Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-07-06

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. 117/99 -- 6.7.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash does not expect Annan invitation.

[02] Denktash: Those awaiting concession are betting on wrong horse.

[03] Ecevit to attend invasion anniversary 20 July.

[04] Turkic Congress Joint Communique refers to Cyprus.

[05] Paper criticizes Denktash´s and Eroglu´s ``unrealistic policies''.

[06] Paper on the Omeriye mosque in the free areas.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash does not expect Annan invitation

Denktash who is visiting the eastern Black Sea region spoke to reporters at the Trabzon Governor´s Office.

Denktash said that the UN Secretary General did not invite him. Denktash said: ``We wrote to him that this is not the time to issue such an invitation. We said that a shuttle diplomacy may be conducted to determine the common issues we can discuss, but that it would be meaningless and fruitless to invite the two sides to the negotiating table unless this is done.''

Denktash claimed that the world is beginning to understand why the Turkish side wants a confederation. Asked to comment on the resolution adopted by the Seventh Turkic States and Communities Friendship, Brotherhood and Cooperation Congress which calls for the support and recognition of the pseudostate. Denktash said: `` I hope that this will not remain on paper''.

[02] Denktash: Those awaiting concession are betting on wrong horse

Denktash, who is continuing his eastern Black Sea tour, replied to reporters questions on various issues at the Fiskobirlik Integrated Social Installations where he is resting.

Upon being reminded about rumours that Turkey will make concessions on the Cyprus issue pending an agreement it will sign with the IMF, Denktash said the following:

``Those who expect Turkey to make concessions, are asking Turkey to make concessions from its pride and its just stand. The Turkish people will not make those concessions. It has never made such concessions under any circumstances''. And added:

``The situation does not call for concessions. A partnership under equal conditions exists in Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot partner resorted to arms in a bid to usurp the rights of the Turkish Cypriot partner. It shed blood in order to eliminate Turkey´s rights. It, however, failed in its efforts. Consequently the two partners were separated. Now the whole issue is about neighbourhood conditions. The issue is not about uniting these two states, ignoring the existence of one of them, or placing the Turkish Cypriot people under Greek Cypriot administration. This cannot be done. Those who want Turkey to make concessions on the Cyprus issue are betting on the wrong horse.''

Upon being reminded about the statement Richard Holbrook, US President Clinton´s special envoy to Cyprus, made to the effect that ``a conciliation cannot be reached in Cyprus with Denktash'', Denktash said:

``Denktash is not a dictator. He was elected by the people and he has been given the task of defending the state. I am the representative of the Turkish Cypriot people. I am charged with defending the rights of the Turkish nation in Cyprus.''

[03] Ecevit to attend invasion anniversary 20 July

Dervis Eroglu, responding to the questions of reporters said a crowded delegation, headed by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, will represent Turkey.

Eroglu also said the term meeting of the ``Partnership Council'' will convene the same day under the leadership of Ecevit and himself.

[04] Turkic Congress Joint Communique refers to Cyprus

As regards the Cyprus problem, the communique described the decision of G-8 countries as ``a development which supports the adventurous policies of the Greek side on the island threatening peace and stability both on the Island and in the region''. The statement stated that the G-8´s decision totally ignores the pseudostate and described this as ``an attack against the rights and liberties of the Turkish Cypriots''. The communique asked for total support of the Turkish Republics.

A text was prepared to be presented to the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. ``The Turkish World which covers 11 million kilometre squares and is formed by 250 million people, without any delay must officially recognize the TRNC which declared its independence on November 15, 1983,'' the text said.

Devlet Bahceli, the Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister presented a hand made walking stick and a plate to Dervis Eroglu, and to the representatives of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan.

[05] Paper criticizes Denktash´s and Eroglu´s ``unrealistic policies''

YENIDUZEN reports that neither the Turkic states nor the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) lent an ear to the Denktash-Eroglu duo´s call for recognition. No support has emerged from these to meetings.

The paper says that Denktash and Eroglu urged the Turkic states during the 7th Turkic States and Communities Friendship Brotherhood and Cooperation Congress held in Denizli, western Turkey, to extend recognition to the pseudostate, however , adds the paper, the five Turkic states turned a deaf ear to Denktash´s call.

YENIDUZEN further reports that there was no support to the policies and the demands of the pseudostate at the OIC Foreign Ministers conference in Burkina Faso.

(MY)

[06] Paper on the Omeriye mosque in the free areas

AVRUPA´s editor in chief, Sener Levent, reports that the Omeriye Mosque, built originally in the 15th century with a Gothic architecture as the Saint Nicolas Church, was later on renamed as the Augustinian Church and turned into a mosque in 1571 by Lala Mustafa Pasha. He says that in 1962 the Mosque was bombed and Greek and Turkish Cypriots accused each other of being responsible. Levent notes that today the Mosque has been restored by the Cyprus government and serves Muslims living in the free areas.

He says that the Mosque´s Imam is a Syrian national named Abdul, whose salary of 500 USD is paid by Lybia.

(MY)

[07] Irish parliamentarians in the occupied area

The paper says that the group comprises three deputies and one senator.

The delegation will hold talks with Mustafa Akinci, Ertugrul Hasipoglu, Dervish Eroglu, Rauf Denktash and Tahsin Ertugruloglu.

The delegation will leave the occupied area next Saturday. (MY)

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