Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-08-21

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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. 153/97 -- 21.8.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: "In case of accusations against us we will take corresponding measures".

[02] Durduran says Denktash does not care about Cyprus situation.

[03] Paper reports Nadir returns to turkey.

[04] `Coalition' partners overcome problems.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: "In case of accusations against us we will take corresponding measures"

Referring to the attitude of the EU on Cyprus-EU accession negotiations, Mr. Denktash, inter alia, said: "They (EU) want to take us into the EU whether we want it or not. They have already made up their mind: They want to close this case in favour of the Greek Cypriots and Greeks. They cannot do that".

Furthermore, Denktash stressed that before briefing the party leaders on the talks he wants to wait for the discussion of the Cyprus report at the UN on 20 August and added: "In case of accusations against us, we will take corresponding measures. I told Cordovez back in Glion that the Cyprus problem cannot be solved by constantly declaring Denktash intransigent and preparing reports against Denktash. However, by constantly declaring me intransigent you will push me to a point of refusing to attend the talks. That is why you should give up making such accusations."

Commenting on a possible visit by Mr. Cordovez to Cyprus to discuss humanitarian affairs, Denktash said: "If he comes we will meet him. Beyond that I expect nothing. The actual talks were going to take place in March. The two sides were supposed to prepare a constitution by the end of the year before submitting them to the March meeting for discussion. Now that process and efforts in that direction have stopped. It means that we now have to wait for March, when Clerides will go to elections. We will see if he wins or not. The contact will resume with the winner in March providing that the EU, in the meantime, does not commence the talks with them and turn its back to us. So we have an opening until March."

Asked if he would continue meeting with Mr. Clerides in Cyprus, Denktash said: "We said that we could continue the talks on humanitarian issues. Now we have to wait for the UN report. If, I am again going to be blamed for unjust maneuvering and tactics by Clerides then these meetings too will bring no benefit. Let us wait and see."

Commenting on the so-called "coalition government" crisis in the occupied part of Cyprus, Denktash states that, naturally, coalitions are difficult to maintain and the sides should be tolerant toward each other and not accuse each other.

[02] Durduran says Denktash does not care about Cyprus situation

In conclusion he said that there is not enough will on either side for a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[03] Paper reports Nadir returns to Turkey

It has been ascertained that he secretly returned to Constantinople in a private plane he rented yesterday. He stayed in the occupied areas for six days. The significant effort he made to avoid journalists at Ataturk Airport drew attention.

[04] `Coalition' partners overcome problems

A joint statement was issued after the meeting in which Irsen Kuchuk and Salih Miroglu from the UBP and Ahmet Kasif and Mustafa Arbacoglu from the DP participated. The statement announced the issues the Committee agreed upon after assessing the methods aimed at speedily and effectively solving the "country's" problems and overcoming the existing hitches. The "Coordination Committee" decided to implement as soon as possible the "bills" that appear in the "coalition protocol and the government program" and to take the pertinent measures on the issues.

The "bills" in question are on issues concerning banking, income tax, corporation tax, inflation accounting, tax procedures, housing, "parliamentary" organization, a unitary social security system, social housing, the property of politicians and senior bureaucrats, private hospitals, general health insurance, and general health.

Restrictions on "parliamentary" immunity, work on preferential treatment, determining the pilot regions that will constitute the basis for transforming the whole of the "TRNC" into a free trade zone, restricting the scope of the tripartite directives, reviewing the laws to speed up land registry procedures, work on land parcelling, and speeding up the legal work on promoting Morphou and Trikomo to the status of Districts are among the issues on which the Committee reached an agreement.

The "coalition" partners also decided to improve the working conditions and services of the "Cooperative Central Bank", transfer its administration to its members and to extend agricultural loans supplied by Turkey through the "Cooperative Central Bank" and loans to artisans and shopkeepers through the Vakiflar Bank. The partners also reached an agreement on legalizing illegal workers and speeding up work on the agricultural master plan.

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

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