Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-11-08

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TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.201/96 8.11.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Taurus-2 military exercises end; Denktash and others comment.

[02] Akinci on solution and E.U. accession.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Taurus-2 military exercises end; Denktash and others comment

In a statement following the conclusion of the exercises, Rauf Denktash expressed "great pride" over the successful performance of the F-16s and the TAF. Denktash asked that no one engage in any protest action using the pretext of the military exercises, and stressed that no one has the right to do this.

The so-called Assembly Speaker of the pseudostate, Hakki Atun, stressed that to attain peace, it is necessary to be ready for war. This was the objective of the exercises, Atun noted, and said that the outcome of the exercises is a source of pride. He declared that the Turkish state is a very powerful state. Atun said that as a guarantor state, Turkey secured peace first in Cyprus and then in the region.

The so-called Prime Minister, Dervis Eroglu, threatened that the neighbours in the south were given the message that they should abandon any idea of launching an operation against the north. Admitting that the TAF is stationed in the occupied area to secure "peace", Eroglu noted, however, that the best response to those who declare war against the occupied area was given in the exercises. He said: "Our southern neighbours should not engage in any madness relying on the 20-30 tanks they purchased from Russia. In this context, these exercises sent significant messages. They must realize that our people feel secure. The government, in turn, will fulfill its duty in this regard and continue its close cooperation with motherland Turkey."

[02] Akinci on solution and E.U accession

Speaking to the Turkish Cypriots living in London, Akinci said that although he was not a fortune-teller, he could not say whether there would be a settlement in Cyprus in 1997. He added: "if both sides have the political will then there is no reason why there can't be a settlement".

Criticizing Denktash's stance in the face of Turkish Cypriot emigration Akinci said: "In the past we used not to lock our doors, now we have turned into a society where a Turk is afraid of another Turk. This situation is also harming our cause."

Akinci further added that a possible settlement in Cyprus would have positive effects on the Greco-Turkish relations. He supported Cyprus' entry into the EU after the settlement of the Cyprus problem.

He also opposed the idea of Turkish Cypriots integrating with Turkey. He branded it a big danger.

One-sided entry into the EU will cement the division and non-solution in the island, said Akinci, and stressed that it would be the Turkish Cypriots who would be harmed more by emigrating. "My party and myself", he added, "are against northern Cyprus becoming a province of Turkey".

KIBRIS reports that Akinci had a meeting yesterday with British Labour MP Pauline Greene. (MY)