Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-06-26

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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. 114/97 -- 26.6.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash `Pessimistic' about New York meeting with President Clerides.

[02] Turks criticize Chinese official for undermining equality.

[03] Turkish FM undersecretary Onur Oymen on Cyprus, EU.

[04] Occupation army commander warns over casinos and crime in the occupied area.

[05] Occupied Kythrea church collapsing.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Turkish daily advises cautious handling of Cyprus issue.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash `Pessimistic' about New York meeting with President Clerides

"Things seem to be moving in the wrong direction," Denktash told AFP at the end of a three-day private visit to Paris.

Denktash was particularly critical of statements favouring "a unitary state", which the Turkish side rejects, favouring instead a "bi-zonal federation of two communities" in keeping with the UN resolutions, according to him.

"I am not optimistic because Clerides is going to New York with a hostile mindset, having said that there is no common ground between us", he claimed.

"I would be very happy if he told me how he proposes to settle the problem, for I will be very frank with him," he added.

"We will have four days of discussions, far away from the press, before going on to the Geneva negotiations two weeks later", Denktash said.

Denktash also criticized the European Union's initiative as having "complicated the settlement of the problem" by promising the Cyprus Government to open negotiations with a view to joining the EU.

[02] Turks criticize Chinese official for undermining equality

The statement of the "ministry" says that the Turkish Cypriots "regret the partial and unjust attitude of the Chinese official" and call on China to adopt a constructive attitude in this regard.

[03] Turkish FM undersecretary Onur Oymen on Cyprus, EU

Ankara has ruled out the Cyprus Government's application to EU claiming that it is not a legal attempt based on previous mutual international agreements.

However, Britain's special envoy to Cyprus Sir David Hannay said in Ankara: "I am sorry that this is the general idea in Turkey but we don't agree with it".

A senior EU official in Ankara told the Turkish Daily News: "Turkey claimed it will unite more with Turkish Cyprus if the negotiations for the EU start and we believe that this is a threat".

When the same EU official then suggested that Turkey should then take the matter to an International Tribunal, Oymen said that there were other matters as well that Turkey might take before the international courts, such as the disarmament of the divided island.

Oymen said that a solution to the conflict will come through dialogue since United Nations resolutions suggested dialogue between President Clerides and Denktash and said that Turkey hoped to see a solution emerging from the UN's Cyprus initiative, the upcoming direct alks between the two leaders.

Oymen also said that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan had brought forth a series of proposals and ideas for direct talks.

He refrained from further comment on the direct talks, saying that secrecy was important for their success. UN officials had also claimed that the meetings would take place behind closed doors. The undersecretary further stressed that it was lack of trust that made dialogue difficult but pointed out that all parties were in agreement on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federal state on Cyprus.

[04] Occupation army commander warns over casinos and crime in the occupied area

Speaking at the 13th Ordinary Meeting of the "Higher Consultative Council of the Police Organization" which took place at the so-called Security Forces headquarters in occupied Bogaz, Brigadier General Hasan Peher Gural also warned about the ever-increasing number of casinos in the occupied area where gambling is allowed. He said that the issuing of permits for casinos should be under strict control. General Gural added that the occupation army is ready to turn over the fire-brigade and traffic police in the towns to the "civilian administration".

The so-called police and fire brigade as well as traffic police are under the command of the occupation forces and not under "civil administration". (MY)

[05] Occupied Kythrea church collapsing

The white wall paint also started coming out and revealed beautiful frescoes and wall-paintings underneath.

KIBRIS says that the church has been left to its fate, to be destroyed by the forces of nature.

It ways that the dome of the church collapsed a month ago.

Children in the village use the historic church as their playground. (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Turkish daily advises cautious handling of Cyprus issue

However, it seems that we are approaching the end of the road we have walked during the past 23 years.

We would be very wrong if we do not take the appointment of Richard Holbrooke (Terminator) seriously and believe that `many officials appeared on the scene in the past and the present initiative will also disappear in the quagmire'.

The United States and Europe never adopted such a resolute approach in the past. Nearly 10 countries, from Russia to Sweden, have appointed `representatives to Cyprus'. They did not do that in the past.

We are being besieged.

Considering all that, what have we done? Nothing...

What we hope for is Rauf Denktash to frustrate the terminator and force him to give up. Furthermore, we hope that Glafcos Clerides will make a historic mistake and miss the opportunity he could have easily used.

However, the realities are obvious. We have to see them and decide the options we have.

We cannot abandon Denktash.. However, we may forfeit what we already have if we maintain our approach.

We would be wrong to believe that the Western countries cannot impose anything on Turkey because of its `strategic importance'.

So, we have to take off our hat and decide the point we can retreat to and the point from which we cannot do so. That is because the day for accounting is drawing closer. The time for acting with common sense, instead of making cunning moves that are typical of eastern countries, and for coordinating our initiatives and making appropriate assessments is about to begin.

The side that effectively uses the trump cards it holds stands to gain. Needless to say, Turkey's trump cards are very valuable. So, let us use them the right way."

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

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