Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-08-21

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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. 152/98 -- 21.8.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot private Radio hampers British Forcesī broadcasts

[02] Talat: Sides should stop expecting help from outsiders.

[03] Denktash claims Greek acceptance of Miller proposals tactical.

[04] CUMHURIYET on S-300, Millerīs proposals.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot private Radio hampers British Forcesī broadcasts

Officials from BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service), which has been broadcasting from the British base area for the past 50 years, sent a new warning to SIM FM, which has been preventing BFBS broadcasts from being heard in occupied Famagusta since it started broadcasting on the same frequency.

British High Commissioner David Madden, after finding out that SIM FM belongs to the CTP, met CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat to complain.

Warning that unless SIM FM changes its frequency its broadcasts in the Nicosia area will be jammed, a BFBS official said: ``It is up to them to come to an agreement. Otherwise SIM FM will become unheard in Nicosia.''

Noting that what is being done in Nicosia now is not jamming but a test broadcast, the same official added: ``BFBS broadcasts on 99.6 MHz in Famagusta and on 89.7 MHz in Nicosia. The strength of our signal in Famagusta is weaker than in Nicosia. It is already hard to hear our broadcasts in Famagusta. Presently, we are conducting test broadcasts in Nicosia using 75-Watt power. If successful, we will change our broadcasting bands in Famagusta and Nicosia. In that case, the 75-Watt test broadcastīs power will be increased to 1,000 Watts and that will render SIM FM unheard in Nicosia''.

[02] Talat: Sides should stop expecting help from outsiders

Claiming that the Greek logic of ``turning the issue toward its own favour by driving Turkey into a corner'' is extremely wrong and dangerous, Talat added: ``Who will benefit from moving away from the summit agreements of 1977 and 1979 and the UN parameters, which were laid on these agreements?'' Talat said: ``I call on the sides to stop pursuing the policy of driving each other into the corner and use their own constructive initiatives resolving the Cyprus issue, which is being dragged into a very dangerous stage, instead of expecting help from outsiders.''

[03] Denktash claims Greek acceptance of Miller proposals tactical

Stressing that the Turkish-Greek balance is the fundamental basis of the Cyprus problem, Denktash stated that Turkey and Greece have equal rights over Cyprus. Stating that the Cyprus problem will be solved, Denktash reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots, the Turkish Republic, the Greek Cypriots, and Greece are the sides involved in the Cyprus problem. Denktash recalled that the 23 April declaration was the best response indicating that the ``TRNC'' and Turkey will not be deceived by the ``EU ploy''.

[04] CUMHURIYET on S-300, Millerīs proposals

CUMHURIYET correspondent Lale Sariibrahimoglu reporting from Ankara says that Turkey wants the giving up of the delivery of the missiles, because it considers the missiles as a factor that has poisoned the climate in Cyprus.

Mrs. Sariibrahimoglu adds that during his recent visit to Cyprus, Russian Foreign Ministry special envoy Vladimir Tzizof had a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. During the meeting Denktash put the following question to the Russian envoy: ``After you sell the missiles, if Turkey destroys these missiles, will you be taking this upon yourself?'' CUMMHURIYET correspondent claims that Mr. Tzizof gave the following answer:

``Why should we take it upon us? We will have the missiles delivered and sold''.

She says that this answer have been interpreted as Russia not threatening with retaliation against the possibility of Turkey destroying the Russian missiles and it is assessed that with this approach Russia gives priority to the commercial dimension of the sale.

Quoting a senior Turkish diplomat, CUMHURIYET correspondent says that unless the Greek Cypriot side, under heavy pressure from the USA,

gives up buying the missiles, Russia will be forced to send the missiles in order not to lose its credibility in the arms market.

She then refers to Thomas Millerīs contacts in Ankara this week, during which the US State Department Special Cyprus coordinator put forward a two stage plan to the Turkish officials, regarding a moratorium on military flights over Cyprus, and the resumption of talks in Cyprus.

CUMHURIYET correspondent says that Turkish officials refused to discuss the moratorium and the plan brought by Miller. She then quotes a Turkish government official as saying: ``In fact they are bringing in the S-300 in order to break our air superiority in Cyprus. Why should we give up our air superiority ourselves? They say- `well letīs postpone the deployment of the missiles on the island and against this, you give up the flying over the islandī. How can there be such a bargain?''

Miller also told the Turkish side, ``we will not recognize the TRNC. But if the Turkish side enters into negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side the Turkish Cypriots might get recognition''.

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

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