TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 96-05-29

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 94/96 29.5.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DP, RTP DECIDE NOT TO DISSOLVE "COALITION"

DP and RTP officials held a second meeting headed by their leaders at the RTP headquarters. According to a statement issued soon after the meeting, a written decision was made not to dis- solve the "government". The officials added that routine meetings will continue and that the performance of the "coalition govern- ment" will be reviewed. The DP officials who participated in the meeting were leader Serdar Denktash, Secretary General Mustafa Arabacioglu, Mehmet Eminer, and Onur Borman. The participants from the RTP side were leader Mehmet Ali Talat, Secretary General Ferdi Soyer, Altay Aksaloglu, Ozkan Yorgancioglu, and Hasan Erca- kica.

[02] ON THE INVITATION TO GREEK CYPRIOTS TO HABITAT-2

A statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry says that a mistaken report was published in the press to the effect that Turkey invited the Greek Government to the conference to repre- sent Cyprus. The statement says that, like all UN meetings, the Habitat-2 conference was also organized by the United Nations. It adds: "Consequently, the invitations to the countries partici- pating in the conference were sent out by the United Nations. The invitation to the Greek Cypriot Administration was also sent out by the United Nations. The invitation, which was sent under the exclusive authority and responsibility of the UN secretariat, does not in any way imply a change in Turkey's known attitude toward Cyprus' representation."

The statement says that for the first time in the history of the United Nations, representatives of local administrations and civilian organizations will be participating in this conference actively and on an equal basis. It adds that the necessary arrangements were made and measures were taken to ensure that Turkish Cypriot organizations also take part in the forums and activities within this framework.

[03] AKINCI REPLIES TO DENKTASH ON THE EU ISSUE

Within the framework of this policy, as we are opposing south Cyprus' entry in the EU prior to a settlement in Cyprus (in the name of the whole of Cyprus) we are as well stressing the mistake of the statement that, `even if there is a settlement in Cyprus, we will not be an EU member prior to Turkey's membership'. Because we are aware of the fact that with such a statement we are contributing to the Greek Cypriot side's EU membership and not to Turkey's EU membership.

The Esteemed President, whether he like it or not knows very well these views of ours, because several times, either verbally or in writing, we have conveyed them to him. He should not feel sorry for what we have said. If there is a case Mr. Denktash should really feel sorry about is the message he had sent to Mr. Clerides through Richard Beattie, because in that note Denktash did not state as a condition Turkey's EU membership.

One has to realize that it is not possible to achieve any- thing by changing one's stance every day. The era in the Cyprus problem of creating taboos and going after mistakes should end. This policy will facilitate the Greek Cypriots' entry into the EU alone, and will speed up the end of the Turkish Cypriots. If the aim is indirectly to support Greek Cypriot side's entry into the EU, thus securing the TRNC's integration with Turkey, then this policy has nothing to do with the real interests of the Turkish Cypriots and of Turkey." (MY)