Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-06-04

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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. 97/98 -- 4.6.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on integration with Turkey

[02] Aegean Sea Wolf exercises start; Turkish admiral reassures Greece

[03] Yilmaz announces elections April 1999

[04] Liberian cargo ship at occupied Famagusta port

[05] Denktash meets Israeli ambassador

[06] Trade balance between Turkey and the pseudostate

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on integration with Turkey

``A French correspondent asked a similar question a few days ago, remarking:

Since you claim to be independent, then why do you not have your own currency? I replied: Monaco is independent from France. What is the currency it uses? Is it not the French currency? He was confused. However, he said that France and Monaco have a special agreement. Well, I responded by saying that the TRNC and Turkey also have a special agreement''.

Denktash further elaborated as follows: ``We discussed whether or not we should have our own currency when we established the TRNC. We decided that we should issue our own currency. However, Turkey said that it would be inappropriate to take such a step because we planned to establish a federation. Furthermore, the economic experts warned us that the initiative may worsen the situation of our economic resources because it would create confusion. So, the matter was suspended for some time. Meanwhile, we became dependent on the Turkish currency. The Turkish lira is affected by the high rate of inflation in Turkey. However, that is a temporary situation. The currency will improve. We had bad times together, so why should we decide to separate now? We said that our objective is to achieve economic integration.. Why should we give up the Turkish lira?''

Denktash later made a proposal for the future. He said: ``We must not waste so much time on similar problems. Turkey and the TRNC must remove their bureaucratic obstacles. The government must confer with businessmen and industrialists to examine the global problems. They must establish the way to ease the domestic situation. Why have measures not been considered against the high rate of inflation? People are taxed on what they do not earn. The effects of such an approach on the people must be considered. That will encourage the transfer of funds from the TRNC to the other countries. Turkey must decide the measures it wants to take and move to put them into effect. The Turkish bank notes can be stamped with a cachet that will make them valid only in the TRNC. I am sure that such a measure can be taken. We decided to change the traffic rules when the TRNC was established. However, we were unable to persuade the people to agree to drive on the right side of the road''.

Ozkok says a critical question was then put to Denktash: ``Can the TRNC exist as an independent country in the future?'' He said: ``No, the TRNC cannot exist without Turkey. Everyone must realize that.''

Denktash said that he has very favourable relations with Turkey. Stressing that the problems that existed in the past have been resolved, he asserted that he has ``very close relations'' with Ankara. He confirmed his statement by recalling the talks he recently had with Richard Holbrooke. He said that Holbrooke called Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to confirm his views. He understood the situation when Ankara confirmed the information that was conveyed to him in the occupied area, Denktash said.

[02] Aegean Sea Wolf exercises start; Turkish admiral reassures Greece

Some 7,000 personnel are taking part in the exercises, as are freighters, warships, assault boats, and submarines. The units´knowledge and experience will be reviewed in the exercises.

[03] Yilmaz announces elections April 99

``The government parties and the CHP will submit a joint proposal to the Assembly on holding early general elections next April. The exact date will be determined in due course. There is a strong probability that the date will be 18 April. As we agreed in our 23 April meeting, we will face these elections with a new government model. In other words, I will resign at the end of the year, and an election government will be established for the period leading to elections. I am not using the expression election government as a constitutional concept, but as a phrase denoting a government that will lead the country to elections. The structure and modality of this government will be outlined in the coming days after consultations with the president as well. Our party whips will meet as of next week to discuss the legislation of the laws that will benefit the country, including the reform bills. We concur over most of these bills, and some of them we feel the need to assess together. The whips will agree on a priority agenda. Subsequently, we will engage in full cooperation in the Assembly in order to enact these priority bills. This is the essence of our agreement.''

[04] Liberian cargo ship at occupied Famagusta port

The paper says that the ship´s cargo is being unloaded and transported into depots leased in the so-called free trade zone in the occupied area by the owners of the cargo.

The imported sun-flower seeds will be re-exported to various European countries and Turkey within two months.

KIBRIS says that since 1974, ALISON is the first large cargo ship that calls at the occupied Famagusta port. (MY)

[05] Denktash meets Israeli ambassador

There was no statement after the meeting. (MY)

[06] Trade balance between Turkey and the pseudostate

KIBRIS gives figures regarding 1996 and 1997 based on the information compiled by the so-called ``State Planning Organization.'' (MY)

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

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