Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-09-30

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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. 180/98 -- 30.9.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: We get our power from 65 million Turkey

[02] Denktash proposes ``cooperation between sovereign states''

[03] Cem discusses Cyprus with Canadians

[04] US consul warned against intervening in Turkey´s domestic affairs

[05] Turkish export, import figures, bonds sales

[06] Turkish Foreign Ministry raps Italian stand on Kurdish meeting

[07] ``Our Party''leader claims he is threatened

[08] German academicians briefed on Cyprus problem

[09] Former ``Cyprus Turkish Airlines'' chairman buys Jasmine Court Hotel

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Dentkash: We get our power from 65 million Turkey

Noting that he will meet basically with the media representatives, Denktash said that he will participate at conferences.

``The message that we will give is very simple and it is the fact that the Greek Cypriot administration doesn`t have the right to represent all of Cyprus. We don`t recognize the Greek Cypriot side as our government. We don`t consider valid the application of the Greek Cypriots to the European Union (EU) under the name of the Government of Cyprus. I suppose there may be pressure, threats on us, but we get our power from our people and from the Republic of Turkey which is 65 million'', said Denktash.

Stressing that his visit doesn`t aim at reaching a result, but to announce once again, as he put it, ``the fake tactics of Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader to the whole world'', Denktash claimed that Russia aims at reaching the Mediterranean behind her attempts to deploy the S-300 missiles on Cyprus.

[02] Denktash proposes ``cooperation between sovereign states''

Responding to press question about whether or not he is hopeful for the solution of the Cyprus question, Denktash stressed, ``I am not hopeful for a solution unless the European countries, the US and especially Britain, one of the three guarantor countries, tell Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot side Administration, `you aren`t the government of the Turkish Cypriots´. Countries making efforts to solve the Cyprus question, should realize that the problem has already been solved. The Greek Cypriots aim at establishing a one hundred percent Greek Cypriot administration on the island and they have done this. But they couldn`t spread the administration to the north of the island, because our purpose isn`t to be dominated by the Greek Cypriots and we have succeeded in this. We have also protected out own rights. Therefore, there are two sides on the island; both have overcome their cases. We are an autonomous, independent and sovereign state. The Greek Cypriots` claims on the north show their truculence.''

Denktash alleged, ``now we purpose to set up a bridge of cooperation between the two communities on the island, but Greece should abandon provoking and encouraging the Greek Cypriot side in order to realize this purpose.''

Mentioning the 15th anniversary of the illegal so-called declaration of the pseudostate, Denktash stated, ``we will celebrate the anniversary along with the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey. Our policy is to make the TRNC more lasting and more prosperous. We aim at peace and stability on Cyprus''.

[03] Cem discusses Cyprus with Canadians

In a statement at the end of his contacts, Cem said that with the Canadian officials they discussed establishing a political framework in order to develop their bilateral economic cooperation. He explained that they want to make the political relations between them a little more organized. He added that they also aim at activating a new economic mechanism in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Ismail Cem noted that he had the opportunity to discuss Turkey´s determined foreign policy in detail. He added that he briefed the Canadian officials on the recent proposal of Rauf Denktash for confederation in Cyprus and on the development of Turkish-Greek relations. Cem added that they also discussed the Kossovo question within the framework of NATO.

[04] US consul warned against intervening in Turkey´s domestic affairs

The Foreign Ministry said that the behaviour of Hagins doesn´t suit the customs and practices that are valid between countries which envisage non- intervention in internal affairs, adding that the consular competencies and duties are determined under the ``Vienna Convention Concerning consular Relations'', dated 24 April 1963.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized Article 55/1 of the Convention which says, ``the consuls have to respect the laws and regulations of the state where they are working and they shouldn´t intervene in the internal affairs of that state''.

The Foreign Ministry pointed out that the behaviour of Hagins is contrary to this provision of the international convention.

Hagins said on Monday after visiting Erdogan, ``when elected persons are subject to crimes as political figures, this is a very serious matter which weakens the confidence in Turkish democracy.''

[05] Turkish export, import figures, bonds sales

Thus, the foreign trade deficit increased 4.5 percent to 2 billion 73.4 million US dollars.

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said that Turkey realized 2 billion 53.6 million US dollars in exports and 4 billion 127 million US dollars in imports in July 1998.

The ratio of exports meeting imports in July 1998 decreased to its minimum level of the year at 49.8 percent.

Turkey´s exports in the January - July 1998 period increased 1.8 percent to 14 billion 826.5 million US dollars and her imports inclined 3.1 percent to 27 billion 206.6 million US dollars compared with the same period in 1997.

Between January and July 1998, the foreign trade deficit increased 4.6 percent to 12 billion 380.1 million US dollars while the ratio of exports meeting imports was 54.4 percent.

The ratio of exports meeting imports was 52 percent in July 1997, and 55.2 percent in the January-July 1997 period.

Turkey also realized 101.3 million US dollars in imports through financial leasing in July 1998 and 154.6 million US dollars in imports through financial leasing in the January-July 1998 period.

Turkey`s imports of consumer goods increased 13 percent to 3 billion 69.8 million US dollars in the January-July 1998 period compared with the same period in 1997.

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) data shows that Turkey imported 2 billion 716.1 million US dollars of consumer goods in the same period last year.

The share of consumer goods in Turkey`s total imports increased to 11.3 percent at the end of July 1998. Consumer goods shared 10.3 percent in total imports at the end of July 1997.

Between January and July 1998, Turkey´s imports of capital goods increased 1 percent to 6 billion 118.3 million US dollars and her imports of intermediary goods climbed 4.9 percent to 17 billion 852.1 million US dollars compared with the same period last year. In the first seven months of 1998, the capital goods had a 65.6 percent share in Turkey`s total imports, while the intermediary goods had a share of 22.5 percent.

As of the same period in 1998, the exports of consumer goods increased 1.5 percent to 7 billion 643.8 million US dollars and this amount was a 51.6 percent share of Turkey´s total exports. In the first seven months of 1998, Turkey exported 6 billion 433.3 million US dollars of intermediary goods and its exports of capital goods increased 13.6 percent to 740 million US dollars.

Turkey´s exports from the fishery sector decreased 86.6 percent in July 1998 and dropped 27.4 percent in the January-July 1998 period.

The DIE data shows that the fishery sector realized 3.5 million US dollars in exports in July 1997 while it realized only 474 thousand US dollars in July 1998. As of the January-July periods in 1997 and 1998, the exports from the fishery sector decreased from 18.3 million US dollars to 13.3 million US dollars.

The exports from the manufacturing sector, which had a share of 89.percent in Turkey´s total exports as of January-July 1998 period, increased 1.9 percent to 13 billion 189.4 million US dollars.

In the same period, the imports of the agricultural and forestry sector decreased 16.4 percent; the imports of mining and quarry sector declined 24.7 percent, while the imports of the manufacturing sector, which had a share of 87 percent of Turkey´s total imports, increased 8.1 percent to 23 billion 675.3 million US dollars.

The imports of crude oil, which were 244.4 million US dollars in July 1997, decreased to 149 million US dollars in July 1998. Turkey`s imports of crude oil in the first seven months of 1998 decreased to 1 billion 244.4 million US dollars. Turkey imported 1 billion 852 million US dollars of crude oil in the same period last year.

The exports of grain increased 800.8 percent to 11.8 million US dollars in July 1998. Turkey exported 1.3 million US dollars in grain in July 1997. As of the January-July period, the exports of grain increased 410.2 percent to 133.8 million US dollars this year. Turkey exported 26.2 million US dollars of grain in the same period last year.

The DIE data shows that Turkey realized 7 billion 214.6 million US dollars in exports to the European Union (EU) countries in the first seven months of this year and that amount constituted 48.7 percent of Turkey´s total exports.

In the same period, the exports to the EU countries increased by 5.9 percent while the imports from the EU countries climbed 4.8 percent to 14 billion 42.4 million US dollars. Thus Turkey´s foreign trade deficit reached 6 billion 827.7 million US dollars and this amount was equal to 55.15 percent of Turkey´s total foreign trade deficit.

Meanwhile, the Treasury realized a total of 670 trillions 838.5 billion Turkish Liras (TL) in sales in its 210-day (seven-month) bond tender on Tuesday while the total offer was 975 trillion 914.5 billion TL.

The bonds´ gross annual simple interests was 119.97 percent and the composite interest was 148.86 percent.

The bonds annual net simple interest was specified to be 112.05 percent while the composite net interest to be 137.33 percent.

The repayment of bonds, which were to be issued on Wednesday, will be made on 28 April 1999.

In the previous 182-day (six-month) bond tender on 15 September 1998, the Treasury sold 587 trillion 437.5 billion TL of bonds while the bonds´gross annual interest was 110.96 percent and the gross composite interest was 141.75 percent.

[06] Turkish Foreign Ministry raps Italian stand on Kurdish meeting

The Foreign Ministry criticized Italy by saying that ``the permission of activities of an extension of the separatist terrorist organization at Italian Parliament means that Turkey´s peace, stability and territorial integrity are ignored.''

Stating that Turkey expects Italian officials to deal with the issue with sensitivity, the statement added that ``we had expected Italian officials to prevent the developments which could harm bilateral relations.''

The Foreign Ministry said that ``the attitude of Italy does not match with the Italian commitments within the framework of NATO, her obligations foreseen within the framework of struggle with terrorism at bilateral and international level and with the existing friendly relations between Turkey and Italy.''

``Realization of such an activity will cause opening of wounds in Turkish- Italian relations which is difficult to be cured'', said the Foreign Ministry.

Noting that several Italian deputies also met with Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK chief, a short time ago in Syria, the statement added that ``it is also known that a draft law including Armenian claims about the so-called genocide on Armenians´ was submitted to the Italian parliament.''

The Foreign Ministry alleged that several Italian deputies seem to be in an alliance with heads of activities which threaten peace and security of Turkey, adding that the Italian administrators are not pleased with the situation, but they couldn´t exert effective efforts to prevent the developments.

The Italian Parliament requested the Italian parliamentarians, in a letter signed by 14 Italian deputies, to participate in the first meeting of the Kurdish Parliament in exile which was held the same day. On 30 September a conference on ``making Kurdish and Turkish people come closer to each other'' will be held.

Hikmet Cetin, the Parliament Speaker and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister had set letters to their Italian counterparts and Cetin even phoned his Italian counterpart to prevent the developments.

Last week, the Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned the Italian Ambassador to Turkey and gave a note to Italy.

[07] ``Our Party'' leader claims he is threatened

He said that yesterday he received a phone call from a person who threatened him to kill. The reason for the threat was articles written in the party´s mouthpiece ``HAKKANIYET'' against the casinos and night clubs.

He said that he has informed ``police'' regarding the threat. (MY)

[08] German academicians briefed on Cyprus problem

[09] Former ``Cyprus Turkish Airlines'' chairman buys Jasmine Court Hotel

The paper further says that Utku also bought five passenger planes that will fly between Turkey and the occupied area. (MY)

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

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