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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-01-29Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 17/98 -- 29.1.98[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] "TRNC" now on list of Turkey's priority investment areasAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 28.1.98), the pseudostate has been placed on Turkey's list of priority investment areas. According to an agreement signed between Turkey and the pseudostate yesterday, any exported-oriented investment for the production of goods, services, or technology undertaken in the occupied area by either "TRNC citizens" or Turkish citizens or corporate bodies will enjoy on the basis of reciprocity the state aid, support, privileges, and special additional subsidies received for investments in priority investment areas in Turkey.The agreement was signed by Eroglu on behalf of the pseudostate and by State Minister Gurel on behalf of the Turkish Government. The two men also signed a "protocol" organizing the material support Turkey will extend to the infrastructure investments in the "TRNC" in 1998. In a speech at the signing ceremony, Eroglu pointed out that with the Turkish subsidies, the "TRNC" economy will become strengthened and employment opportunities will increase. He stressed: "The TRNC must ensure that the young population remains here. Therefore, we must improve our economy and create new job opportunities. We will be able to achieve that thanks to these agreements." Turkish State Minister Gurel stressed that as far as Turkey is concerned, in order to keep the "TRNC" alive forever, it is of vital importance to strengthen the "TRNC" economically and socially. In this respect, he said, the agreement which allows the most advanced Turkish subsidies to be extended to investments in the "TRNC", and the "protocol" which organizes infrastructure aid, are of great importance. "We intend to implement all this, he added, and not leave them merely on paper," he said. [02] Gurel: Turkey aims at strengthening "TRNC" foundationsAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (6:00 hours 28.1.98), so-called prime minister of the pseudostate Dervis Eroglu has said that issues that might seem to be negative for the Cyprus question such as the missile crisis, the visa crisis, and the Greek Cypriot recourse to the EU, will not hinder the Turkish Cypriots from continuing to make efforts to develop, strengthen, and uphold the pseudostate.Eroglu hosted a dinner last night in honour of Turkish State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel who is responsible for Cyprus affairs. In a dinner toast, Eroglu noted that a very important point has been reached in the Cyprus problem, adding: "We are giving the world important messages by signing agreements with the honourable Mr. Gurel tomorrow -- agreements that will deepen our cooperation -- at a time when the world has its eyes turned toward Cyprus, the United Nations is working on Cyprus, various ploys are being organized in the world regarding this issue, and when the Greek Cypriots can speak of taking Kyrenia even though they are on the eve of elections." Gurel said, in turn, "We do not separate the future of the TRNC and of the Turkish Cypriots from the future of Turkey and the Turkish people". He stressed that Turkey aims at strengthening the foundations of the "TRNC", adding that 1998 will be a year when specific steps are taken and their fruits reaped. Gurel announced that Prime Minister Yilmaz invited Eroglu to Ankara on 26 February. [03] US aid cut seen designed to entrust Turkey to IsraelAccording to a report in YENI SAFAK (28.1.98), having decided to cut off military aid to Greece and Turkey in 1998, the United States is planning to fill the financial void by other methods. It is being pointed out that the United States is pushing Turkey to get military aid from Israel. Indicating that all these moves aim at pushing Turkey into the arms of Israel, a strategy expert said: "The United States is cutting off military aid ostensibly as part of belt tightening measures. Yet, it maintains billions of dollars worth of aid to Israel and Egypt.This is an important contradiction. The intention here is to entrust Turkey to Israel for safekeeping". According to the report, the United States will send Secretary of Defense William Cohen to Turkey in March to discuss the latest developments. However, this is how the strategy expert explained the two basic reasons behind Cohen's visit: "It is highly likely that the United States plans to hit Iraq in mid-February. In sending the Defense Secretary to Ankara on the eve of a possible military action, the United States wants on the one hand to secure the use of Incirlik and on the other to put forward the idea that from now on Turkey could obtain military aid from Israel. Essentially, the United States' action is a warning to Turkey, prompted also to a degree by the developments surrounding the closure of the Welfare Party." The two countries, which so far have signed 13 military and economic agreements, increased the trade volume between themselves after 1994 in particular. The military agreements constitute the backbone of these relations that are looked upon with suspicion by the Arab world. In return for contracting Israel for the modernization of F-4s, F-16s, and F-5s so far, Turkey sold Israel 50 armoured cars just to keep up appearances. Israel's next target is to get the tender for the tank project, the report says. 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 |
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