Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-06-09

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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. 99/98 6-7-8-9.6.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] MILLIYET interviews Denktash on Cyprus.

[02] Demirel: Turkey will not renounce the rights it gained in Cyprus 25 years earlier.

[03] Eroglu, Serdar Denktash affirm ``border'' will not change.

[04] Gurel in Berlin to attend conference on Turkish policy, says rel ations with EU not connected to Cyprus.

[05] ``Minister'' says 60,000 ``immigrants'' burden on pseudostate.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] MILLIYET interviews Denktash on Cyprus

In reply to a relevant question, Denktash claimed: ``I do not want to comment on the Greek Cypriot side´s acquisition of S-300 missiles. The US, Britain, the UN Security Council, and the influential EU countries have warned the Greek Cypriots against deploying missiles on the island. Turkey has already said what it had to say. I believe that the disclosure was made by the British officials because they are convinced that the arrival of the missiles may kindle a war.

I want to recall a point that the Greek Cypriots denied in the past. The Greek Cypriot newspapers claimed about one or one and a half months before the incidents in December 1963 that `Turkey does not have the strength to intervene in Cyprus. It does not have parachutes and landing craft and it is not prepared for an intervention. So, do not heed its unfounded threats´.

A British officer left his briefcase in a cabaret some time after the Greek Cypriot claims were published. It contained a plan for the evacuation of British citizens on an island where a war may break cut, an island on which a British base existed. The Greek Cypriot newspapers quickly published the plan. We assessed the situation and reached the conclusion that the British officials expected an incident on the island and that they leaked the plan to obstruct it. So, I believe that they have applied a similar tactic.''

To a question whether one can conclude that President Clerides still intends to have S-300 missiles deployed in Cyprus, regardless of the warnings that have been made by the US and Britain, Denktash said inter alia:

``Thomas Miller visited the island and made a similar warning. He said:

`You cannot maintain your course of action.´ However, Clerides seems to insist on his approach. He will try to establish how serious Turkey is and what Ankara plans to do. They behaved in a similar way in the past. They suffered for that.

The Greek Cypriot side wants us to give up our state and right to sovereignty. It also wants Turkey to withdraw its troops. On our part, we said: The missiles are a means that can be used in criminal activities. So, we will not bargain to prevent them from being deployed on the island. Nor will we bargain to have them removed if they are deployed. Do not maintain your frantic initiative…''

Asked to comment on Russia´s approach, he claimed: ``Russia wants to acquire funds. Apart from that, it wants to establish a foothold in the Mediterranean region. Some 20,000 or 30,000 Russian citizens live in south Cyprus. The Russian mafia groups and off-shore banks have established themselves there. Meanwhile, military experts are expected to be sent to the Greek Cypriot side. So, the US and Britain should be more concerned with the missiles than we are. Undoubtedly, they will affect Britain´s radar systems in the south. The Russian officials will be able to detect everything the British officials detect on their radars. Naturally, the matter has made Israel uneasy. So, the US, Britain, and Israel must not retreat, saying that `the matter only concerns Turkey and Cyprus´. The Greek Cypriot side and Russia will upset the balances in the region. They must disclose that they will not agree to such a state of affairs. That is what we want them to say.''

Asked if he has been informed on the number of technicians who will man the missiles, Denktash replied: ``I do not know exactly how many technicians will arrive. Reports said that 50-60 technicians will man the missiles. I have no information beyond that. We are aware of the developments that took place in the countries where the former Soviet Union dispatched its experts in the past. So, we have a difficult situation. They offer bases to that country to stir the United States. They have drawn up a very serious design but they will significantly suffer from their behaviour.''

[03] Demirel: Turkey will not renounce the rights it gained in Cyprus 25 years earlier

In reply to a question on the issue of the S-300 missiles, Demirel claimed:

``The S-300 missiles are a separate issue. What will south Cyprus do with the S-300 missiles? Will it attempt to harm Turkey? It is impossible to comprehend this. All they will achieve is to incur expenses. If their aim is to display hostility toward turkey, the S-300 missiles are a drop in the ocean.''

Asked if he is saying that Turkey will do whatever is necessary, Demirel replied: ``Naturally. We do not want to be in such a situation, we are peaceful, but it is a state´s national sovereignty right to defend itself. This is a national right.

All these mistakes are in front us: the negotiations on south Cyprus´ accession to the EU, the armament efforts in south Cyprus, and the deployment of missiles in Cyprus. Naturally, these issues disturb the Turkish public. This is what I have to say to the European public: Turkey will protect its rights in Cyprus, and it will protect the rights and security of its Turkish kinsmen in Cyprus. Turkey has the power to do this. Moreover, 25 years after the Cyprus operation, Turkey will not renounce the rights it gained 25 years earlier, nor will it agree to relinquish the rights gained by the Turks in Cyprus.''

[03] Eroglu, Serdar Denktash affirm ``border'' will not change

Eroglu stated that a political war is being waged together with Turkey to prevent any ``border'' changes in Cyprus. He complained that he cannot bring to the pseudo-assembly the decisions adopted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on the Cyprus issue or the joint declarations signed with Turkey because the pseudo-assembly will not approve them unanimously.

Serdar Denktash claimed that the ``borders'' of the pseudostate have been delineated and that the only aim now is to raise the ``citizens´prosperity levels''.

[04] Gurel in Berlin to attend conference on Turkish policy, says relations with EU not connected to Cyprus

Addressing a statement before his departure, Gurel stated that he aims to explain the view of Turkey about the future, its attitude regarding the European Union (EU) and Cyprus question during the conference.

Noting that he will hold special meetings with participants, Gurel pointed out that a radical change in Turkish foreign policy is out of the question.

``In fact the EU knows exactly why Turkey takes up its relations within a specific framework after the Luxembourg Summit. There is no change in our attitude. A new EU summit will be held on June 15 in Cardiff and we´ll see then whether they have revised their attitude towards us or not. Till then, we are resolved to limit our political relations with them'', said Gurel.

``The EU should give up bringing forward artificial political conditions'', claimed Gurel, recalling that full membership of Turkey in the EU is foreseen as a right in the Association Agreement signed between Turkey and the EU.

Stressing that neither Turkey nor the pseudostate can take a step backward regarding the Cyprus question, Gurel said that ``all the concerned sides in Cyprus should accept the reality of the Cyprus question and our relations with the EU are not connected with the Cyprus question.''

Scientists and politicians participate in the conference from Europe, the US and Turkey, which will last until Tuesday.

[05] ``Minister'' says 60,000 ``immigrants'' burden on pseudostate

The board of directors of Tar-Urun (Agricultural Produce), a firm set up almost a year ago to meet the fruit and vegetable needs of the military units in the pseudostate, held its first meeting the other night.

Dr. Caviz Atalar, head of the Tar-Urun board of directors, was first to address the meeting held at the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce. He spoke about the progress made by the firm since establishment, its goals and expectations from the so-called government.

Noting that the firm bade for contracts without expecting any profit in the first year, Dr. Atalar said ``the firm found itself in a difficult situation because some merchants offered bids below the production cost,'' adding: ``We hope that from now on all the fruit and vegetable needs of our soldiers will be met by Turkish Cypriot producers.''

Speaking next, so-called agriculture and forestry minister Kenan Akin said that they will continue giving all the help needed for the development of the firm.

Stating that 60,000 ``immigrants'' from Turkey are not contributing sufficiently to the economy, Akin said: ``Turkey should adopt special projects to correct this situation. The TRNC government is providing them with educational, health, and other service but is unable to tax them. The TRNC government should not be left alone shouldering this burden.''

Also declaring that the relations between Turkey and the pseudostate should be placed on a more sound foundation and that the ``TRNC should not be forced to wear a jacket that does not fit,'', Akin went on to describe the problem of the illegal workers as a ``cancer'', adding: ``People who do not know whether oranges grow on tree or underground are employed to collect produce and in the process they damage the fruit''. Akin said the problem of illegal workers could be solved by facilitating the issuance of work permits.

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

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