Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-04-07

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 62/97 -- 5-6-7.4.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat, Akinci connect attacks on buildings to Turkes' death.

[02] Denktash interviewed on talks, accession to EU.

[03] "Turkish Cypriot Airlines" personnel says airline not safe for passengers.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat, Akinci connect attacks on buildings to Turkes' death

According to a report by illegal BRT (Bayrak Radio and Television) the flags hoisted at CLP headquarters were lowered to half-mast by the perpetrator or perpetrators and the windows of the building were smashed and the cable of the dish antenna was cut. The windows of the entrance door of the Ortam newspaper and those on the upper floor were smashed as well.

So far, no statements have been issued by the "police" in connection with the attacks.

In a statement he issued on the issue, RTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that it was obvious who the perpetrators of the attacks were. In his statement to illegal BRT, Talat said that such attacks against the RTP were not the first of their kind and added that the identities of the perpetrators were obvious from their signatures. Recalling that Alpaslan Turkes (leader of the Turkish Nationalist Action Party, MHP) had died the previous night, Talat stressed that there was definitely a connection between this attack and Turkes' death because of the flags, which were lowered to half-mast, and because of the three crescent signs. Talat added: "Let the police forces not search in vain for the culprits because their identities are obvious". Talat continued by saying that it was very easy for the "police" to bring the perpetrators of the actions to light. Expressing concern that similar ugly incidents will be repeated if the "police" do not bring the perpetrators to light, Talat reiterated that it was very easy to identify the suspects.

CLP leader Mustafa Akinci, in turn, strongly condemned the attacks carried out against the CLP and the Ortam newspaper buildings. In his statement to illegal BRT, Akinci said that the occurrence of such violent incidents was extremely concerning.

Expressing regret over Turkes' death, Akinci said that they conveyed their condolences to all the MHP members and added that the regret felt over Turkes' death should not be turned into violence. Akinci said: "We heard that flags with three crescents were hoisted in various places. In this vein, it is impossible not to surmise that there is a connection among all these incidents. We, however, we do not seek to accuse anybody."

Strongly condemning the attacks, Akinci called for the perpetrators to be brought to light at once.

[02] Denktash interviewed on talks, accession to EU

"Kofi Annan wants to have me and Glafcos Clerides meet face to face. Clerides complied with the UN Secretary General's invitation and held talks with me in October 1994. However, he changed the agenda of the meeting and abandoned the talks. He has refused to sit at the negotiation table, claiming since then that `a common ground does not exist'. Obviously, his tactic is aimed at securing certain things through the UN Secretary General's representative before he agrees to hold talks. The objective behind the UN Secretary General's invitation is to have the two sides meet to find an answer to the question as to how they will apply the confidence- building measures and discuss the essence of the Cyprus problem.

Clerides brought up the question of Cyprus' accession to the EU, a matter that he knows I cannot accept. He was aware that we would not agree to it because he had made a unilateral application to the EU on behalf of the Cyprus Government, which we have never accepted. Furthermore, he informed the world that the acceptance of the Greek Cypriot side's application will be a victory for Greeks. That is because Cyprus will no longer need Turkey's guarantee after it becomes an EU member. In fact, he said that the Treaty of Guarantees will be removed and the return of the refugees to their property will not be restricted, regardless of the Turkish Cypriots' opposition. All that, he said, will be a victory for us. He was aware that we would not accept such a state of affairs. However, he insisted because he wanted to avoid the talks. That is what he did when I informed him that I could not agree. He now wants to bargain to secure something before he agrees to sit at the negotiation table".

Asked if his position is that even if the two sides in Cyprus reach an agreement, the island's accession to the EU must not be considered before Turkey joins the organization, Denktash said:

"We maintain a categorical approach on this. We have struggled to see to it that our future generations live in freedom as Turkish Cypriots and human beings in Cyprus. This can only be achieved if the balance between Turkey and Greece on the island is maintained". And added:

"So if they say that they have agreed to Cyprus' accession, regardless of the fact that the balance between Turkey and Greece has been disrupted, then north Cyprus will close its doors to them and integrate with Turkey."

[03] "Turkish Cypriot Airlines" personnel says airline not safe for passengers

Copies of the letter were said to have been conveyed to SABAH and HURRIYET, President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister and Welfare Party leader Necmettin Erbakan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller, Republican People's Party leader Deniz Baykal, the other political party leaders, TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, Lieutenant General Ali Yalcin, commander of the Army Corps in north Cyprus, and many other officials.

The letter made serious accusations against Umit Utku, chairman of the KTHY Executive Committee. For example, it accused him of using the shop of one of his relatives, Mrs Tulin, in Istanbul's Kiziltoprak district as a travel office. It also accused him of paying high rent for it. Furthermore, the letter accused him of falsification and outlined information related to the hostesses. It concluded: `Our aircraft have become obsolete. They frequently break down. We have different types of aircraft. In view of this, we do not have all the spare parts needed. The flight schedules are disrupted because of the delay in finding the required spare parts. We are concerned with the safety of the hundreds of passengers we carry. This is the most important problem. Urgent measures must be taken. The civil aviation officials have warned our company. Getting our company reorganized will be very difficult if we are grounded. The company is reported to have made an effort to acquire MD-90 type aircraft in the near future. They are expensive planes.

Furthermore, the European countries have not been interested in them. The company officials are said to have received a commission. Our company is in debt. It is believed that it will not be able to pay the cost of the planes. Mr Teoman, the company's deputy director, has arbitrarily removed our chief pilot from his post. He was replaced with someone who is not aware of anything. The flying personnel are uneasy. We have been informed that Kenan Ateslioglu, director of the company's financial affairs, has drawn up an unauthentic budget and balance sheet to mislead public opinion. He is said to be making an effort to convince the public that the company's future is bright. We do not believe that. Mr. Ersin, who is the head of the auditing office in north Cyprus, is said to be condoning irregularities.

He and Mr. Guvenc, one of the members of the Executive Council, are said to be committing treachery against the TRNC. The situation of Mehmet Muhsinoglu, a member of the Executive Council from Turkey, and Mrs. Sadan, an auditor, is said to be similar.

They have been opposed by only lawyer Ruhi Kahraman, who represents the Turkish Airlines Company (THY). Umit Utku has anathematized him. The company employees believe that the said officials are not as honest and daring as Ruhi Kahraman. They have been cursed. The company is a part of our national wealth.

In view of that, we hope that it will be saved from Umit Utku and his supporters. We trust you'."

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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