TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS (95-11-13)

From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <pzaphiri@Glue.umd.edu>

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS

AND OTHER MEDIA

No.212/95 11-12-13.11.95

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Atun submits resignation

According to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30, 11.10.95), the so-called second coalition government formed by the Democratic Party (DP) and the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) has resigned. Hakki Atun, DP leader and "prime minister" submitted the letter of resignation to Ayhan Halit Acarkan, "acting president and Republican Assembly speaker", last Saturday. Acarkan accepted Atun's resignation and asked him to continue serving until a new "government" is formed.

Atun said that the "government" will continue to fulfill its responsibilities until the "President" returns, assesses the situation, and begins to conduct work in connection with the issue in question.

In a statement he had issued before he submitted his letter of resignation to Acarkan, Atun once again explained his reasons for resigning. Reiterating that twice now a "coalition government" with the RTP has been formed, Atun added that this undertaking, which was an attempt at forming a coalition of parties with different ideologies, carries great importance in terms of social conciliation.

Explaining that an automatic consent mechanism did not exist as a result of the right granted by the "Constitution" to the "president", Atun added that the "president" was the one responsible for the interests of the country. Atun claimed that the DP has displayed the necessary patience and exerted the necessary efforts to continue the "coalition government". "My wish is that all political parties and politicians will realize their responsibilities and give a chance to a new formation at this time when stones are thrown along our buffer zones and those around us cast their covetous eyes on our country", he said.

Noting the possibility that Denktash will assign the task of forming the "government" upon his arrival, Atun, in reply to a question on whether a "coalition" with the National Unity Party is possible, pointed out that it is too early to make any comments.

[02] Munif Islamoglu: New Turkish State Minister in charge of Cyprus affairs

According to TRT (18:00 hours, 10.11.95), the distribution of the duties of the Turkish State Ministers has been completed. According to this distribution, State Minister Munif Islamoglu will be responsible for the Cyprus Coordination Desk, Adnan Erkmen will be responsible for determining and solving human rights issues and Ali Coskun Kirca was appointed government spokesman.

[03] Demirel responds to Greek President Stephanopoulos' message

According to TRT Television Network (16:00 hours, 10.11.95) Turkish President Suleyman Demirel has declared that Turkey is ready to start a dialogue aimed at solving all its problems with Greece and reaching a comprehensive agreement. Demirel sent a message to Greek President Stephanopoulos in response to the latter's congratulatory message marking Turkey's national day on 29 October.

According to information received from the President's Press Center, in his message, Demirel said he shared the Greek president's hope that bilateral relations will continue to develop to the benefit of both nations. Only an unprejudiced and well-intentioned attitude on the part of both countries can make this possible, Demirel noted.

[04] Turkish Cypriots to "respond" to Greek Cypriot demonstrations

According to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 12.11.95) the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Consumers Association will stage a march to the "border" on the so-called Republic Day, 15 November. It issued a statement calling on the people to participate in a march that will be staged toward the Ledra Palace and Paphos Gate regions.

The "Idealist Hearths" and the "Turkish Union Cultural Center" have decided to stage a joint rally to celebrate the "TRNC's 12th anniversary", and to respond to the latest Greek Cypriot demonstrations. After the rally to be held in Nicosia on 15 November, the members will march toward the Ledra Palace check-point and protest the UNFICYP.

[05] Baykal on Greece, Cyprus

According to Turkish Daily News (8.11.95), Turkish Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal in a statement to the Grand National Assembly on 3 November, referring to Turkey's relations with Greece claimed: "The Turkish nation has never regarded the Greek nation as its enemy, nor does it do so today. None of our political parties formulate policies on the grounds of enmity towards Greece, nor is Greece made the object of domestic political consumption in Turkish election campaigns.

Greek governments have seized each and every opportunity to further aggravate relations with Turkey and add new problems to the existing ones. Posing obstacles to Turkey's relations with Western Europe has become a constant state policy of Greece. Obstructing Turkey's diplomatic efforts in the Balkans and the Middle East has become one of Greece's primary objectives. Greece has even denied permission to our planes, dispatched at the call of the United Nations and NATO, to overfly its territory to assist in peace operations.

According to some sources, Greece is now engaged with some of Turkey's neighbours in various designs against Turkey. Greece continues to arm the Aegean islands very heavily in blatant violation of treaties and it supports the excessive arms build-up in southern Cyprus. Against whom is this excessive arms build-up aimed?"

And he continued: "It is true that early civilization passed from Greece to the West thousands of years ago. We just wish they had kept some for themselves. Greece will not gain anything by trying to obstruct Turkey's relations with Europe and the United States. You cannot aspire to rise to new heights by discrediting others, you only discredit yourself as well. It is impossible for Greece to gain any advantage by mobilizing the Greek lobby and US citizens of Greek descent against Turkey because the majority of Americans, the administration and the Congress, and even an important segment of the Americans of Greek descent attach importance to friendship with Turkey and believe in the benefits of promoting it. No country stands to gain by furnishing political militants with material through misinformation campaigns and by turning a blind eye to the activities of the offshoots of terrorist organizations. You cannot reverse the course of history. World War II would have had a very different end if it had been possible to steer the world just by propaganda.

Now, a new opportunity has arisen for Greece. The customs union will also create the conditions that will bring Turkey closer both to Greece and to other West European countries. Now, Greece must reflect carefully. Will you continue to view Turkey as an enemy and a threat? Or will you choose to cooperate with Turkey?"

On Cyprus, Baykal said: "The revitalization of the Turkish-Greek friendship will also create an atmosphere conducive to reaching a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem. It would be naive to expect the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots to embrace each other while the two motherlands do not shake hands with each other. We are saying exactly the same things for Cyprus that we have said for Greece. It is necessary for the peoples there also to live in peace and friendship.

What has to be done in Cyprus is to re-establish mutual confidence. Turkey has made every effort for this and continues to do so. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has accepted the package of "confidence-building measures" prepared by the UN secretary-general. This has constituted a very important step for the solution of the Cyprus question.

Greece and the Greek Cypriots should not dream that by putting pressure on Turkish Cypriots or Turkey the Turks will ever give up their basic rights. The Turkish nation, Turkish governments, and the Turkish Parliament have never made any concessions under external pressure on this national cause.

The Greek Cypriots must not pursue the fantasy of achieving full membership of the European Union before the Cyprus question is solved, and before a just and lasting state structure is established representing both communities on the island. None of the European countries is ready to inherit this complicated dispute by accepting a divided and problem-stricken Cyprus.

[06] ICO Secretary-General departs

ICO (Islamic Conference Organization) Secretary General Hamid al-Ghabid left the island after concluding his contacts in the pseudostate.

A statement issued by al-Ghabid's spokesman noted that the secretary general discussed the latest developments with Turkish Cypriot "officials". Explaining that the situation on the island will be brought to the attention of the ICO member countries, the statement said that the ICO's stand on the Cyprus issue is that both sides on the island should meet under politically equal conditions and reach an agreement acceptable to both sides.

[07] Mumtaz Soysal opposes privatization in the occupied area

According to KIBRIS (12.11.95), Denktash's advisor and former Turkish Foreign Minister and Republican People's Party deputy in Turkey, Prof. Mumtaz Soysal, who was invited to the occupied area to give a lecture, expressed his opposition to privatization in the occupied area. He said that "Cyprus is a piece of land which neither the Turkish Cypriots nor Turkey can abandon".

Prof. Soysal claimed that "nationalization" in the occupied area was a result of a political event (Tr. note: he means the occupation of part of Cyprus by Turkey as a result of which the occupied area has nationalized factories or installations belonging to the Greek Cypriots), and that one should look into this issue in a different manner that in Turkey.

Prof. Soysal pointed out that if privatization is carried out in the occupied area these will eventually end up "going into the hands of the old owners" (he means the Greek Cypriots, the rightful owners: Tr. note).

Prof. Soysal admitted that because of the Turkish invasion and occupation, the occupied area is in debt to the south, and with privatization this property will be sold out and in the case of a settlement the occupied area will be forced to pay compensation.

He blamed Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots for being unable to establish a healthy and sound economy after the 1974 invasion and occupation. (MY)

[08] New islamic fundamentalist party in the occupied area

According to KIBRIS (13.11.95), work is going on in a very secret manner to establish an islamic fundamentalist party in the occupied area.

KIBRIS adds that the name of the founding members as well as the Rules and Regulations of the party are kept strictly secret. It says that the founders consider to name the new party "Islami Tekbir Partisi", that is Islamic Affirmation Party. (The word Tekbir is the beginning of the specific pray in Islam that praises the greatness and the magnanimity of God and starts by saying "God is Great", "Allahu Akbar": Tr. note).

KIBRIS adds that the new party will have organic relations with the Islamic Prosperity Party of Necmettin Erbakan in Turkey.

It will be the 10th "legal" party operation in the occupied area. (MY)

[09] Education, Science, Culture and Technical Assistance Cooperation Agreement between Turkey and the pseudostate

According to KIBRIS (13.11.95), the so-called cooperation agreement between Turkey and the occupied area on Education, Science, Culture and Technical Assistance has been put into effect. The agreement envisages a new structuring of the occupied area's educational system as well as Turkey's assistance in realizing this. The so-called agreement was signed on 26 July, 1995.