Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-09-23

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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. 176/97 -- 23.9.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash notes "EU danger" seeks "Assembly" discussion.

[02] RTP reacts to Denktash's call for "National Congress".

[03] Demirel on Cyprus.

[04] Turkey's Sezgin cited on Tension, S-300 missiles.

[05] Clerides-Denktash meeting on security scheduled for 26 September.

[06] Turkey's threats continue, Sezgin: "Necessary Measures can be taken against missiles".

[07] Eroglu undergoes angiography: Arterial blockages dilated.

[08] KIBRIS claims water from Turkey is on the way to the occupied area.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash notes "EU danger", seeks "Assembly" discussion

"We must handle this as a people".

Denktash held a meeting with Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Republican Turkish Party, RTP, secretary General; and Alpay Avsaroglu, RTP deputy secretary general. They exchanged views on the Cyprus issue in the context of the EU process.

In a statement before the meeting, Denktash said that he wanted to meet with RTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat in light of the banner headline that appeared in the YENIDUZEN newspaper today, but since Talat is abroad, he will assess the matter with Soyer and Avsaroglu. The banner headline asked: "Where is Denktash running to?

Denktash said: "I am running to inform the world that we are not in a speeding, so-called Cyprus train that will soon hit the EU wall." Denktash pointed out that despite the Turkish Cypriots' insistence, the EU continues to advance along its path, that it considers the Turkish Cypriots a minority aboard this train, and refuses to change its opinion. He added: it is my duty to tell the people the facts. That is why I want the Assembly to convene as soon as possible. Everybody should be apprised of the EU danger.

Denktash noted that the missile crisis is an undesirable development, but measures can be taken against it.

Ferdi Sabit Soyer said: "The RTP shares the feelings of all the Turkish Cypriots.

Soyer said he would brief Denktash on RTP leader Talat's contacts in Europe. He stressed that the RTP wants a solution in Cyprus under which the Turkish Cypriots will not become a minority. He said, adding: "The solution lies with the Assembly".

[02] RTP reacts to Denktash's call for "National Congress"

It reports that the Republican Turkish Party, RTP issued a statement reacting to Denktash, who with his announcement yesterday created the atmosphere of a white coup in the country, and called on the democratic forces to be vigilant.

It then gives the text of the statement issued on this subject yesterday by RTP Secretary General Ferdi Sabit Soyer:

"Having postponed all his appointments after the recommendation of his doctors to take a rest, Denktash has nevertheless not refrained from straining his health to put pressure on our democracy.

"Attempts are being made to give a direction to the community without thoroughly examining and discussing the latest Cyprus developments with the Assembly and the political parties, which are our community's legal institutions, without making cool-headed assessments, and by utilizing BRT's methods of psychological warfare.

"The desire is to impose a policy on the entire community, with calls for a national resistance and Constituent Assembly and by creating an atmosphere of a white coup.

"Having not been successful at all for the last 34 years in placing Cyprus developments on a foundation that we deserve, Mr. Denktash is trying to cover up his own responsibilities by blaming everyone and everything but himself.

"If today the Greek Cypriot leadership is advancing alone towards EU membership, it is due as much to the Greek Cypriot administration's success in winning the world's approval for its unjust steps taken for its own interests as to Denktash failure as the advocate of the cause for the last 34 years to prevent such steps, despite the Turkish Cypriot community's just cause. It is not possible to absolve oneself of responsibility by heaping this failure on others. Moreover, the Turkish Cypriot community's interests cannot be defended by calls for resistance and a Congress and by assigning to the latter authority above the Assembly.

For I don't know how many times is it now that this coup is being restaged and this film replayed?

"While inviting Mr. Denktash to desist from attacking the left and the right and to finally realize that he can achieve nothing by considering himself the sole indispensable leader, we call on all the political parties, trade unions, associations, and unions what believe in democracy to stand up for democracy and remain vigilant against anti-democratic demands."

[03] Demirel on Cyprus

Regarding Cyprus Altug put the following question to Demirel:

Question: "Turkey is at a very critical point, geographically. It is surrounded by fire. We have the Middle East crisis on one side and the S- 300 issue and Cyprus on the other. The prime minister's remarks triggered a reaction in the United States. The deputy prime minister also uttered certain harsh remarks. Are we a hawk, or are we trying to be a dove?"

Demirel: Neither. We are a cool-headed, rational, civilized, great country that protects its rights, that has the power to protect its rights, that tries to solve its problems by using every means of diplomacy at its disposal. We are not threatening anyone. We are saying that we are greatly disturbed by the deployment of missiles in Cyprus, and we are trying to say that this disturbance must be understood well. There may be differences in style. It is impossible for us to be indifferent to the deployment of missiles in Cyprus. Nothing can be more wrong than the move to deploy missiles in Cyprus. It is as if, all of a sudden, they stick a club into a beehive. We sat in Madrid and said that we would solve all problems peacefully, through negotiations, through a dialogue. We said that this is needed in today's world. Both we and the Greeks signed the Helsinki Declaration and the Paris Declaration. We are both NATO members. In all these declarations we say that the problems will be solved through a dialogue, not through force."

(MY)

[04] Turkey's Sezgin cited on Tension, S-300 missiles

Asked whether a new development has taken place in connection with the S- 300 missiles, Sezgin asserted: "The S-300 missiles can be modified to be used as an offensive weapons system. We have made an effort to have all the necessary measures taken to obstruct that in the diplomatic field. Naturally, the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff are working to establish the military measures that will be taken in addition to our diplomatic initiatives. They will be put into effect as soon as they are established. Yes, we are taking the necessary measures. However, I do not believe the problem will reach a point where an attack will be unavoidable. The International public opinion and those who act with common sense do not want a war between Turkey and Greece, which are NATO countries. We do not want a war either. Do not mention the words attack and destroy anymore. Our communities live on the two sides of the Aegean Sea. God has created us as neighbouring nations and countries. We want to

[05] Clerides-Denktash meeting on security scheduled for 26 September

In a statement after the meeting, Denktash said that, via Feissel, he proposed to President Clerides to meet on 26 September, and this proposal was accepted by Clerides. The Denktash-Clerides meeting will begin at Feissel's residence at 17:00. The meeting will be held without an agenda and without preconditions. No statement will be issued at the end of the meeting, which will be held between the two leaders under the chairmanship of Feissel.

[06] Turkey's threats continue, Sezgin: "Necessary Measures can be taken against missiles"

Sezgin uttered this threat at a meeting in Ankara with Taner Etkin, the so- called foreign affairs and defense minister of the pseudostate.

"Turkey does not want the strategic balances in its region to be upset. I do not think that our friends and allies would like that either. The entire world knows that we have the capability to take and implement the necessary measures against ..end all moves and risks concerning the strategic balances in our region, be they missiles or other means." Threaten Sezgin.

[07] Eroglu undergoes angiography: Arterial blockages dilated

[08] KIBRIS claims water from Turkey is on the way to the occupied area

KIBRIS says that water will reach the occupied area during the first months of 1998.

The first stage of the project is to meet the 7 million meter cube of the potable water needs of the occupied area.

With this project, adds KIBRIS, which is first in its kind in the world Turkey will export 180 million meter cube of water and make 300 million US dollars.

Water from this installations will be shipped to Israel and North African countries that have shores in the Mediterranean. Water which will be transported from Turkey will be stored in the storage tanks at the occupied Siryanochori installations.

(MY)

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

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