Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-09-22

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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. 174/98 -- 22.9.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash insists on recognition

[02] Pseudo-minister claims S-300 first targets are Adana, Ankara and Istanbul

[03] Ecevit: Customs Union pact may be reconsidered

[04] Etkin: ``S-300 missiles should be canceled, not postponed''

[05] IHD issues August report on human rights violations

[06] Foreign company wants to build refinery in the occupied area

[07] Etkin in New York for ICO meeting

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Turkey´s interests in kurdish agreement viewed

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash insists on recognition

Speaking at the meeting, he claimed that ``the Christian world helped the Christian Greek Cypriots purge the island from the Muslim Turkish Cypriots.'' After that, he alleged, ``the Christian world bestowed the title of Cyprus government to the Greek Cypriots''. Denktash further claimed that certain circles which complain of the delay in the solution of the Cyprus problem are being unfair to the Turkish Cypriots, and that this is the reason why there is a further delay in the solution. He stressed that an agreement can be reached on the condition that the Turkish Cypriots´ equality and ``sovereignty'', Turkey´s effective and active guarantees, and the ``state'' established by the Turkish Cypriots are recognized. He claimed that the ``TRNC'' is an undeniable fact and that in line with the decisions reached together with ``motherland Turkey'', Cyprus will never be allowed to become a Greek island. Denktash said: ``We continue to receive positive reactions from the world in connection with the views we posited and the messages we gave to the world within this framework''.

[02] Pseudo-minister claims S-300 first targets are Adana, Ankara and Istanbul

Akin also claimed that the primary target of the S-300 missiles is Turkey. He further claimed that the first target of the S-300s is southern Adana province, and their other targets are Ankara and Istanbul and the whole Turkey.

Addressing the signature ceremony for the ``Protocol Agreement on Soil Research Project'', which will be prepared by the Cukurova University Faculty of Agriculture within the framework of the pseudostate´s ``Agricultural Master Plan'', Akin said that they need the experience and information of the Cukurova University to realize a scientific agriculture on Cyprus. Akin added: ``Actually for every sector, we need every kind of technical information from the universities in Turkey. Increasing the productivity and quality is necessary for the production within the scientific framework. Following the completion of the soil research, we will cooperate with the Cukurova University in the construction of distribution network for irrigation''.

[03] Ecevit: Customs Union pact may be reconsidered

Commenting on the European Union and the agreement Turkey signed to establish a customs union with it, Ecevit said: ``The EU tried to keep Turkey out, and yet it tried to impose various policies on us. One of our government´s main objectives is to reconsider the customs union agreement so as to change its unjust conditions. It was signed in a hurry.''

[04] Etkin: ``S-300 missiles should be canceled, not postponed''

Etkin added: ``Both Turkey and the TRNC are against describing the postponement of the S-300 missiles as `a favourable step´''.

Stating that the Greek-Greek Cypriot side is exerting efforts to exploit the issue for negotiations, Etkin claimed: ``This is unacceptable. A postponement only means a delay or shelving the issue.''

Etkin said that those countries which show an interest in Cyprus were expected to realize that the Cyprus Government is not the government of the Turkish Cypriots and put forward a definitive stand along these lines.

[05] IHD issues August report on human rights violations

Of these 58 were men, 10 were women and four were children. Three people lost their lives in attacks by persons unknown; four were injured in attacks by ultranationalists; and 27 were wounded in attacks occurring during demonstrations. There were 245 people fired from their jobs. Only one member of the press is reported to have been taken into custody, and one building from the radio-television sector was attacked.

Three radio/television channels were closed by the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK). The total number of days during which radio and television channels were closed down totaled 181. Twenty-nine newspapers and journals and five books were confiscated. Five journalists, writers, intellectuals or artists were arrested.

[06] Foreign company wants to build refinery in the occupied area

KIBRIS reports that a committee has been established, with representatives from four so-called ministries, to look into the matter and study the application.

KIBRIS reports that the committee is waiting for the ``investment project'' to be submitted by the company. It will study the project and make its recommendations. The company will refine crude oil. The petroleum products to be produced will be sold in the occupied area as well as in the neighbouring countries, KIBRIS reports. KIBRIS does not give any further information about the company that is interested in building the refinery. (MY)

[07] Etkin in New York forICO meeting

Etkin will be leaving the occupied area on 28 September. (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Turkey´s interests in Kurdish agreement viewed

This was achieved with the influence of the US administration. Apparently, the Clinton administration is engaged in an endeavour to create new means of leverage against Saddam Husayn.

A senior Foreign Ministry official underscored two points during a recent chat I had with him.

(1) Stating that Saddam Husayn recently restored its aid to the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party), the official said: `Saddam never gave up the PKK card. He produces it from his pocket depending on circumstances. This is a fluctuating support in which there has recently been a tangible increase´.

US Involvement (subhead) (2) The same senior official also said that Ankara would not want the United States to play its hand too freely in northern Iraq, adding that this is why Ankara did not offer much encouragement to `excessive US activity´ in northern Iraq `over Turkey´. Of course he added that Turkey did not adopt a completely negative position toward Washington with regard to northern Iraq.

Where do we stand now?

My impressions from my telephone conversation yesterday with Bahram Salih, Jalal Talabani´s representative in Washington, can be summarized as follows:

The resumption of a conciliation process between Barzani and Talabani after a long period of confrontation is regarded as a welcome development.

However, Salih was extremely cautious. He was especially reluctant to create the impression that everything has been settled. He continued to be cautious even when he said that the two leaders will sit at the negotiating table. However, he did not hesitate to underscore the inevitability of cooperation between Barzani and Talabani.

Elections are expected to be held within six to nine months to form `joint democratic structures´ in northern Iraq.

Lastly, he underscored the importance of Turkey and the dialogue with Ankara and said that the PKK will not be allowed to use northern Iraq against Turkey.

PKK Question (subhead)

This last point has always been of special significance in Turkey´s views on northern Iraq, Talabani, and Barzani. For years the two Kurdish leaders have been asked to render the PKK ineffective in that region and prevent it from establishing bases in northern Iraq.

I toured northern Iraq several times in the 1990s. On each one of my tours I talked to Talabani and Barzani, and each time my impressions were the same.

Both leaders acknowledge that Turkey is vitally needed when it comes to accomplishing anything in northern Iraq. Consequently, they understand very well that good ties with Turkey constitute a prerequisite for any measures. As a result, they are indignant at the PKK because it hurts their ties with Turkey. Moreover, they realize that the PKK is also eroding their own bases of support. That is why it is not in their interests to let the PKK have a free hand in northern Iraq.

However, there is another truth.

They know they cannot march against the PKK beyond a certain point. They see this as `Kurds cutting down Kurds´. They also cannot ignore the PKK´s strength. I always echoed this assessment in my impressions in past years.

Turkey´s Strength (subhead)

This assessment may be considered valid to some extent today. But, of course, some things have changed. Primarily, the PKK no longer has its former strength. Turkey has dealt it very severe blows in northern Iraq.

The American presence in the region is not what it used to be. In contrast, Turkey has assumed a very strong presence, and it has become evident that it is impossible to do anything in northern Iraq without Turkey´s consent.

This reality is seen both by Barzani, who developed special relations with Turkey in recent years, and by Talabani, who has always not been much favoured in Ankara because he is seen as being too slippery but who has never been completely excluded.

Goals (subhead)

The unchanging cornerstones of Turkey´s policy can be summarized as follows:

Support for Iraq´s territorial integrity.

In other words, opposing `statehood´ for Kurds in northern Iraq.

Preventing the PKK from establishing itself in northern Iraq.

Question: Given these Turkish goals, what is the framework within which the new conciliation process started between Barzani and Talabani in Washington can be placed?

No one can tell what will happen tomorrow. But at this stage there is no reason for concern. We have no choice but to be careful in this extremely slippery geography where the feeling is one of always trying to keep balance on the edge of a knife''.

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

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