Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media (95-12-5)

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 228/95 5/12/95

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] News Items

[01] Turkish Cypriot Journalists not allowed to come to the free areas

According to KIBRIS (5.11.95), the occupation regime did not allow Turkish Cypriot journalists, who wanted to cover US Presidential Envoy Richard Beattie's arrival to Cyprus, to cross into the free areas of the Republic. The Turkish Cypriot journalists expressed anger and discontent over the occupation regime's arbitrary action.

Denktash's regime claimed that the Turkish Cypriot journalists were not allowed to cross into the free areas because Mr. Beattie has violated the "equality" principle in Cyprus by deciding to hold the press conference at the Larnaca airport rather than at the Ledra Palace Hotel.

[02] Increased security measures at occupied Tumbou airport

According to KIBRIS (5.11.95), the occupation regime has decided to increase the security measures at the occupied Tymbou airport.

The paper did not state the reasons why the occupation regime deemed it necessary to take strict security measures at the Tymbou airport terminal.

[03] Denktash insists on the presence of Turkish troops in Cyprus

According to KIBRIS (5.12.95), the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, commenting on President Clerides' statement that the problem in Cyprus is the presence of the Turkish occupation troops, alleged that on this issue President Clerides is putting the "cart before the horse".

He said that the problem in Cyprus is not the Turkish occupation troops. He further said that the withdrawal of the occupation forces depends on the peace agreement to be signed with the Greek Cypriots. Denktash added that following a peace agreement, a certain number of Turkish troops will remain in Cyprus under a security and guarantee agreement that will be concluded. "That is, the guarantee agreement that the Greek Cypriots want to destroy since 1963, shall remain intact" declared Denktash.

[04] On Beattie's visit to Cyprus

According to KIBRIS (4/12/95), Richard Beattie, President Clinton's special envoy to Cyprus who came to the island yesterday accompanied by U.S. special coordinator for Cyprus affairs James Williams, will remain on the island to hold separate talks with Rauf Denktash and President Glafkos Clerides until 6 December. He will hold talks with Denktash at 15.30 today (5 December) and 12.00 on Wednesday. Beattie will hold a news conference at Larnaca Airport before leaving Cyprus on Wednesday evening.

[05] Turkey paid $9.1 billion on foreign debts

According to MILLIYET (1/12/95) Turkey paid $9.1 million on its foreign debts from January to November 1995. Of that amount, the Treasury paid $7.616 billion and the Central Bank paid $824 million. The remaining $504 million were paid in the form of repayments.

[06] Former Ambassador expected to take initiatives on Cyprus

According to YENIDUZEN (4/12/95), the Cyprus problem has reportedly been assigned to the U.S. Special crisis group, which is close to President Clinton. According to several sources, Morton Abramowitz, who is responsible for the State Department's security affairs and who once served as the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke, are the group's leading officials. Working together, the two officials have become influential in Washington. Abramowitz, who was able to study the Cyprus problem when he was accredited to Ankara, is expected to take several initiatives to have the Cyprus problem solved. He knows the Turkish Government's views and its work on the Cyprus problem.

[07] Turkish Foreign Ministry on demilitarized status of the Dodecanese

According to ANATOLIA news agency (1450 hours, 4/12/95), the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the Aegean Army is basically a training army and has been established in Turkey on legal ground and has a defensive character.

Foreign ministry deputy spokesman Nurettin Nurkan told at a news conference staged for foreign journalists that one of the basic elements of the political balance established by the 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty in the Aegean is the status of the eastern Aegean islands.

He said the Athens decision of 1914 by the six powers stipulated a demilitarized status for the islands then being turned over to Greece.

Articles 12 and 13 of the 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty and article 4 of its annexed convention confirmed this status. The convention specifically provided that the islands of Lemnos and Samothrace, situated at the entrance of the Dardannelles, be demilitarized on an even stricter basis, thus emphasizing their vital importance for the Security of the straits.

The 1996 Montreux Convention, which established the regime of the Turkish straits, did not bring any change to the status of the islands.

The 1947 Treaty of Paris turned over the islands, commonly reffered to as the "Dodecanese", to Greece. This treaty also sought to reconcile Greek sovereignty over these islands with the security of Turkey by stipulating in article 14 that "These islands shall be and shall remain demilitarized". Hovever, the Ministry claims, Greece has been violating the demilitarized status of the islands in contravention of her contractual obligations since the 1960's and has admitted a military presence on some of these islands since the 1970's.