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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-12-31Cyprus 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. 240/98 -- 31.12.98[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Cem on S-300´sIn an interview to Ankara TRT Television network in Turkish (18:00 hours, (30.12.98) Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem reffering to S-300 missiles said: ``The Greek-Greek Cypriot side, decided to deploy these misiles in the Greek Cypriot sector. We assessed the situation as follows: They constitute a threat to the ``TRNC'' and to Turkey because the missiles give them the capability to hit Turkey and to cause damage to the ``TRNC''. Our policy was very clear. Our policy, which is a continuation of the policy adopted prior to our government and which we strengthened further, is as follows: We expressed the view that one of the reasons for bringing these missiles to Cyprus was to force Turkey to conduct some bargaining. As a matter of fact, many bargaining proposals were submitted to us on many issues. We were told: We will bring the missiles. Let us renounce their deployment but let Turkey make concessions on the airspce of its aircraft or let the ``TRNC'' make concessions with regard to its security. Certain attempts at bargaining were initiated.I believe what Turkey did was very right. It pursued the correct policy. We, as the state and the government, said that we would not engage in any bargaining under any circumstances. We expressed this view most clearly. Leave aside bargaining, we did not even hold negotiations on the issue. Second, without raising our voices too much, we said that if these weapons, which constitute a threat to Turkey´s seceurity, are deployed on Greek Cypriot territory, Turkey will ltake the necessary measures. Turkey will take the necessary military and political measures. We expressed this view most clearly not only to the Greek-Greek Cypriot side but to all the concerned countries. This almost turned into an arm-wresting match between Turkey and Greece. The Greek side insistently stated that it would deploy them in south Cyprus. It threatened to deploy them unless we made certain concessions. We said: We will not even negotiate on the issue. If you feel sufficiently strong and if you trust yourselves, deploy them in Cyprus and see what will happen. As a result, the Greek Cypriot sector and Greece were forced to renounce this meaningless threat and this meaningless move toward militarization. They saw that they did not have the power to deploy them. We told the entire world and the Greek-Greek Cypriot front that no one should dare threaten Turkey from such close proximity from the Greek Cypriot sector with these weapons that have Turkey within their range and that we would not allow such a move. This is what happened. We did not allow them to deploy the missiles. This is the first dimension of the incident. I would also like to state that we shall continue to obstruct their deployment from now on as well. Just as we have not allowed this S-300 issue to become a bargaining issue until now, we shall continue to maintain the same stand in the future as well. From our viewpoint, the elimination of such a threat to Turkey can be considered a great success. Turkey has imposed its view on an issue that is being followed by the entire world. It is also very important to note that if we want to summarize Turkey´s image in the world in a single word, we can say that it is determination. Turkey, through its determined stand, has also secured the removal of the terrorist ringleader from the territories where he was being sheltered. Turkey´s determined stand led to the removal of the brain, the operational mechanisms, and the llgistics centers of the terrorist organization from Syrian territory following the signing of the Adana Declaration which stipulates Turkish-Syrian cooperation against terrorism. Let no one doubt that the same determination will be sufficient to toward the S-300´s and other similar threats. Regarding to their deployment in Crete Cem said: ``As for the theories about their being deployed in Crete, I would not like to comment on the issue until Greece makes an official statement saying that it is going to deploy these death machines on its territory. Greece has made no official statement in the wake of the Greek-Greek Cypriot acknowledgment that the missiles cannot be deployed in Cyprus. I am waiting. Let them first issue a statement. Let them first announce that they will carry these death machines to Crete. Then we shall give the necessary reply and take the necessary steps. On this occasion I would like to warn Greece, all the concerned countries, and especially the NATO member countries: The deployment of these death machines in Crete will escalate the Aegan problem. We already have various disputes and disagreements with Greece regarding certain issues concerning the Aegean. From time to time, we are anyway faced with an atmosphere of escalating danger in the Aegean. If Greece deploys these missiles in Crete, the Aegean will escalate further. This is my first warning. The second is the following: Both Greece and Turkey are NATO countries. It is common knowleldge that these S-300´s are Russian. They are not only manufactured in Russia but their deployment and their becoming operational involvles Russian officers for a period of some six months to a year. Russian officers would have been involved in their deployment in Cyprus. This was announced; it was common knowledlge. Russian military technicians, Russian officers would have been involved. Making officers of a non-NATO member country deploy and even employ these Russian misiles in and on behalf of a NATO country against another NATO country is a phenomenon that NATO cannot explain. We have already begun to convey our views and concerns on the issue to the NATO circles and the concerned countries. [02] Sezgin: No difference between S-300´s in Cyprus, CreteAccording to Istanhul NTV Television (30.12.98) National Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin has said that from the viewpoint of preserving the Aegean balances, there is no difference between the deployment of the S-300 missiles in the Greek Cypriot sector or in Crete. Sezgin added that Turkey will prevent the deployment of the S-300´s in Crete as well.Sezgin added: ``This is a diplomatic success for the Turkish state. Just as they are not being deployed in Cyprus, neither will they be deployed in Crete. The EU, NATO, and other international organizations have seen how right we were in our thesis and have made the necessary demarches. I do not think that they will be deployed in Crete either. [03] Talat-S-300.According to illegal Bayrak radio (30.12.98) Republican Turkish Partyleader Mehmet Ali Talat has described as positive the decision to deploy the S-300 missiles in Crete instead of Cyprus, adding that this development might constitute a new basis for and initiate new moves toward a solution of the cyprus problem. Talat added that deploying the misiles I Crete might create new problems from the viewpoint of Turkey and Greece. Deploying the S-300´s in Cyprus and identifying the Cyprus problem with the missiles increased the tension and played a major role in the negative developments up to now he said. We and other coutnries have repeatedly told the Greek Cypriots that this ove they made in the hope that it would activate the Cyprus problem was very wrong. Replying to a question what the two sides can do in the wake of this development, Talat recalled the Turkish Cypriot confederation proposal, saying that it was rejected by its counterparts and by international organizations. He continued: ``The Greek Cypriot desire to initiate a new negotiation process isn line with their decision on the S-300´s and noninsistence on the confederation proposal on the part of the Turkish Cypriot side might secure new move in Cyprus''. [04] ``New coalition govenrment''.As reported by the Council of Ministers list of the coalition government formed by the Naitonal Unity Party (UBP) and the Communal Liberation Party (TKP) in TRNC has been approved by Denktash.Mustafa Akinci, coalition partner, TKP leader, state minister, and deputy prime minister, was also present at the meeting during which Eroglu presented the cabinet list to Denktash. The ``Cabinet for the UBP-TKP coalition govenrment : is as follows Prime minister: Dervis Eroglu (UBP leader) State minister, deputy prime minister: Mustafa Akinci (TKP) leader Foreign affairs and defense minister: Tahsin Ertugruloglu (UBP) Interior and village affairs minister: Ilkay Kamil (UBP) Economy and Finance Minister: Mehmet Bayram (UBP) National education and culture minister: Mehmet Altinay (TKP) contingent, from outside the Assembly Agriculture and forestry minister: Irsen Kucuk (UBP) Public works and transportation minister: Dr. Salih Miroglu (UBP Labour, housing, and social security minister: Dr. Mehmet Albayrak (UBP) Health and enviornment minister: Dr. Gulsen Bozkurt (TKP) Youth and sprots minister: Dr. Tansel Doratli (UBP) Dentkash state: ``As is known, the Cyprus foreign policy, which is being implemented together with the motherland, is based on the TRNC´s being united with Turkey within the framework of a special relationship and incorporates the proposal of a confederation based on the principle of two states with regard to the negotiations with the south. It is evident that the new government will remain loyal to the aforementioned principles. This please me. I hope that these principles will be included in the government program in a more detailed and meaningful manner in a bid to avoid difficulties in the future.'' 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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