Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-11-25

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 212/96 23.24.25/11/96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu, Serdar Denktash meet British official.

[02] Eroglu leaves for Turkey, cites Turkey's guaranteed support.

[03] Eroglu rejects U.S., U.K. proposal on occupation troops withdrawal.

[04] Denktash on Pangalos remarks on Cyprus' EU membership.

[05] Children at risk of torture, death in custody and disappearance', says AI report on Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu, Serdar Denktash meet British official

Dervis Eroglu and Serdar Denktash separately met with a delegation headed by Simon Smith, deputy director of the British Foreign Office Southern Europe desk. In a statement after the meeting, Eroglu claimed that "the Greek Cypriots' intransigence is caused by the EU's encouragement of the Greek Cypriots' membership." He said that he explained the realities of Cyprus to Smith. Eroglu stressed that the Turkish Cypriots oppose the discussion of the Cyprus question together with the Turkish-Greek problems as a package. "Contrary to what the Greek Cypriots say", he claimed, "there is common ground, and we can come together within this framework."

Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriots are pleased with Britain's interest in the Cyprus problem. He added: "Britain, which is a party to the guarantee agreement, will better understand our sensitivity about the guarantee system."

Eroglu said that at the meeting, he also raised the question of the Greek Cypriot "provocations" and the situation of the Turkish Cypriots working at the base area.

In a statement after his meeting with the British official, Serdar Dentkash said that the meeting was specially important in terms of visits paid by foreign representatives to "officials" of the pseudostate at their posts. He said that if a solution is to be reached in Cyprus, it is important to hear the views of both sides on the island. He added that he explained the Turkish Cypriot angle on the issue of the EU. He claimed that the Greek Cypriots will not feel the need to sign an agreement as long as the EU gives them the green light and sees them as the Cyprus government and as long as the embargo on the Turkish Cypriot side is not lifted. "The thing to do," he claimed, "is to help improve the economy of the TRNC. We will develop our own state. While doing that, we will be open to a solution. A solution based on two states is more than an agreement. Such a solution where the two sides are represented equally would preclude a war. However, an agreement where the two sides are not treated equally and fairly and where the economic imbalance is great can be replaced by a war very quickly," he added.

Smith said that he is holding contacts on the island in connection with the Cyprus problem, and that they discussed the upcoming visits of the UN secretary. Smith said that on his return to Britain, he will give British Foreign Secretary Rifkind a report on his contacts. Rifkind will arrive on the island before the end of the year.

[02] Eroglu leaves for Turkey, cites Turkey's guaranteed support

Replying to a question Eroglu said that he is not scheduled to hold any official talks in Istanbul but that he will be going to Ankara within a few days for official talks. He pointed out that he held a telephone conversation with Abdullah Gul, Turkish state minister responsible for Cyprus affairs, during which Gul told him that the Turkish Republican Government agrees with the views and proposals posited by the "government" of the pseudostate. He expressed the belief that he will go to Ankara within 10 days to sign the protocol.

Asked to comment on allegations that Turkey will stop supporting the "TRNC" if there is an economic crisis, Eroglu said these are false allegations. He added that Turkey has been giving the "TRNC" every kind of guarantee in connection with that issue.

Eroglu is being accompanied by his "under secretary," Tahsin Ertugruloglu. In Instanbul he will also meet with Turkish Cypriot students and citizens living there.

[03] Eroglu rejects U.S., UK proposal on occupation troops withdrawal

Pointing out that there are messages from the United States and Britain that the Turkish troops should be withdrawn from Cyprus and replaced by an international military force, Eroglu said that it is impossible for the Turkish Cypriot side to accept such a proposal.

"The Cyprus issue is one that concerns Cyprus and the two peoples in Cyprus. Those who must resolve this problem are in Cyprus. Therefore a negotiating table must be set up in Cyprus. The sides must sit at this negotiating table under equal conditions and the talks must begin. In my oppinion, it is impossible to expect two people to reach concilliation while one of them holds the status of the president of Cyprus and the other of a community leader", he claimed.

Eroglu also claimed that the "border vielations" in Cyprus are deliberate acts undertaken by the Greek Cypriots with the aim of conveying to the Western public the message that Cyprus is under Turkish occupation.

In reply to a question, Eroglu said that islamic countries did not indicate that they will recognize the "TRNC", nor did they extend any economic support to the Turkish Cypriots. "Some Islamic countries even support south Cyprus economically," Eroglu remarked.

[04] Denktash on Pangalos remarks on Cyprus' EU membership

Denktash said that "as long as Greece continues to be a member of the EU, with these morals and this policy, the Turkish Cypriots refuse to become members of the EU unless Turkey also becomes a member." He added that faced with this Greek stand, the Turkish Cypriots find it unnecessary to participate in negotiations where the EU issue is on the agenda.

Denktash said that the Turkish Cypriots will see whether or not the EU will surrender to this "immoral blackmail", as he put it.

[05] Children at risk of torture, death in custody and disappearance', says AI report on Turkey

Children as young as 12, in some cases detained on suspicion of very minor offences, have been subjected to appaling cruelty in police custody - include beatings, electric shocks and hosing with cold water.

Young girls and boys are held alone, blindfolded, and often naked - almost invariably in the hands of unidentified male police officers says the report.

The AI report says that allegations of sexual torture of juveniles are frequent and in some cases they are corroborated by medical and other evidence, through detention for days or weeks without access to a doctor, family members or legal representation ensures that such evidence is often extremely difficult to obtain.

Representatives of AI claim that this catalogue of violations exposes the hypocrisy of the Turkish government, which last year pledged to protect children's rights when it ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child yet has done virtually nothing to stop the harrowing abuse of its most vulnerable citizens. EF/LKP