Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-11-18

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.207/96 16-17-18.11.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash repeats that the problem will be solved either through an agreement or through finalization of the division.

[02] Denktash receives congratulatory message from Demirel.

[03] Denktash delivers "Anniversary" speeche, repeats views on EU issue.

[04] Conservative MEP: The European Parliament is angry with Turkey.

[05] Turkish Minister supports initiation of Qoran courses in the occupied area.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash repeats that the problem will be solved either through an agreement or through finilization of the division

Pointing out that the Cyprus problem will reach an important crossroads in 1997, Denktash stated: "Either the world will recognize our rights, tell the Greek Cypriots that they are not the legitimate government of Cyprus, and force them to sit at the negotiating table, or the Greek Cypriots will be unilaterally admitted into the EU. In either case, the problem will be resolved -- by means of an agreement or through the finalization of the island's division."

Denktash also reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots will not join the EU unless Turkey is also a member. He claimed that the balances between Turkey and Greece cannot be tipped in Greece's favour.

Referring to economic issues, Denktash said that "the people should look at the future with confidence and the year 1997 will bring favourable things for the Turkish Cypriots from an economic aspect." He conveyed the message that the future will be brighter.

Participating in the television program by telephone, Demirel congratulated the Turkish Cypriots on the 13th "anniversary" of the "TRNC".

Demirel claimed that the Turkish Cypriots "deserve the TRNC, which was established as a result of the great struggle they waged". The Turkish president also alleged that the Turkish Cypriots do not reject a political solution.

Underlining that Turkey will not abandon its rights deriving from international agreements, Demirel declared that Turkey has legal as well as moral responsibilities vis-a-vis its kinsmen in Cyprus. He stated: "I have legal and moral commitments towards our kinsmen in Cyprus." He explained that security is one of these commitments.

[02] Denktash receives congratulatory message from Demirel

In his message, Demirel said Turkey is determined to continue extending help to the Turkish Cypriots so that they can live in peace and tranquility.

Expressing the belief that a happy and bright future in unity and togetherness awaits the Turkish Cypriots, Demirel said that "Turkey will continue to defend the Cyprus issue, which is its national cause, in solidarity with the TRNC".

[03] Denktash delivers "Anniversary" speech, repeats views on EU issue

And he continued: "We will not agree to go anywhere without Turkey. We will turn our back on formulas put forward to remove Turkey's effective guarantee. We will not agree to them. We will not break away from Turkey. Nor will we allow anyone to break our links with Turkey."

Addressing himself to the Greek Cypriots, he claimed: "You forced us to shed our blood for every inch of this territory. We will not fall on our knees and agree to remove our state for the sake of peace. We are a sovereign community and you will respect our sovereignty. We will then hold talks under equal conditions. If you still want a partnership government established, then we will try to establish it". And he went on claiming: "I will reiterate the views that were outlined by the TGNA recently. Europe has made a serious mistake. It has misled you. It has encouraged you to take the wrong direction. Europe has been misled by Greece, which deceived you and placed you in a difficult situation in the past... You will continue to suffer. Do not rely on your missiles, artillery units, or tanks. What is important is to be right."

And addressing President Clerides he also claimed: "My friend, Cyprus has been divided into two part. You must realize that. You are responsible for that. If you want to reunite it, then the way to do so is to respect the rights and status that are based on the 1960 agreements. Turkey's equality with Greece is the main principle of those rights and status. You cannot undermine it. Cyprus will be divided forever if your do. You cannot do that. You have moved to join the EU to remove the principle of equality and place the entire island under you control. You are wrong. That will mean the permanent partition of Cyprus. We urge you to agree to reach an agreement as two equal and sovereign sides. We urge you not to touch the system of guarantees and to refrain from weakening the principle of bizonality."

[04] Conservative MEP: The European Parliament is angry with Turkey

Moorhouse, answering questions regarding the relations between Turkey and the European Parliament (EP), said that nobody in the EP had any respect for Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller.

"We are very clear about Mrs. Ciller in the EP. The name Ciller is a dirty word in the EP. Nobody but nobody has any respect for Mrs. Ciller", said Moorhouse.

Referring to the critical view the EP has of Turkey, Moorhouse indirectly said Turkey could be included on a list of countries defined as dictatorships. "I can understand why the socialist group (in the EP) has taken such a critical view", he said. "They have a tradition against countries which they regard as (under a )dictatorship. Maybe Turkey is not a dictatorship but they may regard it as a dictatorship. A dictatorship is where the army is known to play a significant part in politics. I have got extreme examples, such as Argentina and Chile, but there are many other examples."

Referring to claims that the center-right has always been more sympathetic to Turkey than the left in the EP, Moorhouse said: "The European People's Party, as it is called in the EP, has, maybe, been inclined to be more sympathetic toward Turkey than socialist groups.

But in the past year or two members of my group have become more and more uneasy about the policy of the government of Turkey. There has been unease about the Cyprus issue for a long time," he said.

Referring to the customs union agreement, Moorhouse went on: "I suppose at the outset this seemed rather a formality. Because after all, as the European Union, we are making arrangements and having agreements all around the world".

But talking about the EP's approach to Turkey at present, he said that most of those who had voted in favour of the customs union now regret having done so.

"In the past few months, the majority of the Parliament has started to feel that they were severely misled by Mrs. Ciller in particular and also by other ministers... The human rights violations continue much as before, and maybe they are even worse. Yasar Kemal's case does not seem to be acceptable. This is not agreeable in Western democracy's criteria," he said.

"One does wonder about the role of the army. The real extent to which the Turkish society is really fully democratic, though I acknowledge there have been elections, is the real question we must ask", he said with a cynical expression on his face. "The members of the Parliament are also very surprised to see Mrs. Ciller in coalition with the Islamist party, the Welfare Party. She had argued during the customs union debates that if we do not approve the customs union agreement, Turkey would get an Islamist government. It was amazing to see her joining the coalition after all the anti-propaganda she made about the Islamist party. Many parliamentarians, I think, feel very naive in dealing with the situation", Moorhouse said. And added: "The position at the moment in Turkey is that there could be no question whatsoever of Turkey becoming a member of the EU for all the sort of reasons I just counted. I know that they are also member of the Council of Europe. But I think they also infringe on many of the conventions of the Council of Europe."

Moorhouse said that MEPs expressed the belief for the need of determined effort to solve the situation in Cyprus. "The reason they ask for this is because the negotiations will start for Cyprus' membership soon and with the divided island it would be very difficult. Mrs. Ciller herself made some rather blood thirsty remarks after the killings of Greek Cypriots in Cyprus", he said.

"This is another problem we face with Mrs. Ciller. The EU was also attacked by some ministers, like Ayvaz Gokdemir who named three women EP parliamentarians `prostitutes'. Despite the harsh criticism against him, he was kept in the Cabinet by Mrs. Ciller herself", he added.

Asked whether Cyprus could become a member even if there was no solution on the island, he said that the commission was so optimistic it expected the problem to be solved soon. "However, the commission is inclined to speak as such. It is difficult to know whether they are genuine or not. The Parliament has to give the final word, it is hard to see at this stage what the actions of the Parliament would be. But it would not be the same situation, as in Turkey's case, where the government was so anxious of the customs union but where Turkey's business community was so wanted by Europe. You do not have a very big business community in Cyprus. There might not be that much demand for Cyprus by the EU business community", he pointed out.

[05] Turkish Minister supports initiation of Qoran courses in the occupied area

Denktash further added that speeches made during the ceremony should be later on published as a booklet.

Furthermore, KIBRIS (18.11.96) reports that Turkey's State Minister Responsible for Religious Affairs, Nevzat Ercan, who was in the occupied area for the stone-laying ceremony of the Kyrenia mosque, has declared that there is a huge moral vacuum in the occupied are and that this gap should be filled. He said that Qoran courses should be opened for the children in the occupied area.

Prior to his departure for Turkey, speaking at the occupied Tymbou airport, he declared that religious schools should be opened in the occupied area in order to prepare imams and religious men. He also suggested that religion should be taught at schools as well.

He also promised that Turkey's Religious Affairs Department will extend every assistance to this end.

On the other hand, ORTAM (18.11.96) calls Ercan's statement an "Ugly Intervention" and says: "Ercan has forgotten that he is in another country and said that they will put into practice the work to establish religious studies in the occupied area". (MY)