiterate his views in this press conference, Ozkok said.
Ozkok noted that Cyprus' importance for Turkey's security could be based on two important grounds from TSK's perspective.
''One of them is Turkish Republic's and TSK's responsibility to provide our kinsmen in Cyprus with security under the Treaty of Guarantee. The second is strategic importance of Cyprus for Turkey's security as clearly expressed in the Treaty of Alliance. The two basic principles continue to be important for Turkey because stability and balance in Cyprus and East Mediterranean can only be ensured this way. The first article of the Treaty of Guarantee doesn't allow whole or a part of Cyprus to join any political or economic union of which Turkey and Greece are not members,'' Ozkok said.
Ozkok stated that some circles claimed that those principles were no more important.
On the other hand, some countries wanted changes to those agreements, Ozkok noted.
Ozkok said, ''however, we sincerely believe that these agreements are necessary and there is still need for us to undertake our duties and responsibilities stemming from these agreements. I would like to remind those, who claim that Cyprus doesn't have any strategic importance, the reason why Britain tries this much to maintain its sovereign bases in the island.''
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was founded in 1983 and was announced as a sovereign state, Ozkok pointed out.
Ozkok said that TRNC was not recognized by any other country except Turkey and economic embargo on this country had not been lifted.
Noting that Greek Cypriot side had applied for European Union (EU) membership, violating the Treaty of Guarantee, Ozkok said that EU's decision to admit Greek Cypriot side as its member could not be prevented.
Ozkok said, ''in fact, nobody has been adequately explained that political situation and balances of security in the East Mediterranean will be deteriorated with this decision.''
If a solution to Cyprus issue was not found till May 1, the Greek Cypriot side would join the EU under the name ''Republic of Cyprus'' but EU acquis would not be put into practice in TRNC, Ozkok noted.
Ozkok said, ''after this date, EU will be a side to Cyprus issue. All these developments have confused views and minds of our kinsmen in TRNC. Two different points of views have occurred in a national cause for the first time and this difference of opinion has been reflected to Turkey.''
TSK had openly, rationalistically and objectively expressed its views and proposals about solution of Cyprus issue in legal and constitutional platforms in every opportunity, Ozkok stated.
Ozkok said, ''in this context, we expressed our views and laid down our proposals in National Security Council (NSC) meetings held on January 23 and April 5. And, we sent a letter to the Prime Ministry in which we expressed our views and laid down our proposals on February 15, March 9 and March 28. We informed the General Staff about ongoing developments in the Cyprus negotiation process and our views. But, when this cooperation is taken into consideration, nobody should think that we are of the same opinion on every issue and every problem. New York negotiation process went out of the limits we drew in NSC meeting on January 23.''
Touching on final Annan plan, Ozkok said, ''despite its positive sides, we can say the it doesn't totally meet our demands. We see serious problems in implementing the plan. Although the Treaty of Guarantee and Treaty of Alliance are preserved without any changes, it is true that some adaptations will be made and additional responsibilities will be undertaken in implementation of the plan as a necessity of additional protocols. We think that these adaptations will not prevent us from using our rights as guarantor power. On the other hand, although its number is reduced, TSK will continue to stay in the island until Turkey decides to withdraw its soldiers from the island.''
Ozkok went on saying, ''we believe that it is important to review federal laws and international agreements which are the determinants of a new order to be established in the island and to make necessary changes and arrangements for a fair and lasting order. Under the plan, the transition period is very short. This period is not sufficient for the most sensitive phase of implementation of the plan. Moreover, we think that this short transition period may cause serious problems and we can face important problems in ensuring peace and tranquility in the island.''
Under the plan, 57 thousand Turkish Cypriots would become migrants due to the territory to be given to the Greek Cypriots, Ozkok said.
Ozkok noted that this number would reach 82 thousand in three years due to the Greek Cypriots who would migrate to the north of the island.
''We think serious social incidents may occur in Cyprus if sources can't be found for dwelling and employment of these kinsmen,'' Ozkok said.
Ozkok emphasized that one of the most important issue related with the plan was to include derogations, aiming to protect Turkish Cypriot Constituent State, in the EU primary law.
''This should be ensured. Otherwise, we think that serious problems may emerge for Turkish existence and continuation of bi-zonality in the island. We also think that serious stability and security problems may emerge in the island. In fact, almost all jurists says that an agreement on Cyprus can be made a part of primary law of the EU if derogations are passed by the national parliaments of EU member countries. And, we agree with this view of jurists,'' Ozkok added.

OZKOK: OUR REASON AND HEART HAVE NEVER CONTRADICTED THIS MUCH
Gen. Ozkok replied questions of reporters at a press conference.
When asked to evaluate the possibility of both side's saying ''yes'' in the referendum in Cyprus, Gen. Ozkok said, ''it depends on the target. According to our point of view, President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has been exerting efforts to make the result ''negative''. But, public surveys reveal that the result will be ''positive''. It is a decision which Turkish Cypriots will directly take.''
''On the other hand, the Greek Cypriot leader made negative statements. He expressed that they wanted Greek Cypriots to say no in the referendum. If one side says no, the process completely ends. But if the two sides say yes, process will continue. In that case, the result will depend on the decision of Turkish Parliament. If the Greek side says no and the Turkish side says yes, it will mean that it will bring forth some derogations for the north. It can really be like that. Thus, it is a diplomatic game. It is an issue which should be approached sensitively. This decision will completely be taken by people of Cyprus and also by the Turkish parliament in Turkey,'' he said.
Upon a question about positive elements in United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan, Gen. Ozkok said, ''the first positive element is bi-zonality. The second positive element is that although the TRNC will lose its sovereignty, it will have bilateral sovereignty and political equality as a constituent state. And the third positive element is that TRNC people will live in a more comfortable and peaceful milieu.''
When asked what were the differences between previous texts and the final text regarding security issues in Annan Plan, Gen. Ozkok said, ''there is a progress on the guarantee issue. As the milieu, which we will guarantee, has changed, a protocol was made to adjust it to the new milieu. Some recoveries were made.''
Gen. Ozkok said that in the previous texts, there had been guarantees for whole of Cyprus yet that constitutional orders were guaranteed in the final plan both for United Cyprus Republic and the constituent states.
Gen. Ozkok said adjustments were made to limitations, for example about the tonnage, which is important for armed forces. He said an arrangement was made regarding withdrawal of units.
When a journalist said that General Staff conveyed its views to the government for three times and that the issue was later discussed at the National Security Council (NSC), and asked whether or not he could say ''yes'' or ''no'' following this process, Gen. Ozkok said, ''you should not say 'yes' or 'no' to the plan. Majority of them are comprised of federal arrangements and international agreements. It comes to decision mechanisms extending from the Central Bank to Foreign Ministry and Transportation Ministry. It will not be appropriate for me to say 'yes' or 'no'.''
When a journalist asked if Turkey loses Cyprus cause in case ''yes'' vote is cast in the referendum, Gen. Ozkok said, ''our reason and heart have never contradicted this much.''
Gen. Ozkok said expressions like ''lost'', ''given'', ''taken'' were not diplomatic, stating that, ''as Turkey, we should take steps under the guide of our reason.''
(AA) 13.04.2004