Military

DATE=02/26/03

TYPE=INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT

TITLE=COSTAS YENNARIS/CYPRUS

NUMBER=2-300070

BYLINE=VICTOR BEATTIE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

INTERNET=

/// Editors: This interview is available in Dalet under SOD/English News Now Interviews in the folder for today or yesterday ///

HOST: U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan is due to arrive (has arrived) in Cyprus today (Wednesday) as he continues to encourage Greek Cypriots to meet Friday's deadline for a U-N brokered deal to resolve the division of the island. For some analysis of Mr. Annan's efforts we turn to Costas Yennaris (coh-stahs yeh-NAHR-ihs) -- chief editor of Cypriot Broadcasting Corporation T-V News. He tells News Now's Victor Beattie this is the second time the Secretary-General has been in Cyprus in recent months, recommending a solution to the issues which have divided the country since Turkey occupied the northern half of the island in 1974:

MR. YENNARIS: Efforts have been going on since, through the United Nations, to try to come to a solution. Unfortunately, they haven't been very fruitful. Now, this time, he has submitted a proposal for a comprehensive solution, which was accepted by the Greek Cypriots, as a basis for negotiations to be concluded on an agreement. Unfortunately, the Turkish side, and in particular the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, with the blessings of Ankara, the Turkish Government, has refused so far to be forthcoming and positive in that respect.

MR. BEATTIE: What are the main issues that are holding up the Turkish side?

MR. YENNARIS: Well, the Turkish side has had a position of intransigence all along these years. The main thing that they want is a separate state altogether, which will be linked very loosely at the top with a Greek Cypriot state. The separate republic, established in 1960, was a unified state, one single state with one single international personality. And this is what the Greek Cypriots want and this is what Kofi Annan is, in effect, suggesting. And that opposition is to that.

They also want the permanent presence of a Turkish military force, which is currently the occupying force, which is rejected by the Greek Cypriots. And they also want Turkish guarantees, which would involve the so-called right of intervention into the internal affairs of Cyprus, which, again, has been rejected by the Greek Cypriots.

They also want settlers illegally brought in by Turkey in the thousands and settled in Greek Cypriot properties left back in the north to remain, which, again, has been rejected by both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots who, by the way, are in favor of reunification and of recessment (recession ceding the land back to its former owners). And they have been coming out in the streets for the last month or so, almost every week, against the fascist policies and in favor of a solution that would lead to unification.

MR. BEATTIE: Is this the best chance for Cyprus to be unified?

MR. YENNARIS: Well, it's a very good prospect, but this will be materialized only if there is political will on the other side to achieve such a solution. And that means exercising pressure or urging them in one way or another in whatever matter. And for that matter, now is perhaps the most productive period to do so, given how much the Turks in Turkey attach to the importance of cooperating strategically with the United States concerning Iraq, to make sure that they conform with the United Nations resolutions and the European Committee on Human Rights, and become less intransigent.

MR. BEATTIE: Turkey is still not a full-fledged member of the European Union. Cyprus hopes to become a member of the E.U., as I understand it. Do you think that the possibility that Turkey could become a member of the European Union if it allowed Cyprus to become unified could be a possibility?

MR. YENNARIS: It will improve greatly her chances. And Cyprus has already been accepted. It's a question of completing the treaty of accession and signing it. Cyprus is practically a member of the European Union. And if Turkey wants to join the European Union, which is a union of certain principles and values that have to do with human rights and democracy, then Turkey would have to cooperate, would have to become more cooperative and forthcoming in their attitude towards the Cyprus problem, yes.

HOST: Costas Yennaris (coh-stahs yeh-NAHR-ihs) is chief editor of Cypriot Broadcasting Corporation T-V News. He spoke with News Now's Victor Beattie.

VNN/VB/WH