Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-02-18

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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. 30/98 -- 18.2.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot "officials": Handgun licenses to continue.

[02] Islamic `Our Party' established in the occupied area.

[03] Denktash opposes occupied area's Islamic Party.

[04] Denktash says opening of Varosha on agenda.

[05] Denktash on Cyprus problem, passports.

[06] KIBRIS accuses occupation regime of nepotism.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot "officials": Handgun licenses to continue

In reply to a relevant question after his weekly meeting with Rauf Denktash, Eroglu said: "He has acted imprudently. I do not know if there are licensed guns around or not. But he has acted imprudently by going to the south with a gun."

Asked about his role in the liberal issuance of gun licenses, Eroglu said that "this has nothing to do with that incident."

On his part, so-called state minister and deputy prime minister Serdar Denktash had this to say: "Can you cite any illegal incident committed by holders of licensed guns in this country? I cannot understand why this gun issue frightens some of our colleagues, including the prosecutor. Has there been any single incident involving a licensed gun? It is meaningless to blow this issue out of all proportion. We issued handgun licenses because there was a demand for them. Our people love handguns.

Not to do anything, just to hold them in their hands."

Asked if "the issuance of gun licenses is continuing", Denktash said: "We have not been issuing them for a long time now but we should. Since we have issued them to so many people, it means we will continue issuing them".

[02] Islamic `Our Party' established in the occupied area

The party emblem depicts an Ottoman raider carrying a bow and arrow and mounted on a rearing horse.

"Our party", which gained "legal status" with the 65-point party statute submitted to the so-called interior ministry last week, aims at "establishing a new state and a government with a brand new method". The party program, which states that success in every venture can come with "God's permission", asserts that the "sterile policy" pursued on the island for the last 23 years "has turned the Turkish Cypriots into a herd confined to a farm on the island."

The program says that employment preference in the so-called civil service will be given to males, women will not be employed in the police force, whipping will be reintroduced, mixed schools will be closed down, and tourism will be brought under stricter discipline.

The establishment of the party will be publicly announced at a news conference in the next few days.

Bahaddin Adil, son of Naksibensi sect leader Seyh Nazim Kibrisli, is among the party's 49 founders, headed by Okyay Sadikoglu.

Dogan Harman, editor of KIBRISLI Dergisi (Magazine of Cypriots) and adviser on press affairs at Denktash's office; Islamic writer Isfendiyar Halil Eralp; and Haci Abdurraham Omeroglu, one of the founders of Islah and Refah Partisi (Reform and Welfare Party), established in 1979 but closed down soon afterwards for lack of organization, are among the founders of "Our Party".

[03] Denktash opposes occupied area's Islamic Party

Alleging that the "TRNC" is a secular "state", so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu said in his turn that the Islamic party's application will be assessed after it is first examined by the "Attorney General".

"Attorney General" Akin Sait said that there are regulations in "Our Party's" statute that contradict the so-called Constitution and the so- called Law on Political Parties.

He added: "A suit could be filed for its closure once the necessary inquiry is completed."

[04] Denktash says opening of Varosha on agenda

Denktash lectured on the Cyprus question at the so-called Eastern Mediterranean University yesterday. He pointed out that the Turkish side insists that the negotiations be based on "two states" and that this policy will be pursued resolutely with Turkey's support.

Denktash said: "We are determined to pursue our new policy of conducting the talks not on an intercommunal basis but on an interstate basis. Had we done this in 1974, this business would have been finished by now. At the time, we called for a federation, and we made a mistake. No matter. Even if we are late, we are at a good stage now and we are determined."

Replying to a question on Varosha Denktash said: "Maras is on the agenda. A decision has been made, and what is necessary will be done. Those who caused it to be left empty for years and to go to ruins should be ashamed of themselves. We were taken before the UN Security Council for opening two residential halls for students in Varosha. The Greek Cypriots should not be given another chance, given all these problems. We will do whatever is necessary."

Asked why the Turkish Cypriots did not turn to international courts if the EU decision contravened the 1960 agreements, as they claim, Denktash replied that the "TRNC" cannot go to international courts because it is not recognized as a state. Furthermore, he said, it is not easy to resolve political issues in court.

Denktash again criticized Britain's move to impose a visa requirement on the Turkish Cypriots as well as those so-called TRNC citizens who acquired passports from the Cyprus Government.

[05] Denktash on Cyprus problem, passports

"We sent a spoken message to President Denktash asking for a face-to-face meeting with him. He replied with a message requesting that our `questions be written down'. So the questions were written down and sent to him. The written replies arrived the following day. President Denktash gave short answers to our questions, something that we have never been used to before.

Moreover, these answers were in writing. We later met face-to-face for the purpose of taking pictures. When we asked him `why you gave short answers', Denktash said that `short answers are given to such questions.'

President Denktash is busy these days, undertaking extensive political activity on the one hand and writing a book on the other. His book, which bears the title, The Turkish Cypriots Under the Colonial Administration, was published recently. He is now gathering historical documents on past contentious issues, such as the lawyers incident, incidents relating to Ambassador Dirvana, and other related issues. He views such acts as `the footprints he leaves for history', adding: `I wish Dr. Kuchuk too had written about the incidents he witnessed, thus presenting history to future generations directly through his pen'".

In reply to a relevant question, Denktash inter alia claimed: "An extensive activity will begin regarding the Cyprus problem after the Greek Cypriot election. The aim is to bring the two sides together and restart the talks. It was realized during the period leading up to the EU's 12 December decision, especially during the Troutbeck and Glion meetings, that the Greek Cypriot administration does not have the intention to share power with us on equal terms. Clerides openly told us: `I will not discuss sovereignty with you. The state has and continues to have its sovereignty'". He goes on saying that the Greek Cypriots reject the principle that "sovereignty stems from the two peoples", as mentioned in the Set of Ideas. "They are watering down the Guarantee Agreement by way of the `multinational forces'," he claims and adds that no common denominator remains.

"For this reason, we expect mediators to try to find a common denominator. Unless a common denominator is found, no reason will remain for a face-to- face meeting with the Greek Cypriot leader. The EU has wiped out whatever common denominators used to exist and has provided the opportunity needed to subject us to Greek Cypriot domination. For this reason, our following policy is valid: `We are absent from the intercommunal talks game. From now on, we can meet as the Greek Cypriot Republic in the south and the Turkish Cypriot Republic in the north'", he said.

Asked under what conditions can the view that "the intercommunal talks have come to an end" be changed, Denktash replied, inter alia: "New talks hinge on internal equal sovereignty (on the principle that one of the sides will not rule the other), the consolidation of bizonality through the exchange of property, by accepting the distant Turkish-Greek balance, and by suspending the EU application that they began for the purpose of disruption this balance. They should understand that the alterations they have introduced into the 1960 Agreement in their favour will not be accepted by us, and they should accept the validity of the measures we have taken to avoid being subjected to these changes."

To a question on the issue of Turkish Cypriots using Cyprus Republic passports, he claimed: "Out of the 200,000 people who have traveled using TRNC passports (and, if needed, using Turkish passports), a few who have traveled using Greek Cypriot passports for personal convenience have seen that what they did was not correct at all. Most of them have tried this method without understanding the meaning behind this action. This is what they themselves have said. Our government will now take the necessary measures. Tough punishments will be introduced. I believe that these people, whom I know, love, and respect, will happily return these passports. The latest developments point in this direction. Anyway, it cannot be otherwise. TRNC citizens have the right to vote, run for office, and many other rights. It is extremely easy to immediately withdraw these rights and privileges from the people who are denied TRNC citizenship following their statement that `they are not TRNC citizens' in order to get passports from the Greek Cypriots."

[06] KIBRIS accuses occupation regime of nepotism

It reports that because of chronic nepotism among the Turkish Cypriot society, after illegal BRT, now the so-called social security department is hiring people. Recently 30 new people were hired by the "department".

It criticizes the so-called government for trying to distribute Wakif land and immovable property to its supporters.

It reports that Denktash is informed about this illegal deals. (MY)

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

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