Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-09-15

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash calls for stopping contacts with EU.

[02] Turkish paper writes about EU proposal for `separate' Cyprus.

[03] "Assembly" delegation continues Cairo contacts.

[04] Ciller: Turkey on brink of war with Russia on missile issue.

[05] Yilmaz: The Greek Cypriots will be wrong to believe we are bluffing.

[06] Illegal Bayrak signs "cooperation agreement" with Hungarian TV.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash calls for stopping contacts with EU

Denktash continued claiming: "The Greek Cypriot Administration applied for EU membership for its own political interests. The EU, however, is incapable of seeing through such a simple ploy and has adopted a hostile stand against the Turkish Cypriots. We will gain nothing from our contacts with the EU, which has succumbed to the Greek blackmail. All contacts with the EU should be severed as long as it continues to treat the Greek Cypriot government as the legitimate government and considers us as a minority, which can only be contacted after getting permission from the so-called legitimate government."

Noting that the views to the effect that all contacts with the EU officials should be stopped were his personal views, Denktash stressed that it is up to the "government" and the "parliament" to adopt these views as "government" decisions.

Commenting on the EU-Cyprus relations in the statement he issued to illegal TAK (Turkish Cypriot News Agency) and commenting in particular on the report on the undertakings of the Cyprus Government within the framework of the partnership agreement with the EU, Denktash claimed: "This report notes that aid to the tune of 12 million ECU was received from the EU in order to explain the benefits of the EU membership to the Turkish Cypriots. This report, therefore, proves once again that the reasons for the dinners and feasts are nothing but efforts by the EU to trick the Turkish Cypriot side and make it fall into the trap of the Greek-Greek Cypriot duo."

Claiming that there are "two equal peoples, two administrations, and two democracies" in Cyprus, Denktash alleged: "This report, which was submitted on behalf of the Cyprus government, clearly shows to all, who are not aware of the origins of the 34 year old Cyprus issue, the extent that this Greek- Greek Cypriot cooperation with the EU can undermine the Turkish Cypriots."

Noting in his statement that the EU officials believe it is impossible for the Turkish Cypriots to veto the Greek Cypriot EU membership, Denktash added: "The officials we contacted said the Turkish Cypriots do not have the right to veto and therefore cannot prevent the EU membership of the Greek Cypriots. The EU officials tell us that the decision to grant membership to the Greek Cypriots will take effect regardless of our stand and that they are not interested in whether or not Turkey has the same rights as Greece in Cyprus. When we alluded to our legitimate right and status, we received the reply that the Cyprus issue is a political issue and not a legal one. In other words, the EU officials have already condemned us to a helpless minority with the March and June 1995 decision", he claimed.

[02] Turkish paper writes about EU proposal for `separate' Cyprus talks

Secret bargaining has begun behind closed doors for a resolution of the Cyprus problem, Batur says. "While Athens and the Greek Cypriot sector have rejected this proposal, TRNC President Rauf Denktash has not ruled it out.

The United States also supports this EU proposal, which is being developed in the Ankara, Nicosia, Athens, and Brussels axis. Tom Miller, the Cyprus Coordinator at the US State Department, who has been shuttling between Ankara, Athens, and Nicosia discussed the new proposal with the Turkish side during talks in Ankara two days ago. Ankara signaled to Miller that the crisis in Cyprus may be overcome if the EU proposal can be developed.

With Ankara and the TRNC having opened the door to the proposal, international pressure has begun to mount against Athens and the Greek Cypriot side. Miller reportedly focused on the said proposal during talks in Athens yesterday", Batur claims.

[03] "Assembly" delegation continues Cairo contacts

The delegation is also holding bilateral talks with the representatives of various countries. Meanwhile, Hakki Atun, head of the delegation, in a statement to (name indistinct) television, which is viewed in the entire Middle East, explained the Turkish Cypriot thesis regarding the Cyprus problem. The delegation is composed of Irsen Kucuk from the National Unity Party, Ahmet Kasif from the Democratic Party, Ferdi Soyer from the Republican Turkish Party, and Huseyin Angolemli from the Communal Liberation Party.

[04] Ciller: Turkey on brink of war with Russia on missile issue

Commenting on the Cyprus issue during a news conference, Ciller said: "I was accused of selling out Cyprus in order to secure Turkey's membership in the EU. Cyprus remains where it is; however, Turkey is going to war with Russia." Claiming that Turkey is on the brink of a war with Russia on account of the missile crisis, Ciller called on the Turkish Government to take precautions on this issue.

[05] Yilmaz: The Greek Cypriots will be wrong to believe we are bluffing

"We have shortcomings in the democratic and political domains. We will try to remove them without creating a risk for our national unity," Yilmaz added.

Yilmaz also touched on the S-300 missiles Cyprus plans to acquire. He claimed: "Turkey wants to establish friendly relations with Greece and the Greek Cypriots, which will not be based on prejudice and illusion. We can resist any kind of pressure if they do not give up their illusions. The S- 300 missiles have raised the question of Turkey's security, not the security of Cyprus. There is nothing we cannot do for our security."

Considering his remarks, the journalists insisted that he "explain his approach". However, he said that "there is nothing to explain. Everything is very clear."

Regarding a question on the missiles, he asserted that Russia will sell them because it believes the matter concerns its trade. He said: "The Greek Cypriots may also acquire arms from another country. The Greek Cypriot administration will be responsible. We will continue to explain the risk to the United States and the European countries. However, the Greek Cypriots will be wrong to believe we are bluffing."

Yilmaz's remarks indicated that Turkey is at a crossroads. As far as Cyprus and the EU are concerned, the next three months will be very important for our country," Dogan says.

[06] Illegal Bayrak signs "cooperation agreement" with Hungarian TV

The paper says the agreement aims "at bringing together the Hungarian people and the people of TRNC in the fields of culture and education." (A.TH/EF)

[07] Denktash to visit Washington

(EF)

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

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article