Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-05-26

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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. 93/97 -- 24-25-26/5/97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH OUTLINES CONDITIONS FOR AGREEMENT

[02] DENKTASH REACTS TO TALAT CRITICISM OF 19 MAY CONCERT

[03] CANADIAN SPECIAL CYPRUS REPRESENTATIVE HAS CONTACTS IN ANKARA

[04] STATEMENTS ISSUED DURING BARSONY MEETING WITH TALAT, AKINCI

[05] TURKISH PAPER CLAIMS INITIAL S-300 MISSILE SECTIONS TRANSFERRED TO CYPRUS

[06] KENAN EVREN IN THE OCCUPIED AREA

[07] EROGLU ON REPORTS OF S-300 MISSILES PARTIAL DEPLOYMENT

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH OUTLINES CONDITIONS FOR AGREEMENT

He was speaking at the opening of a new residential area the other night. He said: "Even if there is gold on its pavements, we will not become a member of the EU before Turkey joins it. Otherwise, the end of the Turkish Cypriots will be like the end of the Cretan Turks; we will be eliminated. We will demand these things. If necessary, we will hold a referendum."

Denktash claimed: "We must think well. The EU membership issue is a ploy. It is a ploy to break Turkey away from Cyprus, to replace the Turkish troops on the island with an international force, to eliminate the guarantee agreement, to make Hellenism victorious as Clerides says, and to return all the refugees to their homes under the pretext of human rights."

He "warned" that as negotiator he will be put in a difficult spot if the Turkish Cypriots say they are tired of the "ploys" and want peace at all costs.

[02] DENKTASH REACTS TO TALAT CRITICISM OF 19 MAY CONCERT

According to a report by illegal TAK (Turkish Cypriot News Agency), Denktash said that it was extremely wrong to be offended by statements claiming that the majority of those attending the concert were the disciplined party members of the political party leaders attending the concert. Recalling that he had strongly condemned the attack against Kut, Denktash added: "I find that Mr. Talat made meaningless, unfounded, and inappropriate comments when he said that those not attending the concert were the ones who did not support peace."

Denktash continued: "I have concluded on various occasions, however, that peace cannot be secured just because we want it and that a viable federation, which will safeguard the security of the Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus, cannot be established just because we want it. The kind of peace that the Greek Cypriot side seeks is obvious. It is also evident that the type of federation that the Greek Cypriot side seeks is not the same as the one envisaged in the Set of Ideas. It is an undeniable fact that the supporters of the Greek Cypriot AKEL (Restorative Party of the Working People), who showed up at the concert in a disciplined manner, are in complete unity of views with the Greek Cypriot leadership - who maintain that peace cannot be secured unless all refugees return to their homes - and their fanatic supporters. For this reason, it will be sheer naiveness to claim that the emotional display at the concert was proof of a rapprochement regarding these issues among those attending the concert."

Explaining that such events are harmless, Denktash added: "It will be unfavorable and mistaken, however, to issue statements to the effect that the concert was attended only by those who support peace. Such statements will lead to the conclusion that the United Nations could not even get together 6,000 persons who want peace. Those who claim to monopolize the peace efforts should be ashamed of making such comments."

Explaining that he realizes that the people are in favor of securing a solution to the Cyprus issue, Denktash added: "The differences cannot be settled and obstacles cannot be surmounted with concerts held under the observation of 2,500 security officials in the buffer zone."

Denktash continued: "You (not further specified) should make clear what kind of peace and agreement you seek with the Greek Cypriot side. You should define the kind of federation you seek. You should explain whether or not you support the Greek Cypriot side on the issue of the EU. In other words, you should make it clear whether you are senseless enough to join an EU which does not include Turkey, or whether you support those who say that they cannot renounce the rights granted to me and to the Turkish Cypriots by the 1960 agreements."

[03] CANADIAN SPECIAL CYPRUS REPRESENTATIVE HAS CONTACTS IN ANKARA

Diplomatic sources said that the visit of Bell, who also held contacts in Athens before going to Ankara, should be regarded as an exchange of information and that its significance should not be exaggerated. The same sources noted that such visits cannot make concrete contributions to a Cyprus solution.

[04] STATEMENTS ISSUED DURING BARSONY MEETING WITH TALAT, AKINCI

In a statement issued at the meeting, Talat said that Barsony has replaced Lord Finsberg, who was very experienced and well informed on the Cyprus issue, and stressed that Barsony's job was not an easy one. Explaining that the Cyprus issue is a complex subject, Talat said that it is very difficult to delve into the details of the issue and to distinguish between the statements issued and the real intentions, adding that the statements issued and the intentions pursued are not always the same. Noting that the Turkish Cypriot community should be represented at the COE as well, Talat said:

"Barsony is giving us hope on this issue." Talat claimed that progress can be achieved on the Cyprus issue only through the Turkish Cypriot side being represented at the COE. Talat continued by saying that acknowledging political equality was very important for the Turkish Cypriots.

In a statement issued during his meeting with Barsony, Akinci in turn said that they seek a bizonal and bicommunal solution acceptable to both sides and providing security and equality, adding: "In this context the existing walls in the minds should be brought down first." Recalling that only two Turkish Cypriot and one Greek Cypriot political party leaders attended the 19 May joint concert, Akinci criticized the disturbances caused by certain groups outside the area of the concert. Akinci continued: "As the CLP, we have always stressed the importance of implementing the confidence - building measures. We are in favor of joining the EU after a solution is attained during the negotiations to be held parallel to the confidence- building measures."

Barsony, in turn, explained that the visits he paid to the political parties were necessary and important and stressed that any solution agreed upon by the leaders that is not backed by their respective political parties may end in failure. Noting that a historical chance was available for achieving a solution to the Cyprus issue, Barsony said that delaying a solution to the issue will make it more difficult to reach a Cyprus solution in the long run and will cost dearly.

[05] TURKISH PAPER CLAIMS INITIAL S-300 MISSILE SECTIONS TRANSFERRED TO CYPRUS

The paper adds that it has been informed by high-ranking Turkish Foreign Ministry officials that the initial parts of the S-300 systems have been transferred to the island and that the Greek Cypriots have paid the first installment for the missiles.

Drawing attention to the intensive effort that has been made by the United States to obstruct the transfer of the missile systems to Cyprus, the officials claimed: "The acquisition of the S-300 missiles has exceeded the acceptable limits of arms purchases. The distance between Cyprus and Turkey is 70 Km. The range of the S-300 missiles is 150 Km. They can deliver biological or chemical warheads. The United States has disclosed that it is opposed to the deployment of the missiles in Cyprus. However, the success it has achieved in its undisclosed initiatives is debatable. We have ascertained that an amount of the cost of the missiles has been paid and that the systems are being transferred to the island in sections. The initial sections have already been transferred."

It has been reported that the United States is making an effort to have the "S-300 missiles included in an agreement that will obstruct their deployment in Europe."

The experts on disarmament have informed Cumhuriyet that restricting the export of the S-300 missiles will be difficult. They said: "The Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (TCFE) is the most wide-ranging agreement on disarmament in Europe. However, it cannot obstruct the deployment of the missiles in Cyprus. Another arrangement is known as the Vascenar. However, it does not cover the S-300 systems. That is because they are regarded as surface-to-air missiles. It seems that an effort is being made to have a new agreement drawn up to obstruct their export to foreign countries."

The military experts have also said:

1. The range of the S-300 missiles can be increased to 160 Km. Consequently, they are capable of reaching Turkey. Meanwhile, they are regarded as highly destructive systems because they can carry biological and chemical warheads.

2. The S-300 missiles are capable of hitting the military aircraft that fly in Turkey's airspace to reach the TRNC. The military aircraft that take off from Mersin can be hit by the S-300 missiles that are based in south Cyprus. That state of affairs will deal a significant blow to Turkey's superiority in the island's airspace.

3. The high-ranking General Staff officials gave a detailed briefing to President Suleyman Demirel on the capabilities of the S-300 missiles before Turkey and the "TRNC" signed a joint declaration on 20 January 1997. They said: "We cannot ignore the missiles. We cannot agree to their deployment in the Greek Cypriot side."

[06] KENAN EVREN IN THE OCCUPIED AREA

General Evren will stay in the occupied area for five days.

(MY)

[07] EROGLU ON REPORTS OF S-300 MISSILES PARTIAL DEPLOYMENT

Eroglu flew to Izmir last Saturday as the guest of the Izmir (name indistinct) association.

In a statement on his arrival in Izmir, Eroglu said that the reports about the partial deployment of the S-300 missiles in the free areas of Cyprus have not yet been confirmed. We are investigating, he said, and if they are true, we will take measures.

About the deployment of the missiles, he said: "We have not received this information. If it is true, however, we will do whatever we earlier said we would do."

Noting that a meeting between Denktash and President Clerides in July is on the agenda, Eroglu said: "The new UN Secretary General and the United States, which is not letting go of the Cyprus issue, seem determined to bring the two leaders together. We, the Turkish side, do not oppose the meeting. The Greek Cypriots, however, must either come without preconditions, or, as our honourable president says, they must come having accepted the two proposals. We are in favor of negotiations and an agreement. However, it is impossible for us to accept the precondition set by Clerides for coming to the negotiating table, namely, that the guarantees system must be eliminated, that the Turkish troops must withdraw from the island, and that a multinational force must be deployed in Cyprus."

A reporter asked if the political instability in Turkey has been reflected in relations with the "TRNC". Eroglu replied that there has not been a pause in the relations, adding: "Even in times of political turmoil in the past, our relations with Turkey have been good, and they are good today." Asked to comment on the dialogue between Turkish and Greek businessmen, Eroglu said that "it is a positive step, but that any concrete results will have to come from the political administrations."

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

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