TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 95-12-19

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS

AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 238/95 19/12/95

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Atun: "Preparations under way for trade accord with Turkey"

Atun participated in a luncheon hosted in his honour by the Chamber of Industry at the Saray Hotel. The problems of industrialists and the developments in the wake of Turkey's membership in the Customs Union were discussed during the luncheon.

In a statement during the meeting, Atun expressed appreciation for the industrialists' efforts to survive despite great difficulties and adapt to world developments. He pledged to continue the assistance to this sector.

Noting that Turkish-occupied area relations gained a new dimension in the wake of the CU agreement, Atun revealed that preparations are under way to conclude a more lasting trade agreement with Turkey. He stressed that this is the only solution under the circumstances. Atun added that the most important issue before the pseudo-government is the trade agreement to be signed with Turkey.

[02] Turkish State Minister meets Denktash Acarkan

Islamoglu began to pay official visits in the occupied area yesterday. He met with Turkish envoy Aydan Karahan, then with Rauf Denktash, and later with Ayhan Halit Acarkan.

Speaking during his meeting with Islamoglu, Denktash said he is happy to see the Turkish Minister of State - a person who has been interested in the Cyprus cause for years - on the island. Denktash said that Islamoglu, with the importance he attaches to his mission, encourages the Turkish Cypriots. He said: "Islamoglu has done things that can be described as reforms for the "TRNC". They are important for the future of the Turkish Cypriots."

Islamoglu said Turkey has a special approach to the occupied area, Cyprus is a national policy for Turkey, and nobody can do anything the nation does not want. He stressed that Denktash is a legendary leader identified with the "Cyprus cause" and that this is important for Turkey and for the occupied area. Islamoglu pointed out that the Turkish nation is aware of this and wants to hear that all the problems of the "TRNC" have been solved. He stressed that Turkey stands by the "TRNC".

Replying to a question, Islamoglu discussed the issue of handing the electrical power stations over to a private company. A radical solution, he said, would be to extend a power line from Turkey but, at this stage, the power distribution centre and lines must be reinforced. He added that privatization is necessary for that purpose and that the people must not be upset by this. Turkish envoy Karahan said the issue is one of handing over responsibility and not privatization.

At his meeting with the Turkish State Minister, the so-called Assembly Speaker Acarkan said that domestic and foreign problems related to the Cyprus problem will be discussed and decided during the visit. Acarkan stressed that the Turkish Cypriots are living the way they are now thanks to Turkey and that the problems will be overcome.

Islamoglu said that he discussed the important problems of the occupied area with Denktash and that they agreed on what must be done. He added: "It is everyone's wish to see a lasting peace established in Cyprus and to see the Turkish Cypriots assume the place they deserve among the world's nations".

[03] Cyprus problem Feissel and Anouil discuss the Cyprus problem

The main speakers at the workshop which was close to the press, were Mr Gustave Feissel the UN Secretary General's deputy special representative in Cyprus, Mr Gilles Anouil, EU Ambassador to Cyprus and Turkish Cypriot Ergan Olgun advisor to Denktash. Around 40 academics attended the meeting. (M.Y.)

[04] ECOSAI meeting will be held in the occupied area

Audit Generals of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Afgani representative as well as so-called Audit General of the pseudo state Nail Atalay will attend the meeting. (M.Y.)

[05] Inflation in the occupied area 72.15%

These figures were provided by the so-called state Planning Organization of the pseudo state. (M.Y.)

[06] Pakistan intensifies its efforts to move the pseudo-state to gain recognition

According to KIBRIS (19.12.95) Pakistan has recently intensified its efforts to move the pseudo state to gain recognition.

The so-called chairman of the Pakistan - North Cyprus Turkish Friendship Association Salam Ansari, in a letter to Pakistan's President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, federal parliament and Senate Members as well as to the governors and Provincial Presidents of Pakistan, called them to recognize the pseudo-state as soon as possible. (M.Y.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Chirac has emerged as our chief ally, but we need more help

"President Jacques Chirac has been the real driving force within the European Union to get Turkey into the Customs Union. At times he has lobbied like a Turkish official for the Customs Union, and thus we feel deep gratitude to him and all his officials, led by Ambassador Francois Doppfer, the French mission chief in Ankara.

On Saturday, Chirac's attitude towards Turkey was as warm as ever. He apparently showed great sympathy for turkish calls for full membership in the EU, and the fact that Turkey should be the most eligible country of the prospective members for membership, as it has completed its Customs Union deal. Apparently Spain and Italy also did not raise any objections. France, along with Britain, was behind the compromise solution to get Turkey invited to Madrid for at least the troica meeting. These two countries overcame the objections of not only Greece, but also some leading EU countries , to bring Turkey to Madrid ... Was the troica meeting satisfactory for Turkey? Should we have attended such a troika meeting when we were not invited to the actual summit between the EU states and the prospective EU members? All these are a matter of debate.

Yet, let us face the fact that while we have overcome very important hurdles in securing a Customs Union deal with the EU, we now have to overcome fundamental real problems within the union to convince countries such as Germany that we should become a full member.

No one wants a huge influx of Turks in their country once we become a full member. Actually this is one of the major stumbling blocks with Germany and even for countries such as tiny Denmark.

We cannot hope to make much progress in full membership without solving our disputes with Greece and forging a solution on Cyprus.

Turkish officials are happy that the troika meeting was rather positive. Yet, we would like to warn all those concerned that we were lucky to have three leading Mediterranean countries, all sympathetic to Turkey, as members of the troika. A rather different pictures, would have emerged if the troika had been comprised of Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands ... Turkish officials have to do much hard work. We need fundamental changes in many areas.

Prime Minister Tansu Ciller tried hard to turn the Customs Union issue into a political advantage, and yet she could not manage this, partly because the Turkish people want her to stop playing diplomat and start acting like a stateswoman who cares about and seeks remedies for the growing problems of the masses. The fact that European leaders did not pay her lip-service was another important reason why Ciller could not exploit the issue politically.

If the Customs Union issue was so important, and her Madrid visit so vital, the Turkish prime minister should have addressed a press conference for the international press which had assembled in Madrid to attend the EU summit. At this, she could have told the EU public that the customs union will not suffice and we want and deserve full membership. Yet, she did not do this. On the contrary she held a press conference for the Turkish press accompanying her on this short trip to the Spanish capital. Ciller's Madrid trip, which seemed to be for internal consumption, did not appear in the foreign press. Reuters did not even carry a story on Ciller's presence in Madrid .. If we are really sincere in our drive for full EU membership, we need to approach the issue realistically. We have much to learn and much to convey. We have solid friends like France and President Chirac, but they won't be enough. They too have their limitations".