Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-11-11

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 208/98 -- 11.11.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish spokesman claims start of EU-Cyprus talks ``Wrong Step''.

[02] Cem ends talks in Chile, leaves for Argentina.

[03] Eroglu views Turkey´s budget allocation to the pseudostate.

[04] Joint declaration on talks with Kurds in Turkey.

[05] Another scandal involving state-mafia relations.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish spokesman claims start of EU-Cyprus talks ``Wrong Step''

Responding to a question in his weekly press conference, Atacanli said that Turkey´s views about the issue were known and those opinions still protect their validity.

Atacanli said, ``Turkey thinks this decision is a wrong step, which cannot help the initiatives to bring a peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue and makes the situation more complicated.''

[02] Cem ends talks in Chile, leaves for Argentina

The Foreign Ministry said that Foreign Minister Cem, during his visit to Chile, had met with his Chilean counterpart Jose Miguel Insulza on Monday and briefed him on Turkey´s policy for opening to Latin America. The two foreign ministers exchanged opinions for the development of relations between Turkey and Chile in every field.

The Ministry said Foreign Minister Cem, during his contacts in Chile, conveyed Turkey´s views about several regional issues. And an agreement, which was earlier reached between the two countries regarding Turkey´s candidacy to the UN Security Council, was confirmed once again during Cem´s contacts.

[03] Eroglu views Turkey´s budget allocation to the pseudostate

So-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu assessed Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz´s visit to the occupied area on 3 November. Noting that during Yilmaz´s half-day visit, the pseudostate´s economic problems and the ``protocols'' and agreements signed were taken up, Eroglu said that Turkey has set aside 65 trillion for the TRNC in its 1999 budget.

Also noting that the directive on nearly 3 trillion Turkish lira, requested for the payment of drought compensation, has already been drawn up by the Turkish Council of Ministers and submitted for President Suleyman Demirel´s signature, Eroglu said: ``The money will be transferred to the TRNC in the next few days, and then we will add our own funds and start paying the compensations.''

Noting that the speedy resolution of infrastructural problems and the implementation of the ``protocols'' and agreements between the two sides were also discussed with Prime Minister Yilmaz, Eroglu said the following concerning the deadlock on ``TRNC´s'' raki (a national alcoholic beverage) exports to Turkey: ``Esteemed Yilmaz is personally interested in this issue. TEKEL (Turkish Monopolies Company) demanded that the state pay it compensation if the raki brought from the TRNC harms its own raki sales.

Yilmaz said that the government has a favourable appraoch to the proposal. The problem will be sovled soon''.

Commenting on the ``roaming'' (preceding word in English) problem faced in cellular telephone communications, Eroglu said that ``the Turkish Government has some ideas on that. It is working to find a formula.''

[04] Joint declaration on talks with Kurds in Turkey

Turkey has persuaded the United States and Britain to agree to the declaration. It will note that ``the Ankara process, which is at establishing stability in northern Iraq, will be maintained and that it cannot be ruled out.''

The declaration, which will be simultaneously issued in Ankara, Washington, and London, is as follows:

``The representatives of Turkey, the United States, and Britain have deemed it necessary to inform the public opinion on the following, which is related to their meetings and talks with the KDP, the PUK, and the Turkoman Front:

1. Significant progress was made during the meetings held for the maintenance of the cease-fire and the establishment of durable peace between the KDP and the PUK. The meetings were in line with the convocation that was held to initiate the Ankara Process on 30-31 October 1996.

2. The future system of administration in Iraq will be established in accordance with the agreement that will be reached with the central government. A unilateral declaration for the establishment of a federation is out of the question.

3. The matters discussed at such meetings and the agreements that may be reached will not harm Iraq´s territorial integrity and the inviolable nature of its borders.

4. Iraq´s future must be determined with the free and common will of all the people and in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution No. 688, which says that the UN members support the protection of Iraq´s territorial integrity and political independence and calls for the establishment of an open dialogue for the recognition of the Iraqi people´s human and political rights.

5. Turkey wages a just struggle against the PKK because of its security considerations. It may cooperate with the Kurdish groups in northern Iraq to maintain its struggle against the PKK.

6. Turkey, for the benefit of all the people in the region, will maintain its contribution toward the establishment of durable peace and stability in northern Iraq, without its activities being limited to specific fields.''

[05] Another scandal involving state-mafia relations

Yigit´s cassette was aired last night on one of his TV channels. As a result of the revelations, Deniz Baykal leader of the Republican People´s Party who is supporting the coalition government from outside, asked Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz to tender his government´s resignation.

According to TRT 1 (12:00 hours, 11.11.98), following the revelation Prime Minister Yilmaz changed his program and said that he will answer the allegations made by Korkmaz Yigit.

Meanwhile, according to Anatolia Agency (8:13 hours, 11.11.98) within three minutes of the opening of the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), shares registered a dramatic slump.

Since its opening the stock exchange began to fall rapidly following the allegations made by businessman Korkmaz Yigit. . .

Almost all of the index-linked shares dropped to bottom levels within three minutes of the opening of the IMKB this morning. The National 100 Index dropped by 271 points compared to yesterday and decreased to 2.244. The shares registered a drop of 10.8 percent within the first three minutes of trading. EF/SK

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