Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-09-08

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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. 164/98 -- 8.9.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash terms confederation ``Last Trial''

[02] Free Democratic Party merges with the Democratic Party.

[03] Denktash approves Onurhan´s ``ppointment''.

[04] Turkey to by AWACS aircraft.

[05] Turkish Minister briefs Council of Europe rapporteurs on human rights activities.

[06] ``General elections'' to be held 6 December.

[07] Atun leaves for Russia to participate at IPU meeting.

[08] Kyrgyzi journalists in the occupied area.

[09] Turkish Cypriot union rejects confederation solution.

[10] Denktash: If confederation is accepted, pseudostates gets automatic recognition.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash terms confederation ``Last Trial''

In a statement to reporters before the meeting in reaction to comments that the Cyprus National Council would meet yesterday morning, Denktash inter alia said that if the world and especially guarantor Britain and the United States tell the Greek Cypriots that they are not the government of the Turkish Cypriots and ask them to make good use of the recent opportunity regarding the confederation proposal, the problem can be resolved.

Denktash claimed that recognizing the pseudostate and concluding a partnership agreement would be the most logical and sensible thing. He added that no agreement can induce the Turkish Cypriots to accept the Cyprus Government as the legitimate government. He said that confederation is a last trial, ``because those who are trying to make us fall into Greece´s lap via the EU by calculating that all the refugees will return to their homes, that the guarantee agreement will be neutralized, and that the Turkish Greek balance will be eliminated; those who enabled Greece to settle in Cyprus; those who are reinforcing themselves with missiles; and those who are trying to portray guarantor Turkey, which has saved us from annihilation, as the occupier are all the same people.''

Denktash alleged: ``Until now, it was said that I insisted on two states because I do not want to unite. Confederation is the biggest sign that we are in favour of unification''. Denktash claimed the continuation of the guarantee system in the confederation proposal prevents division as well as enosis.

Answering a question, Denktash recalled that Thomas Miller, US State Department special envoy for Cyprus, announced earlier that he will visit the island this month, adding that if Miller does arrive, he will explain the latest situation to him.

In his statement after the meeting, Eroglu said that the Turkish Cypriot side submitted the ``necessary proposals'' on the Cyprus problem and noted that the response this step will receive is important. ``In the final analysis'', Eroglu claimed, ``there is a state in the north and a state in the south, and it is impossible to ignore this fact.''

[02] Free Democratic Party merges with the Democratic Party

[03] Denktash approves Onurhan´s ``appointment''

So-called prime minister Eroglu said that a new ``minister'' will be ``appointed'' to the ``ministry'' in a couple of weeks.

[04] Turkey to by AWACS aircraft

Sezgin responded to a written motion of inquiry submitted by Veysel Candan, Virtue Party Deputy from Konya. The motion charges that AWACS bid specifications are based on Boeing 767 aircraft, which are not used by any country and that $500 million will be lost because these planes are more expensive. It also charges that Defense Industry Undersecretary Yalcin Burcak took part in a hunting party organized by Boeing.

Sezgin said that three firms will submit bids by 1 December 1998 on the tender for four AWACS planes that the Undersecretariat of Defense Industry opened in June. He added that the winning firm will be identified in mid- 1999 and that the planes will be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in 2000 or 2001. Sezgin said, ``The AWACS plane project, which will enable the comprehensive monitoring of all air movements over Turkey and its surrounding region, is one of the highest-priority needs of the Turkish Armed Forces.''

Sezgin disclosed that a proposal on the version of the plane based on the 737 platform has been requested from Boeing, which is one of three firms that will submit bids. He added that Defense Industry Undersecretary Burcak was not part of an investigating committee organized by Boeing.

[05] Turkish Minister briefs Council of Europe rapporteurs on human rights activities

Following the meeting, Turk recalled that the COEPA established a mechanism in 1995 to control whether or not the member countries abide by their commitments, especially on the issues of human rights, democracy and the legal state. Turk said that the activities of Turkey in these fields are also observed within the framework of the mechanism.

Pointing out that a further commission was established in 1997 within the structure of the COEPA to inspect whether or not the member countries abide by their commitments in those issues, Turk said that Schwimmer and Barsony, within that commission, are the rapporteurs responsible for Turkey and earlier paid three visits to Turkey with the same objective.

Noting that he briefed the rapporteurs on the new activities about human rights in Turkey, Turk said that they held a very beneficial meeting.

Giving information about their contacts in Ankara, the rapporteurs said that they launched efforts to have the laws limiting the freedom of thought in Turkey changed and this goal constituted the main theme of their visits, stressing that it will take a long time to abolish these laws.

The COEPA rapporteurs are expected to meet with Kutlu Aktas, the Minister of the Interior, within the framework of their contacts.

[06] ``General elections'' to be held 6 December

``The responses these steps will receive are of great importance''.

In reply to correspondents questions Eroglu said that certain amendments had been introduced to the NUP party statute during the other day´s congress and explained: ``The party leader has been granted certain contingency rights during primaries.''

In reply to a question, Eroglu said he was not surprised when the Free Democratic Party joined the Democratic Party, adding that this is normal in democracies. With regard to whether cooperation will be secured with the National Justice Party for the ``elections'', Eroglu said that discussions to this end are under way and added that there is still no definite decision on this issue.

In reply to a question on whether agreement was secured with the Democratic Party on the ``election'' date, Eroglu said a unity of views was reached with the Democratic party on holding the ``elections'' on 6 December. Explaining that his party insists on holding early ``elections'', Eroglu said: ``We did not succeed in getting other parties to adopt this view, however. As a result, we put forward a proposal at the Assembly to hold elections on 6 December.''

[07] Atun leaves for Russia to participate at IPU meeting

Prior to his departure for Moscow to participate at the 100th Meeting of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU) Conference, Atun said that he will brief the world parliamentarians on the latest situation on Cyprus.

Stressing that they will attend the Cyprus Monitoring Committee, which was established within the framework of the conference, with five so-called parliamentarians, Atun said that the report, which was submitted by them to that committee and ``reflects the realities on the island'', will be discussed and added into the minutes of the General Assembly.

Hakki Atun said: ``The Greek-Cypriots should accept and realize that they can´t reach any solution by exhibiting such attitudes. The confederation proposal of President Rauf Denktash is an important opportunity for peace. We will renounce this proposal to the world during my visit to Moscow.''

Hakki Atun claimed that the Agreement on Reciprocal Exchange of Population, which was signed in 1975 in Vienna with the Greek-Cypriots, is the proof for the existence of ``two different states''.

[08] Kyrgyzi journalists in the occupied area

The journalists visited various places, among them newspapers offices and radio-TV stations.

(MY)

[09] Turkish Cypriot union rejects confederation solution.

the Engineers Union (KTMMOB) has declared that a federal solution should be pursued in Cyprus.

Chairman Huseyin Inan has said that Denktash´s confederation proposal has shocked the public opinion.

He said that it is not possible to adopt such an attitude that suddenly does away with a federal settlement which is accepted by the world public opinion.

Inan said that similar attempts will not contribute to the search for lasting peace.

(MY)

[10] Denktash: If confederation is accepted, pseudostates gets automatic recognition

Stressing that the present support extended to the occupied area by Turkey is a historic support. Denktash added that the important thing is the continuation and existence of the pseudostate.

Denktash made this statement after meeting fundamentalist ``Our Party'' leader Okyay Sadikoglu. Sadikoglu in turn said that they will work for securing recognition for the pseudostate.

(MY)

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

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