Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-02-27

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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. 37/98 -- 27.2.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash meets UK's Madden, repeats will not meet Hannay.

[02] Turkey's Batu warns of upcoming `diplomatic war' in Cyprus.

[03] Turkish Cypriot "deputies", Akinci, Atun on passport issue.

[04] Talat says passport issue inflated to avoid real problems.

[05] Turkish Cypriots call on Russia to stop backing Greek arms purchase.

[06] Eroglu meets Turkish leaders, comments on new accord with Turkey.

[07] Demirel: "Turkish Cypriots are a separate state".

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash meets UK's Madden, repeats will not meet Hannay

Denktash reiterated that he is not going to meet with Sir David Hannay, the British special envoy to Cyprus, who was to arrive on the island yesterday.

Denktash met with British High Commissioner David Madden yesterday morning. The meeting lasted 45 minutes. In a statement after the meeting, Denktash said they discussed the latest situation. He noted that since Madden knows his views regarding Sir David Hannay, the High Commissioner did not bring him anything new. Denktash recalled that British Foreign Secretary Cook said recently that he would meet with President Clerides on behalf of Cyprus at a certain conference in London, after which he would like to meet with Denktash. Denktash said he explained to Madden his views about this statement. He pointed out that they also exchanged views on a visit by Hans van den Broek, a member of the EU Foreign Relations Committee.

Denktash said: "These are routine issues, and as long as they are kept alive, the diplomats will come and go to see if we have changed our views." He then stressed that there have been no changes in his views. He recalled that the Turkish Cypriots warned the EU and all the officials concerned not to pursue the "wrong path" they adopted after the Glion talks. He said: "The EU ignored our warning that things would turn bad and that the talks would be suspended. It ignored us and denied that we are one of the two equal peoples in Cyprus. It considers only the Greek Cypriots and the Government of Cyprus. Now it wants us to support this approach. That is impossible." He pointed out that he explained to Madden the Turkish Cypriot position, which has been explained repeatedly. He charged that with its decision and with the status it gave to the Turkish Cypriots, the EU declared the Greek Cypriots the government of the Turkish Cypriots as well.

[02] Turkey's Batu warns of upcoming `diplomatic war' in Cyprus

Turkish Cypriot journalists who are in Ankara to attend the Turkey - "TRNC" journalists forum organized by the "Turkish Cypriot Development Platform" visited Inal Batu yesterday. Asked what would happen if the "TRNC" also applied to the EU, Batu replied: "Such an application would not be processed and would create a situation justifying the Greek Cypriots."

Batu pointed out that the situation in Cyprus is very serious now and claimed that the parameters have been eliminated. He warned that a diplomatic war will begin on the island. He recalled that the EU, the United States, and Britain announced that they would send representatives to the island. Their aim, he said, is to implement the Luxembourg decisions. These persons also know that the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are equal, but they do not know how to confirm this equality, he added.

Batu claimed that the Greek Cypriots applied to the EU unilaterally, and at this stage it is impossible to find a formula that will enable the Turkish Cypriots to take their place in the accession process. Batu alleged that Europe wants Turkey to act like a docile child, to agree to every demand, and to support the Turkish Cypriots' approval of the Greek Cypriot recourse. He said: "Turkey will assess the EU's intentions in terms of the views and positions it will posit at the Cardiff summit."

He stated that for the clarification of the Turkish Cypriots' status, the Cyprus Government must clearly announce that it does not have any rights over the occupied area.

[03] Turkish Cypriot "deputies", Akinci, Atun on passport issue

The seven "coalition deputies" among the 13 "deputies" the newspaper said hold Cyprus republic passports held a news conference and strongly criticized the newspaper for publishing what they called a fabricated story. The seven "deputies" are:

Kenan Atakol, Erdal Onurhan, Mehmet Bayram, Gunay Caymaz, and Irsen Kuchuk from the UBP and Onur Borman and Mustafa Adaoglu from the DP.

Communal Liberation Party (TKP) leader Mustafa Akinci said that the KIBRIS report is not true as far as the TKP is concerned. Akinci, TKP Secretary General Huseyin Angolemli, and certain TKP deputies also held a news conference. Akinci said he regrets discussing such issues at a time when the real problems must be discussed. It would be more beneficial to spend our communal energy in other ways, he said. Akinci said the TKP is opposed to holding Cyprus republic passports. Only after a solution is reached and a federal Cyprus republic is established, he said, can we acquire the passport of that federal republic.

Akinci said the KIBRIS report will hurt the community because "citizens" will read it and think: "If ministers and deputies have Greek Cypriot passports, why shouldn't I?" This will cause irreparable damage, Akinci warned, adding that the acquisition of these passports must not be encouraged. The Greek Cypriots may release their documents some day and say that they have such and such a number of Turkish Cypriot citizens, he said.

The TKP leader pointed out that the Greek Cypriot side's progress in the accession talks with the EU increased the Turkish Cypriots' inclination to acquire Greek Cypriot passports. What is important, he said, is to increase the use that can be made of the "TRNC passport". Akinci noted that the real reason Turkish Cypriots want to acquire these passports is a need to guarantee their future. As a community, he stressed, it is essential for us to find a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Akinci said that the newspaper report w as not aimed at a single party only. I do not know whether the aim was to divert attention from other issues, he said, but the newspaper should have had the persons concerned confirm the story before it published it. Akinci said that the newspaper speaks of post-1974 but that his passport is from before 1974 and that he does not even know where it is at the moment.

Furthermore, according to illegal Bayrak radio (16:30 hours, 25.2.98) "Assembly Speaker" Atun strongly criticized the press reports to the effect that certain "ministers" and "deputies" hold Greek Cypriot passports. He issued a written statement saying that it is difficult to understand how this report can benefit anyone at this very important stage of the political struggle. Atun claimed that this report, which is based on lies and insults, clearly has nothing to do with democracy or the freedom of the press.

[04] Talat says passport issue inflated to avoid real problems

The CTP leader stressed that he believes that it is these circles' influence and intentions that have caused the passport debate to grow to such dimensions. He said: "I believe that the desire to undermine all the values of parliamentary democracy in favour of a single chief's will is what guides the efforts to slander deputies from various parties."

[05] Turkish Cypriots call on Russia to stop backing Greek arms purchase

[06] Eroglu meets Turkish leaders, comments on new accord with Turkey

"We will discuss the possibilities of expanding the already deep cooperation in a bid to increase the prosperity of the Turkish Cypriot people and contribute to stability and peace," Gurel said.

Eroglu, in turn, said that the new agreement to be signed will further bolster relations.

Eroglu and his accompanying delegation met first with Ismet Sezgin, deputy prime minister and national defense minister.

"The Turkish Cypriot people should be at ease, tranquil, and not worry about the Paphos air base, the S-300 missiles, and other armament efforts. The Turkish state is a great world country. For this reason, all these things may be very big for Cyprus, but they are small for Turkey. I do not think the Greek Cypriots will even dare to deploy them," Sezgin said.

President Suleyman Demirel, in turn, received Eroglu at the Cankaya Mansion and conferred with him for some time. The meeting was held behind closed doors. Eroglu later visited Assembly Speaker Hikmet Cetin.

"The EU added another mistaken decision to the long series of mistaken decisions adopted since 1964. The Cyprus talks have reached the stage where they no longer fall within the framework of the UN Secretary General's goodwill mission,"Eroglu claimed.

Eroglu and the accompanying delegation also visited Foreign Minister Ismail Cem within the framework of their contacts in Ankara.

"We approach all issues and determine our policies by holding consultations and maintaining the existing harmony with our Cypriot brothers. Moreover, we are determined to resolve all issues in unity, togetherness, and brotherhood in the future as well", Cem said.

According to TRT (18:00 hours, 26.2.98) Dervis Eroglu was also received by Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz.

"The Cyprus question is the national problem of both the TRNC and Turkey. There is not the slightest difference of opinion between our governments or peoples about this issue. In fact, Turkey's responsible attitude toward this problem for more than 40 years is the only reason the solutions certain circles tried to impose on us did not succeed. In the coming period we are determined to up hold this cause together with the Turkish Cypriot community and government", Yilmaz said.

"Even though we regret the decision a decision that excludes Turkey reached by the EU regarding the Greek Cypriot Administration in violation of international agreements, it is an important development because it shows that the time has come and may be passing for us to take certain measures. We cannot conceive of the EU without Turkey, nor can we conceive of the TRNC without Turkey," Eroglu said on his part.

Dervis Eroglu and his delegation then visited General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, chief of the General Staff.

Another step forward was taken in relations between Turkey and the pseudostate on the occasion of Dervis Eroglu's visit. A "commercial and economic cooperation agreement" was signed between Turkey and the "TRNC". The agreement, which aims at raising bilateral commercial and economic cooperation to the highest level, envisages the completion of the arrangements to reach these aims within two months. The agreement was signed by Eroglu on behalf of the "TRNC" and by Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on behalf of Turkey. In a statement after the signing ceremony, Eroglu said the "TRNC" economy is in difficulty because the "state" is not recognized and because of the embargoes.

However, he said, we are greatly pleased to see that Turkey is at our side.

"We established the TRNC together. I am very happy to be signing such an agreement with you, the prime minister who ordered the 1974 peace operation. I am aware of your views and the views of your government about ensuring that the people of the TRNC live in peace and tranquility without fear for their future," Eroglu said.

"This agreement is an indication that Turkey's support for the Turkish Cypriot people will become stronger in very field and that we are determined to raise our relations and cooperation to the highest levels," Ecevit said.

[07] Demirel: "Turkish Cypriots are a separate state"

Demirel received Kamil Raif, chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot Development Platform" and Turkish Cypriot correspondents at the Cankaya Mansion yesterday. At the meeting, he claimed that there are "two states" on the island today.

Demirel recalled Turkey and the pseudostate issued a joint declaration last year according to which any attack on the "TRNC" will be considered an attack on Turkey.

"My piece of good news for you is that we will bring you water as of 23 April. I hope it will not be delayed. We will first bring it in huge balloons, in plastic containers. This is something very new. It will be the start. Then we will bring you water through pipes. We will bring you electricity.. Cables will be laid. Water pipes will be laid. These are projects for the coming years. Many artificial lakes are being built in the TRNC. All of them will be completed. The Turkish Republican State supports the economy and the people of the TRNC," Demirel said.

Demirel also replied to reporters' questions. Asked when he will go to Cyprus, he said he might go with the water.

"If there are no obstacles, I will come with the water.

I came to plant trees when you had forest fires. We thought of coming this year but we did not. My visit must serve a purpose", he said.

Replying to another questions, Demirel said that Cyprus will be invited to become a member of the EU. He said that he asked the EU whom it is going to invite as the representative of Cyprus.

"If Clerides, who was elected recently, is going to come, he was not elected by the entire island. He was elected by south Cyprus. Let us say that you start to negotiate with south Cyprus; what about north Cyprus? If you say some representatives should come from north Cyprus, I say to you that north Cyprus is a state. The Turkish Cypriots are not a minority in Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are a separate nation, a separate state. Are you going to recognize north Cyprus as a state?" Demirel claimed.

Asked if Turkey will allow the deployment of the S-300 missiles, the president stressed that the issue concerns Turkey's security.

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

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