Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-03-18

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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. 49/98 -- 18.3.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriots seek support in Central Asia.

[02] Etkin addresses OIC, calls on Islamic nations for support.

[03] Islamic firms in Turkey to come under NSC scrutiny.

[04] Durduran, Ozgur explain principles of new movement.

[05] Eroglu released from hospital in good condition.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriots seek support in Central Asia

In this vein, it is explaining the latest Cyprus developments to the Central Asian Turkic republics. Atay Ahmet Rasit, former so-called foreign affairs and defense minister who was appointed as "special envoy" by Rauf Denktash, is holding various contacts in Kazakhstan, the second leg of his Central Asian tour. The three person delegation under Rasit left Turkmenistan for Almaty, where they met with academicians, cultural circles, and press members. Rasit briefed the meeting on the past and present Cyprus developments.

In reply to Anatolia Agency questions on Central Asia, Rasit said that this visit was aimed at explaining the Cyprus issue to the regional countries. Noting that the Turkish Cypriots sought for the businessmen in the regional countries to invest in the pseudostate, Rasit added that Turkmen and Kazakh officials extended their moral support along these lines. Rasit continued:

"We seek to establish economic and cultural relations and scientific cooperation with the regional countries. However, we do not expect these countries to extend concrete support in the near future."

Rasit and his accompanying delegation were to leave for Kyrgyzstan last Monday and visit Azerbaijan on 18 or 19 March.

[02] Etkin addresses OIC, calls on Islamic nations for support

The statement by the so-called foreign affairs and defense ministry noted that in his contacts with the foreign ministers of Islamic countries, Etkin explained the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and the latest Turkish Cypriot stand with regard to conducting talks on the principle of "two states". The statement further said that Etkin met with Qatar Amir Shaykh Khalifah Bin-Hamad Al Thani.

In his address, which according to illegal Bayrak he delivered under the status of representative at the OIC meeting, Etkin commented on the issues of concern to Muslim countries and communities and explained the views of the "TRNC". Claiming that the Turkish Cypriots have always exerted efforts to secure a lasting and just solution on the island, Etkin alleged: "However, we have come to the end of our goodwill with the latest developments".

Etkin called on the Islamic countries to extend support to the "honourable struggle" waged by the Turkish Cypriots and to the efforts under way to have the international community acknowledge them, as he put it.

[03] Islamic firms in Turkey to come under NSC scrutiny

The Army, which in the aftermath of the 28 February (1997) decisions also wants to establish a watch not only over the reactionary currents but also on the establishments supporting them, is said to be upset with the incentive given to these establishments by the government despite the latter's admission that it too harbours similar concerns about reactionism.

Among the leading Islamic firms, mostly joint stock companies, are Kuveyt Turk Evkaf Finans, Albaraka Turk, Asya Finans, and Faisal Finans -- which collect deposits under the slogan of "interest-free profit" while making as much interest gain as any other institution -- and the commercial firms Kombassan, Ittifak, Yimpas, Sayha, and Ulker.

The Islamic businesses, which have been growing rapidly recently, continued to obtain incentives from the ANASOL-D (Motherland Party-Democratic Left Party-Democratic Turkey Party) govenrment too. Kombassan, said to have received incentives totaling 20 trillion Turkish Lira, obtained its largest bulk of incentive, 8.5 trillion, on 7 July 1997 for one of its foodstuff industries. Alongside Kombassan, which also received incentives amounting to 526 billion lira for its Registered Motor Vehicles on 19 December 1997, Ulker Gida has obtained a 6-trillion-lira investment incentive from the Foreign Capital General Directorate. Kuveyt Turk Evkaf Kurumu and Yimpas have also obtained incentives on 16 December 1997 and 6 February 1998. Ergun Koc, General Director of Incentive Management, has signed a paper authorizing a 100-percent investment deduction, tariff exemption, and VAT support to Asya Finans in February 1998.

Asya Nakliyat is among the Islamic firms that have obtained incentives in 1997. It obtained a 474-billion-lira incentive on 17 October 1997 and 374.7 billion on 10 December 1997. Others are Asya Meyva with 330 billion lira obtained on 11 April 1997, Asya Finans with 107.4 billion obtained on 10 April 1997, Yimpas Mobilya with 137.6 billion lira obtained on 15 July 1997, Sayha Tekstil with 967.5 billion lira obtained on 1 August 1997, Sayha Granit with 1.652 trillion obtained on 8 April 1997, and Sayha Civi with 724.7 billion lira obtained on 4 April 1997.

The vakifs (religious charitable organizations) supported by sects and congregations are also among the issues to be taken up at the NSC meeting on 27 March. The meeting will discuss the work done regarding these vakifs, estimated to be around 300. The measures taken by the General Directorate of Vakifs and the work done by the government on this issue will be examined.

The Giants of the Islamic Business

Name		Place of	Field of	Number		Number		Number
		Establ.		activity	of firms	of workers	of
										sharehol

Kombassan	Konya 1989	motor		40		8,000		26,000
				vehicles,
				trade centers,
				etc.

Yimpas		Yozgat 1980	marketing,	24		4,000		30,000
				foodstuff
				etc.

Ittifak		Konya 1988	Machine		 5		1,150		14,000
				production,
				freight
				trading,
				etc.

Adim		Istanbul 1993	Construction,	 3		  100		   250
				Insurance,
				publications,
				car trading
				etc.

Silm		Ankara 1993	Tourism,	 3		  200		    90
				construction,
				car lease,
				etc.

Kilpas		Konya 1988	Trade,		 3		   80		   800
				foodstuff,
				packing,
				etc.

Anadolu		Ist. 1993	Health		11		1,050		   400
				services,
				construction,
				textile,
				etc.

Sayha		Konya 1993	Data service,	10		  550		 5,000
				tourism,
				granite,
				marbles,
				etc.

Asya		Istanbul 1992	Trading		 3		  200		   100
				centers,
				car purchase,
				foodstuff,
				manufacturing,
				etc.

Estas		Sivas 1997	Eccentric	 6		    -		     -
				production

Ulker		Ankara 1970	Foodstuff,	 -		1,000      Joint Stock
				mostly biscuits

[04] Durduran, Ozgur explain principles of new movement

Waging a struggle to ensure that the Turkish Cypriot community governs itself and determines its own future and to (word indistinct) under a federal roof based on joint sovereignty, and exerting efforts to bring about the organization of the opposition with a view to eliciting popular support and the will of the community constitute the main principles of the YBH.

Halting the distortion in the demography of the community and struggling to preserve its identity, as well as waging a pro-worker struggle for global solidarity, for basic human rights and freedoms, for a just distribution of wealth, against chauvinism in Cyprus and in the world, against a quarrel over the sharing of resources, and against colonialism are also among the primary principles of the movement.

As for its outlook on the Cyprus problem, the YBH announced that it supports a solution of the problem through peaceful means and negotiations in line with the parameters formulated within the framework of UN resolutions and that it wants democratically elected representatives to conduct the negotiations. The YBH also wants the solution to be based on a referendum and believes that only Cypriots should vote in this referendum.

Speaking at the news conference, Ozgur criticized the recent pseudo- assembly "resolution" and Rauf Denktash's approach that the talks must be held between "two states". Ozgur warned that if Denktash insists on this approach, serious dangers will ensure and the 1977 and 1979 summit agreements, which constitute an achievement for the Turkish Cypriot side, will be considered null and void. Also criticizing the performance of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) when it was a "coalition" partner, Ozgur said: "When it was in government, the CTP began to assume a neocolonial identity. This situation disappointed the people, creating a void in the community. The YBH and the political structure it will turn into will meet the demands of the people."

[05] Eroglu released from hospital in good condition

Eroglu added that he was also told that he should have no concerns for the future. He said: "I will continue my duties. I have no intention of retiring from politics because the doctors have advised me to engage in politics and to participate in the elections."

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

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