TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 96-04-09

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 63/96 9/4/96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rasit says work to determine "Lateral Borders" proceeding

In reply to a question by a correspondent of the so-called TAK agency on the initiatives launched by the Cyprus Government over the work to determine the "territorial waters of the TRNC" on a map, Rasit said: "The TRNC is a sovereign state and it is determined to use its rights of sovereignty. For this reason, experts are proceeding with the technical work to determine the lateral borders of the territorial waters."

[02] KIBRIS criticizes pseudostate, praises medical services in the free areas

The article praises the medical services in the free areas where, it says, "There are modern and up-to-date clinics."

KIBRIS criticizes Turkish Cypriot politicians who refused bicommunal cooperation on medical and health services and projects financed by the UN. "Despite the fact that the Turkish Cypriot politicians said no to such projects, Turkish Cypriots whose life is in danger, go to south Cyprus and benefit from the facilities provided by these projects" notes KIBRIS.

KIBRIS further discloses that the Turkish Cypriot leadership has taken a political decision in 1991 and decided to withdraw from such bicommunal projects financed by the UN.

The paper reports that 550 Turkish Cypriots have either completed or still continue to receive medical treatment in the free areas. Among them is illegal Bayrak Radio's Director Muammer Yagcioglu.

KIBRIS writes that recently the Director of the Neurology and Genetics Institute paid a visit to the so-called Ministry of Health of the pseudostate and during the meeting he conveyed the list of the Turkish Cypriots who have been treated or continue to be treated in this institute.

It has been made known that the MRI to be donated by the EU to this institute should serve the needs of the Turkish Cypriots. This is a condition put forward by the EU.

The senior Greek Cypriot official, during his recent contacts in the occupied area with the so-called Ministry of Health people, said that all members of the staff in the institute were Greek Cypriots and he proposed that Turkish Cypriot experts could also work there.

The Greek Cypriot official further proposed that the Director of the Genetics Institute be a Turkish Cypriot and that three Turkish Cypriots could be members of the seven-member Board of Directors.

He further proposed that four Turkish Cypriot doctors, six Turkish Cypriot nurses, two Turkish Cypriot lab technicians and Turkish Cypriot MRI technicians be employed at the institute.

The so-called Minister of Health of the pseudostate (Huseyin Celal) who is currently in Ankara for consultations told KIBRIS that he had conveyed the proposal to Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash and that there was no clear political decision on the issue. "The reason for not taking a clear political decision on the subject is due to Denktash's health condition" stressed Huseyin Celal.

When asked to comment on how they sent illegal BRTK's director Muammer Yagcioglu for treatment to the free areas Huseyin Celal said: "We are helpless, so we sent Esteemed Yagcioglu to be treated in this institute. (M.Y.)

[03] Atun: We will not allow anyone enter the waters between Kyrenia and Turkey

Atun further alleged that the "Greek and Greek Cypriot duo have always lived in fear" and claimed that they always aim at harming Turkey.

He also claimed that the Greek Cypriots were avoiding the negotiations table because they were after "treacherous plots". "They plan to own Cyprus by entering into the EU and this idea has found supporters" alleged Atun and as an example he gave EU representative Di Roberto's report.

Referring to Turkey's ambitions on Cyprus, Atun said that neither Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriots would allow others to enter into the waters between Kyrenia and Tasucu in Turkey. "The world's strongest army corps which belongs to Turkey is deployed in the TRNC. There is no better safeguard than this" declared Atun and added that they will not accept Cyprus's entry into the EU prior to a settlement and a clear definition of the Turkish Cypriots' status.

"Contrary to the ideas of the Turkish Cypriots, if the Greek Cypriots unilaterally enter into the EU, then the integration with Turkey which continues for centuries will be realized and Cyprus will be partitioned into two". He went on and claimed: "Whatever was to happen in Cyprus has happened and is finished. We are here, the part of the Turkish nation that has the duty of defending the age-long existence of the Turks.

Turkey has rights here emanating from international agreements as well as history and geography. We are here, the defenders of these rights. If they want us to talk in this way, then we will do so. The waters between the shores of Kyrenia and the shores of Tasucu are our waters. Neither Turkey nor we will allow others to enter into these waters and put us into danger." (M.Y.)