TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 96-01-11

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.8/96 11.1.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey on the "EU stand" on Cyprus

According to TRT Television Network (13:00 hours, 10.1.96) Turkey has alleged that the "erroneous stand" adopted by the EU on the Cyprus issue is driving the Greek Cypriot side on the island away from undertaking serious efforts in the search for peace.

In reply to questions in his weekly news conference, Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Omer Akbel claimed that the EU differentiates between the two sides on the island. He said:

"The EU has put into action the Greek Cypriot application for full membership on behalf of the whole of Cyprus not feeling the need to consider the Turkish Cypriot stand of being treated as equal partners. I believe that no further explanation is needed on such an approach adversely affecting the search for peace in Cyprus. As can be observed from recent developments, this erro- neous stand adopted by the EU paved the path for driving the Greek Cypriots away from taking an interest in the efforts exerted to achieve peace."

[02] Rasit: Clinton's approach in Cyprus report `unacceptable'

According to illegal Bayrak radio (16:30 hours, 10.1.96), the so-called Foreign and Defense Minister of the pseudostate Atay Ahmet Rasit has alleged that US President Bill Clinton's approach in the latest Cyprus report he submitted to Congress disregards political equality and is unacceptable.

In a statement he issued, Rasit says that in his report Clinton refers to Greek Cypriot leader Clerides as president and describes Rauf Denktash as a community leader. Alleging that this approach disregards the political equality of the two sides and does not observe the realities, Rasit added: "It is impos- sible for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to accept such an approach".

[03] Turkish Foreign Ministry official on US Cyprus initiative

According to weekly Turkish Probe in English (5.1.96) Inal Batu, the Turkish Foreign Ministry deputy undersecretary for political affairs, told the Turkish Probe that US involvement in the effort for the settlement of the Cyprus dispute was inevita- ble, but advised against an "American Plan" in the briefcase of Assistant US Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke when he embarks on his Cyprus mission later this month. He also issued a strong warning against Greek-Cypriot arming.

In a statement during a recent trip to New York Batu, spe- cifically involved with Cyprus and Turkish-Greek relations as well as international air space and maritime affairs, said it was a fact that the US "as the only superpower", is very much preoc- cupied with Cyprus right now. Batu has been in regular contact with Richard Beattie, the special representative of President Clinton for Cyprus.

Further on Holbrooke's visit, Batu said:

"We do not know if he wants to come to the island with an American plan, which is not advisable, because in the final ana- lysis the Cyprus problem will be solved by the two communities on the island with the help of the two mainland powers. America can act as a catalyst."

Regarding the US role Batu said: "They must be told very clearly that they should not expect to be a member of the Euro- pean Union before a political settlement is reached. This is very important. The US can play an important role here. The Greek Cypriots and Greeks must realize that Cyprus should not expect to be a full member of the EU before a settlement." He alleged that the EU is very much in line with Turkey's way of thinking, and that the EU realizes it would be very silly to import the Cyprus problem into the EU. The EU is also very clear on the fact that a solution must precede talks on membership, he claimed.

[04] Turkey's US Ambassador on Cyprus issue

According to VATAN (11.1.96) Turkey's Ambassador to the USA, Nuzhef Kandemir, has declared that in Cyprus the parameters for a settlement are fixed and Ankara is extending every support to all goodwilled efforts within this framework.

Speaking to an Anatolia Agency correspondent regarding Mr Holbrooke's forthcoming visit to Cyprus, Kandemir said that the US and the UN should work for the resumption of direct talks between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus. What is important, he alleged, is to place the negotiation process in its correct framework and to get rid of the foreign elements that the Greek Cypriot side especially wants to introduce in the process. "While the CBMs proposed by the UN and fully accepted by the TRNC are on the table and the reaching of a federal settlement within a fixed framework still carries the priority, putting forward proposals, like the EU membership, is in a sense like putting the cart before the horse. This not only will not con- tribute to the solution but it will further increase the lack of trust between the sides", alleged Kandemir.

[05] Democratic Left Party deputy resigns from party

According to ANATOLIA agency (16:09 hours, 10.1.96) Adil Asirim, Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy from Igdir, has resigned from his party. Asirim submitted his resignation to the Turkish Grand National Assembly chairmanship. This brings the number of DSP seats in parliament to 75.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] On pseudostate's economy about to collapse

According to Turkish daily MILLIYET (5.1.96) the Cyprus problem has not received the attention it deserves because of the elections and the argument on the establishment of a new govern- ment in Turkey. Columnist Fikret Bila writes: "Rauf Denktash arrived in Ankara when confusion was widespread in the country. A joint declaration was issued at the end of his visit. Later, the question of who the success achieved during the visit should be attributed to was discussed. Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal said in a `modest' approach that it should be attributed to his ministry. The matter was closed. Although the Cyprus problem has now been removed from Turkey's agenda, many important deve- lopments have remained in the dark. When we looked into the matter, we saw that the problem is still an important issue.

The matter has been taken up by the National Security Council (MGK). The people were not informed of that. Munif Islamoglu, minister of state responsible for Cyprus affairs, made a strong speech at the meeting. We asked him to explain the situation. He said: `I explained everything in detail at the MGK's meeting.

I said: A shameful situation exists. The Turkish officers in north Cyprus have not been paid. The amount required totals 405 billion Turkish lira. An additional 170 billion Turkish lira are required to pay compensations. That amount has also not been transferred. How can that be possible? Do we not have the cash we need? None of the promises made to north Cyprus have been fulfilled. You are weakening the Turkish Cypriot people's resistance. Furthermore, you are interfering in the TRNC's internal affairs. Initiatives were made to have Rauf Denktash ousted during the elections in the TRNC. That was shameful. Denktash visited Ankara twice. However, he was unable to meet with the prime minister.'

We asked Islamoglu to comment on the MGK's reaction. He said: `The MGK greatly appreciated the briefing I gave to it. The president said that I was right. He instructed that the required amount of cash be immediately transferred. General Kar- adayi, chief of the General Staff, thanked me'.

We asked Islamoglu to comment on Prime Minister Tansu Ciller's approach. He said: `Tansu Ciller had nothing to say. I outlined the realities. She said a few things about the impor- tance of the Cyprus problem in the world and so on'."

And Bila continues: "Islamoglu argued that Turkey has placed the TRNC in a difficult situation. He said: `We have been unable to meet the needs of the Turkish Cypriots in the TRNC, which is as large as Turkey's Hakkari province. Power is cut for eight hours from time to time. The promised funds have not been transferred. Several water reservoirs have not been constructed and the Turkish Petroleum Office refused to supply diesel oil to the TRNC because if failed to pay its debts, which totaled 23 billion Turkish lira. I paid that amount from my ministry's bud- get to have the diesel oil shipped to north Cyprus. Is that the kind of importance we attach to the Cyprus problem, which is one of Turkey's national issues?'

Islamoglu criticized Prime Minister Ciller. He said: `I am responsible for Cyprus affairs. She has not summoned me to ask about `developments'. I have not been in touch with the prime minister. We have not been able to meet. I have informed the president on the matter. In fact, I asked him to approve my visit to the TRNC'."

[07] Kutlu Adali: "In the TRNC everything has been Turkified"

Kutlu Adali writing in YENIDUZEN (11.1.96) under the title "Is this place Texas?" refers to the incident that took place during the animal breeders' protest march the other day, when a so-called police officer fired into the air. Adali says: "We were watching the incident on TV and naturally we whispered: `Is this place Texas?' It seems that the police officer had panicked and also had psychological problems and as a result he drew his gun, when there was no need to do so. You can imagine what would have happened if the police officer had not fined into the air. In the past our police did not carry guns. Since our police force has been `Turkified', its members also became tougher, changed their uniform and appearance. Their behaviour is not humane any more. They have started carrying guns. As long as the police is not placed under civil authority, it means that in the coming days we will experience a lot of incidents where the police will be involved. When I spoke to a retired police officer he shared my concerns. He told me that in the police force the Turkish Cypriots were no longer the majority, and that today mainland Turks made up more than half of the police force. Yes, as our demographic character is speedily changing, our police also is changing. As the case is, of course, guns will be fired like in Texas. I have noticed that in the TRNC everything has been Turkified. Only judges, magistrates, lawyers, and attorneys have maintained their Turkish Cypriot identity. In the coming 20 years, it will be difficult to pin point a single Turkish Cypriot. Denktash is justified in taking so much pride in his work..." (MY)