Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-07-15

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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. 123/99 -- 15.7.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Joyce Quin meets TUSIAD President.

[02] TGNA to respond to Cohen.

[03] Turkish Defense Minister holds news conference in London.

[04] Turkish envoy briefs House of Commons on Cyprus.

[05] New radio channel.

[06] Water transport to ``TRNC'' resumes.

[07] Denktash to address TGNA.

[08] Attracting tourists.

[09] Salmonella.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Joyce Quin meets TUSIAD President

Talking to the press after the meeting Yucaoglu said that Joyce Quin visited Turkey to gather information about the country´s economic issues and its relations with Europe. Yucaoglu told Quin that privatization and the budget had to be reformed as well as social security and banking.

Regarding integration with Europe, Yucaoglu told Quin that the EU must make Turkey a candidate so that Turkey can start to work towards meeting the criteria needed to become a member.

[02] TGNA to respond to Cohen

The items on Cohen´s agenda are the Cyprus problem, the Greece- Turkey disputes in the Aegean, the problems related to the Caucasus, and regional developments in the Middle East.

Rauf Denktash will be in Ankara when Cohen meets with the Turkish officials. He will address the TGNA. A joint declaration will be issued at the end of the session to outline the views of Turkey and the ``TRNC''.

[03] Turkish Defense Minister holds news conference in London

He said they discussed Turkish-British relations, regional issues, European security and defense cooperation, cooperation in defense industry and cooperation in military training, as well as the latest situation in Kosovo, Turkish-Greek relations, Cyprus question, and Northern Iraq issue.

Noting Turkey´s support of NATO´S air operation in Kosovo, he said that Greece did not permit the transition of Turkish forces from her territory and asserted that Greece did not fulfill the expectations regarding the usage of Greek air space.

He added that he told Robertson that Turkey prefers to solve problems with Greece through dialogue and that the Cyprus question can only be solved if the sovereign existence of the ``TRNC'' is accepted.

He underlined the importance of the allies´ contribution to the solution of Cyprus question. He pointed out to his British counterpart that Turkey cannot be excluded from the European security and defense identity.

Cakmakoglu said that he realized during his contacts that Britain still insists on not excluding Turkey, a NATO ally, from the European defense and security identity.

Asked about Britain´s stance on Cyprus, Cakmakoglu said he told Robertson that Britain, as a guarantor state, should try hard to solve the question.

[04] Turkish envoy briefs House of Commons on Cyprus

Asserting that Turkey sent soldiers to Cyprus in 1974 for the same reasons Turkey sent soldiers to Kosovo, Sanberk said ``the goal was to protect innocent people, women, men, elderly people and children from ethnical cleansing.''

Another target of the ``operation'', he claimed was to preserve the sensitive balance established in Eastern Mediterranean with the 1960 agreements in Cyprus and repeated the Turkish view that Cyprus gained a bi- communal independent state status with these agreements. Turkey, he said, hoped that this would create a new chapter in Turkish-Greek relations ``but , we were disappointed''.

Sanberk then referred to the constitutional amendments Makarios proposed and the events that followed, to suggest that there are similarities with Bosnia and Kosovo.

He reiterated the view Turkey aimed at protecting the Turkish Cypriots from Greek Cypriot persecution. Sanberk then referred to the coup against Makarios, the Sampson regime and Ecevit´s call for joint action with Britain.

On the missing persons issue, Sanberk claimed that these people died during the coup. He recalled Makarios speech before the UN Security Council on July 19 and claimed that the Turkish soldiers on the island brought an end to the junta both in Greek Cypriot side and in Greece and created the chance for the return to democracy.

He claimed that Turkey always encouraged Turkish Cypriots to find a way of conciliation with the Greek Cypriot side but, he stressed, equality and security should be guaranteed.

He further claimed that the EU decision membership talks with Cyprus was contrary to 1960 Constitution. He accused Britain and Greece, of indifference, and added that ``this new situation may lead to new instabilities'' and warned that these instabilities will be carried to the structure of the EU.

Solution of the Cyprus problem is the confederation that will make the two communities live in peace, he said.

Concluding he said that withdrawing Turkish soldiers from the island will jeopardize Cyprus.

[05] New radio channel

[06] Water transport to ``TRNC'' resumes

[07] Denktash to address TGNA

During this special session Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash will address the TGNA.

Denktash will leave the occupied area on a special plane today and return to the occupied area later today.

[08] Attracting tourists

KIBRIS also reports that, with the efforts of the so-called State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister responsible for tourism Mustafa Akinci, the ``massacre'' photographs on display at the Ledra Palace barricade, have been replaced by photographs showing tourist sites of the occupied area.

In a statement to KIBRIS Akinci said that now it is the Greek Cypriots´ turn to remove the photographs that kindle the flame of hatred between the ``peoples''. Regarding the cancellation of the entry fee Akinci said that the aim is to confront the decrease in the number of tourists crossing from the free areas. He said that in the past 30,000 tourists crossed into occupied area and now this figure dropped to 14,000. If the numbers increase, he said, then tours for the tourists may be organized. Akinci further said that a while ago, he had made a call to the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Mr. Rolandis to lift restrictions on tourists crossing to the occupied area.

However, he added, he had yet to receive an answer from Mr. Rolandis. Akinci seeks lifting of the ban on tourists who want to stay overnight in the occupied area.

(MY)

[09] Salmonella

Tests showed that chicken dishes served during the dinner were infected with salmonella.

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

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