Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-06-02

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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. 95/98 -- 2.6.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] General Karadayi to visit US in July.

[02] Sezgin on S-300 missiles.

[03] Ecevit discusses Cyprus in China.

[04] Diplomatic sources claim S-300´s threat to Israel, Egypt, UK.

[05] Occupied Morphou and Trachoni to become ``districts''.

[06] Members of the ``TRNC-Turkey Joint Economic Committee''.

[07] Dentkash on exclusion of Turkish Cypriots from Rotary movement.

[08] Party leader accuses Dentkash.

[09] Education ``protocol'' to be reviewed.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] General Karadayi to visit US in July

Regional strategic cooperation will be the main agenda item during the talks. The level of cooperation between the two countries during any future regional crisis will be discussed, the sources said. The visit by Karadayi, whose term is up at the end of August, will also be a sort of farewell visit for him, which signals that there will be no more extensions in the post for Karadayi, and that Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu will be the next top commander. Sources also say that Kivrikoglu, who is currently the land forces commander, will also visit the United States once he takes over Turkey´s top general´s post. Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Cevik Bir is also expected to visit the United States with Karadayi in June to receive an award from an institution in Washington.

Of course, on the eve of a new era in strategic ties between Washington and Ankara, the visit, seen by many experts as an important bridge for spanning foreign policy gaps, will also witness many important issues being discussed.

As Turkey´s top general, Karadayi will voice Turkish concerns to US officials over the planned delivery of S-300 missiles to Cyprus by Russia. The head of the General Staff, who returned from Moscow on May 22, had asked the Russian officials there to clarify their position as to whether or not they would transfer missiles to Cyprus.

Karadayi and the delegation which will accompany him during his visit to Washington will also hold talks with the Pentagon regarding Turkey´s air defense needs. Turkey has long been concerned about the growing missile threat from neighbouring countries, including Iran, Syria and Iraq.

Turkey´s key defense industry projects for taking the Turkish Armed Forces into the 21st century, such as the $3.5 billion attack-helicopter program, the $4.5 billion third-generation main battle tank project and the $800 million early warning aircraft (AWACS), will be among the key issues discussed during the visit. American Abrams tanks, King Cobra and Apache Longbow helicopters and Hawkeye aircraft are among those who have been competing to win the Turkish defense projects.

Gen. Karadayi will meet the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Henry Shelton and Secretary of Defense William Cohen at the Pentagon, but it remains unclear whether he will meet officials from the White House and Congress. He is also expected to address think tanks and institutions in the United States on the topic of NATO expansion - an expansion that must be approved by the other members of the alliance, such as Turkey.

He will also visit some American bases to inspect F-15 fighter jets, which Turkey has been planning to purchase. Sources say that his visit will help to further strengthen strategic ties between Turkey and the United States.

[02] Sezgin on S-300 missiles

``This is what I said when the deployment of the S-300 missiles was first raised: The S-300 missiles are too much for Cyprus, and too little for Turkey. They are unnecessary. It is meaningless to embark upon such an adventure at such high cost and at the expense of the prosperity of the Greek and Greek Cypriot peoples. As I said at the time, this is an initiative, a scenario, aimed at increasing the bargaining margin of the Greeks and the Greek Cypriots. They want to say: We will renounce their deployment if you withdraw your soldiers, or if you cease your efforts to prevent the EU accession of south Cyprus. This is the real goal. Alternatively, they are trying to create a new problem with regard to the solution of the Aegean issue, the continental shelf, the Euphrates, or other issues. It is meant to be a bargaining chip.

Therefore, we are not attaching importance to it. Our government has adopted a decision on this matter. Following our contacts with the General Staff as well, we decided to adopt all the necessary measures in the event of their deployment. We have pinpointed these measures, and adopted them. If they want, they can deploy them. But, I do not believe that they will. It would be madness. I also believe that no one should condone one NATO ally acting against another, disrupting the balance in the Aegean and in Cyprus, and undermining the tranquillity and stability that has existed for over 20 centuries in Cyprus.''

[03] Ecevit discusses Cyprus in China

In a statement after the talks, which lasted approximately one hour, Ecevit said that Turkey and China, two important countries in Asia, want to further develop their bilateral relations.

Ecevit continued: ``During the talks, I gave detailed information on Cyprus. I said that Greece´s military build-up in the island, the EU decision to admit the Greek Cypriot Administration as a member, and the Russian decision to send missiles to Cyprus undermine the UN Secretary General´s initiative. I provided extensive explanations in this regard.''

[04] Diplomatic sources claim S-300´s threat to Israel, Egypt, UK

Diplomatic sources said that the S-300 missiles can take all airplanes that take off from Israel into their control range adding that Israel is uneasy about that. Israel isn´t in the range of fire, however Israeli military aircraft, which fly over the Mediterranean for training flights, can enter into the fire range.

Military officials said that the blind radars of the S-300 missiles can´t be modernized by an electronic system in the near future. In this respect, an Israeli plane flying from the south to Cyprus can be an open target for the missiles, which have a wide radar network. Moreover Israel is uneasy about the regular control of its flights.

In response to the scenarios allegedly imagined by the Greek Cypriot side and Greece that Turkey won´t hit the S-300 missiles, the same diplomatic sources claimed, ``all limits which Turkey can permit have been exceeded.''

[05] Occupied Morphou and Trachoni to become ``districts''

The paper adds that with this new arrangement there will now be five ``districts'' in the occupied area.

(MY)

[06] Members of the ``TRNC-Turkey Joint Economic Committee''

Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has issued a circular to this effect. The following will be the members of the committee: the deputy under- secretary of the Prime Minister´s office (Chairman of the Committee), The deputy under secretary of the Treasury, the Deputy under secretary for Foreign Trade, the deputy under secretary of the State Planning Office, the deputy under secretary of the Finance Ministry, the deputy under secretary of the Foreign Ministry, the deputy under secretary of the Ministry of Transport, as well as the Counselor of the Prime Minister´s Office for Cyprus affairs.

(MY)

[07] Denktash on exclusion of Turkish Cypriots from Rotary movement

Denktash said that the Greek Cypriots were able to exclude Turkish Cypriots from the movement.

Speaking to Rotarians from Turkey, Italy and the UK, Denktash urged for recognition of the Turkish Cypriot Rotarians.

He went on and said that Turkish Cypriots are grateful to Italy which understands very well the Cyprus problem.

He said that he considers Italy as being the country that understands very well the Cyprus problem. He said: ``The Greek Cypriots wanted to buy missiles from Italy. We have asked Italy to leave us alone. Italy, which has principles, did not try to sell arms, like Russia which sold arms because it needed money.'' (MY)

[08] Party leader accuses Denktash

[09] Education ``protocol'' to be reviewed

He said that within the next two weeks a delegation from YOK will arrive in the occupied area for this purpose.

(MY)

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

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