Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media (95-11-28)

From: Giorgos Zacharia <lysi@MIT.EDU>

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS

AND OTHER MEDIA

No.223/95 28.11.95

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Trial of Greek Cypriot soldier postponed until 1 December

According to illegal Bayrak Radio (16:30 hours, 27.11.95), Georghios Karotsakis, the Greek Cypriot soldier who is illegally held by Denktash's regime, appeared in "court" yesterday and his "trial" has been postponed until 1 December because the investigation report about him was not ready.

[02] Denktash asks Atun to form new "government"

According to illegal BRTK (17:30 hours, 27.11.95), Rauf Denktash has asked Democratic Party leader Hakki Atun to form a new "government".

Denktash held talks with the leaders of the political parties that are represented in the so-called Assembly yesterday. His last meeting was with RTP leader Ozker Ozgur, who was accompanied by the RTP secretary general and other party officials. Ozgur was in a happy mood when he left the meeting and recalled that he had not been able to hold talks with Denktash for a long time. He declined to answer a question on the establishment of the new "government" and to reveal whether or not he will agree to serve in the new "government". He sufficed by saying that he may consider the matter if concrete steps are taken to realize democratization in the occupied area.

Hakki Atun said that the Democratic Party, which holds a majority of seats in the so-called Assembly, will carry out the work needed to fulfill the task assigned to it.

He also said he will begin the work to form the new "government" this morning and asserted that he will first hold talks with the National Unity Party.

[03] Denktash meets Richard Boucher and Robert Dillon

According to KIBRIS (28.11.95), the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash yesterday had a meeting with the US Ambassador to Cyprus Richard Boucher and Ambassador Robert Dillon, the special envoy in charge of the investigation to ascertain the fate of five US citizens gone missing during the Turkish invasion of 1974.

KIBRIS says that during the meeting, the missing persons issue, the latest developments in the Cyprus problem as well as the forthcoming visit of President Clinton's special envoy Richard Beattie to Cyprus were discussed.

The paper reports that the Denktash-Boucher-Dillon meeting continued over lunch.

Speaking to reporters, Ambassador Boucher said that he was unaware of reports that Deputy Under-Secretary of State responsible for Europe and Canada, Mr. Richard Holbrooke, would resign. Ambassador Boucher stated that even if Mr. Holbrooke resigns, the Cyprus initiative started by the US will be continued. (MY)

[04] On the USA initiative

Lale Sariibrahimoglu, reporting in CUMHURIYET (28.11.95), says that Turkey is concerned about the US approach that "after Bosnia, it is the turn of the Cyprus problem to be solved." "Diplomatic sources", reports CUMHURIYET's correspondent, "said that Ankara had conveyed warning messages to Washington that the Cyprus problem, which is not solved for the last 40 years, should not be mixed with the Bosnian issue."

Inal Batu, Deputy Under-Secretary at the Turkish Foreign Ministry, responsible for Cyprus affairs, in a statement to CUMHURIYET, implying the USA, said: "No one should mix the Bosnia Herzegovina problem with the Cyprus problem. Cyprus is a place where for years no blood has been shedded because of the presence of the Turkish troops."

CUMHURIYET's correspondent then refers to the forthcoming visit to Cyprus of US President's special envoy to Cyprus Richard Beattie, and adds that Beattie's visit will pave the way for Holbrooke's visit to Cyprus, who declared that after Bosnia it is now Cyprus' turn.

Sariibrahimoglu, quoting diplomatic sources, envisages that after the approval of Turkey's Customs Union agreement with the EU a storm will break from Washington regarding Cyprus. "This is inevitable, in order to impress the strong Greek and Greek Cypriot Lobby in the USA" claims Lale Sariibrahimoglu.

"As the case is", goes on CUMHURIYET's correspondent, "Ankara is seriously concerned about the USA likening the Cyprus problem to that of the Middle East and Bosnia". She quotes an unnamed diplomatic source that "USA's negotiation tactics are known. The USA is after Camp David or Dayton type negotiations. They have been successful so far. It will try to apply the same method in the case of Cyprus. But there is a problem yet to be solved for the last 40 years. Blood is being shedded in Bosnia Herzegovina. No such situation exists in Cyprus. That is, there is no need for panic in order to stop the bloodshed. No one in Cyprus should panic. For the moment we are just warning. No one should underestimate the Cyprus problem. There are differences between the issues of Cyprus and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Everybody should well digest these differences".

CUMHURIYET's correspondent claims that the USA, in order not to create any hitch prior to Turkey's Customs Union agreement with the EU as well as the 24 December general elections in Turkey, decided to send its envoys to Ankara in January.

Sariibrahimoglu then refers to Denktash's meeting last week with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel in Ankara, and Ciller's refusal to meet him, giving as excuse her tight pre-election schedule.

CUMHURIYET's correspondent concludes by envisaging that soon an intensive exchange of views will take place between Turkey and the occupied area. (MY)

[05] The priceless books in the Famagusta Library

Ulus Irkad, writing in weekly YENICAG (26.11.95), says that in 1974, when the Greek Cypriots left Famagusta, the Greek Library of Famagusta remained in the hands of the Turkish "authorities".

"Part of this Library, as it is rumoured, has been looted by some officials (as was the case with Marangos' Library and the Varosha Collection) and part of it was transferred to the "Gazi Magusa" Library, established within the Walls of the Old Famagusta in the Bugday Mosque which was used as a Club. The books here were under UN supervision until 1977 but afterwards, for reasons unknown to us, this supervision was stopped.

In 1980, during the NUP rule, when Esber Serakinci was Minister of Education, a decision was taken to transfer these books to Nicosia and a number of them were indeed transferred to Nicosia. At that time, a woman professor from Ankara arrived in Cyprus and when she saw the books, with great admiration said: 'Oh my God. These books are now non-existent in Europe. Most of them were either destroyed or burned or bombed by Hitler. These books are priceless". And with a document from Ozal she wanted to take these books to Ankara.

I have lived among these books for 11-12 years. Most of them are in Latin, French, English or German, printed in 1600 and in 1700, Irkad says.

I have written articles and supported the idea that these books belong to Famagusta, that they explain the history of Famagusta and they should remain in Famagusta. One or two institutions supported my views. However, our efforts did not bear fruit and the books were transferred to Nicosia and thus Famagusta lost part of its cultural heritage.

The rest of the books which were in the Bugday Camii were donated to the East Mediterranean University Library".

Ulus Irkad concludes by demanding the return of these books to Famagusta. He is worried that some of these books have already been stolen and smuggled out of Cyprus and some of them usurped by "officials". (MY)

[06] Apostolides' "remand order" extended for another 8 days

According to illegal Bayrak radio (13:30 hours, 28.11.95) the so-called "military court" in the occupied area has extended for a further eight days the "remand order" of Ioannis Apostolides who entered into the occupied area.