Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-05-11

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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. 81/98 -- 9-11.5.1998

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu: "Turkey, TRNC set to live as two separate states"

[02] Denktash: "Only natural for Bir to hold inspection tour"

[03] General Bir in the occupied area

[04] Telephone calls to the free areas to be charged as "cross-border" calls

[05] Talat, Akinci criticize Turkish stand on Holbrooke contacts

[06] Ergun Olgun claims missiles will also threaten 6th Fleet

[07] German cyclists in the occupied area

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu: "Turkey, TRNC set to live as two separate states"

"All Mr Holbrooke is trying to do is to improve the relations between Turkey and the EU, and to eliminate the injustice the EU committed in connection with Turkey. He believes that if this is achieved, the solution of the Cyprus problem will become easier. In a way, that is true. However, if he believes -- and I do not know that he does -- that once the relations between the EU and Turkey improve and Turkey is completely satisfied, Turkey will make the concessions on Cyprus that the Greeks and Greek Cypriots want, then he is wrong".

In reply to a relevant question Denktash said: "There is a security problem in Cyprus. The missiles and the countermeasures being taken by Turkey are causing an escalation. We do not want this escalation in the region. We are telling the Greek Cypriots to give up the missiles. Therefore, we did make a military assessment. Let me tell you something: Will the deployment of the missiles escalate the crisis in the region, and create a great danger? Certain circles say yes and certain circles say no. The former constitute a large number. Obviously, the deployment would be an event.

EU member countries are among the circles who say yes. In that case, the EU holds the key. It can tell Clerides: Unless the deployment is stopped, we will not discuss the application for membership which we realize you did not make on behalf of the Turks. If you deploy the missiles, you application will be suspended.

In that way, the EU can avert that danger. In that way, it will also teach a lesson to the Greek Cypriot side, by telling it to stop deceiving the world. Will the EU do that? I do not know. Greece is continuing with its blackmail and lies at the EU. Whether the EU says that or not, we have made the necessary preparations to face the missile crisis".

During the same interview, so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu, in reply to a question whether the Turkish Cypriots want integration with Turkey, said: "Each time he visits the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mr Ismail Cem says: If the Turkish Cypriots find it difficult to live in Cyprus, if they are faced with oppression, the door to integration with Turkey is open, but that is up to the Turkish Cypriots.

These are remarks that are made by Turkey -- whose stand is that the state of the TRNC must be kept alive -- to indicate that if we are left with no options in the future, such an alternative exists; and these remarks boost our morale. The fact is, however, the Turkish Republic and the TRNC are determined to live as two separate states. I think that integration with Turkey, if we mean annexation, is not a course that would be adopted by the Turkish governments under the current conditions.

If it does that, the Turkish Republic may antagonize the world once again. While it is being said that Turkey exercised its legal powers and rights stemming from international agreements and carried out the peace operation, if it integrates with the TRNC, it may be seen as an occupying force, and the world may react to that. The truth lies in continuing to have two separate states".

[02] Denktash: "Only natural for Bir to hold inspection tour"

In his statement at illegal Tymbou airport, Gen. Bir said that the importance of Cyprus has increased in the aftermath of the Cold War and added: "The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) is aware of this fact". Noting that the TAF will do everything possible for peace and stability in the region, Gen. Bir claimed that everybody knows who is disrupting the peace in the region.

Rauf Denktash, in turn, said that Turkey has troops in the "TRNC" and that it is only natural for these troops to be inspected by Turkish officials from time to time. Reiterating his gratefulness to Turkey, Denktash said it is a great honour for the Turkish Cypriots to receive full support from Turkey with regard to the talks.

[03] General Bir in the occupied area

Denktash met General Cevik Bir, deputy chief of the Turkish General Staff, who went to the occupied area to participate in the "Peace-98" seminar and inspect certain units. Denktash said at the meeting that Turkey's support of the policy the Turkish Cypriots are pursuing with regard to the negotiations gives them strength.

Gen. Bir claimed that the Turkish Armed Forces have been bringing peace and stability to the region for the past 24 years. He pointed out that the region that includes Turkey and the "TRNC" became much more important in the wake of the Cold War. He said that Turkey will increase its efforts to reinforce peace and stability in the region.

[04] Telephone calls to the free areas to be charged as "cross-border" calls

The so-called directorate of the telecommunications department announced that due to technical reasons the contact number giving access to the lines between the occupied area and the free areas has been reset to 0123.

The statement said: "The subscribers to the telephone exchanges operating in the TRNC could access UNFICYP headquarters by dialling 0123. As announced previously, after 0123, the code 100 should be dialled to contact the south".

The statement also said that those contacting the free areas over 0123 would be considered making "cross-border" calls and therefore will have to pay first degree international rates. It means that those calling the free areas from the occupied area will have to pay rates similar to the ones charged for calls, say, to the United States of Australia.

[05] Talat, Akinci criticize Turkish stand on Holbrooke contacts

At the end of the meeting, "prime minister" Eroglu said that Richard Holbrooke's shuttle diplomacy was conducted in secrecy and that, therefore, he does not want to discuss the details of the meeting. He added: "Once the secrecy is lifted, you will receive more details".

Serdar Denktash, leader of the Democratic Party, "state minister, and deputy prime minister", made a very short statement saying that they exchanged views at the meeting.

Mehmet Ali Talat, head of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), pointed out that Holbrooke affirmed the two sides positions but that the CTP does not agree with some of the views posited by the Turkish Cypriot side. He stressed that the solution of the Cyprus problem is of utmost importance and urgency for the future of the community, adding that the position of the Turkish Cypriots is being eroded with each passing day. He said that it is wrong to posit preconditions that are impossible to meet for the resumption of the talks. He said: "We believe that it is unrealistic to posit situations that may be produced at the end of talks -- situations such as the existence of two states, the recognition of the Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and sovereignty -- as preconditions".

Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot community has missed another opportunity and criticized Denktash for interpreting Holbrooke's remarks as an achievement for the Turkish Cypriot side. Talat maintained that the Turkish Cypriot side did not make use of Holbrooke's efforts properly and missed another chance. The CTP leader noted that the other countries concerned with the Cyprus problem play a major role and that, with their help, progress may be achieved. He pointed to the importance of improving Turkey's relations with the EU.

Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Communal Liberation Party (TKP), started off by saying that what is important in politics is to achieve set targets. He stated that running after the impossible is not beneficial for communities. He said: "In the wake of Holbrooke's contacts, another failure is being described as success".

Akinci stressed that the end result is that there was no progress. He noted that the TKP believes that for any progress to be made on the Cyprus problem, the deadlock in Turkish-EU relations must be overcome. He said:

"After relations between Turkey and Greece improve and after some progress is made towards a solution in Cyprus, the Turkish and Greek Cypriots can come together and promote the EU process for a federal Cyprus republic.

If there is any amelioration in the relations between Turkey and the EU during the Cardiff and Vienna summits, this will be positively reflected in Cyprus".

Akinci pointed out that Turkey, Greece, the EU, the United Nations, the United States, and Britain are involved in the Cyprus problem and that it is important for all those circles to play a positive role. Akinci noted that he is not pessimistic or despondent about the long-term future, adding:

"What is important is to pursue a realistic and logical policy, to protect our rights, and to show that we have not given up the idea of a bizonal and bicommunal state. Tactical steps must not take priority over strategies".

[06] Ergun Olgun claims missiles will also threaten 6th Fleet

Olgun asserted that Holbrooke criticized the "TRNC" only because of the declaration on 23 April and said: "I believe this exercise was successful and you will recall that President Denktash thanked him".

Ergun Olgun stressed that Holbrooke is waiting for the "appropriate time" to resume his contacts in Cyprus. He said: "He is expecting the two sides to be convinced that cooperation is their only alternative".

Olgun stressed that he would try to prevent the deployment of S-300 missiles on the Greek Cypriot side. He said: "The arrival of the missiles will escalate the tension. The missiles will threaten US vital interests. The deployment of the missiles on the island will also threaten the 6th Fleet, which patrols in the Mediterranean. All that has been conveyed to us by the US officials".

[07] German cyclists in the occupied area

RSV Wickede Club members said that they have come to the occupied area at the suggestion of one of their friends living in the occupied area.

They said that annually they cover a distance of about 1500 km.

Kibris publishes a photograph of the eight cyclists, who are 50 years old. (MY)

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

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