 |
Compact version |
|
 |
        |
|
 |
||
|
Sunday, 22 December 2024
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
|
Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-02-02From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleTURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo.22/97 1-2-3.2.97CONTENTS[A] NEWS ITEMS
NEWS ITEMS[01] Denktash-Han talks continueAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 31.1.97) Rauf Denktash last Friday met with Han Sung-chu, the UN Secretary General's special envoy to Cyprus, for the second time. The meeting continued during a working luncheon. Also attending the meeting were Gustave Feissel, the UN Secretary General's assistant special envoy to Cyprus; Taner Etkin, "Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister", Necati Munir Ertegun, "special adviser" for political affairs; and Mustafa Evram, "political affairs director" of Denktash's Office.After the meeting, Denktash replied to questions by Turkish and Greek Cypriot journalists. Noting that the talks on the solution of the Cyprus problem are continuing, Denktash said that "Cyprus belongs to two peoples" and added that "these two peoples can live side by side on the basis of good-neighbour relations". Denktash declared that Turkey's guarantee system cannot be diluted. In turn, Han announced that he will meet with Denktash again on 3 February. Han declined to react to Greek Cypriot press reports that the UN Secretary General will replace him with a more effective person. [02] Denktash says system of guarantees not negotiableAccording to TRT (18:00 hours, 2.2.97) Rauf Denktash has alleged that attempts made by President Clerides to dilute or eliminate the 1960 system of guarantees are unacceptable "Byzantine ploys".In a statement to the so-called Turkish Cypriot News Agency, Denktash replied to statements made by President Clerides in Davos. He claimed that President Clerides was trying to divert the agenda to the issue of demilitarization. He should accept that the system of guarantees cannot be negotiated, Denktash said and added: "If Clerides carefully reads and assesses the declaration we signed with the Turkish State in Ankara and which has been endorsed by the Turkish Grand National Assembly, he will understand that there is no reason why we should make a gift at the negotiating table of our rights and freedoms." [03] Gul on Turkish Cabinet meeting, reported army appeal to DemirelAccording to TRT (18:00 hours, 31.1.97) Abdullah Gul, Turkish state minister and government spokesman, issued a statement after last week's Council of Ministers meeting. He said that at the meeting, Tansu Ciller, foreign minister and deputy prime minister, briefed the cabinet on her recent contacts in Italy, adding that the EU approach to Turkey has become more positive.Gul also replied to a journalist who asked the following question: National Defense Minister Tayan made a statement to the press saying that his party does not trust the Welfare Party (RP). What is your assessment on the issue? Gul said: "Such issues are not on the agenda of the government or the country. There is a harmonious government in Turkey. There is political stability in Turkey. There is a government that is in charge of the Assembly. There is a government that makes the Assembly endorse the bills expected by the people." In reply to another question on reports that certain high-ranking Army officials had expressed their uneasiness to President Demirel, Gul said that these reports are all false. He noted that high-ranking Army officials, the president, and the prime minister always hold routine meetings. [04] Defense Ministry official details Turkish military projectsAccording to YENI SAFAK (26.1.97), Defense Industry Deputy Undersecretary Yalcin Burcak said revenues of the Defense Industry Fund reached $1 billion (around 112 trillion Turkish Lira) in 1996. In the period ahead, Burcak said the projects to remodernize the F-5 planes, the Electronic Warfare Systems of F-16's, production of 5.56-mm infantry rifles and cartridges, unmanned aircraft, early warning and control planes, and tanks and armoured vehicles will be speeded up. In his statement on developments in the defense industry in 1996 and prospects for 1997, Burcak said arrangements concerning new projects have been brought to their final stage and therefore an intensive and comprehensive working program is being implemented. Deputy Undersecretary Burcak continued: "The number of armoured combat vehicles under the SSM's responsibility has reached 1,178, electronic warfare systems 272, mobile radars 13, light transport planes 36, and HF/SSB wireless 2,378. Under the direct purchase project, 20 Cougar transport helicopters and three See-Doo (as published) boats have been submitted to our Armed Forces, and the program for 2,100 wheeled armoured vehicles has been completed. Work on modernization of Super Cobra and Cobra helicopters, which are in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces, has been continued and work to add search and rescue equipment to four general purpose Black Hawk helicopters has been completed."Stating the projects on the Future Large Airplane (FLA), the Crypto Analysis Center, the ATAC missiles, and various research and improvement projects have reached different stage, Yalcin Burcak said: "Negotiations on joint production of 30 helicopters in Turkey and the direct purchase of four sea helicopters have reached their final stages. With the aim of meeting the demand for a second international airport for Istanbul and considering that an Advanced Technology Industry Park (ITEP) will be opened in the region, a protocol has been signed with the Communication Ministry and efforts are under way to implement the airport's section of the ITEP project that would secure considerable income to the Armed Forces". [05] Increase in Turkey's trade deficitAccording to HURRIYET (30.1.97) Turkey's exports totaled $10.881 billion and imports $20.069 billion from January to June 1996. According to the State Statistics Institute, compared with the same period in 1995, exports increased by 9.3 percent and imports by 29.7 percent. Exports totaled $9.9555 billion and imports $15.4691 billion from January to June 1995.Turkey's foreign trade deficit totaled $5.5136 billion from January to June 1995. It increased by 66.6 percent to total $9.188 billion in the same period in 1996. Exports totaled $1.8041 billion and imports $3.3226 billion in June 1996. Exports totaled $1.8348 billion and imports $3.465 billion in June 1995. [06] On the St. Barnabas monastery raid, Kutlu Adali's murderORTAM (1.2.97) reports under banner headlines: "The TRNC's Gang" and refers to the debate on the report on the St. Barnabas Monastery armed raid.It says that among those who took part in the 14 March, 1996 St. Barnabas raid were the then head of the Civil Defense Organization Galip Mendi and Colonel Cahit Koparir. During the debate, speakers referred to the assassination of YENIDUZEN journalist Kutlu Adali, saying that a colonel and people serving in the Civil Defense Organization were involved. It was also mentioned that following the assassination of Kutlu Adali people whose names were mentioned as being involved in the case were sent back to Turkey before their duty period in Cyprus was finished. ORTAM adds that on the same evening that the St. Barnabas raid had taken place, "other operations" were organized in the occupied area. Speakers accused the then so-called Prime Minister of the pseudostate Hakki Atun and the so-called Attorney General Akin Sait of withholding information from the so-called "Assembly Committee" and demanded their resignation. "Deputies", one after the other spoke about the existence of a "gang" in the "TRNC". Speaking during the debate the Chairman of the so-called Committee, Ozker Ozgur, complained that the Turkish Cypriots are unable to govern themselves and that it was a sham democracy that is existing in the occupied area. "We are not ruling ourselves. Unfortunately the moment I realized this, I had resigned from the deputy prime minister's office. We are only a figurehead, someone else pulls the strings", said Ozgur and added: "The commander's office gave orders to close the issue and the issue was closed. The question is whether we will govern ourselves or not. There is an authority here, in this country, which listens neither the legislative nor the executive. This is the reality. Our Democracy, unfortunately, is a sham-democracy". In his turn the Communal Liberation Party CLP "deputy" Huseyin Angolemli said that the so-called Police should be under the "Interior Ministry". "In this country we are not masters of ourselves, we have no sovereignty. We are not sovereign, but we demand that the world recognizes our sovereignty", declared Angolemli and asked: "Do you know what it means when a commander takes a squad of soldiers and goes and disarms the guards?" Angolemli went on and said that the police lied to the "deputies" regarding the incidents at the East Mediterranean University. "Police is not listening to us. We have to solve this issue", concluded Angolemli. (MY) |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
All Rights Reserved.