Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-09-25

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

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS

AND OTHER MEDIA

173/96 25.9.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

No.173/96 25.9.96

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Etkin: Election results will not change Greek policy

According to illegal Bayrak radio (15:30 hours, 23.9.96) Taner Etkin, "foreign affairs and defense minister", said that the election results in Greece do not carry much importance in terms of the Turkish Cypriots and added: "Greek policies toward us will not change regardless of who wins the elections."

Etkin, who assessed the Greek election results for ANATOLIA agency, claimed that Greek policies toward the Turkish Cypriots will not change and that Greece is pursuing a tripartite policy together with the Cyprus Government and the Church. He repeated once again that Cyprus will never become a Greek island.

[02] Eroglu alleges EP resolution on Cyprus politically motivated

According to illegal Bayrak radio (15:30 hours, 24.9.96) "Prime Minister" Dervis Eroglu has alleged that if third parties want an agreement in Cyprus, they must pressure the Greek Cypriot side to come to the negotiating table.

He was interviewed by illegal TAK [Turkish Cypriot News Agency] on the European Parliament (EP) resolution on the Cyprus issue and on the Cyprus report drawn up by the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) Cyprus Follow-Up Committee.

He claimed that the resolution was adopted as a gesture in view of the Greek elections and that it is "politically motivated, one-sided, and prejudiced."

Asked to comment on the conditions the EP has posited concerning Cyprus in order to extend aid to Turkey, Eroglu replied: "Just because this is what the Greek-Greek Cypriot lobby wants, the EP members should not expect the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey to give up their rights and interests in Cyprus in response to financial blackmail."

Eroglu added: "The Turkish Army, which is in Cyprus on the basis of the authority granted to it by the 1960 guarantee agreement, will remain here as long as necessary for the security of the Turkish Cypriots. That is why the EP resolution only serves to undermine the EP's credibility."

He also said that the stage reached in the wake of the EP resolution makes it necessary for the Turkish Government to make a new and urgent assessment. He added that the Turkish Cypriot "government" has started technical work regarding this issue and that it will go to Turkey soon to give a final shape to the steps to be taken.

On the Cyprus report drawn up by the IPU Cyprus Follow-up Committee, Eroglu said that even though the committee calls for the resumption of the Cyprus talks, it does not clearly indicate which side left the negotiating table. He claimed that third parties that want an agreement in Cyprus must pressure the Greek Cypriot side to come to the negotiating table.

Eroglu alleged that forced formulas can only make the recent "threats" permanent and turn Cyprus into a bomb that may go off at any moment.

[03] DYP says EP decision is against Turkish national interests

According to TRT (17:00 hours, 23.9.96) Hayri Kozakcioglu, True Path Party deputy leader, has stated that the latest European Parliament (EP) decision in connection with Turkey was against the interests of the Turkish Republic and not the government.

In a news conference in Ankara, Kozakcioglu said that there were attempts to interpret the EP decision with claims to the effect that it excluded Turkey from Europe because Tansu Ciller, the then prime minister, did not keep her promises. Kozakcioglu said that the Turkish Government's failure to fulfill what was expected of it on the Cyprus issue and to secure any developments on issues such as human rights and democratization were listed as the reasons for the decision. Further noting that "the decision criticized the struggle waged by the Turkish Armed Forces against terrorism" and that it portrayed a part of Turkey as divided, Kozakcioglu added: "In addition, Turkey is held responsible for the incidents in the Aegean Sea and Cyprus."

Pointing out that Turkish soldiers in Cyprus were portrayed as occupying forces in the EP decision, Kozakcioglu claimed: "This is unacceptable."

[04] Kalemli on Australian Parliament decision on Cyprus

According to Anatolia agency (4:30 hours, 24.9.96), Turkish parliament speaker Mustafa Kalemli and a delegation accompanying him returned to Turkey after concluding contacts in Australia.

Mentioning about a decision of Australian Parliament on the Cyprus issue which was against Turkey, Kalemli said "we hope that this friendly Parliament would correct its decision which was against Turkey soon."

Kalemli said the decision was showing Turkey as an occupying force in Cyprus adding "we have sent the parliament a letter immediately and condemned the decision as a biased one."

Kalemli said setting up bilateral confidence was vital to find a lasting solution and to install a new relationship between the two communities living in Cyprus adding third sides should promote the two sides by behaving the two equally.

[05] Muftuzade: There are two states in Cyprus

Turkish Daily News (24.9.96) publishes the text of an interview by the so-called "TRNC London representative" Hakki Muftuzade.

When asked how he would evaluate the British government's position on the Greek Cypriot application for full membership to the EU, he said he believed Britain was approaching the issue cautiously.

Britain has been evaluating the idea that after a solution is reached on the island, Cyprus should become a member of the EU. The British government seems to be favouring a solution on the island. They are supporting the initiatives taken by the UN Secretary-General. They do not want a divided island to become a member of the EU," Muftuzade said.

When reminded that despite being in favour of a solution on the island, British officials have been hinting that even if there is not a solution, Cyprus, could become a member of the EU, Muftuzade stated that he did not believe that this was a high possibility.

"If the EU lets the Greek Cypriots join, this would mean dividing the island into two. The presence of the British bases on the island is also another factor that will be considered both by the British government and by their NATO allies in making the EU's decision regarding membership. It would make membership more difficult," he underlined but refused to explain why the bases would have a negative effect on the decision.

Further on he claimed that if the Greek side sits on the negotiation table with the EU six months after the inter-governmental conference, "we will be forced to evaluate our position and choose one of the alternatives we have".

When asked what was these alternatives were, he claimed: "There are two states in Cyprus today. The two states are continuing their lives as usual. We founded our state in 1963-64. Since then, we have existed. One of the options is to continue to do so as an independent state".

"We are very pleased with the close relations we have with Turkey, and we also have a right to unite with our motherland in economic terms. We could go to economic integration with Turkey if the Greek side is accepted as a full member of the EU," Muftuzade claimed as a second alternative.

Referring to the approach the Western media has toward the "TRNC's" arguments, Muftuzade described it as "biased". "The media in the West, unfortunately, is not objective but is dancing with the Greek side regarding the Cyprus problem", he claimed and added that "the media was a tool of the Greek lobby which was trying to show Turkey and the TRNC as interventionist and aggressive."

Muftuzade also said that there was a de facto situation in Cyprus. "It is the reality that the TRNC exists", he claimed, and continued, referring to the argument that the status quo is likely to continue in Cyprus without reaching any kind of solution, that there needed to be an unusual step taken by the Greek side for a change to occur in Cyprus.

"If the Greek side decides one day that they did unlawful things and oppressed us and if one day they accept the existence of the two states in Cyprus and accept the Turkish side's sovereignty and signals that they favour a federal solution too, then things might change in Cyprus", he alleged.

"However, they do not say this. They see us as a minority. As long as this attitude and belief does not change, together with the international bodies' response to us, I believe that a solution on Cyprus is very unlikely", he concluded.

[06] Turkish Cypriot participation in Taekwondo championship

BIRLIK (25.9.96) reports that the so-called Turkish Cypriot Taekwondo team has been invited to take part in the International Taekwondo championship to be held in Poland between 5-10 October 1996. (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Simitis' win seen "auspicious" for Turkish-Greek relations

Sami Kohen writing in MILLIYET (21.9.96) under the title "Simitis or Evert, Who is Better?" inter alia says:

"Turkey has always been the main target in Greek election campaigns. We still remember Papandreou's election statements. But Simitis avoided making demagogic remarks, despite pressure on him by the opposition parties. For example, Evert and the other political party leaders blamed him for the lowering of the Greek flag on the Kardak (Imia) islets and even accused him of committing treachery. But he stayed calm and said that Greece's interests had to be considered. He even said: `I will adopt the same approach if we are confronted with a similar situation'.

No significant difference exists among the Greek political party leaders when it comes to Turkey, disputes in the Aegean Sea, and the Cyprus problem." And Kohen continues:

"All Greek politicians maintain similar views on many problems, from Greece's rights in the Aegean Sea to the Cyprus problem. Undoubtedly, that also applies to what they describe as the `Turkish threat'. They differ only in the way they approach the problems and the style they decide to adopt. But is it not true that the political parties also share similar views on many problems in Turkey?

It must be stressed that the differing approach and style of the politicians may pave the way for change. We believe that Simitis' calm and responsible approach inspires hope for the future. Considering relations between Turkey and Greece, we are convinced that Simitis' return to power could be auspicious for the two countries."

EF/SK