Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-04-14

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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. 67/97 -- 12-13-14.4.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash says June meet possible `only if there is progress'.

[02] Denktash on Annan meeting.

[03] Denktash on "red line beyond which Turks will not move".

[04] Akinci comments on Cyprus issue, gets reelected as CLP leader.

[05] Denktash claims Russia's support to Greek Cypriots is "inconceivable".

[06] Illegal BRT-Azeri State TV cooperation.

[07] Next Turkic states congress to be held in occupied area.

[08] Turkey's Supreme Court Chief in the occupied area.

[09] Turkey, "TRNC" accused of drug money laundering.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash says June meet possible `only if there is progress'

[02] Denktash on Annan meeting

Denktash, while in Istanbul to participate in the Turkic States and Communities Friendship, Brotherhood, and Cooperation Council meetings, made an assessment of his meeting with Annan to illegal BRT (Bayrak Radio and Television). Ece Umar, illegal BRT correspondent, reported Denktash's assessment as follows:

"Denktash assessed his meeting with Annan at an interview we held with him in the hotel the Council sessions are being held. Denktash said that he emerged from the meeting feeling pleased because the Secretary General supports the view that the talks between the two communities must be held within the framework of the Ghali Set of Ideas. Denktash said that this put his mind at ease because he had recently been observing that Feissel, the UN deputy special representative, was supportive of the efforts exerted by Greek Cypriot leader Clerides to get away from the Ghali Set of Ideas. Denktash said that UN special representative Han Sung-Chu will be arriving in Cyprus in the coming days, that the shuttle diplomacy will continue until a point of agreement between the two sides is reached and that only then will the direct talks begin."

According to the correspondent, Denktash also claimed:

"Joining EU without Turkey is tantamount to disrupting the sensitive geopolitical balances in favour of Greece."

[03] Denktash on "red line beyond which Turks will not move"

However, he said, the Turkish Cypriots will not move back.

Denktash returned from Turkey Saturday night. In a statement at occupied Tymbou airport, Denktash said that he was pleased with the contacts he held in Istanbul and before that in Geneva, where he met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Denktash said that he was able to hold a meeting, even if a short one, with Tansu Ciller, foreign minister and deputy prime minister, during the Turkic states congress.

Denktash pointed out that the Cyprus question is now starting a news phase where intensive efforts will be made to bring him and President Clerides together. Denktash claimed:

"There is enough material for us to sit and negotiate. The parameters are there. We must try. These parameters have been on the table since 1992." He also claimed that the Greek Cypriots have been trying to upset the equality between Turkey and Greece in favour of Greece and that faced with this situation, he said, the Turkish Cypriots, by means of the 20 January declaration, announced with Turkey the "red line" from which they will not move. He added that no concessions will be made from this line.

Replying to a question, Denktash said that Han Sung-chu, the UN Secretary General's special envoy in Cyprus, told him in Geneva: "The Cyprus contacts are intensifying. I do not have time. That is why I submitted by resignation".

Denktash pointed out that the special envoy would be paying a sort of farewell visit to Cyprus.

[04] Akinci comments on Cyprus issue, gets reelected as CLP leader

Allocating a major part of his address to the Cyprus issue, Akinci said that the Cyprus issue has turned into an issue that directly concerns the EU and NATO, and no longer concerns only the two communities on the island. Explaining that indirect meetings for a Cyprus solution are under way and that the leaders of the two communities have been invited to sit at the negotiating table, Akinci added: "The stands to be adopted by Turkey and Greece are significant in terms of the results of these meetings. In addition, the stand to be adopted by the EU will play an important role on the outcome of the meetings as well."

Noting that advancing toward securing a solution is a possibility in 1997, Akinci claimed: "There are certain requirements along these lines, however, such as the EU's not excluding Turkey, not taking any steps to have southern Cyprus join the EU without first securing a solution, and Russia's reassessing its sales of S-300 missiles to southern Cyprus.

Within this framework, there are also certain requirements for the Turkish Cypriot community, such as pursuing a stable and consistent policy." Noting that confidence-builidng measures should be implemented in a bid to secure trust between the two communities, Akinci said: "The solution parameters, which took shape after long years of work, constitute a reasonable framework."

Explaining the "danger", as he put it, posed by Cyprus' membership in the EU, Akinci alleged: "I describe this possibility as dangerous because of my concern that such a development will accelerate the migration status of the Turkish Cypriots". Stressing that nobody seeks to have a new war launched in Cyprus, Akinci said: "The most realistic and conciliatory approach is to secure a solution by starting with the confidence- building measures and only then take up the issue of EU membership."

[05] Denktash claims Russia's support to Greek Cypriots is "inconceivable"

Asked if he will meet with Annan once again before the planned meeting with President Clerides in June, Denktash said:

"No. The UN Secretary General's representative will continue with the shuttle diplomacy between me and Clerides.

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General's real representative, Mr. Han Sung-chu, will arrive in Cyprus in the next few days. We will also hold a meeting with him. I think , however, that Mr. Han gave signs to the effect that he will not have time to conduct these constant and numerous meetings. Developments show that there may be some changes made in this regard as well. We will discuss this issue with him, too. The shuttle diplomacy will continue. Coordinators will come and go. Actually, in my opinion, these coordinators are complicating issues much more than assisting. They are spoiling the Greek Cypriots", he claimed. He also alleged: "Russia, in turn, supports the Greek Cypriots with all its might. It continues to display enmity toward us everywhere. This is inconceivable. We do not understand why they are behaving in this way. There are reasons for such behaviour we know about and others we know nothing of. We know that Russia covets a foothold in the Mediterranean through Cyprus and the Greek Cypriots. Moreover, their ambassadors said that Russia is already in the Mediterranean, that Russia has interests in Cyprus, that the balances in the region have been disrupted, and that the United States and Britain should no longer consider the Mediterranean as their region. The Russians completely back the Greek Cypriots in Cyprus. In other words, great ploys are played via Cyprus. We should beware and take care that the ties between Turkey and Cyprus are not severed, that the baby nation is not separated from its motherland, that Turkey's guarantorship is not eliminated, and that the extremely sensitive balance between Turkey and Greece is not impaired. This calls for great efforts, sensitivity, and a good awareness of what Cyprus means to the Turkish world."

[06] Illegal BRT-Azeri State TV cooperation

The two men have decided to carry out programs for young people. .

(MY)

[07] Next Turkic states congress to be held in occupied area

(MY)

[08] Turkey's Supreme Court Chief in the occupied area

KIBRIS reports that Mufit Utku and Salih Dayioglu have exchanged views on the judicial systems of Turkey and the occupied area.

(MY)

[09] Turkey, "TRNC" accused of drug money laundering

On its lunch time news program on Friday, the BBC 1 television channel said that 90 percent of heroin found in Britain came through Turkey. It said that the "TRNC" was the destination for many British drug dealers to launder their money. "The heroin manufactured either in or near the lawless fringe of eastern Turkey reaches Europe," the correspondent added.

"Northern Cyprus has more banks that its population needs. More than 60 banks for 80,000 people. Regulations are loose and supervision light for this green destination of shade money", a correspondent from the "TRNC" stated. "Add in to this more than 30 casinos where money changes ownership illegally and quickly and it is a perfect combination for money laundering, " he added.

"What we are seeing is couriers taking money out of this country in large quantities and taking it either to countries that are supplying heroin or to other countries such as Cyprus", Michael Newsom from Customs investigation told the reporter.

"The heroin coming through Turkey passes on into Europe and eventually to Britain. But when it comes to paying, Britain's drug dealers take their money to the more welcoming climate of Northern Cyprus where it can be bandied around until its ownership is confused and then it could be taken to Turkey", the correspondent pointed out.

"The Greek south has some of the problems but it is the North's closeness to Turkey that makes it a good place for Britain's drug dealers to do business", the BBC concluded its report.

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

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