Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-01-20

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.12/97 18-19-20.1.97

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Claims that missiles have already been deployed.

[02] Demirel, Denktash said to announce economic unity.

[03] Talat calls Denktash, President Clerides to follow Hebron example.

[04] Denktash claims Greeks trying to get missile parts through Syria.

[05] Ankara assessing consequences of setting up base in Cyprus.

[06] Pseudostate's wholesale price index registers an increase of 5.19 percent.

[07] Akbel on Cyprus.

[08] Baby with meningitis in the occupied area.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Claims that missiles have already been deployed

The report alleges that the missiles were brought over via Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Interstar further alleges that ten Russian experts have arrived in the free areas in order to help deploy and operate the system.

Following this development, adds ORTAM, Turkey's Chief of Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi has briefed Turkish President Demirel regarding developments. (MY)

[02] Demirel, Denktash said to announce economic unity

It has been reported that this decision, which is in the nature of a warning against Greece and the Greek Cypriots as well as the United States, Russia, and the EU, will be included in the joint declaration to be issued in Ankara on Monday by President Suleyman Demirel and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, barring any extraordinary developments.

It has been indicated that after the intensification of the US and British-led initiatives for Cyprus solution following the US presidential elections last year and after the approach of the process for the talks with the Greek Cypriots for full EU membership, Demirel and Denktash had already agreed to issue a second declaration in two years and that upon the missile crisis the content of the text has been expanded.

It has been reported that the following new elements will be included in the declaration, which has been drawn up by taking into account the view of the civilian and military bureaucracy in the wake of Chief of General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi's visit to Cyprus at the beginning of the week to give the message through the military channels as well that "Turkey will not turn a blind eye" to the deployment of the Russian missiles in the free areas of the Republic:

1. To expand and revamp occupied Lefkoniko airport, which is located near occupied Tymbou airport and used by the "TRNC" for civilian transportation, so as to use it as a "military base" as well. Lefkoniko, located near Nicosia and taken by the Turks during the 1974 Turkish invasion, is being used for civilian purposes with Tymbou airport in turn.

2. In its 28 December 1995 declaration, Turkey had announced that it would forge economic integration with the "TRNC" in case the Greek Cypriots are accepted into the EU.

It has been indicated that the new declaration planned to be issued by Demirel and Denktash envisages the transition to a "single, integrated" economy providing for free movement of people, goods, and capital. Turkey recently signed a $250-million protocol for the strengthening of the economy of the "TRNC", which is under an international embargo and is recognized by no one other than Ankara. According to the existing procedure, the pseudostate's "citizens" wanting to stay in Turkey have to renew their residence permits and cannot establish businesses in Turkey before bring in a certain amount of capital. It has been reported that with the decision to move to a single economy, these restrictions will also be removed and thus the economic integration between Turkey and the "TRNC" will be realized to a considerable extent.

3. It has also been noted that the declaration will underline that "no blind eye will be turned to the deployment of the Russian missiles on the island" and will stress that Turkey is the guarantor of the "TRNC's security.

[03] Talat calls Denktash, President Clerides to follow Hebron example

In a statement he issued, Talat said that the Head of Palestinian Government Yasir `Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu did not let fanatical Muslims, Israeli settlers, and Zionists bloc the way to peace and solution in the Middle East. Talat called Denktash and President Clerides "to assume their places as the courageous envoys of peace by following the example of `Arafat and Netanyahu and promptly settle the meaningless dispute between the two communities that brings them to the brink of war through a mutually acceptable agreement."

[04] Denktash claims Greeks trying to get missile parts through Syria

Speaking on the "Echo" program on illegal Bayrak Radio and Television the other night, Denktash claimed that President Clerides' promise to Carey Cavanaugh that the missiles would arrive in the island only in 16 months "was nothing but deception".

Denktash said that he will hold very important talks during his three-day visit to Turkey that starts on 20 January. He announced that certain decisions will most probably be reached.

[05] Ankara assessing consequences of setting up base in Cyprus

According to information obtained, diplomatic and military officials are continuing their assessments regarding this issue. The work under way focuses on not undermining Turkey's rights as a guarantor state in the event that setting up such a military base materializes.

Briefing an Anatolia Agency correspondent on the issue, a high-level official claimed that Turkey's right to a military presence in Cyprus stemmed from international agreements regardless of the "TRNC" and Greek Cypriot side's approvals and added: "Turkey's right to have a military presence on the island stems from the London and Zurich agreements. Whether or not the issue of setting up a Turkish-TRNC joint military base on the island will appear in the joint declaration, which will be issued during Mr. Denktash visit to Ankara, has not crystallized yet.

Any step that will be taken along these lines should not undermine Turkey's position as a guarantor state in Cyprus. The TRNC will be giving a base to Turkey in the event that a joint base is set up on the island. In other words, Turkey will have committed itself on paper to give up this presence if the TRNC is not interested in it in the future. Today, however, our military presence on the island does not depend on the approval of the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot side. In other words, Turkey has the right today to intervene both in southern and northern Cyprus. We are assessing the extent that an agreement to establish a base can impair this right. We are taking extreme care not to downgrade a right, which was legally granted to Turkey."

[06] Pseudostate's wholesale price index registers an increase of 5.19 percent

[07] Akbel on Cyprus

In reply to a relevant question, Akbel repeated that they would in no way tolerate the deployment of the S-300 missiles, that the period of 16 months does not affect the essence of the problem, and that consequently, the decision to deploy them must be cancelled and the cancellation must be announced. "Otherwise, we maintain our stand, the stand we announced earlier, with the same determination. I believe that it would be realistic to say that the problem has not been resolved", he said.

He added that it is impossible for Turkey to accept the missile issue to be used as a tool for negotiations in the Cyprus issue, that is an issue that must be resolved on its own. "The framework of how it is going to be resolved is known: by cancelling the decision to deploy the missiles. We will not tolerate this or get into negotiations in any way", he said.

[08] Baby with meningitis in the occupied area

KIBRIS reports that the baby boy was transferred to the hospital in occupied Nicosia and is fighting for his life. (MY)