Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-03-12

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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. 43/99 -- 12.3.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash meets Miller.

[02] Reporters ask Denktash for hotel access in Varosha.

[03] Hasipoglu: Deterioration of ties with Greek Cypriots becoming irreversible.

[04] Pseudostate banks not to give interest to Cyprus pounds deposits.

[05] Mosque in occupied area to be inaugurated.

[06] Patriotic Union Movement supports Hercus package on rapprochement.

[07] Denktash: ``Varosha is our own township''.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash meets Miller

Yesterday morning, Denktash met with Thomas Miller, the US State Departmentīs special Cyprus coordinator. The meeting was also attended by Ergun Olgun, ``presidential under secretary'', Necati Munir Ertegun, ``special political adviser to the president''; ``political affairs adviser'' Taner Etkin, ``political affairs director'' Mustafa Evran; and US Ambassador to Nicosia Kenneth Brill.

In a statement to the press after the meeting, Denktash said that he told Thomas Miller once again of the current situation, and of the Turkish Cypriot demands in terms of security and status. Denktash said: ``If the Cyprus problem is to be resolved it will be resolved by the two sides. And for this to happen, the Greek Cypriots must acknowledge that one of the sides is not the government of the other; and they must accept the exchange of property and to conduct negotiations on the basis of two states''.

Denktash said that Miller affirmed that he will continue with his mission in order to help. Denktash stressed that in order to help, the United States must clearly speak to the Greek Cypriots and tell them: `Stop arming yourselves. Stop dreaming about spreading your sovereignty over Kyrenia and Famagusta. Stop thinking that the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey are your enemies. Cyprus has two owners. The Turkish Cypriots have as much right over Cyprus as you do. It is impossible for you to live together and share things again. Therefore, you must start off as two states and build bridges between you . You have no other choice. You must give up the crazy notion of arms and bases.ī

Asked if the Cyprus question will be discussed at the G-8 summit, Denktash said that Miller did not mention that, that Turkish President Demirel will attend the G-8 meeting in the coming months, but that he does not know that the Cyprus issue will be discussed at that meeting. Denktash said: ``This is not an issue for the G-8. It is an issue for the two sides in Cyprus''.

He claimed: ``It is always our desire to reach an agreement with the Greek Cypriots. But this depends on the recognition of our equality''.

Replying to another question, Denktash said that the Varosha issue is certainly not on the agenda. He noted that the report which appeared in a newspaper regarding this issue is aimed at provocation. He said: ``Varosha is one of our towns. We will do what we want there when we want. There is no point in raising this issue in order to provoke the other side.''

Denktash said that the alleged support extended to the PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan] by the Greek-Greek Cypriot sides was discussed with Miller. He noted that if an agreement is reached in Cyprus, the Greek Cypriots will not be able to expel their friends. He said that ``the south must be purged of these elements''.

[02] Reporters ask Denktash for hotel access in Varosha

The KTGB sent a letter to Rauf Denktash expressing this desire. It pointed out that reporters who work under difficult conditions in the Turkish Cypriot press cannot go on vacation for economic reasons. The reporters also said that they heard that Varosha - which has been abandoned since 1974 and which has turned into a ruin as a result - is going to be opened for housing, section by section. In their letter, the reporters asked that a hotel in Varosha be placed at their disposal so that members of the so- called Turkish peace force in Cyprus and reporters from Turkey can be accommodated for vacation purposes. They sent a copy of their letter to the ``prime minister'', certain ``ministers'', the Turkish envoy, and the commander of the so-called Turkish peace force in Cyprus.

[03] Hasipoglu: Deterioration of ties with Greek Cypriots becoming irreversible

Hasipoglu asserted that the speedy deterioration of the relations is becoming irreversible. ``We expect those who try to bring about a rapprochement between the Turkish side and the Greek and Greek Cypriot side to evaluate the situation in the light of the recent developments, and to question - in the name of humanity - the crimes against humanity being committed by the Greek and Greek Cypriot leaderships through by using terrorism as a tool.''

[04] Pseudostate banks not to give interest to Cyprus pounds deposits

As the case is, reports KIBRIS, the commercial banks in the occupied area have also stopped paying interest to Cyprus pounds deposits.

KIBRIS adds that so-called Central Bank ``officials'' refused to answer questions or give information about the new arrangement.

The so-called economy and finance ministry under-secretary, Mehmet Turgad, has clarified the situation saying that ``the state'' has no interest income from the Cyprus pounds deposits and for this reason the so-called Central Bank stopped paying interests.

Turgad further said that this arrangement should not be considered an intervention against the Cyprus Pound.

He said that the so-called council of ministers has approved the decision taken by the so-called Central Bank.

(MY)

[05] Mosque in occupied area to be inaugurated

The mosque named after the Turkish general Nurettin Ersin will be inaugurated on 30th March.

The paper says that one thousand believers will be able to pray in the mosque at the same time.

It is built in occupied Kyrenia by Turkeyīs Religious Foundation at a cost of one million USD and donated to the people of Kyrenia.

(MY)

[06] Patriotic Union Movement supports Hercus package on rapprochement

Izcan said that the Movement wanted to see the package and convey its views to the people. He called on the political parties to look into the matter. He said that the right to information is the fundamental right of the people. (MY)

[07] Denktash: ``Varosha is our own township''

Denktash made this statement after meeting US State Department special Cyprus coordinator Thomas Miller. Denktash declared that during his meeting with Miller he had raised the PKK issue and the alleged support extended to it by Greece and the Greek Cypriots.

In his turn Miller said that he will discuss this issue during his forthcoming meetings with Greek and Greek Cypriot officials.

Miller stressed that the Cyprus problem was a difficult problem and that it was progressing step by step.

When reminded of US President Clintonīs promise that he would solve the Cyprus problem by the year 2000, Miller said: ``This administration, President Clinton, Secretary of State Albright and Ambassador Holbrooke have never promised that they will solve the Cyprus problem. They only promised to do all they can for the settlement of the problem. There is a big difference. I am hopeful for the settlement of the problem.'' (MY)

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

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