Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-03-22

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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. 49/99 -- 20-21-22.3.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey´s Deputy Chief of Staff visited the occupied area.

[02] Denktash says ``TRNC'' to continue to exist.

[03] Denktash briefs Turkish Foreign Ministry delegation on Cyprus.

[04] British envoy on Turkish-EU ties, Ocalan trial, federal solution in Cyprus.

[05] Study started to transport electricity to the occupied area.

[06] Denktash: ``Two separate states belonging to two separate peoples''.

[07] So-called deputy speaks of annihilation of the Turkish Cypriot community.

[08] Denktash in Istanbul.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey´s Deputy Chief of Staff visited the occupied area

The so-called Security Forces Press Office said that General Ozkok would visit the ``Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces'' Commandership during his contacts in the occupied area.

General Ozkok would meet with Rauf Denktash, Ertugrul Hasipoglu, the so- called speaker, Dervis Eroglu the so-called prime minister, Mustafa Akinci, the so-called state minister and deputy prime minister, Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the so-called foreign minister and defense minister and Ertugrul Apakan, the Turkish envoy the occupied area.

General Hilmi Ozkok will leave the island on Monday.

[02] Denktash says ``TRNC'' to continue to exist

The Orkun Magazine rewarded Rauf Denktash with the ``Golden Gray Wolf'' award for ``his determinative and combative attitude in the Turkish Cypriots´ case''.

Claiming that the world has been showing an attitude pretending not to see the Cyprus issue since the Turkish Armed Forces´ Cyprus invasion, Denktash claimed that the Greek-Cypriots insist on not accepting the fact that there are ``two states'' on Cyprus.

Stating that there are few things left to discuss with the Greek-Cypriots after the apprehension Abdullah Ocalan Denktash said: ``The diplomats, who come Cyprus to provide an agreement on the island, are asking us to lift the obstacles. This obstacle is our rejecting to call the Greek-Cypriots as the legal Cypriot government. They say that otherwise, the Greek-Cypriots may enter the European Union (EU). Every step taken by the Greek-Cypriots towards the EU will oblige us to take more serious, close steps towards Turkey.''

Denktash said: ``Now we are protecting our rights. We say that let´s recognize the TRNC and her existence and thus let´s sit at the negotiation table. It is your preference to accept or not. They are trying to annex Cyprus to Greece. They failed, they will never achieve it.''

[03] Denktash briefs Turkish Foreign Ministry delegation on Cyprus

Denktash met with the Turkish Foreign Ministry delegation which is currently holding contacts in the pseudostate. Addressing the meeting, Denktash said that it will be more beneficial when young diplomats come to the island ``to defend their case.''

Briefing the diplomats on the background of the Cyprus issue, Denktash claimed: ``Turkey is the owner of Cyprus. We are here to keep alive and protect the seal of the owner. The Cyprus issue was put on the basis of state-to-state. Now I feel relieved. We can look calmly and safely to the future.''

Denktash said that solving the Cyprus issue with arms is unreasonable.

Stating that Turkey is the most powerful regional country having the most powerful army, Denktash said: ``Turkey openly and honestly announced to the world that she will never leave Cyprus in accordance with her interests, historical rightfulness and geopolitics. They have to understand and realize these facts.''

Alleging that he supposed the Greek-Cypriots ``will play a game relying on the European Union (EU)'', Denktash said, ``The EU accepts only the Greek- Cypriots if it wants to have borders with Turkey and brings the Turkish- Greek dispute into the border of the EU. We don´t know whether or not the EU will make such a madness. It shouldn`t. We receive news that it won`t .''

Recalling that they proposed confederation to hold ``inter state'' talks but the Greek-Cypriots refused it, Denktash claimed the Cyprus Government destroyed even this opportunity and opportunity for bilateral talks after the apprehension of Abdullah Ocalan.

[04] British envoy on Turkish-EU ties, Ocalan trial, federal solution in Cyprus

Addressing a conference on ``Turkey-Britain-EU,'' Logan stated that the relations between Turkey and the EU should be dynamic and positive.

Logan pointed out that ``all EU countries particularly the UK know the importance of Turkey. Turkey exports more than half of its products to these countries. Turkish governments have accepted this importance by taking EU membership as a target in their foreign policies.

Turkey wished to break off relations with the EU after the Luxembourg Summit concerning the Cyprus question, the Aegean and human rights. However, dialogue upon economic issues continues, the increasing trade between the EU and Turkey continues.

EU leaders accepted Turkey as one of the 12 candidate countries to the EU at Cardiff Summit, Turkey´s candidacy status was accepted. Turkey should not cut off her relations with the EU, the dialogue should continue. Turkey´s concerns about joining the EU are baseless and she should act as a candidate in order to consolidate her candidacy'', said Logan.

Stressing that the capture of Abdullah Ocalan aroused interest in global meaning and Turkey has to understand that, Logan stated that ``Turkey can increase her honour by trying the chief terrorist in accordance with the highest international standards.''

Stressing that the trial process is vital for Turkey, Logan said that they welcome the guarantees assured by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit regarding the fact that Ocalan will be tried fairly and openly.

``The interest of foreign countries in the trial of Ocalan is completely justified'', he said, adding ``the more transparent and open the trial process of Ocalan is, the more convincing and understandable Ocalan`s final conviction will be''.

Referring to the Cyprus and Aegean question, Logan said Turkey has to continue to hold dialogue with the EU countries, adding they wish to see a bi-zonal, bi-communal and federal Cyprus in the EU.

[05] Study started to transport electricity to the occupied area

Huseyin Arabul, World Energy Council Turkish National Committee Chairman, who is the head of the delegation which carry out studies related with the project, said with the energy bridge in question, they aimed at taking humanitarian benefit to Cyprus.

Noting that energy was one of the long term problems of Cyprus, Arabul said with the energy project to Cyprus, an important service will be made, adding that energy should involve the whole of Cyprus not only the occupied area.

Arabul said the project was in study stage and added that they thought of making the free areas of Cyprus benefit from the energy. He said if energy is brought to the free areas, they will not take the money from them but get energy to Turkey with interconnection systems that will be made with Greece and that this will be a peace energy bridge.

Noting that the energy will be given with cables that will be installed under the sea, Arabul said the cables will be installed to the base under 1000 meters deep and its length will be approximately 100 kilometers.

Arabul said similar projects were realized in European, Scandinavian and South American countries.

[06] Denktash: ``Two separate states belonging to two separate peoples''

In a statement during his meeting with Denktash, Ozkok recalled that he came to the ``TRNC'' in order to attend the seminar being held by the ``Turkish Cypriot peace forces''. Ozkok expressed his pleasure at visiting the island. He stated: ``I brought with me the great appreciation and respect felt for you by the TAF, especially the chief of the General Staff, and by the Turkish people.''

Ozkok remarked that this visit underlines the support and loyalty felt by the Turkish Republic for the ``TRNC.'' Claiming that Turkey has never been in favour of a clash in Cyprus, Ozkok alleged that the latest example of the ``anti-Turkish stand'' of the Greek Cypriot-Greek pair was in the field of terrorism.

Denktash thanked Ozkok for his reassuring statement and said that Turkey´s support for the policy of ``state-to-state'' talks is encouraging for the Turkish Cypriots. Denktash continued: ``As a negotiator, I am doing my duty in full tranquillity, because this is the reality.''

Denktash claimed that ``the recent stand of the Greek Cypriot-Greek pair has eliminated even the state-to-state foundation.''

Denktash declared that the ``two states'' can live together on the island if the desire ``to Hellenize'' the island is abandoned. He claimed that there are ``two separate states belonging to two separate peoples'' on the island and that the path to negotiation and conciliation will be opened if the Greek Cypriots accept this fact.

[07] So-called deputy speaks of annihilation of the Turkish Cypriot community YENIDUZEN (22.3.99) reports that Republican Turkish Party Famagusta

Speaking at the so-called assembly session, Sonay Adem said that exports from Turkey to the occupied area were carried out without any hindrance, while everything is being done to prohibit the export of goods produced in the occupied area to Turkey.

He said: ``No Turkish institution or establishment recognizes the export certificate issued by the TRNC nor is the health and sanitary certificate issued by the TRNC accepted''. Sonay Adem went on and said: ``There are 35 thousand illegal workers from Turkey. The Minister of labour confirms that government tenders are granted to illegal contractors. Contractors from Turkey refuse to employ TRNC citizens. Because of the embargo we are unable to sell our products either to Turkey or to third world countries.

The productive economy is shrinking every passing day. Are you going to be the spectators of the annihilation and the finishing off of the Turkish Cypriot community? We will not let this happen''.

(MY)

[08] Denktash in Istanbul

(MY)

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

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