Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-08-19

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] ``Turkish Cypriot Peace Force'' command handed over.

[02] Talat´s interview to KIBRIS.

[03] Delegation of US Congress staffers visit the occupied area.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] ``Turkish Cypriot Peace Force'' command handed over

Lieutenant General Ali Yalcin, who was the commander of ``TCPF'' for two years, handed over his command to Major General Mehmet Aydin Sen, who will be promoted to Lieutenant General as of 30 August 1998.

[02] Talat´s interview to KIBRIS

Asked to comment on the criticism directed against his party and the claim that the CTP has integrated itself with the occupation regime and follows Denktash´s line, Talat said:

``The CTP supports change. It is a party averse to status quo and aims at changing it. As I have told the foreigners, it is a mass party most of whose cadres are Marxists but the party itself only goes as far as defending toil and labour as the highest values. It has always been this way. It has waged this struggle sincerely and has left the goal of changing the regime to our people´s democratic sensibility and choice. It has set no goals beyond that. In attempting to change the political order or the regime, it has tried to attain that goal not by wholly rejecting the regime but using its potentials even while fighting against most of its manifestations. In short, it has shaped its struggle by assessing and gaining awareness of the objective conditions in our country. While in that way the `sickness of adolescence´ peculiar to the left has been kept away from the CTP, the party has, at the same time, been carefully kept away from integration with the political order that you have been talking about. We have abiding and irreconcilable differences of opinion with Denktash and the existing political order. It is our most basic characteristic to staunchly defend democracy not only for us but for others as well. The bottlenecks on the way toward civilianization have always been the concern of our party. We have waged the civilianization campaign at the highest level when in government, and we still lead this struggle. It is a part of our party politics to use appropriate methods to do away with anti- democratic practices.

In short, our basic goal is not to integrate ourselves with the regime but change it and turn democracy into a lifestyle. The so-called leftist circles, which claim that the CTP has integrated itself with the regime, and the apologists of chiefstainship, whose whole purpose is to belittle democracy, isolate the left from the people, and give a hostile interpretation to the election outcome, are devoid of any strength to slacken the struggle waged by the CTP. The CTP does not turn a blind eye to the damage caused toward our people´s struggle for democracy by the so- called leftist circles, which have unfurled the flag of war against the elections and the parliamentary system and which organize provocation at every turn. The CTP knows that they could cause more harm than the most reactionary fascist elements. It is CTP´s duty to eliminate the harm intended against our people by the phony left, which on the one hand appears to be opposing the regime, and on the other acting in tandem with the most reactionary circles whose assistance they crave.''

Asked what hope-inspiring developments is he expecting on the Cyprus problem, Talat replied: ``The Cyprus problem, with all its component elements, has moved to a negative point and appears to be in an impasse. According to the CTP, the Cyprus problem is first of all affected by the internal dynamics, which are then acted upon by the outside factors. Contrary to claims by some, the Cyprus problem cannot be solved by people outside us. Hence, the latest developments in Cyprus, such as armament efforts and intention to change the foundation of the talks, are genuinely negative trends and engender a positive atmosphere. Hence, the Cypriots should show close interest in the problem and stop referring its solution to outside powers. It is for this reason that the CTP is highly sensitive about the Cyprus issue.

Cyprus´ strategic importance in our region attracts the interest of the big powers and international organizations. The interest of Turkey and Greece in the problem is vital considering that it involves the preservation or disruption of the balances created in the East Mediterranean in linkage with the Aegean. In that sense, importance should be given to Turkey, which moved by considerations of balances in the region, is trying to establish a linkage between the EU membership and the Cyprus problem. With Turkey´s EU membership closely related to the Cyprus problem, the United States, and the hegemonic and the imperialist forces have been showing increased interest in Cyprus. All that shows that the Cyprus question has really become an international problem. Now, neither the arms race nor the balances in the East Mediterranean could by themselves determine the outcome of the problem. To the degree of its internationalization, the problem will be open to every influence and will eventually be solved in a multi-faceted way. Just when a short time ago the need for the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the EU process was extremely vital, today the EU´s role in the solution of the problem has considerably weakened. Whereas, the role of the US, the grandfather of world imperialism by virtue of its being a global power, has increased. While the Turkish Government´s contribution to the problem has assumed a different dimension, the contributions of the government of Simitis, considered to be a real Westerner Greek by the West, have assumed an important but negative dimension. That optimism and pessimism should alternatively rear their heads in this complicated problem is only inevitable. What is important is for the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots and their representatives, who are most directly affected by the problem, to approach the issue from the perspective of the interest of their peoples and positively influence the political will. This means that rather than being optimistic or pessimistic about the Cyprus problem, the important thing is the willingness to find a solution. The CTP works for that.''

[03] Delegation of US Congress staffers visit the occupied area

The staffers yesterday met Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and Hakki Atun, Taner Etkin and Vehbi Zehi Serter, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot History Association. The delegation will continue its contacts until 21 August.

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

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article