Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-10-21

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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. 195/97 21.10.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash blames EU for absence of Greek Cypriot motivation.

[02] Turkey-Israel military agreements.

[03] Denktash on alleged Holbrooke involvement in Bank in Cyprus.

[04] Turkey says UN `Most Appropriate' framework on Cyprus issue.

[05] Occupied area said to need investment from Turkey.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Cyprus' EU accession talks, Turkish reaction viewed.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash blames EU for absence of Greek Cypriot motivation

In the event that the EU conducts this assessment, Denktash claimed, the "injustice" committed against the Turkish Cypriots will be eliminated.

"The EU has put obstacles on the path to an agreement.

By refusing to listen and understand us, it eliminated any motivation the Greek Cypriots might have had to reach an agreement under equal conditions with the Turkish Cypriots", Denktash claimed.

Denktash noted that he will explain the "just cause" of the Turkish Cypriots, the EU issue, and the undertakings necessary for a just and lasting solution to the US media, in the lectures he will deliver, and to the officials with whom he will conduct contacts in the United States. Denktash said that from Washington he will go to New York, where he will hold similar contacts.

Denktash continued: "I have not held contacts of this nature for a long time. I believe that it is time to say the final word at this juncture, when the EU is refusing to listen to us and is taking the final steps to put obstacles in the way of the negotiations."

[02] Turkey-Israel military agreements

According to Israeli Defense Ministry sources, Gen.

Shahak offered Merkava tanks to Turkey and proposed that his country install antimissile equipment on Turkey's helicopters to enable them to defend themselves against the PKK (Workers Party of Kurdistan), produce reconnaissance planes for the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), and sell remote- controlled and unmanned aircraft to Turkey.

Ankara has reportedly adopted a favourable approach to many proposals, including those related to the sale of light arms to Turkey and the establishment of reliable satellite communications systems to improve communications in line with the TAF and ties between the military forces of the two countries.

A group of Israel's military experts carefully studied the needs of the TAF for many months prior to Gen. Shahak's visit to Turkey. Gen. Shahak submitted the outcome of their comprehensive research of the officials in Ankara. That helped him secure Turkish officials' approval for his proposals.

Reportedly, the two sides will finalize the points on which they agreed in 1998. The cost of joint projects, including the modernization of Turkey's Phantom planes, will total nearly $2 billion. It has also been reported that the TAF will be the strongest army in the region when the projects are realized.

Israeli military sources say that Gen. Shahak proposed that the twice- postponed joint military maneuvers involving Turkey, Israel, and the United States be held from 15 to 20 January 1998. They also said a high-ranking Turkish military delegation will visit Israel to finalize the date of the maneuvers. It will hold talks with Israeli and US military officials on coordination.

[03] Denktash on alleged Holbrooke involvement in Bank in Cyprus

[04] Turkey says UN `Most Appropriate' framework on Cyprus issue

When recalled that Russia would appoint a special envoy to Cyprus, Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Sermet Atacanli told a weekly news briefing staged for foreign journalists that Turkey favours the UN Secretary General's efforts extended to this end.

Atacanli said: "Several countries had similar initiatives in the past. Turkey thinks that the Cyprus question should be solve by the two communities living in Cyprus."

[05] Occupied area said to need investment from Turkey

A delegation consisting of businessmen members of the chamber and their accompanying spouses and journalists completed a five-day visit to the pseudostate.

Ulusoy reportedly indicated that they are very pleased at the outcome of the visit, which was arranged to assess the economic, social and political future of the pseudostate.

Indicating that they met several "officials", in particular Rauf Denktash, during the visit, Ulusoy said: "We have agreed that economic integration should be secured between the two countries and that the TRNC's development should be achieved through investment in tourism, education, and agriculture. The officials we met told us: `We are receiving money from the father (Turkey) whenever we ask for it. We do not want money. We want investment.'"

Chamber Administrative Council Chairman Mazhar Afacan said the pseudostate's $30-million export to Turkey should be increased.

Indicating that Turkey's imports from the "TRNC" are very low, Afacan said: "Turkey imports goods worth $45 billion from various countries. It gets goods worth $30 million from the TRNC. This should be increased to $200 million. If this is achieved the TRNC will not need to receive any material assistance (from Turkey)." He added: "As Trabzon businessmen, we want to market TRNC products, in particular orange products, to the Commonwealth of Independent States through Trabzon."

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Cyprus' EU accession talks, Turkish reaction viewed

Besides the EU, the United States also has openly sent a similar message to Ankara.

Of course, this development is not to our liking. But we have to see the reality and accordingly think calmly and determine rational strategies.

I have been writing in this column for weeks now of the inevitability of the EU's starting the accession talks with the Clerides administration, and of the impossibility at the minimum of the Europeans abandoning the negotiations. The inevitability of this happening stems from the fact that the EU has since last year declared that it has bound itself for opening the Cyprus membership talks. The endorsement of this fact at the EU summit in December does not go beyond a formality.

To prevent this, Turkey has hitherto produced numerous legal and political arguments. Following this, it has warned that in the event that accession talks begin with the Greek Cypriot sector, Ankara will take a number of countermeasures. But all this was in vain, for the EU, based on its earlier decision, will sit at the table with Clerides's representatives at the beginning of next year.

Let me remind that the EU membership talks process may last for years. Many countries, from England to Spain, were able to enter the EU only six or seven years after the accession talks began. The situation could be similar in the case of Cyprus.

The most sensitive part of the issue is that the EU officials have indicated that there is a difference between `starting' the accession talks and `realizing' accession, and that south Cyprus will not be taken as a member before a solution is found for the Cyprus problem. And, based on this fact, the EU officials are advising Turkey, saying: Do not be alarmed. A solution will certainly be found while the discussions are going on. If not, a new approach may be taken by taking the `TRNC' status into consideration. That is, there is not need at this moment to make decisions and tough measures that have no way back.

In the beginning, Ankara was inclined towards taking a number of measures against the EU's acceptance of south Cyprus as a member, and not against the start of negotiations with it.

Seyfi Tashan, head of the respected Foreign Politics Institute, had stated this view in a comprehensive report, saying that former Foreign Minister Murat Karayalcin and the specialists at the Foreign Ministry of the time supported this view.

However, the attitude displayed today, in particular that voiced most often by Ecevit, is different. This attitude is summed up as follows: If the EU gives the green light to south Cyprus for starting the negotiations, Turkey will, without delay, implement the countermeasures.

What are these measures? These are putting an end to the intercommunal talks, abandoning the federal or confederal solution, realizing the military, political, and economic integration with Turkey, and opening Varosha for settlement.

If this position is a new strategy for real implementation and not a warning tactic, it will give rise to an era of serious crisis in the beginning of 1998, when the negotiations start with south Cyprus.

Quite a few Turkish diplomats, politicians, and academicians in Ankara are aware of this fact.

Many people in the TRNC, in particular the opposition parties, think that implementing the countermeasures immediately after the beginning of the negotiations with south Cyprus will produce adverse effects.

The issue must be well assessed from the viewpoint of the advantages and the disadvantages for Turkey's political, strategic, and economic interests."

EF/SK

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

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