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

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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. 120/97 -- 4.7.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Demirel, Denktash and the Yilmaz government to review Cyprus developments before New York talks.

[02] Revolutionary change in Turkey's Cyprus approach.

[03] Lack of promotion hits "TRNC" tourism.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] Turkish columnist criticizes Ecevit and Prof. Sukru Gurel on their views about Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Demirel, Denktash and the Yilmaz government to review Cyprus developments before New York talks

Denktash will arrive in Ankara late Friday afternoon and will plunge into talks with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and State Minister Sukru Gurel who is responsible from Cyprus affairs.

A joint statement is also expected to be issued before Denktash returns to the occupied area.

Denktash' Ankara visit comes in the lead up to the July 9-13 Cyprus direct talks in New York. The Foreign Ministry statement said Denktash will "evaluate" the developments regarding the Cyprus problem with Turkish leaders before the New York talks.

This was the second statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Cyprus in two days, an indication of the approach of the new government to the Cyprus problem. On Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry declared that Turkey supported the proposed face-to-face talks between Denktash and President Glafcos Clerides, but warned against" external pressures".

In a clear deviation from the Cyprus policy of the previous governments, the statement emphasized that Turkey was concerned about the security of Turkish Cypriots but Cyprus was important as well for the security of Turkey.

This approach of the new government, which according to many analysts reflects Ecevit's return to the administration of the country, was clear in the first remarks of Ismail Cem, the new foreign minister. Asked by reporters Foreign Minister Cem said Cyprus was one of Turkey's most important foreign policy issues and stressed that the new government would not approach the Cyprus problem solely with the consideration of the security of the Turkish Cypriots, but with consideration of Turkish security as well.

In Ankara, Denktash, Demirel, Yilmaz, Ecevit, Cem and Gurel are expected to discuss general aspects of the Cyprus problem and the latest developments before the Turkish Cypriot leader attends the scheduled July 9-13 New York talks.

[02] Revolutionary change in Turkey's Cyprus approach

This declaration was perhaps the most important development regarding Cyprus in Ankara over the past several years. It marked a radical change from the attitudes of some leading statesmen who considered Cyprus a pain in the neck for Turkey, and that Turkey should be saved from this burden.

This change in Turkey's Cyprus policy reflects, according to many diplomats and political observers, the return of Bulent Ecevit to an administrative post.

Former Prime Minister Ecevit ordered the 1974 Cyprus invasion of Turkey, and he is still regarded as a strong supporter of the Turkish Cypriot position on the Cyprus issue.

He is back in office after 18 years in opposition, thanks to the establishment this week of a secularist coalition to replace the Islamist- led government of Prime Minister Necemettin Erbakan, who resigned last month.

Ecevit, who occupies the post of deputy prime minister in the new Turkish government, has been insisting over the past several years that Cyprus was not a burden on Turkey, but on the other hand, was a key component of its national security.

The change in Ankara's Cyprus policy came at a time when Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and President Glafcos Clerides are preparing to plunge into the first direct talks in three years on July 9 in New York.

Besides, in contrast to a recent visit to Ankara by Denktash during which neither the prime minister, the deputy prime minister, nor foreign minister met the Turkish Cypriot leader, Denktash will be arriving today in Ankara on an "official" visit. He will arrive at Esenboga to a full red-carpet treatment by Ecevit, and an official "presidential" welcome ceremony will be held by President Suleyman Demirel at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. This red-carpet protocol that will be accorded to Denktash by the Turkish president and the government, observers say, also demonstrates a change in Turkey's handling of the Cyprus problem, and aims at highlighting Ankara's support for the Turkish Cypriots before the New York talks. Demirel and Denktash, after a meeting which will be attended by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and State Minister Sukru Gurel, who is responsible for Cyprus affairs, are expected to issue, as well, a joint statement reiterating Turkey's continued support for the Turkish Cypriot "state".

[03] Lack of promotion hits "TRNC" tourism

The "Ministry" responsible for tourism organized a three-day trip for Turkish journalists to promote tourism.

Denktash said tourism was vital for the "TRNC", but unfortunately they had a very bad season due to the political developments on the island last year. Denktash said when the bed capacity of the "TRNC" and the transportation difficulties arising from the lack of promotion were taken into consideration, tourists interested in specialized trips were preferred to a huge quantity of tourists.

Denktash said because the "TRNC" was not known by the world, there were no direct flights. He added that because there were protests being held in Larnaka the number of tourists who would cross the "border" had decreased from 50 to 60,000 to 15-20,000.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] Turkish columnist criticizes Ecevit and Prof. Sukru Gurel on their views about Cyprus

He accuses Ecevit of not understanding the changes in the world politics and of being static since 1970.

He also points out the dilemma regarding the Foreign Minister's responsibility vis a vis Cyprus and Greco-Turkish issues. He says that Ecevit has appointed Prof. Sukru Gurel as State Minister responsible for Cyprus Affairs and Greece and asks what will happen when, while Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem discusses Turkish foreign policy issues with his foreign counterparts, all of a sudden the Cyprus problem and Greco- Turkish relations are raised.

"Will Ismail Cem say, sorry I am not authorized to discuss these issues?", wonders Sertoglu.

Referring to Prof. Sukru Gurel, Sertoglu says: "I hope Sukru Gurel has given up his old views of defending the sick and wrong order existing in the TRNC and that he has resigned from the doubtful foundation financed by Asil Nadir, which is involved in construction business as well. I hope he has given up these obsolete and outdated views and does not insist on them thus isolating Turkey on the international arena." (MY) EF/SK

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

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