Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-06-18

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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. 106/98 -- 18.6.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Demirel: ``The reality is that thre are two states on the island''

[02] Religious sects said to prepare to take action in Turkey

[03] Denktash on decision to suspend talks, intercommunal contacts

[04] Turkey not to seize S-300 missiles in straits

[05] Visiting warships ``an indication of Turkey´s support''

[06] Cem issues ``warnings'' and threats

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Demirel: ``The reality is that thre are two states on the island''

Answering, inter alia, a question on Cyprus, Demirel claimed: ``We are very right on the Cyprus issue. What we want is the security of Turkish Cypriots on the island. We seek permanent security. The reality is that there are two states on the island. You cannot put them together again. What needs to be done is to seek mechanisms that will allow these two states to live together.''

[02] Religious sects said to prepare to take action in Turkey

A report by the Turkish intelligence units warned that ``a serious threat is being created'' and called for ``urgent measures.''

The report claimed that the followers of the religious sects are preparing for widespread demonstrations to protest the measures taken against reactionary activities, mainly the use of the Islamic headscarf, this summer. It said: ``The religious sects have drawn up separate plans. They have decided to create a confrontation between the people and the security forces so that they can hold demonstrations with a greater number of demonstrators.''

The report claimed that the followers of the religious sects have decided to stage their demonstrations in Bursa, Kutahya, Isparta, Kastamonu, Karaman, Corum, Rize, Erzurum, Yozgat, Batman, Sirnak, Sanliurfa, Sivas, Van, Bingol, Adiyaman, and Ankara and outlined their objectives as follows: ``The sects have been satisfied with the ban on the headscarfs in the universities because it increased their supporters. However, they are aware of their failure to attract a large group of people to support their demonstrations. They are convinced that the people support them but they have been reluctant to take action. So, they will try to secure their support in summer by convincing them that the secular state is opposed to their religion.''

The report warned that the ``security forces must be careful to avoid a confrontation with the people.''

[03] Denktash on decision to suspend talks, intercommunal contacts

In a statement to illegal TAK after hosting the Brussels Group´s businessmen lalst Tuesday morning, Denktash said that invitations have gone out to resume contacts with Greek Cypriot businessmen and that the Turkish Cypriot businessmen believe the continuation of the embargo prevents such cooperative meetings from yielding results.

Indicating that he agrees with this view, Denktash said: ``I believe that if we want to have this embargo lifted then there should be a linkage between these contacts, which are encouraged by the foreigners and that are carried out in a sincere and faithful manner, and the lifting of the embargo,'' adding: ``I can see how the statements I made during my contacts with the Brussels Group´s women´s wing were distorted. The issue had to do with the talks being encouraged by the foreigners and I pointed to our need to support the government´s decision to `suspend the talks´. Saying that this decision amounts to a ban on tourism in general and advertising it as such does not reflect my views.

Our government makes certain decisions regarding certain issues in order to have our statehood recognized. There may be those who like and those who dislike these decisions, which are made for political reasons. But it is our right to expect each TRNC citizen to reply in the knowledge that he has to defend his state against the invitations extended by foreign diplomats who recognize the Greek Cypriot side - which considers that these decisions do not exist despite the fact that they do exist, a side that insists on saying that it does not recognize the government that made these decisions - as the `Government of Cyprus´''

Also indicating that he is satisfied that all the groups he had contacts with were aware of this, Rauf Denktash said: ``I think we will break the embargo if we resist together.''

[04] Turkey not to seize S-300 missiles in straits

Meanwhile, it has been reported that the S-300 missiles the Cyprus Government plans to buy will belong to Russia until they are delivered to Cyprus and that any attempt by the Turkish officials to seize them in the straits will create a serious diplomatic crisis and cause a confrontation between Turkey and Russia. It has also been reported that Turkey will realize the measures it has taken after the missiles are deployed in Cyprus, particularly when an effort will be made to prepare them to become operational.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan disclosed that the vessel was halted because a difference existed between its manifesto and actual cargo. He said that the ship was released to sail to Egypt in accordance with the Montreux Agreement but noted that the Egyptian officials have not made a diplomatic initiative.

Utkan also said that the Egyptian officials have informed Turkey that the military cargo belongs to Egypt.

[05] Visiting warships ``an indication of Turkey´s support''

The commander of the visiting group, Rear-Admiral Feyyaz Ogutcu ,speaking at the welcoming ceremony has said: ``The visit is an indication of the support given by motherland Turkey to the TRNC. We hope that this visit will serve as a warning to the rapidly arming Greek Cypriots''.

(MY)

[06] Cem issues ``warnings'' and threats

It is once more revealed that the Joint Defence Doctrine illegally put into practice by Greece since 1993 is a planned attempt aimed at changing the sensitive balance which is the basis for peace and security.

These developments are the clear proof of the fact that the cooperation between the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece is directly aimed at threatening Turkey and not the TRNC.

Greece´s offensive preparations in south Cyprus, the Joint Defence Doctrine and the effort to deploy S-300 missiles on the island, these preparations and the arrival of the aforesaid fighters, if evaluated together, clearly show that in a possible attack directed against Turkey from the south, Cyprus will be used as a springboard.

So, under these conditions it becomes clear that the S-300 missiles are not a defensive element but an important part of a possible offensive plan aimed against Turkey.''

Cem went on and said that ``Turkey will take and is taking every necessary measure with regard to these offensive plans and preparations targeted against the security of Turkey''. Cem added that they have informed all international circles about these developments. ``Greece is directly responsible for the developments ensuing from this dangerous escalation that it has prompted'', Cem claimed.

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