Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media (Cyprus PIO Review) 96-06-17.

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 106/96 15-16-17/6/96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Pseudostate declares itself independent of the free areas as regards power supply

The so-called electricity authority has also taken over the station's Unit One provisionally from the manufacturing company.

This move, towards permanent power supply independence, had been delayed because of an explosion at the plant in August 1994.

Repairs were carried out on the unit, which has output capacity of 60 MW, and since March intensive tests have taken place.

Officials of the so-called electricity authority said that since then all supplies have been independent of the free areas of the Republic.

"Deputy Director" Ulku Artuner said there should be no future problems provided sufficient fuel was supplied.

[02] Cash lack threatens monument

Already hit by lack of personnel, the section is at a total loss to find an estimated k400,000 sterling to save the 14th Century Bedesten - a church (St. Nicholas of the English) originally associated with the cult of St. Thomas a Becket, revered in Europe during the Middle Ages.

The department is only able to take makeshift measures to prevent and delay the eventual collapse of the building which became a Greek Orthodox cathedral during Venetian times. And now, lured by the decaying structure, city residents are even creating a rubbish dump there.

[03] Turkish Cypriots not permitted by pseudostate to attend reception on Queen's birthday

Turkish Cypriots among the 1996 guests were told by "TRNC officials" on Wednesday they could not cross to the free areas.

The so-called Foreign Ministry had withdrawn their names from a transit "clearance list" because it was feared "they would be exploited by Greek Cypriots as people from the occupied North" while mixing with "usurpers of power" who "did not respect the equality of both sides".

Some Turkish Cypriot guests felt insulted by a delay of about six hours - between "TRNC officials" making their position known and the British "hosts" relaying the message - before they learned at the Ledra Palace checkpoint that their presence at the party, via an especially-arranged coach, would not be possible.

The High Commission, describing the "TRNC's" move as "unprecedented", said the "presumably intentional" eleventh-hour withdrawal of all Turkish Cypriot names "from a list of 150 invited "well in advance" had been announced at about mid-day by a "low level source" at the so-called Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence.

An "official" for the "Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministry" claimed that "their presence (at the British High Commission) would be reflected as being subjects of the so-called republic".

[04] Inmates in occupied Nicosia prison riot

The riot started at 1700 hours yesterday and lasted one and a half hours during which seven people were injured.

The riot was put out through joint action by prison guards, the so-called police and special forces.

During the riot inmates also fought among theselves. Material damage was caused in the cells.

KIBRIS reports that there are 119 inmates in the prison. (M.Y.)

[05] Turkish State Minister cancels visit to the occupied area

KIBRIS reports that the delegation which was to accompany Ozdemir has already arrived in the occupied area. (M.Y.)

[06] Cases of suicide or suicide attempts increasing

In the last three days three people, two of them mainland Turks, committed suicide and three others made an attempted suicide. (M.Y.)

[07] British couple victims of robbery in the occupied area

The culprit entered the couple's home and threatened the husband with the knife to hand him the foreign currency they were holding.

The thief, who was well dressed and spoke broken English, managed to run away with 38 Cyprus pounds. (M.Y.)