Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-10-08

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TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.180/96 8.10.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash departs for Germany.

[02] Erbakan leaves Libya on sour note.

[03] Taner Etkin repeats threats of integration.

[04] New general secretariat for the New Cyprus Party.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash departs for Germany

After Germany Denktash will go to Istanbul on 11 October and will return to the occupied area the next day.

According to illegal Bayrak radio (10:30 hours, 7.10.96), Denktash replied to questions by illegal TAK (Turkish Cypriot News Agency).

Alleging that the Cyprus issue is an intercommunal problem, Denktash claimed that this problem was created in 1963 and it consists of establishing a new partnership. Denktash stated that the Greek Cypriots are portraying the Cyprus issue as a problem between the Cyprus Government and the occupier, Turkey.

Denktash said that in all his statements, President Clerides tries to address Turkey as his respondent, and alleged: "We are not included in his considerations. He is making the wrong calculation. His counterpart, in fact his exact counterpart, is the Turkish Cypriot side."

Noting that this is also the case regarding the UN Secretary General's reports, Denktash declared: "We, in turn, do not recognize the occupier Greek Cypriot Administration", as he put it.

"Clerides will not achieve anything by evading talks with the Turkish Cypriots under equal conditions or attempting to treat Turkey as its counterpart", Denktash claimed.

Asked to comment on Government Spokesman Yiannakis Cassoulides' remarks that measures will be adopted to prevent him from holding official contacts in places that he will visit, Denktash alleged that the Greek Cypriot side always creates obstacles.

Denktash was also asked to confirm Greek Cypriot press reports that with regard to the military dialogue, the United States asked the Security Forces commander to wear the ranks and decorations of the Turkish occupation forces in a bid to dispel any impression that the United States recognizes the "TRNC". Denktash responded: "The Greek Cypriots have a wild imagination. No one made such a nonsensical suggestion to me."

[02] Erbakan leaves Libya on sour note

Vindicating strong objections to Erbakan's trip at home, the Libyan leader stunned Erbakan and his entourage of officials by telling a news conference that he wanted to see a place also for the Kurdish people under the sun, as Turkey's Islamist prime minister listened in incredulous silence.

The Libyan leader's words are potentially embarrassing for Erbakan, whose tentative attempts at a dialogue with the Kurdish leadership after taking office has already angered the establishment, which remain committed to a military solution.

Erbakan earlier defied a strong opposition campaign against the inclusion of the internationally-isolated north African country in his tour because of similar recent remarks by Gadhafi, saying he sought economic benefits for Turkey. The visit also threatened to cause a government crisis as Interior Minister Mehmet Agar refused to sign the customary cabinet decision on the trip with apparent blessing from the military and the security services.

In an indication of what is facing Erbakan on his return, main opposition Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz, engaged in talks with other opposition leaders to bring down the government, on Sunday treated Erbakan to another verbal bombardment over the trip.

"If a terrorist dictator attempts to lecture the great Turkish state, the only reason for that is the fallacy of our prime minister," Yilmaz snapped. In his speech the Libyan leader also slammed the Turkish governments for ties with Israel, part of the blame going to Erbakan who, for the sake of coming to power, had buried his former militancy against the Jewish state to endorse an agreement which allows Israeli fighter pilots to train in Turkey.

Addressing reporters after the Libyan leader spoke, Erbakan alleged that Turkey had no Kurdish problem, but one of terrorism.

In Nigeria - a visit also frowned upon by Turkey's Western allies because of the human rights record of its military regime - Erbakan is seeking increased trade.

Egypt, the supposedly least problematic stop of Erbakan's three-nation trip, also contributed its own headaches for the Islamist leader who came under fire at home for swallowing the "insult" to Turkey through the Egyptians' refusal to hoist the Turkish flag on the arrival and departure of the prime minister.

[03] Taner Etkin repeats threats of integration

Etkin claimed that "once the Turkish forces withdraw from the island, border incidents will break out."

He called Denktash's visit to Germany as being "part of an on-going political attack" adding that "the struggle will continue until the TRNC is recognized."

[04] New general secretariat for the New Cyprus Party