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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-10-02Cyprus 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 MEDIANo. 181/98 -- 1-2.10.98[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Turkish party leader barred from politics for 10 yearsAccording to daily SABAH (29.9.98), IP (Labour Party ) leader Dogu Perincek has been banned from practicing politics for 10 years. Perincek and eight party members, detained as part of the State Security Court Chief Prosecutor´s investigation into alleged relations between IP and PKK (Workers Party of Kurdistan), were released after questioning by the alternate judge.However, Perincek was later given a 14-month prison term after the Ankara Court found him guilty of promoting separatist propaganda during a pre- election speech on TRT (Turkish Radio and Television) in 1991. Perincek will stay in jail for 10 months and 15 days. Perincek, whose sentence has been upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeals, will also be barred from politics for 10 years as required by the Law on Political Parties. Under the same law, the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals could ask for Perincek´s dismissal from the party. If the expulsion does not take place within a month, the chief prosecutor could ask the Constitutional Court to ``close'' the IP. [02] Yilmaz repeats support for confederation proposalAccording to Anatolia Agency (11:48 hours, 30.9.98), Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Wednesday that he returned with very positive impressions for Turkey from his visits to the US and Mexico.Speaking at the Esenboga Airport Yilmaz said he particpated in the US at the UN General Assembly meetings and had the opportunity to convey the views of Turkey concerning the problems in the world and principles of Turkish foreign policy when entering the 21st century. Noting that he met Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, Yilmaz said ``we have discussed what kinds of changes should be made in the structuring of the UN to fulfill its international function.'' Yilmaz said that on the issue of Cyprus, he had the opportunity to express that Turkey supports the proposal of Rauf Denktash for confederation and that he has conveyed his views related to various international problems. [03] Turkey demands Italy to ``rectify error'' of Kurdish meetingAccording to Anatolia Agency (11:02 hours, 30.9.98), Turkish Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir, Foreign Ministry under secretary, has said that Italy, which has allowed the Kurdish parliament-in-exile, the political extension of the PKK (Workers Party of Kurdistan), to hold a meeting at its parliament, ``should rectify the grave error it has committed through messages to be conveyed by its government, its parliament, and its press and should ban the PKK from getting organized in that country.''Replying to reporters´ questions at the sixth anniversary of Turkish Development and Cooperation Agency (TIKA), Ambassador Haktanir said: ``We do not want to react only for show. It is easy to recall our ambassador in Rome, Inal Batu, to Ankara. Italy has committed an error. Primarily, we expect them to rectify this error.'' Pointing out that the Turkish media, the Parliamentarians and businessmen can convey more effective messages, Haktanir continued: ``We, as a nation and as a state, are faced with this Italian stand. Can a NATO member country host the meetings of a terrorist organization ignoring the fact that that organization has targeted the territorial integrity of another NATO country? We want Italy to announce that it will not allow the PKK to get organized in that country.'' Noting that the Italian government stated that it could not interfere in the decisions of its parliament, Haktanir said: ``We are faced with countries and their obligations. If NATO, international obligations, and Turkish-Italian friendship have any meaning then Italy should rectify its error. The issue is about forcing Italy to review the situation.'' Pointing out that positive messages are expected from the Italian Government, the political parties, and the Italian press, Haktanir continued: ``If the Italian government does not support the decision of its parliament then it should do whatever is necessary.'' The tension in Turkish-Italian relations is expected to adversely affect economic relations as well. The issue of not letting Italy participate in tenders in Turkey amounting to some $9 billion is expected to be included on the agenda. It is reported that Italy might not be allowed to participate in the tenders of assault helicopters amounting to $3.5 billion, of tanks for the Ground Forces Command amounting to $4.5 billion, of mine sweeping vessels and unmanned aircraft amounting to $750 million, and of armoured vehicles. [04] Dentkash: Impossible to return to a federation solutionAccording to KIBRIS (1.10.98) Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, in a statement to Turkey´s semi-official Anatolia Agency (A.A) in New York, has declared that it is impossible to return to the bizonal bicommunal federation solution and that his ``confederation proposal'' is the product of developments that resulted from the Greek Cypriot side´s application for EU full membership. He claimed the EU application did away the federation parameters.He then repeated his known allegations that the Greek Cypriot side´s attempt to invalidate the 1960 Agreements is aimed at tilting the Greco- Turkish balance. [05] Pseudostate refutes claims that Armenian Monastery is ruinedAccording to KIBRIS (1.10.98) the pseudostate´s so-called director of antiquities, Ali Kanli, has said that opening a casino in the premises of the Armenian Monastery, in Halevka, east of occupied Kyrenia, is out of question.Noting that at the centre of the Monastery there is a church and around it houses and annexes, Kanli said that these houses will be restored under the supervision of the ``antiquities department'', keeping their original architecture. He said that with the restoration these houses will be turned into a 50-bed capacity motel. He claimed that this arrangement is in line with the Amsterdam Declaration. Kanli claimed that they were trying to preserve antiquities in the occupied area but that ``the Greek Cypriots, as always, are using this issue for political reasons''. In his statement, Ali Kanli said that the Armenian Monastery in Halevka will be restored in accordance with the Amsterdam Declaration signed on 24 October 1975. Recalling that the issue of the Armenian Monastery was on the agenda last week at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly´s (CEPA) fall sessions, Ali Kanli said that the report prepared by the CEPA Education and Cultural Committee was given to the members. He said that Greek and Armenian parliamentarians had claimed that the Monastery was ruined. Ali Kanli added that, together with Haki Atun, they replied to every allegation regarding the Monastery. He said that he had a meeting with the head of the Armenian delegation and claimed that after his explanations the head of the Armenian delegation expressed satisfaction. Claiming that there was no other destruction to the antiquities in the occupied area other than natural destruction, Kanli alleged that the embargoes imposed on the occupied area affected the restoration and maintenance of the historic antiquities and that they were trying to preserve the historic works of art through help received from Turkey. Alleging that the issue of the Armenian Monastery was put on the Council of Europe´s agenda by Greek and Armenian parliamentarians, Kanli said that it was not destroyed as claimed by the parliamentarians. He said that because of the pseudostate´s economic problems they are trying to restore and keep the monastery alive through a private company. He said that they will open it for prayers and for tourism. Noting that it is out of question to open a casino inside the Monastery, Kanli said that this would show disrespect to religion and the so-called ``Monuments Supreme Council'' (MSC) will not permit to such thing. Ali Kanli said the project for the restoration of the Monastery was ready, and once the permission is secured from the ``MSC'', work on the restoration will start under their department´s control. Kanli noted that the restoration work will be completed within 1,5 years. (MY) [06] Dentkash demands support from Islamic worldAccording to KIBRIS (2.10.98), Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, speaking yesterday at the annual coordination meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Conference) member states, said the Cyprus problem has reached a critical juncture. He referred to his ``confederation proposal'' and claimed it was an ``historic opportunity to restore the issue on a just and realistic basis''.He asked for support claiming: ``We need your support and cooperation in convincing the other side that they will not be able to get away with Cyprus by colonizing us, which they have attempted to do over the last 35 years, and that they have to seek accommodation with us on the basis of absolute equality and power sharing, as two ex-partners. The proposals that I have made to the Greek Cypriot side are realistic, fair and sensible. It is no use turning them down, as they have done, without serious consideration, by claiming that my proposals are tactical and may lead to secession. The division that exists in Cyprus is real, and it is the Greek Cypriot side´s own creation''. Repeating, his known allegations about Cyprus´EU membership, Denktash continued: ``Concrete change in Cyprus will come about when there is a new vision and courage to face the realities. The Islamic world and this August group can and must take the lead in this respect. My appeal to you, therefore, is to do at least what Italian Foreign Minister Dini and Richard Holbrooke have done by acknowledging the realities, namely the fact that the Greek Cypriot side is not the government of Turkish Cypriots and has no legal, moral or factual right to claim to be the government of the whole island. For 35 years now, there has not existed a government representative of the whole island and for the last 24 years there exist two independent sovereign states in the island''. Inter alia, Denktash also called for ``the complete withdrawal of the Armenian forces from Azeri territory'', he expressed solidarity with his ``Albanian brothers in Kosovo'' and concluded: ``I thank you for listening to me and hope that what I have said and what my delegation has distributed in the form of documents will be useful to you in your dealings with the Cyprus issue, particularly if and when it comes up at this 53rd session of the UN General Assembly.'' [07] Etkin on ``positive reactions'' to confederation proposalAccording to KIBRIS (2.10.98) the so-called foreign and defense minister of the pseudostate, Taner Etkin, who is accompanying Denktash during his visit to New York, has claimed that there are positive reactions as well to Denktash´s confederation proposal.Etkin further claimed that during the coming days they will get the results of their contacts at the UN headquarters. (MY) [08] Iistanbul ``Lions'' visit occupied areaAccording to KIBRIS (2.10.98) the general Executive Committee of the Lions in Istanbul as well as regional chairmen will be arriving in the occupied area today, at the invitation of the chairman of the Lions in the occupied area, Serap Ozyalcin.The guest Lions as well as the host Lions, numbering around 60 people, will have dinner tonight at the occupied Dome Hotel in Kyrenia. During the dinner, Ozyalcin will brief the visiting Lions about the plans, programs and the work carried out by the Lions in the occupied area. 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 |
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