Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-06-11

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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. 101/98 -- 11/6/98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: if S-300´s arrive, we will invite Turkey to settle

[02] Gurel on resolve not to discuss Cyprus issue with EU

[03] Turkish paper views options for transporting S-300 missiles

[04] Sezgin on S-300 missiles

[05] Turkish ships to steer toward Cyprus in Sea Wolf-98

[06] Turkey - Jordan military training accord

[07] Denktash : ``If Greeks ready to reconcile, basis can be found for state to state negotiations''

[09] Talat on S-300 missiles

[10] Italian Parliamentarians to visit pseudostate

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: if S-300´s arrive, we will invite Turkey to settle

Replying to press questions on the issue at Ataturk airport before returning to the occupied area yesterday, Denktash reiterated that if the missiles are brought to Cyprus, all the necessary measures will be taken. He said: ``What we will do then is to declare to the whole world that the intercommunal talks and the Cyprus problem have come to an end. Greece will have settled in the south thanks to the Greek Cypriots. We too will invite Turkey to settle in the north completely''.

[02] Gurel on resolve not to discuss Cyprus issue with EU

Addressing a conference held in Berlin, Gurel said that Europe refrains from giving a full membership perspective to Turkey.

``Our aim was to be included in the 12 countries, we had relayed our wish to our European friends before the Luxembourg Summit'', said Gurel, adding that Turkey has never thought that ``we will apply to the EU today and we will become a full member tomorrow''.

``However Europe has missed this chance'', said Gurel, pointing out that the Turkish public opinion is very sensitive about the Cyprus question. Noting that Turkey had earlier warned the EU not to start full membership negotiations with the Cyprus Republic, Gurel said, ``Turkey will do her best to help the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to carry on her existence''.

Mentioning the S-300 missiles, Gurel said that Turkey will never bargain on this issue.

Gurel further claimed that ``everybody has to accept the reality that there are two sides in Cyprus''.

Noting that the ``Northern Ireland model'' or ``a peace agreement like Dayton'' won´t be successful in Cyprus, Gurel stressed that ``the status of Cyprus is different. The two communities on the island themselves should decide whether or not they want to live side by side or together''.

Responding to a question of a German journalist who asked whether or not the first part of the S-300 missiles have been sent to the island, Gurel said ``I hope the island won´t be ´hot´ in the summer. Turkey has never preferred to use violence. The side which is armed on the island is the Greek Cypriot side'', he outrageously claimed.

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[03] Turkish paper views options for transporting S-300 missiles

The route that will be used for delivery of the missiles has become very important because of Turkey´s disclosure that it will obstruct their transportation.

Various circles in Moscow believe that Russia has four options, the first of which is the dispatch of the missiles on ships from the northern ports to Cyprus. However, it is believed that the delivery will take a long time.

The second option is the transportation of the missiles by gigantic Ruslan (as published) planes to a Mediterranean country, from where they will be shipped to Cyprus; the third is the direct delivery of the missiles by air; and the fourth is the transportation of the missiles through the Bosphorus in Istanbul and the Dardanelles.

However considering Turkey´s strong disclosures, it is believed that Russia will avoid using the last option unless it is essential for it to do so, in order not to escalate the existing tension between the two countries.

[04] Sezgin on S-300 missiles

Sergin left for Brussels to attend the ``NATO Defense Ministers Spring Term Meetings.

Prior to his departure from the Ataturk Airport, responding to a question related to the deployment project of the S-300 missiles on the island, Sezgin said that Turkey took the required measures since the beginning of the S-300 missiles rumors in the world´s public opinion. ``I want to emphasize that the S-300 missiles can´t be deployed on the Greek Cypriot side. The deployment will be a madness'' he claimed.

Alleging that it was impossible for the two NATO - member countries, Turkey and Greece, to welcome such an event that would cause negative results, Sezgin said he believed that the western organizations were of the same opinion. Sezgin defined the S-300 missiles issue as the ``initiative of Greek Cypriots to increase their bargaining margin''

Sezgin added that the necessary measures would be carried out if the deployment is realized.

[05] Turkish ships to steer toward Cyprus in Sea Wolf-98

Some 53 ships, seven helicopters, and 7,000 troops are participating in the exercises, which will last 27 days. The second stage will begin on 12 June, when the ships will steer toward Cyprus. The grandsons of Barbaros will call at the occupied ports of Kyrenia and Famagusta and then visit the Port of Augusta in Italy and the Port of Bizakte in Tunisia. Fleet Commander Adm. Ilhami Erdil says that the exercises in the vicinity of Cyprus have been planned as a show if strength against the S-300 missiles the Greek Cypriot side will acquire from Russia.

[06] Turkey - Jordan military training accord

Pointing out that the Turkish - Jordanian military cooperation has a history of ten years, the diplomatic sources said that several serious steps were taken in the last two years to deepen that cooperation within the framework of the exchange of personnel, mutual visits and joint training. The training cooperation, which is being realized within the framework of the mutual exchange of land forces, will include firstly the air forces and then the naval forces.

Turkey and Jordan had reached an agreement in principle to open the Turkish airspace to Jordan during the visit to Jordan last week of Gen. Ilhan Kilic, the Chief Commander of the Air Forces. The Turkish F-16s will perform training flights in Jordan in the coming months, while 16 Jordanian F-16 pilots will be trained in Turkey.

Suha Umar, the Turkish Ambassador to Jordan, told the Anatolia correspondent that Turkey considers the cooperation with Jordan as reciprocal. This doesn´t and can´t have any connection with Israel.

[07] Denktash : ``If Greek ready to reconcile, basis can be found for state to

Addressing the journalists at the occupied Tymbou airport after his visit to Turkey Denktash pointed out, ``Either both sides on the island will resolve problems with each other or they will go on as two separate states''.

Responding to the journalist who reminded that a Russian newspaper published the map of possible places in the free areas of Cyprus where the S-300 missiles will be deployed and another Russian newspaper published a headline yesterday ``the S-300 missiles are on Cyprus'', Denktash noted, ``we have no information about the delivery of the missiles on the island. We closely monitor the developments at the Greek Cypriot side. If an ant walks, we have the capacity to see it. We should thank the Russian newspaper for saving us from searching''. He described the mentioned news as invented news.

[08] Gurel on Germany´s impact on excluding Turkey from EU, S-300 missiles

Addressing the journalists at the Berlin Tegel Airport before his departure, Gurel pointed out that Germany had a great impact on Turkey´s exclusion from the full membership negotiations of the European Union.

Gurel added ``I don´t suppose that the results of the general elections in September 27, will change foreign policy because there is an accord between German government and the opposition parties on the foreign policy''.

Sukru Sina Gurel noted that although Turkey has frozen the economic and political negotiations with the EU; she maintains her bilateral relations with the member states of the Union.

Mentioning the S-300 missiles which the Greek Cypriot side plans to deploy on the island, Gurel stressed: ``Turkey will accept the deployment of the missiles on the island as a threat and added that Turkey will take all military measures against the ``threat'' of the Russian - made missiles.

[09] Talat on S-300 missiles

Answering various questions put to him by the journalists, Talat said that his party insists on a federal settlement . Regarding the S-300 missiles Talat said that the Greek Cypriots want to deploy the missiles to safe guard their community´s security. However, he added, ``the deployment of S- 300 will have an adverse effect, they are also against the Greek Cypriots''.

He concluded by saying that the s-300 have already started having an adverse effect on the economies of both sides.

[10] Italian Parliamentarians to visit pseudostate

The delegation includes parliamentarians from every party in Italy.

The so-called ``TRNC´s honorary consul'' in Italy, Lawyer Augusto Sinagra, will accompany the delegation.

The delegation, upon return to Italy, will present their views and impressions at the Senate and parliament.

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

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