Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-09-16

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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. 171/97 -- 16.9.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: Demilitarization can be discussed after solution.

[02] Feissel meets Denktash over humanitarian issues.

[03] Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman on EU membership, S-300 missiles.

[04] Scope of Turkish ban on Greek Cypriot registered ships broadened.

[05] Denktash to meet with President Clerides on security issues.

[06] Stock-farmers protest.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: Demilitarization can be discussed after solution

Denktash met with Thomas Miller, the US State Department special coordinator for Cyprus, yesterday and conferred with him for some time. Also attending the meeting were Taner Etkin, "foreign affairs and defense minister", Osman Ertug, "foreign affairs and defense ministry under secretary", US Ambassador to Nicosia Kenneth Brill, Necati Munir Ertegun, "coordinating ambassador and special adviser to the president on political affairs", Ergun Olgun, "special adviser to the president on political affairs", and Mustafa Evran, "political affairs director".

In a statement before the meeting, Denktash said that he wants to meet with Miller after December, when the EU Council of Ministers will decide on the Cyprus issue. Asked by a Greek Cypriot journalist if he is ready to discuss President Clerides' proposal to demilitarize the island, Denktash said that the question of the island's demilitarization can be placed on the agenda and discussed after the Cyprus problem has been resolved "on the basis at the equality of the two communities that have separate political and ethnic origins, one of them with bonds to Turkey and the other to Greece". Denktash claimed that the demilitarization proposal is a "grand scheme" plotted by the Greek Cypriot side with the aim of eliminating the 1960 agreement. He added that demilitarization can be discussed following a solution to be based on the condition that the guarantee system envisaged by the 1960 agreement is perpetuated.

Denktash reiterated his claim that Greece's grand dream is to turn Cyprus into a Greek island. "For this reason, the solution should be based on granting separate sovereignty rights to the Turkish Cypriot side", he alleged.

Denktash and Miller issued a short statement to the press after their meeting. Reiterating that an exchange of views was conducted at the meeting, Denktash said that he welcomed Miller's proposal to assist the sides in finding a solution. Denktash further stated that his meetings with Miller will continue.

Miller, in turn, noted that he is not pessimistic even though it is a complex situation and added that Holbrooke, who is a good and experienced diplomat, will continue to help him in the efforts exerted for a solution.. Miller, who said that he now has more detailed information with regard to the issue in the wake of his meeting with Denktash, noted that the US State Department has channeled all its energy to a solution of the issue and that President Clinton's wishes are along these lines as well. Miller declined to answer questions on when Holbrooke and Albright may visit Cyprus.

[02] Feissel meets Denktash over humanitarian issues

In reply to reporters' questions after the meeting, Feissel said that he had a chance to get together with Denktash after a long time and that they held a general exchange of views on all issues. Feissel, who avoided giving details on the meeting, said that humanitarian issues were emphasized at the meeting, which was in no way connected to Miller's contacts.

[03] Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman on EU membership, S-300 missiles

In reply to a question in connection with the Turkish-Russian political consultation meeting in Moscow, Ambassador Akbel said that the issue of the S-300 missiles, which Russia will deliver to the Cyprus Government, was taken up at the meeting and that none of the sides adopted a change of stand on the issue.

[04] Scope of Turkish ban on Greek Cypriot registered ships broadened

The diplomatic sources have described the initiative as a "reaction" to the economic problems the embargo on the "TRNC" has caused and said that its objective is to shake the Greek Cypriot side's economy.

[05] Denktash to meet with President Clerides on security issues

However, the date of the meeting has not yet been determined. In a statement he issued after US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's announcement that the two leaders will meet shortly, Denktash said: "Security issues such as mutual withdrawal of soldiers from certain places and border disengagement have been discussed for some time now. These issues, however, were not resolved until now because of the opposition of the Greek Cypriot side. I had already agreed to meet and discuss these issues.

This means that Clerides has also accepted to get together now."

Denktash has called on President Clerides for both leaders to issue a joint statement to the effect that the Cyprus issue cannot be resolved through the use of arms, and asked that Greece and Turkey sign this joint statement as well.

Meanwhile, Denktash announced that he will go to the United States as the guest of the Turkish organizations in order to attend the 29 October celebrations, and added that he will exert efforts to meet with US Congress members and officials during his visit.

[06] Stock-farmers protest

The stock-farmers gathered in front of the so-called assembly building in the occupied part of Nicosia and left dead and sick animals on the grounds outside the building, protesting the "government's" indifference to the bad state of stock-breeding in the occupied area.

The protestors have threatened to go on hunger strike next Monday.

(A.Th/EF)

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

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