Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-10-13

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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. 189/97 -- 13.10.1997

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CEM: TURKEY ACTS ACCORDING TO WORST-CASE SNENARIO ON CYPRUS

[02] TALAT ON DIFFERENCES WITH DENKTASH OVER CYPRUS PROBLEM

[03] TURKEY ON RUSSIA'S STATEMENT OF "CASUS BELLI"

[04] DENKTASH MEETS FOREIGN DIPLOMATS

[05] MHP URGES MEASURES AGAINST S-300, 'ORTHODOX SOVEREIGNTY'

[06] SECRETARY GENERAL, DEPUTY, 434 MEMBERS RESIGN FROM DP

[07] SERDAR, ATAKOL, TALAT, AKINCI ON MEETING WITH DENKTASH

[08] SERDAR DENKTASH IN FRANCE FOR CONTACTS

[09] "DOG-FIGHT" IN CYPRUS' AIR SPACE

[10] "CIVIL DEFENCE" EXERCISE

[11] GUREL SAYS HE ENVISAGES "RECIPROCAL ACCEPTANCE" OF "TWO STATES" IN CYPRUS

[12] MILLER WENT TO ANKARA, HOLBROOKE DUE TO ARRIVE

[13] ANKARA TONES UP RESPONSE TO RUSSIA

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] CEM: TURKEY ACTS ACCORDING TO WORST-CASE SNENARIO ON CYPRUS

Cem noted that he addressed the S-300 issue during his contacts in New York with the foreign press and foreign ministers of the Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Western European countries, as well as the United States. He said that in foreign policy, it is always necessary to take the worst-case scenario into account and act accordingly.

[02] TALAT ON DIFFERENCES WITH DENKTASH OVER CYPRUS PROBLEM

Also touching on the "national congress", Talat said that this is an operation against the National Unity Party (UBP) and that the party recognized it as such and rejected it. Talat also confirmed that the Turkish Cypriots have approached a precipice, adding: "But the important thing is to know who is pushing them to the precipice. According to the president, it is Europe, the Greek Cypriots, and other countries that are pushing them to the precipice. He says he is trying to stop them. I myself think the opposite is true."

After being reminded about Denktash's statement to the effect that "Europe is trying to discuss political issues with the political parties and economic issues with the trade unions, in order to exclude him and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus from developments," Talat said: "More than the interest shown in us, we are playing a very active role in this issue. We are generally taking the initiative, whether it is in our meetings with Europe or with the south. In particular, our meetings with south Cyprus materialized on our initiative. We are meeting with the ambassadors of the European countries and arriving delegations and are telling them that we need to go to the European Parliament to convey our views." Indicating that they also applied to international socialism, Talat said:

"The Labor Party is one of the strongest wings of international socialism. As a member of this party, Pauline Green is the European Parliament Socialist Group leader. Within this framework, we received an invitation. It is natural for Europe to be interested in us."

Indicating that people want to hear other voices besides Denktash's Talat said that he believes that the Cyprus problem will enter a solution course during 1998.

[03] TURKEY ON RUSSIA'S STATEMENT OF "CASUS BELLI"

He claimed that such statements justify Turkey's sensitivity or the issue. (MY)

[04] DENKTASH MEETS FOREIGN DIPLOMATS

[05] MHP URGES MEASURES AGAINST S-300, 'ORTHODOX SOVEREIGNTY'

Addressing his party's provincial consultative meeting in Kutahya, MHP secretary general Muarrem Semsek said the efforts exerted to form an "Orthodox sovereignty" around Turkey are being followed with extreme care. Semsek claimed: "There are countries that are using the factors of religion, sect, and race in their foreign policies, while the Fener Patriarchate is trying to revive the dream of forming a Trabzon Greek pontificate."

[06] SECRETARY GENERAL, DEPUTY, 434 MEMBERS RESIGN FROM DP

Emin held a news conference and announced his resignation from the position of DP secretary general. Explaining the reasons for his resignation, Emin recalled that the National Birth Party (UDP) had merged with the DP in line with the mission of uniting all the political parties that share the same views and goals. (Tr.Note: Emin was UDP leader before merging with the DP). Noting that the goal of the merger was to establish a system based on equality, justice, and equity, make a transition to a productive state structure devoid of partisanship, solve the property exchange issue, ensure equal opportunity in production, and take measures aimed at preventing emigration, Emin stressed that these goals were could not be attained despite the "government" protocol and program.

[07] SERDAR, ATAKOL, TALAT, AKINCI ON MEETING WITH DENKTASH

Asked if a consensus was reached among the parties regarding any particular subject, Serdar Denktash noted that everyone expressed his views. He underlined the fact, however, that all the four parties agree that the EU meetings with certain Turkish Cypriot political parties regarding the Greek Cypriot accession talks cannot be considered to mean that the EU heard the views of the Turkish Cypriot side.

Expressing the views of the National Unity Party (UBP), Kenan Atakol, the party's foreign relations official, said that the views of the political parties on the Cyprus problem are being posited clearly on the eve of Denktash's visit to the United States. He stressed that the UBP believes that no concessions must be made on bizonality, political equality, sovereignty, or the 1960 guarantees agreements.

Referring to reports that the EU will invite certain Turkish Cypriot political parties, unions, and organizations to the membership negotiations, Atakol said: "We do not believe that any political party will participate in such a negotiation process. We are opposed to that. The TRNC can be represented only by its elected and authorized officials. Only these officials can take part in official negotiations. We suggest that the EU give up playing this trick."

Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat said after the meeting that the issue of the "national congress" was not discussed, adding that the CTP believes that the national congress issue has been lifted from the abenda. In a way, he added, it was stillborn.

Talat said that at the meeting the CTP assessed the latest developments in the Cyprus problem. He affirmed that during the talks the CTP held with the Greek Cypriot political parties, it posited that Cyprus must join the EU only after a solution, and that the Turkish Cypriot community must take its place in the process. He pointed to the beneficial aspects of the international relations of civilian mass organizations, adding that such talks, including bicommunal contacts, must continue. Replying to a question, Talat said that the meeting was held with a view to reaching a consensus among the parties on the eve of Denktash's meeting with Holbrooke. It is not easy to suddenly eliminate the differences of opinion that have been formed over a long period of time, he said, but such meetings constitute a step toward reaching that aim.

Replying to another question, the CTP leader pointed out that there are certain issues on which the CTP agrees with the other parties. He explained that the four parties believe that the solution to the Cyprus problem should be bicommunal and bizonal, based on political equality, and protective of the rights cited in the 1960 agreements. He underlined the fact that the CTP can approve of full membership talks with the EU only if there is a representation reflecting political equality.

Communal Liberation Party (TKP) leader Mustafa Akinci said that contrary to what the other party officials said, certain results were indeed achieved at the meeting. He said: "It was important that everyone agreed that such meetings are important, that they must be held in the future, and that these issues must be discussed at the Assembly."

Akinci described as very "unfair" the accession process the EU started with the Greek Cypriots. He claimed that the representation of the "TRNC" at the EU process must come after a solution and with equal status, adding that the dialogue the EU will set up with Turkish Cypriot parties and unions must not be portrayed as part of the accession talks with the Greek Cypriot side. The TKP leader stated that none of the Turkish Cypriot parties will support a solution that does not protect the Turkish Cypriots' security, equality, and equal rights in sovereignty, or Turkey's guarantees. That was one of the results that emerged from the meeting, he said.

[08] SERDAR DENKTASH IN FRANCE FOR CONTACTS

KIBRIS reports that Serdar Denktash will hold talks with the representative of the France's political parties representatives. (MY)

[09] "DOG-FIGHT" IN CYPRUS' AIR SPACE

Meanwhile, says the paper, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, told a private TV station that the occupation forces in the occupied area have been put on alert. (MY)

[10] "CIVIL DEFENCE" EXERCISE

[11] GUREL SAYS HE ENVISAGES "RECIPROCAL ACCEPTANCE" OF "TWO STATES" IN CYPRUS

Saying that the acceptance on the international level of "two separate states and peoples" on the island is not enough, Gurel said: "I envisage the reciprocal acceptance even the recognition of the two states".

He claimed that there was no other way out. He ruled out the early unification of the "two states in Cyprus" as well as entry into the European Union.

Answering a question regarding the transfer of potable water from Turkey, to the occupied area Gurel said that the target is to bring water to the occupied area in January.

[12] MILLER WENT TO ANKARA, HOLBROOKE DUE TO ARRIVE

Richard Holbrooke was expected to arrive in Ankara later on Sunday and start his talks with Turkish officials on Monday, the Foreign Ministry said. Miller said he was in no condition to talk to reporters, it was not clear if this was due to jet lag or the stress of difficult talks ahead.

The Foreign Ministry had said earlier on Friday that Holbrooke is due to arrive in Ankara on Sunday, the first visit since his appointment to the Cyprus conflict.

The long-awaited visit is "in the nature of meeting for the first time and exchanging views on the issue in general. He is not coming with a special agenda or will he bring any official message," a Foreign Ministry official told the Turkish Daily News.

Ankara will be using this opportunity to express its views on the conflict and to learn Holbrooke's stance on recent developments. Holbrooke is said to be accompanied by Miller who was expected to meet Rauf Denktash in Nicosia prior to going to Athens. The broker of the Dayton agreement, Holbrooke, earlier met President Glafcos Clerides in the United States. It is still not clear if Holbrooke will leave immediately that day or leave on Tuesday due to his high-level and intensive visits, but no official meeting is planned for Tuesday, officials said.

[13] ANKARA TONES UP RESPONSE TO RUSSIA

Turkey warned and urged Russia to rethink its decision regarding the sale of the Russian made S-300 missiles to Cyprus, calling it a threat to its security. But Russia has said that this deal was necessary in light of its current economic status and rejected an idea of cancelling.

Ankara dismissed Russia's Ambassador to Cyprus Georgi Muradov's earlier remarks that Russia would accept any offensive Turkey could realize to the charter carrying the S-300s as "casus belli."

It claimed the statement to be "surprising and far from sobriety" and added that it is "contradictory to the friendly ambiance of the meeting between our Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Russian counterpart Mr. Primakov in New York."

Furthermore, Ankara had denied on Friday that Turkish border troops fired at a Russian helicopter forcing it to make an emergency landing, the Foreign Ministry declared.

"According to initial investigations, a Russian helicopter flying over the Turkish-Georgian border was noted on Monday by offiicals as violating Turkey's air space", Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said over the phone. This was later released as a statement.

Akbel stated the investigation into "the firing incident the Russians claimed took place" was continuing.

Russia's border guards service said on Thursday one of its helicopters had come under fire from Turkey while on a routine mission in ex-Soviet Georgia and it had set up a commission to investigate.

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

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