Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-09-17

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

No. 168/96 17.9.96

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH REPEATS VIEWS ON EU MEMBERSHIP According to illegal Bayrak Radio (1030 hours, 16/9/96) Rauf Denktash has said that the Turkish Cypriots cannot accept the application made by the Cyprus government to the EU as an application made on behalf of Cyprus. He said that France, Germany, and Britain have started making initiatives to seek the Turkish Cypriot side's help for the membership of the Greek Cypriots to the EU.

Denktash met with British High Commissioner David Madden yesterday morning. In a statement to the press after the meeting, Denktash claimed that if the Turkish Cypriots do that, it will mean that they are denying the resolutions they have reached for the past 33 years and accepting the Cyprus government as the legitimate government of Cyprus. We cannot do that, he said.

Denktash claimed that because of an "off-the-mark" resolution it reached, the EU is ignoring the rights granted to the two sides in Cyprus by international agreements. He alleged that this stand has caused the suspension of the intercommunal talks.

Denktash said that the countries that claim to support the initiatives of the UN Secretary General must implement the Secretary General's formula. He said: "What is the formula? That the problem is resolved first, and that only then is Cyprus' membership in the EU placed on the agenda. Then the two communities hold separate referenda on the issue and reach an agreement."

Denktash stated that the countries that started the initiative must remind the Greek Cypriots of the UN Secretary General's formula and say that they cannot accept the Greek Cypriot application to the EU unless the Cyprus problem is resolved. He added: "If you cannot say this, then you do not have the right to expect us to support the Greek Cypriot application."

He added that the EU says that it supports the UN Secretary General's formula on the one hand, and refuses to say that the guarantees system will be maintained even in the way the UN Security Council approves it, on the other. "They want to make the Greek Cypriots rule us, and they expect us to accept this", he claimed, "and obviously, they are wrong."

David Madden said that his meeting was part of the process of talks being conducted with the concerned sides in Cyprus. He expressed the hope that there will be progress toward the solution of the Cyprus problem. He added that during the meeting they also discussed British special representative Sir David Hannay's visit to Cyprus in October, as well as the contacts in Cyprus of Han Sung-chu, the UN Secretary General's special envoy in Cyprus.

[02] GREEK CYPRIOT SOLDIERS FIRE WARNING SHOTS

According to illegal Bayrak Radio (1030 hours, 16/9/96), the fact that two nights ago, west of Pyla village, Greek Cypriot soldiers fired about 20 warning shots means they continue to carry out acts of provocation. The Greek Cypriot radio confirmed the shots and said that the soldiers fired warning shots at people who were acting suspiciously.

The "Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence" has asked the UN peace-keeping force authorities for information about the incident.

[03] ANAP DEPUTY RESIGNS FROM PARTY

According to TRT (1500 hours, 16/9/96) Abdulkadir Aksu, Motherland Party (ANAP) deputy from Diyarbakir, has resigned from his party. With Aksu's resignation the number of ANAP deputies in the assembly has decreased to 129 and the number of independents has increased to 10.

[04] DENKTASH: WE DO NOT INTEND TO EXPAND INTO THE SOUTH

KIBRIS (17/9/96) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has declared that "neither the Turkish Cypriots nor Turkey intend to expand to the South or to create incidents along the borders".

Denktash claimed that rumours that the Turkish side would create incidents or expand to the South are aimed at causing panic among the Greek Cypriots and fanning the flames of Turkish animosity, and prepare the ground for future "evil actions."

He said: "Certain ill-intentioned people in the Greek Cypriot side are fabricating and disseminating misinformation among the Greek Cypriots with a view to creating panic and fanning the flames of Turkish animosity. Thus they will use the people's doubts, anger, irritation as a base for their future evil actions. The Greek Cypriot people should not be taken into such gossip that is continuously misleading them. Neither we nor Turkey intend to expand into the South nor create incidents along the borders. There is no reason to resort to such actions that we have not done until today.

The answer to be given to the recent border incidents that cost the lives of three young men is to sit around the negotiation table and solve this problem that is closing its 33rd year, within the framework of the parameters before us".