Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-12-05

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.220/96 5.12.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash "proposes" to abandon the Joint Defence Doctrine.

[02] Eroglu on salary payments, policy change on Cyprus.

[03] Preparations for census in the occupied area.

[04] Denktash comments on meeting with EU's Heaslip, Abou.

[05] Heaslip envisions direct talks in 1997.

[06] 5.2% inflation rate in Turkey in November.

[07] Talat criticizes Denktash regarding his stance on the EU.

[08] Denktash meets foreign diplomats.

[09] UNFICYP Spokesman complains Turkish Cypriots do not let them do their job with the enclaved.

[10] Asil Nadir establishes broadcasting corporation.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash "proposes" to abandon the Joint Defence Doctrine

Claiming that the abandoning of the Joint Defence Doctrine will make the Greek Cypriots feel more at ease than the Turkish Cypriots Denktash said that "Turkey immediately accepted this proposal made by the USA. It seems that the Greek Cypriots too are accepting it now. They always accept something when they realize the harm done.

If they will fly a plane, we can do the same. It is they who are afraid of the Turkish planes. It is up to them to decide".

Reiterating his "proposal" to abandon the joint defence agreement Denktash said: "This is necessary if Cyprus is to reach tranquility. Such a decision will make the Greek Cypriots more comfortable than us, because the Greek Cypriots admit that these things provoke us and Turkey greatly." "They will be in a difficult situation if we start publishing the messages that are being conveyed to us by the Greek Cypriots", he claimed. (MY)

[02] Eroglu on salary payments, policy change on Cyprus

Speaking of economic problems, Eroglu recalled that they are awaiting an invitation from Turkey for the signing of the protocol and that there could be developments at any moment. Indicating that Turkey is also warmly disposed toward the issue of the liquid cash requested for the arrears, Eroglu said: "The problems are being considered in s positive light and it has been announced that every kind of support will be given."

In connection with the 13th salaries, Eroglu said: "We have no intention of paying them in the form of bonds. They will be paid in cash; there is no cause for anxiety. Though the government is in financial difficulty, we will continue meeting workers' rights".

In the meantime, Eroglu said a new assessment will be made of the Cyprus problem and that a change in policy is on the agenda. Rauf Denktash held his regular weekly meeting yesterday with Eroglu and the "state minister and deputy prime minister", Serdar Denktash.

Noting that economic and political issues were taken up during the meeting, Eroglu said that they specifically discussed the meeting between Denktash and Kester Heaslip, the representative of the EU term president.

Eroglu said: "With what aim he is coming to meet the president? Is he coming to convince us to enter the EU or just to convey the decision they adopted on 6 March and to chart his moves in line with that decision? It is not worth the trouble if he is coming in line with the 6 March decisions, for, as the government, our position is categorical on this issue. We do not endorse that decision."

He claimed that those who offer EU membership should first assess the embargoes.

Reiterating that the evaluation of the Cyprus government's application to the EU in the name of Cyprus and the "disregard" shown for the Turkish Cypriots are unacceptable, Eroglu said in reply to a question that they have no information on the Turkish National Security Councils discussion on the Cyprus problem.

Eroglu said: "We are assessing the problem among ourselves. Maybe an assessment will also be made at a meeting chaired by the honourable president. We hope to discuss the Cyprus problem with the Turkish officials after that. There is a need for a reevaluation in light of developments."

Asked if the agenda includes a change of policy, Eroglu said: "It has never been dropped from our agenda and it should always be there."

[03] Preparations for census in the occupied area

For this first comprehensive census "citizens" have been called upon to act with sensitivity and register for the census.

Ahmet Zeki Bulunc, the head of the so-called Census Committee at the General Census Headquarters and the "undersecretary" at the so-called State Planning Organization, announced that as a requirement of the census system (De-facto) (term in brackets as published) to be applied on 15 December, the entire local and foreign population inside the "TRNC" will be included in the census.

Noting that the questionnaire to be used on census day includes four sections and 29 questions, Bulunc said it will be possible to obtain information on demographic particulars regarding geographical and administrative, household, and socioeconomic structures.

Bulunc said that the census, which is extremely important from the economic and social perspective and requires huge expenditure and effort, could succeed only with care and sensitivity shown by the "public" institutions and establishments and the "citizens".

[04] Denktash comments on meeting with EU's Heaslip, Abou

In a statement he issued after the meeting, Denktash said that he met with the EU delegation as coming from Ireland. Reiterating his claim that the Cyprus government is not the legitimate government of Cyprus, he said: "For this reason, the EU, which is under the influence of this so-called government, views, the Turkish Cypriots as a minority."

Explaining that an assessment of the Cyprus situation should be conducted at this stage, Denktash added: "This is the time to say that we will take no part in this ploy."

Heaslip, in turn, said that he held favourable and encouraging discussions with Denktash on all issues.

[05] Heaslip envisions direct talks in 1997

Heaslip said that he envisioned that direct talks between Denktash and President Glafcos Clerides will start in March 1997. Expressing hopes that the EU membership discussions will start in 1997 or 1998 after a successful agreement is signed between the two sides in Cyprus, Heaslip added that a joint delegation comprising Turkish and Greek Cypriots will conduct the talks with the EU. Heaslip further noted that the EU is ready to make every contribution necessary for 1997 to be the year of a Cyprus solution.

[06] 5.2% inflation rate in Turkey in November

According to a statement issued by the State Statistics Institute, consumer prices rose by 5.2 percent in November, while wholesale prices registered an increase of 5.1 percent.

In November 1996, the consumer price index registered an increase of 80.4 percent and the wholesale price index an increase of 85.7 percent in comparison to November 1995.

[07] Talat criticizes Denktash regarding his stance on the EU

He said that Denktash's stance vis-a-vis the EU membership is contrary to the Turkish Cypriots' stance. He urged Denktash to abandon this stance and chart a policy in line with the 1960 agreements and the 1977 and 1979 high level decisions. He said that Denktash's present stance creates the impression that other fait accomplis are in the pipe line. (MY)

[08] Denktash meets foreign diplomats

BIRLIK says that they were routine meetings regarding the developments around the Cyprus problem. (MY)

[09] UNFICYP Spokesman complains Turkish Cypriots do not let them do their job with the enclaved

Speaking to ORTAM's correspondent Sertac Gorguner, Mr. Rokoszewski has said that they had wanted to operate a similar office in the occupied area for the Greek Cypriots and Maronites, however, he added, "the Turkish Cypriot side is precluding the UN from fulfilling its duty". He said: "When we go to Karpass to listen to the Greek Cypriots' problems, the Turkish police is standing beside us. This is a scandal".

He said: "The UNFICYP office in Karpass which is established to render similar services, is manned by two UN soldiers. However, the Turkish officials are precluding the UN men from fulfilling their duties.

Greek Cypriots living in Karpass are having problems, and when we go to talk to them and try to ask about what is going on the Turkish policemen are after the UN officials and they do not let the UN officials alone. The Turkish policemen insist on being present during the interview and they do not let them have a `private' talk with the people.

This is a scandal.

We are not facing such a problem in south Cyprus. No one bothers us when we hold `private' talks with the Turkish Cypriots living in the south.

I hope the office we have inaugurated today (yesterday) in Limassol will pave the way for the Turkish side to review the stance it has been following until today." (MY)

[10] Asil Nadir establishes broadcasting corporation

KIBRIS-FM will have two relay stations, one 10 KW and the other 2KW.

The relay stations will be one on the Kantara and the other on the Kyparissovounos heights.

KIBRIS-FM will cover the whole of the occupied area, the free areas and the southern coast of Turkey.

The so-called director of illegal Bayrak, Ismet Kotak, has said that KIBRIS-FM will render valuable service to the "national cause". (MY)