Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-04-27

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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. 72/98 -- 25-26-27.4.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit announces new campaign "To Explain Cyprus Issue".

[02] Test under way to transport water by balloon to the occupied area.

[03] Denktash meets Turkish Foreign Minister in Ankara.

[04] Turkish official says van den Broek's remarks are "ridiculous".

[05] Denktash says Turkey's "goodwill" delayed necessary steps.

[06] Denktash returns from `very positive' talks in Ankara.

[07] Turkey's Haktanir claims Holbrooke is open to "TRNC" recognition.

[08] Turkey's Haktanir says Holbrooke may propose US "acknowledgment" of the "TRNC".

[09] Yilmaz hopes Baykal will reassess election agreement.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Three scenarios for US military presence in Cyprus seen by columnist.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit announces new campaign "To Explain Cyprus Issue"

Rauf Denktash, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State convened on Friday to discuss the Cyprus question.

Speaking after the meeting Ecevit said that Turkey would convey the facts on the Cyprus question, the reasons causing this problem, the so-called Peace Operation and the following developments to the "young diplomats" such as Klaus Kinkel, the German Foreign Minister, and William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defense.

Asked if Turkey initiates a new diplomatic mobilization, Ecevit said "yes" adding, "When the EU decided to start full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriots, the federation solution which we supported lost validity. The only fact that can't be rejected is the existence of the Turkish state on Cyprus".

Noting that the Turkish - "TRNC" Joint Declaration disclosed on Thursday was a new stage, Ecevit said, "the world should realize the determination of the TRNC and Turkey."

Claiming that now the world will de facto recognize the pseudostate Ecevit said: "They don't recognize this state, but at the same time they send their children to the island to get education."

[02] Test under way to transport water by balloon to the occupied area

The first balloon will leave on April 28 with a ceremony that will be staged in southern Antalya Province.

Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources will participate in the ceremony and the participants will accompany the water balloon with ships for a period of time.

Ersumer is expected to stage a news conference.

The test filling of the balloon has started within the framework of the project, which was initiated to meet the pseudostate's need for water.

Officials said that the giant balloon was brought to the filling installations at the Soguksu region of Anamur, adding that the test filling of the balloon, having a capacity of 10,000 cubic meters, will last for 10 days.

Following the filling process, a ceremony will be staged in the first half of May for the first transport. If the system is found to be economic, then water will be transported to the pseudostate, regional countries and touristic sites on the shores of the Mediterranean where there is a water shortage.

Officials said that with three balloons, three million cubic meters of water will be transported in the first year. The length of the special carriage bag, which is called a balloon, will be 116 meters and its width will be 26 meters. It will also be 8.5 meters in depth.

When the Manavgat project takes effect next summer, water could be sent from there.

The water will be collected in the depot installations constructed at the northern shores of the "TRNC" and will be sent to occupied Famagusta via occupied Morphou-Nicosia with the existing water network.

Officials said that seven million cubic meters of water will be transported in the next stage, adding that water tankers could be used if the balloon method is found to be inadequate.

Noting that an agreement was signed with a consortium composed of Turkish and Norwegian companies for the water transports with a balloon, officials said that one cubic meter of the water taken from the sea costs 1.28 US dollars and the water which will be sent to the "TRNC" will have a lower cost.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the cost, process and the money which will be spent for the filling areas will be met by the funds which the Ministry of State has allocated for the pseudostate.

If this system works, then all the water that flows to the sea will be used in the same manner and Turkey will sell this water to countries which have a water shortage.

[03] Denktash meets Turkish Foreign Minister in Ankara

Denktash said that Turkey has no intention of withdrawing from the region and leaving the Turkish Cypriots in the hands of the Greek Cypriots.

Cem said that he will be meeting with Denktash to assess the stage reached in "the joint cause" and to determine a course of behaviour.

[04] Turkish official says van den Broek's remarks are "ridiculous"

Assessing the statement made by Hans van den Broek, EU commissioner for external relations, to the effect that if Turkey does not facilitate a solution in Cyprus, it will not have a chance for membership in the EU, Haktanir said that "this is ridiculous. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Haktanir claimed that it was absurd to say that Turkey will have a better chance of acceding to the EU in the event it does good in Cyprus and vice versa, adding that Turkey's goal of full membership based on its contractual rights is still valid despite the fact that the date for membership is uncertain. Pointing out that they are living through a process in which the views of Ankara and the "TRNC" have reached a maximum of harmony on the Cyprus issue, Haktanir said that the fact that the United States has not eliminated the EU factor from its approach to Cyprus is creating some confusion.

In reply to a question as to whether Richard Holbrooke is exerting futile efforts, Haktanir said: "We are faced with a 35-year-old complicated issue. Had there been a magic wand, the problem would have been solved by now. The moment you accept that there are two equal and sovereign entities on the island all the doors will be opened."

[05] Denktash says Turkey's "goodwill" delayed necessary steps

Denktash met Aydan Karahan, Foreign Ministry deputy under secretary and former ambassador to the occupied area, who arrived in the pseudostate last Saturday, and a four-person delegation accompanying him. In a statement at the meeting, Denktash said that now the Turkish Cypriots insist on a "balanced agreement" and are determined to attain that balance. He added: "We still favour conciliation, but it must be balanced."

Karahan said that his delegation came to the "TRNC" in order to activate the"protocol" signed between Turkey and the pseudostate on 13 January 1998.

Karahan concluded by saying that Turkey will continue to support the "TRNC" until the latter assumes the place it deserves in the international arena.

[06] Denktash returns from `very positive' talks in Ankara

Denktash who held contacts in Ankara as the official guest of President Suleyman Demirel returned to the occupied area last Friday.

In a statement at illegal Tymbou airport, Denktash said:

"Once again, at the level of states, we stressed together with the Turkish Government that we will not accept the Greek Cypriots as an establishment that has a right to rule over the whole of Cyprus, that we will never accept that they are our government, and that we cannot waste any more time by sitting in front of the hypocritical Greek Cypriots as a community."

Denktash expressed the hope that everybody will assess this well. "Especially the Greek Cypriots must realize this well", he said.

"We held very good contacts in Ankara. We got very good results. We will see these results all together," he added.

Asked to comment on Deputy Prime Minister Ecevit's announcement about a new diplomatic offensive, Denktash said that this will involve a more coordinated and effective organization of the efforts made to date to explain the "injustices" being inflicted on the Turkish Cypriots.

Asked when President Demirel will come to the "TRNC", Denktash replied: "He will come when the water comes. The preparations are under way. We hope to announce the date to our people soon."

[07] Turkey's Haktanir claims Holbrooke is open to "TRNC" recognition

In a statement to the press before he left Washington for New York, Haktanir alleged there must be mutual recognition in Cyprus before the sides start negotiations. Haktanir claimed that Holbrooke seems to be open to the idea of the "TRNC's" recognition.

Haktanir noted that the United States is familiar with Turkey's stand on the deployment of S-300 missiles on the island and that Ankara has reiterated its views on the matter.

[08] Turkey's Haktanir says Holbrooke may propose US "acknowledgment" of the "TRNC"

In a news conference held for Turkish journalists, Haktanir said that Cohen requested the unscheduled meeting. The meeting with Cohen, also attended by Turkish Ambassador in Washington Baki Ilkin, reportedly lasted 15 to 20 minutes.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Haktanir said that he does not have the impression that Richard Holbrooke will propose anything new during his forthcoming contacts in Cyprus. He sufficed by saying that the US Special Representative on Cyprus may propose the US "acknowledgment" of the existence of the "TRNC. Haktanir added that Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will visit Turkey in late May or early June and spend a few days in Ankara and Istanbul but that a firm date for her visit has not yet been set.

[09] Yilmaz hopes Baykal will reassess election agreement

The prime minister participated in a live interview program on a local television station in Rize the other day. He explained that the agreement he reached with Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal involves the conclusion of the Assembly's agenda by the summer recess, the setting up of an election government after a decision is reached on elections, and the holding of negotiations after 1 October to set up that government. However, Yilmaz said, Deniz Baykal presented this agreement to the public as if an agreement w as reached to set up an election government as of 1 October. I believe, Yilmaz added, that Mr. Baykal's announcement triggered reactions that are not unjustified. Therefore, I hope that Mr. Baykal will see the need for a reassessment of the situation.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Three scenarios for US military presence in Cyprus seen by columnist

I think the United States basically wants to have a foothold in this part of the world. True, it has bases in Turkey, but it is unable to use them freely against the Arab countries, or rather against the Moslem countries. The Turkish public does not support the United States' actions against the Islamic countries. It is for that reason that Turkish governments are cool about US actions and demands. As you may remember, the extension of the Hammer Force's (Provide Comfort) mandate used to be a constant headache for government. But Cyprus is the one place in the east Mediterranean where the United States could act unencumbered.

But why should the United States want to have a foothold in this part of the world?

I think the reply to that rests in Cyprus' strategic and geopolitical position. It is near both the Middle East and Israel. In short, its is very suitable place for closely following the developments in the Middle East and intervening when necessary. Moreover, Cyprus is close to Israel. It is a very suitable place for providing support to Israel in case of danger.

If the water coming from Turkey is also going to be transferred to Israel then the TRNC's importance is doubled. In addition, Cyprus is located at the mouth of the Gulf, from where Central Asia and the Caucasus are to open up to world markets.

Furthermore Cyprus is also close to Africa. This unbelievable geopolitical importance of Cyprus could not have escaped the Americans' attention.

The United States needs a framework for putting a foot in Cyprus. The United States can come in three ways.

The first is by signing a peace agreement in Cyprus.

This agreement envisages the deployment of an international force, or a NATO force, or a rapid deployment force. In the context of that agreement the United States can land in Cyprus. But, as noted above, that depends on an agreement between Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

The second way by which it can come in is through a minor war between the two sides in Cyprus. America might then intervene to stop the war and insure peace. It would then settle in on the island to maintain the peace.

The third way is through an agreement among the United States, Turkey, and the TRNC. In return for recognition of the TRNC, Lefkoniko could be given to the United States as a base. In that way Turkish governments will not find themselves in the difficult position of obstructing America in Incirlik and Diyarbakir, for, with such an agreement the United States' military activities will be transferred to Cyprus. That would both free Turkish governments from the pressure of the Turkish public, and insure the recognition of the TRNC.

There is, however, a small but important point here.

Suppose Lefkoniko became an American base. No one will then know if the Americans are using it for intelligence gathering, or a hiding place for nuclear arms, or a depot for biological and chemical weapons. For instance, according to some rumours, the United States has buried nuclear waste in the Incirlik base area and has thus widely contaminated the region. Therefore, even if turning Lefkoniko into an American base in return for TRNC's recognition appears to be a good bargain, the US activities should not go uncontrolled. It will be better if the base remains under the joint control of TRNC, Turkish, and US officials.

Of course, all that has been said here is a mere mental exercise. But there is benefit in debating and pondering the subject."

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

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