Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media 96-08-26

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.152/96 24-25-26.8.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash proposes to transfer foreign affairs to Turkey

According to TRT (21.00 hours, 22.8.96) Rauf Denktash joined the live Panel Discussion program on TRT-1 television from occupied Nicosia last Thursday and replied to questions. He claimed that the only crime of the Turkish Cypriot side in Cyprus is not allowing the partnership republic to be transformed into a Greek Cypriot republic.

Denktash alleged that the Greek Cypriot side will continue to pursue its "intransigent" attitude as long as the world regards it as the legitimate representative of Cyprus. In this respect, Denktash remarked, the formula of integrating with Turkey is an acceptable method.

"Rather than perpetuate the current situation, let us tell the world that we integrated with Turkey and transferred the authority over our foreign affairs to Turkey. Since they do not listen to me, do not accept us, or do not want to see us, then let them face Turkey. Anyway, they blame Turkey. In that case, let Turkey face them as a country that represents Cyprus as well", he said.

Pointing out that the Cyprus issue has entered a very critical phase, Denktash also claimed that at this stage, the Greek Cypriots want to join the EU before a solution is reached in Cyprus and impose a fait accompli on Turkey and on the pseudostate. He repeated his known allegation that Cyprus cannot become a member of an organization that does not include Turkey and Greece and announced that, if despite this the Greek Cypriots are accepted as members of the EU, then the pseudostate will unite with Turkey.

[02] Turkish Cypriots criticize Russia for arms sales to Cyprus

According to illegal Bayrak radio (10:30 hours, 23.8.96) Taner Etkin, "Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister", has claimed that, by selling weapons to the Greek Cypriots, Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) which plays a role in the Cyprus issue, has cast a shadow over the impartiality of the UNSC.

In a written statement Etkin said: "It is our most natural right to expect a UNSC member country, which plays a role in the Cyprus problem, to review its stand and stop its weapons transfers to the Greek Cypriot Administration".

[03] Denktash: "People must come to life to defend their territory"

According to illegal Bayrak Radio (15:30 hours, 24.8.96) Rauf Denktash has called on the Turkish Cypriots "to come to life in order to protect their cause, their rights, their republic, and their territory". He also "appealed" to all organizations and institutions to show the world that they are asserting the freedom and rights of the Turkish Cypriots. Speaking of "approaching dangers", he added: "Nothing will be achieved by relying on the Army Corps and the Turkish soldiers". Denktash warned that anything can happen "unless the people, as the owners of this country, come to life to protect their territory, their cause, their republic, and their rights."

Speaking during the Democratic Party ball, Denktash asked the Turkish Cypriots not to be anxious about the economic situation, noting that Turkey will increase and continue its economic assistance. "Integration with Turkey is not tantamount to being colonized by Turkey," Denktash claimed and added: "Integration with Turkey consists of implementing what the Greek Cypriots want to achieve with Europe."

[04] Grey Wolves chairman: "3000 idealists landed to Cyprus to face the motorcyclists"

ORTAM (24.8.96) reproduces the interview given to Turkey's TEMPO Magazine by the new chairman of the Turkey's fascist Idealists Hearths Organization known as Grey Wolves, Azmi Karamahmutoglu.

In the interview, Karamahmutoglu admits that "they have landed" to the occupied area "with a force of 3000 idealists to face the Greek Cypriot motorcyclists."

He further says that the Idealist Grey Wolves had taken up positions at points likely to be used by the motorcyclists to cross into the occupied area, along the buffer zone, and that when the news broke out that fighting had started in Dherinya "we despatched all our friends from Nicosia to Dherinya. When the Greek Cypriots saw them coming they started running away. But there were those who were unable to run away. And when we found aggressive Greek Cypriots on our territory, we demonstrated our active reaction. As a result of this one person died."

When pointed out that the scene of the beating to death of the young Greek Cypriot, with iron bars and wooden clubs, in the presence of police was terrible Karamahmutoglu said: "On the one side there are 750 thousand Greek Cypriots and on the other side 150 thousand Turks. It is fair and justified that people from Turkey go there and extend support."

He further claimed that during the incidents, they were not the aggressive side. "That day, they were considering the Turkish Cypriots as non existing. In 1974 we demonstrated to them that this was not so. We have demonstrated it once more. `Your military preparation is too much for the 150 thousand Turks. However, if you are considering Turkey as well, then it is too little'. We wanted to demonstrate this.

When asked about the idealists' mission, Karamahmutoglu said: "Both in Cyprus and in the Turkic Republics they use the following: `Peoples Brotherhood'. The message is directed for internal use in the Turkic Republics. With this action we wanted to demonstrate the following: We will not sacrifice the nation's independence to romanticism of the peoples brotherhood. I say this to you for the first time. This is the message I want to convey. That is, it is not possible to live there together. Neither in a federative structure nor as a united whole nor with the island joining the EU." (MY)

[05] Denktash: Cyprus will either be united or partitioned

According to KIBRIS (24.8.96) Rauf Denktash has said that Cyprus has a future either united under a bizonal and bicommunal system or partitioned into two "national states".

Speaking to the BBC World Service program, Denktash pointed out that there are risks involved in a federal system because it is not possible to bring together people whose brains were injected with animosity and hatred. Denktash added that for such a system to work there would be the need for time, clever leadership as well as protection.

The second choice in Cyprus, Denktash said, would be two separate mini states, and as the time goes by, the two states could enter into cooperation based on common projects and mutual interests.

If this does not succeed, then the choice remaining would be (erecting) a high-rising wall between the two sides, he said.

[06] Anti-Greek demonstration in Turkey

According to TRT (17:00 hours, 23.8.96), an anti-Greek demonstration was staged in the Turkish town of Tekirdag. Citizens gathered outside the Rustem Mosque following the Friday prayers and started to march chanting slogans such as "Cyprus will be a graveyard for the Greeks," "Down with the PKK," and "United Nations give accounts."

[07] Mesut YIlmaz re-elected ANAP leader

According to TRT (17:00 hours, 24.8.96) the fifth Motherland Party (ANAP) congress was held in Ankara and Mesut Yilmaz was re-elected party leader. A total of 1,235 delegates voted in the leadership elections. Of the 1,202 valid votes, 1,032 were cast for Yilmaz, while Izmir Deputy Isin Celebi, the other leadership candidate, received 170 votes. In his speech at the congress, Yilmaz remarked that the nation is tired of livelihood problems and anxiety about the future and wants change. He said: "We are the only party that will introduce this change. This task befalls us now, just as we led this country from darkness into light in the past."