Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-05-27

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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. 90/99 -- 27.5.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Demirel repeats stand on separate ``state'', separate sovereignty.

[02] Cem: European Union membership a goal, but not an obsession.

[03] Book says Napalm bombs used in Cyprus by Turkey.

[04] Further on the ``court'' case against AVRUPA.

[05] Denktash threatens with 100% integration with Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Demirel repeats stand on separate ``state'', separate sovereignty

In reply to a question on Turkey´s membership in the EU, Demirel said:

``Turkey is not obliged to go anywhere if it is not accepted as an EU member.'' Explaining that the EU was made up of 15 countries, Demirel added:

``Except Greece, the 14 countries accept Turkey´s membership. However, Greece is continuing its policy by telling the other countries that it is Greece that rules over them. In the present political geography of the world, a Europe without Turkey is incomprehensible, but we will not beg.''

[02] Cem: European Union membership a goal, but not an obsession

Speaking at a conference devoted to the place of trade unions in Turkey-EU relations, Cem defended Turkey´s policy of non-dialogue with the EU on the three issues that were put forward as conditions for Turkey´s candidature - improvement of its human rights record, relations with Greece and resolution of the Cyprus problem.

``Due to the serious stance taken by Turkey in recent months there has been a significant improvement in the relations between Turkey and the EU,'' Cem said.

He did not specify what ``the significant improvement'' was.

Speaking at the same conference, the secretary-general of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Emilio Gabaglio, said that Turkey should accelerate democratization and human rights reforms in order to become a full EU member.

The head of the Turkish Workers´ Union (Turk-IS), Semsi Denizer, defended the government´s EU position, saying that the Union discriminated against Turkey.

In an apparent reference to the EU´s vocal criticism of Turkey´s policies in the mainly Kurdish Southeast, Denizer said:

``If the price of (full EU) membership is the disintegration of a country that was the first to win its national liberation war against imperialism… we do not want that membership.''

Denizer and other union leaders drew attention to the problems that arose for Turkish workers with the functioning of the 1995 Turkey-EU customs union.

[03] Book says Napalm bombs used in Cyprus by Turkey

An Internal Security Directive, stamped ``Secret'' and dated 27 February 1986, issued by the Turkish Land Forces Command calls for the production and use of poison gas against guerrillas when necessary, the report says.

A book by Dr. Celadet Celiker, ``Chemical, Biological, and Atomic Weapons in Kurdistan and the Middle East'', says that the Turkish state has used chemical weapons in the past and publicizes Turkish army documents on this subject.

A secret directive issued in the near past by the Turkish Armed Forces on the use of chemical weapons against guerrillas appears on pages 170-172 of Dr. Celiker´s book, which was published in Kurdish by DOZ Publications.

Article (d) of the ``secret'' Internal Security Directive of the Turkish Land Forces Command, dated 27 February 1986, states that ``poison gas can be filled (as published) against terrorists if necessary.'' Article (e) of the same directive says: ``If necessary specially produced poisonous germs can be produced and used against the terrorists''. Commenting on this article, the book says that ``poisonous germs'' means biological weapons.

Dr. Celiker´s book points out that the Turkish state used chemical gas (as published) in the Kasrok, Banik, Rojikan, and Merve regions of South Kurdistan on 11 October 1991. The book adds that some of the Napalm bombs used on that date hit several schools and a hospital, burning down those buildings. The book says that an official who served in the coalition forces which were present in the region at the time the Turkish Air Force dropped Napalm bombs on the region has confirmed this incident.

The book says that the Turkish state used Napalm bombs, which it obtained from the United States, against Greek Cypriots in the Pasof (presumably Pafos) area of Cyprus in 1946 (as published) and then again during its invasion of the island in 1974.

The book says that Napalm tops the list of chemical weapons used by the Turkish state. Napalm can generate temperatures of up to 800 degrees when used on its own, but this temperature may rise to 1,500 to 2,000 degrees when it is fortified with certain chemicals.

[04] Further on the ``court'' case against AVRUPA

During yesterday´s session one of the defendants, Kenan Inatci, was crossed- examined as witness.

Kenan Inatci, who in 1960 was an intelligence officer within the TMT structure working independently from the general command, when asked whether there were spies among the Turkish Cypriots working for the Greek Cypriots at that time, he replied positively. However, when asked to name them he said that disclosing the names might harm the Turkish Cypriot community´s vital interests. When pressed further, Inatci admitted that these Turkish Cypriots were high - level officials and some of them are still alive.

When pressed further Inatci said that, including Denktash, around ten people close to him were under observation.

On the other hand, Sener Levent in his ``Angle'' column accused Denktash of lying to the ``court'' when the other day during the interrogation he denied an incident between him and Kenan Coygun, a TMT chief, during which both of them drew guns at each other.

(MY)

[05] Denktash threatens with 100% integration with Turkey

Speaking at a seminar on the Cooperative movement in the occupied area and in Turkey and ways to develop their relations, Denktash referred to the Cyprus problem. Denktash said that ``Turkey has rights and interests in Cyprus and Cyprus is Turkey´s national cause. It is not possible to leave Cyprus to Greece. They are trying to tilt the balance. This will not be allowed,'' he said.

(MY)

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

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