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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-09-17Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Turkey demands joint defence doctrine to be put out of useAccording to TRT (13:00 hours, 16.9.98) Turkey has announced that ``the arbitrary postponement of the arrival in Cyprus of the S-300 missiles will not solve the problems'', that it will not change the essence of the issue, and that it will only exacerbate the existing situation.Ambassador Necati Utkan, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman, speaking at his weekly news conference, said that only the cancellation of the order can have any meaning for Turkey. Stating that this step alone will not be sufficient, Utkan claimed that the Greek-Greek Cypriot joint defense doctrine and the air and naval bases in Cyprus should be put out of use in order to reduce the tension on the island. ``Therefore, a possible initiative by Clerides to postpone the deployment of the missiles has no meaning other than a tactical move based on erroneous calculations. The arbitrary postponement of the arrival in Cyprus of the S-300 missiles will not solve the problems, nor will it change the essence of the issue. On the contrary, it will only exacerbate the existing situation. It is unthinkable for either Turkey or the TRNC to be tolerant to the use of the S-300 missiles as a source of continuous threat. Proposals such as bringing the missiles to Cyprus and storing them in warehouses are also unacceptable as far as Turkey is concerned''. [02] Turkish Cabinet discusses pseudostate´s economyAccording to a report in HALKIN SESI (16.9.98) the pseudostate´s economy has been placed on the table at the Turkish Council of Ministers. Last Tuesday´s meeting discussed the problems in bilateral economic ties and decided to eliminate them.Sukru Sina Gurel, Turkish State Minister for Cyprus Affairs, said that while the ``agreements'' and the committees set up under the ``accords'' signed between Turkey and the pseudostate are proving productive, the desired pace has not been achieved. Therefore the issue was brought to the attention of the Council of Ministers to speed up the process, he said. Also, noting that talks will be held in Ankara this week to sign ``agreements'' for the implementation of some of the ``accords'' already signed, Gurel said that, working through the committees, they want to introduce an incentive system, but for it to be practicable the pseudostate should harmonize itself with the system in Turkey. Saying that Turkey´s contribution to the pseudostate for the next year has been fixed but he would not reveal the figure for now, Gurel said that a part of the $250 million credit was diverted to other projects that eventually helped the pseudostate. Gurel said that a bill is being prepared to establish organic ties between the so-called ``Cyprus Stock Exchange'' and the Istanbul Stock Exchange. [03] Britain supports Cyprus moratoriumAccording to Anatolia Agency (8:48 hours, 16.9.98) George Robertson, the British state secretary for defense, said on Tuesday ``we hope that the moratorium which will be implemented on the military flights over Cyprus will contribute to the security and we are willing to supervise this.''Robertson, who signed a cooperation memorandum of understanding in the field of the defense industry together with Ismet Sezgin, Turkish Minister of Defense, staged a news conference at the British Embassy in Ankara. Noting that Britain supported the moratorium on Cyprus, Robertson said ``the idea of moratorium was brought onto the agenda first of all by Turkey in 1996.'' Robertson said that Turkey may have reservations as the idea of the moratorium was brought together with the S-300 missiles.. Noting that they had ``strong suspicions'' concerning the S-300 missiles, Robertson said ``we are expending efforts to postpone or to abandon the idea of the S-300 missiles. We think that they won´t be good for Cyprus''. Robertson said that he will proceed to Athens after Ankara, adding that he will reiterate these views in Athens and on Cyprus where he will visit within two weeks. [04] US said laying foundation for Kurdish state in North IraqAccording to a report in HURRIYET (16.9.98) the foundation for a Kurdish province in northern Iraq is being laid in Washington. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will bring together PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) leader Jalal Talabani and KDP (Democratic Party of Kurdistan) leader Masud Barzani. An agreement regarding the restructuring of northern Iraq is expected to be signed during this meeting.Indicating that the aim of the talks in the United States is to have an understanding reached between him and his rival Barzani, Talabani said: ``If we reach an agreement with Barzani and form our local governments within the framework of Iraq´s territorial integrity, there will remain no need for Turkey to launch operations against the PKK (Workers Party of Kurdistan) in northern Iraq''. Talabani denied Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos´ statement that he requested support from Pangalos for the formation of a federal Kurdistan state in northern Iraq by also taking lands from Turkey, saying: ``I only talked of forming a federal Kurdish state in northern Iraq within the framework of Iraq´s territorial integrity. The allegation that I also talked of (obtaining land from) Turkey is untrue. I held a short discussion with him regarding relations between us and PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement). It was already late and it was not possible for us to talk any more''. Barzani, who is expected to meet his rival Talabani for the first time in four years, said that ``he will show the maximum flexibility needed for reaching an acceptable agreement'', adding: ``But it will not be possible to bring an end to four years of fighting in a single meeting''. [05] EU Commission report on Turkey to be discussedAccording to daily MILLIYET (15.9.98), the report on Turkey, prepared by the British Parliamentarian Edward McMillan-Scott at the request of the EU Commission was to be discussed and adopted at the European Parliament yesterday. While stressing the importance of normalizing relations with Turkey, the report, which assessed the policies pursued by Turkey since the customs union agreement, levels some ossified criticism as well.The report points out that on the whole the customs union agreement has generated satisfactory results, and expresses satisfaction with the boosting of trade between the two sides. However, as emphasized in various reports prepared by the EU previously, this report too centers its criticism on the unsatisfactory measures taken by Turkey on human rights and the Kurdish problem. Also touching on Turkey´s place in international drug trafficking, the report calls on Turkey to take urgent measures on this issue. While noting the importance the EU attaches to the development of relations with Turkey, the report suggests that existing institutions be activated to revive the atmosphere of dialogue and that Ankara attend the European Conference. [06] Turkish commander warns Turkey´s neighbours against supporting OcalanAccording to Anatolia Agency (11:41 hours, 16.9.98) General Atilla Ates, commander of the Turkish Ground Forces, has said that Turkey´s ``goodwill efforts'' are wrongly interpreted by certain neighbouring countries, adding:``They involved Turkey in the trouble of terrorism by supporting the bandit called Apo (Abdullah Ocalan). Our patience has ended.'' Upon his arrival at the Border Division Command in Hatay´s Reyhanli District, Gen. Ates, speaking with the citizens for a while, said that ``despite Turkey´s good intentions and efforts aimed at developing good relations, certain countries and especially certain neighbouring countries such as Syria are wrongly interpreting Turkey´s attitude''. Alleging that Turkey has the right to resort to every measure in the event it does not receive the response it expects, Ates continued: ``They involved Turkey in the trouble of terrorism by supporting the bandit called Apo. Turkey has exerted the necessary efforts with regard to establishing good relations. Our patience, however, has ended.'' Ates said: ``Hatay is an indivisible part of our nation, it is a corner of paradise. Hatay is a legacy from our ancestors. I am here with you to stress the importance and the indivisible nature of this region. Turkey does not have even an inch of territory to give away. Neither does it covet the territory of any other country.'' [07] Yilmaz to launch initiatives for Turkey´s UNSC membershipAccording to Anatolia Agency (8:08 hours, 16.9.98, Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will start a diplomatic mobilization foreseeing Turkey to be a member of the Security Council in the year 2001 with a speech he is scheduled to make at the 53rd UN General Assembly.Yilmaz, who will go to New York on 22 September, will address the General Assembly on Thursday. Yilmaz is expected to give important messages about the problems of the world as well as Turkey´s membership in the Security Council. Voting regarding Turkey´s membership in the Security Council will be held in the year 2000. Turkey, if she can get sufficient votes, will be a member in the years 2001 and 2002. Ireland and Norway also applied for candidacy these years. Two of these three countries will be elected for council membership. Greece applied for Security Council membership for the years 1999-2000. [08] Final decision on Loizidou case postponed to OctoberAccording to a report in MILLIYET (15.9.98) the Council of Europe (COE) Permanent Delegates Committee met last Monday to discuss the Loizidou case, in which the Human rights Court condemned Turkey, ordering it to pay compensation. With Turkey repeating its three-point thesis, a final decision was postponed to the October meeting, as, technically, the time allotted to the case has not yet been exhausted. It is legally impossible for the ruling, which has cooled things between the COE and Turkey, to be changed at the next meeting. The COE has the authority to suspend the membership of countries refusing to abide by its decisions.[09] Atakol is new ``education minister''According to KIBRIS (17.9.98) Kenan Atakol has been ``appointed'' as so-called minister of education, culture youth and sports of the pseudostate.The NUP ``deputy is replacing Gunay Caymaz who had resigned. (MY) [10] ``Police'' uncovers antiquitiesAccording to KIBRIS (17.9.98), Denktash´s ``police'' arrested two people in occupied Morphou in whose possession they found 23 pieces of antique implements belonging to the Geometric Age.KIBRIS reports that the value of the uncovered antique implements is estimated at 3 billion TL (CY £1=270,000 TL). An investigation is carried out regarding the case. (MY) [11] New London-published Turkish Cypriot weeklyAccording to KIBRIS (17.9.98), a new Turkish Cypriot weekly, ``HUR SOZ'', has started to be published in London.Among the writers of the weekly is Denktash´s ``Information Office'' director Sabahattin Ismail. The general manager is Irfan Tastemur, and the editor in chief of the weekly is Necmi Hasanoglu. (MY) [12] Productivity, morphology, physiology map of occupied area to be preparedAccording to KIBRIS (17.9.98) the so-called minister of agriculture and forestry of the pseudostate, in cooperation with the Cukurova University in Turkey, will prepare the productivity, morphology and physiology map of the occupied area within the framework of the Agricultural Master Plan. The relevant ``Project Agreement'' will be signed on 21 September. (MY)[13] Dentkash says if his proposal is rejected, pseudostate will be further welded with TurkeyAccording to illegal BRTK (4:00 hours, 16.9.98) Rauf Denktash said the ``confederation proposal'' is vital for the existence of the Turkish Cypriots on the island. Denktash had a meeting with the members of the Turkish Local Administrations Association, which is headed by Abdullah Yildirim, a coordinator at the Turkish Interior Ministry.In his statement at the meeting Denktash claimed that they insist on the confederation proposal also to show that if the Greek Cypriots attack then that would be tantamount to a state attacking another ``state''. Denktash said that if the Greek Cypriots reject the confederation proposal and refuse to come to the talks, then the pseudostate would be further exalted and strengthened and welded with Turkey. Also claiming that Turkey´s southern coast will come under Greek domination if the whole of Cyprus comes under the control of Greece or the Greek Cypriots, Denktash alleged that ``this concern is of one of the reasons impelling Turkey to shoulder the Cyprus problem.'' [14] ``Title deeds'' issued to 1974 invasion Turkish veteran soldiersAccording to KIBRIS (17.9.98), those former Turkish soldiers and officers who took part in the 20 July 1974 Turkish invasion and decided to illegally settle in the occupied area, have received ``title-deeds'' for the immovable property they illegally acquired. The so-called minister of works and housing of the pseudostate, Onur Borman, has declared that the ``title deeds problem of the war veterans'' was solved and settled. (MY)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 |