Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-03-20

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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. 51/98 -- 20.3.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash says `Intercommunal talks died'; meets Cordovez

[02] Turkish Cypriots to give Varosha land in exchange for investments.

[03] Eroglu: UBP does not intend to create "government" crisis.

[04] Greek Cypriot fishermen to remain in illegal "custody" two more days.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Columnist thinks Turkish Government may fall in few weeks.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash says `intercommunal talks died'; meets Cordovez

Responding to a question of a reporter of "whether or not the intercommunal talks would be taken onto the agenda", Denktash said that the "intercommunal talks died, even their bargaining is out of the question." Denktash also said that he did not want to talk much before the meeting.

The UN Secretary General's Special Adviser Cordovez when asked if he brought an invitation for a meeting, said "there is an invitation." Meanwhile, Cordovez also met with the representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Denktash said that Cordovez was making an effort to find a mutual basis between the two sides and claimed "the core of this mutual basis is two separate states."

Speaking after his 3.5 hour meeting with Cordovez, Denktash said that it was a "long, sincere and deep" discussion and noted that "Cordovez wanted to understand the foundation, philosophy, and reasons of our situation. It was a very productive meeting."

Responding to a question of a Greek Cypriot reporter who said "are you still insisting on equality, what is this equality?", Denktash alleged "equality is to negotiate on the basis of the two states, because negotiation between two equal communities lasted for many years and lead nowhere. This brought the Greek Cypriots to the gates of the European Union (EU) as our government. Their agreements with Greece are regarded as if they include the TRNC. They think that they solved the problem and took over Cyprus, they should give up this."

Denktash said that Cordovez brought a letter from the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, adding that the context of the letter included the goodwill of the UN Secretary General.

Cordovez said that he shared the same views with Denktash and that he will convey all these to President Glafcos Clerides.

Noting that he will be making an effort to find a mutual basis, Cordovez said "unfortunately there is no such basis yet."

[02] Turkish Cypriots to give Varosha land in exchange for investments

Serdar Denktash has claimed that their aim is to turn the occupied area into a tourism and education centre and that they will not extend the same treatment to those who invest now in the occupied area with those who will invest after Varosha is opened. "Those who do not abandon us in our difficult days, we will do our utmost to provide them with every facility. Varosha will definitely be opened one day. We want to make use of its tourism capacity which is idle now", he said.

(MY) .../..

[03] Eroglu: UBP does not intend to create "government" crisis

Replying to questions on his arrival from Ankara, Eroglu said that the National Unity Party (UBP) does not have the intention of creating a "government" crisis but that it will respect the decisions to be made by the DP. Recalling that according to the "law" a so-called minister who has been dismissed should be replaced within 10 days, Eroglu said that the assessment that a five-day period was granted is wrong, adding that he made that statement as a reminder. Eroglu continued: "The Constitution stipulates that a minister who has been dismissed should be replaced within 10 days. The Constitution has no provisions for the failure to appoint a new minister within that time. As a matter of fact, Mr. Serdar Denktash is the acting housing minister. Their party congress will convene. They will probably wait for the congress results, and so will we."

Eroglu, who underwent a medical checkup in Ankara, returned to the pseudostate last Wednesday. In a statement at illegal Tymbou airport, Eroglu said that following the angiography he underwent he was told that he is in excellent health. In reply to a question, Eroglu said that he held telephone conversations with Turkish state and government officials in Ankara because of their busy schedules. He concluded by saying that he thanked the Turkish officials for the care shown in the implementation of the agreements signed between Turkey and the pseudostate.

[04] Greek Cypriot fishermen to remain in illegal "custody" two more days

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Columnist thinks Turkish Government may fall in few weeks

"Here is how the crisis appears behind the scene:

What did Chief of the General Staff General Karadayi tell Demirel at the tete-a-tete meeting prior to the briefing?

`We have conveyed no request or hints to your excellency or esteemed Prime Minister about the extension of my term as Chief of the General Staff.

This being the case, we have been greatly hurt by the press reports, believed to have emanated from the Prime Minister, about my and the commanders' retirement, appointments, and promotions.

Such things might erode the Armed Forces. It is proving to be very wrong to use the Army for political infighting and to raise a public debate about it. The allegations that your approval also has been obtained on this issue is even more deplorable.

Esteemed Cindoruk's statement that a coup will be the greatest reactionism, as if a coup is in the making, gives the impression that a joint position has been adopted (by the civilians).

You also know that the Army is on the side of democracy. It is reactionism that is the enemy of democracy."

I am not saying that this was Karadayi's statement `word by word.' But that was the overall spirit of the message given to Demirel.

After the briefing, the President received Husamettin Cindoruk, conveyed to him the Army's anxieties, and asked for greater care to be shown to the style used while talking about the Army publicly.

The President asked `What is Mesut Yilmaz up to?'

Cindoruk replied: `It seems he wants to hold elections. At the same time, he wants to give the impression that the government is not under the injunction of the National Security Council and 28 February decisions. This might be the intent of the message he wanted to give with his public statement about the commanders. He wants to invalidate Ciller's slogan of Corporal Mesut that she might use in the election campaign.'

Yet what Cindoruk told me yesterday morning is also interesting. He warned that `Mr. Mesut might fall into a situation of a supplicant in the end.'

As to Demirel's tete-a-tete meeting with Yilmaz, according to my information, Yilmaz is maintaining a determined attitude. `My slogans will not change. We, the government, will fight reactionism. The government decides and implements policies. The soldiers' duty is to take care of the defense.

They should continue that successful and glorious function. The Army will return to the barracks.'

Here let me again note that some of the words used above might be different from the ones actually said. However, this was the essence and intent of Yilmaz's statement.

According to reports circulating among the political circles in Ankara, President Demirel tried to ease the tension between the regime and the Army at the luncheon given in honour of Mongolian President.

Both sides were informed of the President's request that `this is a protocol luncheon and a conciliatory appearance should be displayed.' The photograph showing Yilmaz and Karadayi smiling across the table was the product of such an effort.

It seemed as if these conciliatory appearances would continue but Demirel has been telling his immediate circle that `this has become very difficult after Yilmaz's speech at the group meeting.'

According to Deniz (means sea in Turkish) Baykal `this government's sea has dried up.' This is what Baykal said: `We can wait one more week until 27 March. We will not be an instrument to Yilmaz in his pursuit of this dangerous performance. His life precariously hangs on a single parliamentary motion. We can submit it and bring him down. Then the Supreme Military Council meeting can be held under another government. It will be wrong to send Karadayi into retirement as if he is being given a notice and sacked by the Prime Minister.

Under a new prime minister, the new readjustments at the military command chain will be done free of any political polemics and in accordance with the laws and TAF (Turkish Armed Forces) traditions.'

If Baykal is indeed not supporting the government, it is a sure thing that this government is living its last few weeks.

Cindoruk said in his turn that if this serious paralysis continues `his party will not oppose an election government under an independent prime minister.'

In actual fact, Yilmaz's effort is to place the balance of forces- disrupted under REFAHYOL (Welfare Party-True Path Party government) back on constitutional grounds. If the Army has indeed crossed the line, for Yilmaz it might in essence be a requirement of democracy to restore the balances.

It is only natural that Yilmaz would also oppose attempts to depict him, his government, and his party as a mere formula for an interim period.

But was Yilmaz's thesis, place of statement, timing, audience, and his manner of speech correct throughout this episode?

Where does the truth lie? Does it lie in the claim that the TAF has indexed its struggle against reactionism to its concerns over promotions?

Was the Caucasus (Tbilisi) the right place to make such a statement?

Was it good timing to debate the appointments six months in advance?

Were the reporters (the three Turkish reporters accompanying him on his official visit to Tbilisi) the right audience to say such things?

Was his a correct method to debate this publicly and drag the Army into polemics?", Civaoglu concludes.

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

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