Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media 96-08-23

From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.151/96 23.8.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEM

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[A] NEWS ITEM

[01] Denktash informed of President Clerides rejection

According to illegal Bayrak radio (10:30 hours, 22.8.96) Rauf Denktash met with Gustave Feissel, the UN special envoy to Cyprus, and in a statement after the meeting he said that Feissel conveyed President Clerides' rejection of the UN proposal to him. Noting that Feissel is concerned because he has not been able to bring together the leaders of the two communities, Denktash said that he has been informed that President Clerides does not find it suitable to issue a joint statement.

Denktash concluded by saying that the "government" should discuss these issues and, if necessary, a referendum should be held on the stand to be adopted.

[B] C0MMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[02] Turkey accused of over-interference in the occupied area

Ferai Tinc, writing in HURRIYET (23.8.96) under the title "Turkey's image is getting tarnished even in the TRNC" says: "All of them are nationalists, they are Turkish Cypriot nationalists. They are criticizing Turkey for over-interference. For fourteen years now I`ve been visiting North Cyprus. I have many friends there from different walks of life. It is the first time I hear Turkey being so loudly criticized.

`What does Turkey want to do in Cyprus?' This was the question I have been mostly asked last week in the TRNC.

At the head of the people who are asking this question were the TRNC businessmen. The businessmen were all the time complaining of constantly importing inflation from Turkey. They reminded me that the last government had taken a decision to disassociate the indexing of their monetary unit from the Turkish Lira.

The TRNC accounting system was going to be changed. This was included in the government programme. The date was fixed, but the decision was never put into practice. Because Turkey objected and said `no'. But Ankara did not say anything in a scientific manner as to why it cannot be applied.

Turkish Cypriot businessmen are asking: `How can we stand on our own two feet as a community if we cannot strengthen our economy?'

Kutlay Erk, engaged in the construction business, who is a member of the Turkish Cypriot Businessmen Association, made the following evaluation:

`In 1974, we were, compared to Turkey, a better country regarding economic prosperity and also an advanced democracy. As time went on, neither prosperity nor democracy remained in Cyprus. Maybe it is a planned strategy to make us poorer so as to increase TRNC dependence on Turkey'.

The other businessmen who witnessed this talk said: `It could not be a planned strategy. It is clumsiness'.

Young businessman Ozdil Nami was complaining not for making `few bucks' but for lack of `vision'. Asim Dedezade, engaged in trade and the most conservative among them, spoke very carefully, but even he said: `For the last 22 years Turkey has been thinking about the military defence of the TRNC. It did not think about the economic defence of the TRNC.'

Contractor Erdil Nabi `considered Cyprus' entry into the EU a historic opportunity. We have to accept the EU membership if we reach an agreement that is to our liking. There are people who oppose Cyprus' EU membership until Turkey becomes an EU member. The TRNC should not be used as a bait for Turkey's membership'.

It is the first time I heard tough statements in the TRNC. Do not think that these businessmen expect money from Turkey. No. Prime Minister Dervish Eroglu who is supported by Turkey said: `We will overcome the difficulties with a 5-10 trillion TL contribution from Turkey'. While the businessmen say: `We beg you, let Turkey not give us money, let it support our austerity package'.

Turkey's Cyprus policy is not clear: Contrary to the Greek Cypriot side and Greece, which want to avoid the negotiation table, will Turkey actively work and by making use of this momentum secure the world's backing, or will it put into practice the `indignation' formula and offer this backing as a present to the Greek Cypriot side?

The Foreign Ministry says one thing, the Erbakan government says another.

What do they wait for in order to decide and act?

The countdown has started in Cyprus". (MY)

EF/SK