Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-11-12

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TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.203/96 12.11.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erbakan receives briefing on, discusses Cyprus.

[02] Eroglu receives Uzbek labour delegation.

[03] Eroglu comments on Ledra Palace issue, Clerides statements.

[04] President Clerides accuses the occupation regime of being responsible for the recent tension on the island.

[05] Idealist Turkish and Kurdish students fought-four wounded.

[06] Turkish State Minister in the occupied area.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Turkey is ready to sit around the negotiation table.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erbakan receives briefing on, discusses Cyprus

The prime minister was briefed on the Cyprus issue. Before the briefing session, Erbakan said that the government studies the basic issues one by one, and that within this framework, the economic development of the occupied area is of great importance for Turkey.

"As we always point out, there are two basic issues for us in Cyprus. One is peace and tranquility on the island. There are two separate states on the island. We want these two states to live side by side together in peace and tranquility. The second important issue is for Turkey, the motherland, to extend every kind of support and aid for the economic development of the TRNC. Our kinsmen in Cyprus are our kinsmen and brothers. Their welfare is our welfare. That is why we are holding an important meeting today with a view to extending every kind of necessary aid as the motherland."

Erbakan pointed out that the occupied area covers 3,355 square km of land and has a population of 183,290. Its Gross National Product is 34.317 trillion Turkish lira, and its annual growth rate is 2.7 percent, he said, adding that imports amount to $303 million while exports amount to merely $57 million. He noted that tourism revenues are not enough to cover the difference.

"Cyprus is the land of our kinsmen and it is also a kind of shop window of Turkey's. When the world looks at the TRNC, it sees the results of the cooperation between Turkey and the TRNC. We want these results to be good results. Therefore, we will do all we can, and extend every support we can."

Erbakan said that this support will not only be on paper, but will also be programmed and followed closely.

The meeting was attended by State Minister Abdullah Gul, Turkish envoy to Nicosia Ertugrul Apakan, and other officials.

[02] Eroglu receives Uzbek labour delegation

Eroglu said that this visit will play an important role in the promotion of the pseudostate. He thanked Metal-Is leader Mustafa Ozbek for the steps the federation takes to contribute to the economy of the occupied area.

Mustafa Ozbek said that the aim of Metal-Is is to bring guest unionists to northern Cyprus in order to contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem. He added that Metal-Is will also pay visits to the newly established Turkic states to promote the pseudostate, and will bring to the island the guest unionists who go to Turkey.

Jamalov who is also a deputy in his country said that this was his first visit to Cyprus, and thanked Mustafa Ozbek for his help He said that Uzbekistan has many historic and tourist sites, and that tourism and economic relations will be developed between the two countries.

[03] Eroglu comments on Ledra Palace issue, Clerides statements

In a statement he issued after the meeting, which lasted approximately 40 minutes, Eroglu recalled that a Turkish Cypriot delegation will visit Turkey in a bid to sign a protocol and that he had briefed Denktash on this issue. In reply to a question on when the visit to Turkey will take place, Eroglu noted that Abdullah Gul, State Minister responsible for Cyprus affairs, will arrive in the occupied area on 15 November and added that Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan will be briefed on the Cyprus issue in Ankara today. Eroglu announced that the visit to Ankara will follow these contacts and the 15 November ceremonies.

Explaining that the statements issued by Denktash and Clerides to a local newspaper and the crossings at the border gate were discussed at the meeting, Eroglu stressed that it is impossible to accept President Clerides invitation to meet only after the guarantee system is eliminated. We particularly stress the guarantee system, Eroglu said and added that the Turkish Cypriots are aware that Clerides statements are a manoeuvre aimed at eliminating the guarantee system. Noting that Clerides introduced the elimination of the guarantee system as a condition for sitting at the negotiation table, Eroglu added that a meeting which will eliminate the guarantee system cannot be accepted.

In reply to a question, Eroglu announced that 11 tourists were allowed to cross into the occupied area from the Greek Cypriot side and added: "The Turkish Cypriot side is displaying flexibility on this issue." Explaining that the results of the measures taken by the Turkish Cypriot side are becoming evident, Eroglu added, the situation at Ledra Palace is being investigated. We will act according to the stand adopted by the Greek Cypriot side," he said.

[04] President Clerides accuses the occupation regime of being responsible for the recent tension on the island

YENIDUZEN (11.11.96) reporting under banner headlines "Clerides Spoke to YENIDUZEN" says that in an inclusive interview to YENIDUZEN President Clerides referred to the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and the incidents in Dherinia.

President Clerides said that the recent tension on the island was the result of strong reaction shown by the Turkish occupation regime to the demonstration organized by the Greek Cypriot motorcyclists. (MY)

[05] Idealist Turkish and Kurdish students fought-four wounded

ORTAM says that yesterday a group of students numbering around forty fought each other infront of the Near East University. During the fight in which rightist idealists fought against the students of Kurdish origin, four students were stabbed and wounded.

ORTAM said that one of the idealists student tried to draw his gun but fortunately the Kurdish group was able to run away from the scene.

The paper adds that 14 students were arrested for interrogation. (MY)

[06] Turkish State Minister in the occupied area

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Turkey is ready to sit around the negotiation table

He was referring to Greece and the Greek Cypriots... He was telling that Greece and the Greek Cypriots were running away from the negotiation table...

According to the highest representative of the state, Turkey not only should have to solve the Cyprus problem but it should solve all the problems that it has with Greece. He has realized that on the verge of 2000 there should be a warm climate to prevail, between Athens and Ankara.

Here the key role will be what Athens will do in this new period. If it is ready to solve all its problems with Turkey it will come to the negotiation table. What will bring Athens to the negotiation table, will be its own interests as well as Washington's pressure.

Ankara has already felt the direction of the winds. It is getting ready to take its position accordingly. If you listen recent statements coming from Athens you will realize that they too have felt the direction of the winds.

Meanwhile our Athens ambassador Umit Pamir tries to monitor the atmosphere in the neighbourgh. The information which he will supply will play an important role in the relations between the two countries. (MY)