Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-02-14

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 30 /97 14/2/97

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH ANNOUNCES CLEAN-UP OPERATION IN VAROSHA

[02] TALAT SUPPORTS ANNAN CALL FOR COMPREHENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS

[03] TGNA FOREIGN AFFAIRS DELEGATION IN THE OCCUPIED AREA

[04] LUNCHEON BY DENKTASH FOR FOREIGN DIPLOMATS IN CYPRUS

[05] AKBEL: NATO EFFORTS ON TIES WITH GREECE WILL BE WELCOME

[06] GREY WOLVES ANNOUNCE RALLY TOWARDS VAROSHA ON 1ST MARCH

[07] US AMBASSADOR ATTENDS DINNER BY SO-CALLED TURKISH CYPRIOT JAYCEES

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH ANNOUNCES CLEAN-UP OPERATION IN VAROSHA

"The cleaning has started in Varosha," Denktash said, without specifying when the operation was launched.

Denktash threatened on January 10 to send settlers into Varosha, which the Turkish Cypriots have left empty for 23 years as a bargaining chip in any peace settlement. The area would be "integrated socially and economically into the Famagusta region," he added.

[02] TALAT SUPPORTS ANNAN CALL FOR COMPREHENSIVE NEGOTIATIONS

RTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat issued a statement commenting on the recent letter the UN secretary general sent to the two leaders and on the warning by British Foreign Secretary Rifkind. Talat said that the RTP considers the secretary general's letter very important and shares the concern of the British foreign secretary. He called on President Clerides to hold negotiations within the framework cited in the UN secretary general's letter. He urged Denktash to refrain from making statements that strain relations between the two communities.

Talat said that UN secretary general Kofi Annan is on the mark when he says that a delay in the solution of the Cyprus problem, which has been deadlocked for a long time, is very risky. The RTP leader also said that Annan is very right when he says that comprehensive negotiations must be held, mutual concessions must be made by the two leaders, and negotiations must continue until an agreement is reached.

[03] TGNA FOREIGN AFFAIRS DELEGATION IN THE OCCUPIED AREA

A delegation from the TGNA Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by Committee Chairman Aloglu, arrived in the occupied area yesterday. In a statement at occupied Tymbou airport, Aloglu said that important developments concerning the Cyprus issue are expected this year. He pointed out that this visit is important as it shows the solidarity between Turkey and the pseudostate on the eve of the developments concerning Cyprus. Aloglu said that during their contacts they will discuss various issues, adding: "In this way, we will be ready for and will even guide the developments likely in 1997."

Taner Etkin, "minister of foreign affairs and defence", stressed that this visit is the most recent proof of the solidarity between Turkey and the pseudostate. He pointed out that the determination revealed by the declaration signed by Demirel and Denktash and announced with the support of all the political parties in the TGNA is further strengthened by this visit. Etkin noted that another important aspect of the visit is that it shows that the Turkish people will never abandon the Turkish Cypriots.

Denktash met with the delegation headed by Aloglu. Denktash pointed out that the TGNA members united at a most critical time, ignoring their party affiliations, and reached decisions on the Cyprus problem. He thanked the TGNA for its sensitivity. He reiterated that 1997 will be quite dynamic regarding the Cyprus problem.

Sedat Aloglu said that Denktash delivered a very meaningful speech recently at the TGNA and that the TGNA members felt proud. He said: "We will act in cooperation with the Turkish Cypriots to guide the Cyprus problem, which has the potential of being activated in 1997".

[04] LUNCHEON BY DENKTASH FOR FOREIGN DIPLOMATS IN CYPRUS

US Ambassador Kenneth Brill, British High Commissioner David Madden, UN official Gustave Feissel as well as Turkey's envoy Ertugrul Apakan attended the luncheon.

Present from the Turkish Cypriot side were Necati Ertekun, Ergun Olgun and Mustafa Evran. (MY)

[05] AKBEL: NATO EFFORTS ON TIES WITH GREECE WILL BE WELCOME

"We hope that common sense will prevail in Cyprus and the efforts for peace will gain new momentum within the framework of the existing methods, namely direct negotiations between the two sides under the auspices of the UN secretary general's goodwill mission, in accordance with specified parameters", he said.

Abel stated that the confidence-building measures proposed by NATO Secretary General Solana last year failed to yield any concrete results, apart from the institution of a red telephone. Akbel noted that even the red telephone is not operational yet. Akbel recounted that during his recent visit to Ankara, Solana said that he will continue to exert efforts with regard to Turkish-Greek relations. Turkey, in turn, informed Solana that it will welcome such efforts, Akbel added.

[06] GREY WOLVES ANNOUNCE RALLY TOWARDS VAROSHA ON 1ST MARCH

The chairman of the occupied area's chapter of the nationalist organisation, Mehmet Arslan, has declared that on 1st March they will organise a rally towards Varosha.

"We are firm on holding this rally" declared Arslan. Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, who tacitly supported the rally by declaring yesterday that the cleaning up of Varosha has started, in order to fend off any possible criticism for the rally, declared that "this action will have no benefit". He went on and said: "It is not possible to arrive at the disired place if everybody takes to the roads. I do not think this will be realized (the rally). I want to believe that they will not hold it. It is something that is not necessary at all".

[07] US AMBASSADOR ATTENDS DINNER BY SO-CALLED TURKISH CYPRIOT JAYCEES