Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-08-26

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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. 153/99 -- 26.8.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish occupation army in Cyprus to be modernized.

[02] Greek businessmen offer help to Turkish counterparts.

[03] Ertugruloglu: Federation has lost its validity.

[04] Vine tree in occupied Limnitis to enter Guinness book.

[05] Measures against animal smuggling.

[06] New so-called army drafting regulations.

[07] KIBRIS on current Cyprus developments.

[08] Chartered flights from Germany.

[09] ``Shooting Federation''.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish occupation army in Cyprus to be modernized

Outgoing ``KTBK'' Commander Lieutenant-General Aydin Sen in his farewell speech said inter alia: ``The KTBK and the Security Forces Command (GKK) will be restructured soon to become a more modern, contemporary, and powerful force in every way.''

Sen added: ``With this new restructuring which - would primarily affect the promotion, appointment, and training of Security Forces Command officers and noncommissoned officers under the military service law - the KTBK and the Security Forces Command will attain a new structure that will enable them to meet the needs of their own mission and that of the community, and render them more resolute and effective in ensuring peace, tranquillity, and security on the island''.

Sen went on to claim: ``Furthermore, the political struggle is far more difficult, multi-faceted and multi-dimensional than the military struggle. The countries whose ambition is to shape the world have interests in the Eastern Mediterranean that intersect and clash over this beautiful island. For historic, racial, religious, cultural and economic reasons, these interests coincide with the policy of ceding the entire Cyprus to a more tractable Greece. Instead of recognizing an opportunity to the countries involved in the dispute to reach an agreement through talks, the EU is wrapping an imposed solution in a welfare package and presenting the island (to Greece) on a golden platter.

The word naïve would be too mild a term to use for those who cannot see the plot lying behind this politically motivated imposition that has nothing to do with human rights and international law. The Turkish Cypriots have always proven that they are the children of a noble nation that instead of living wealthy but dependent prefers to live with honour, dignity, freedom, and independence under its own flag''.

[02] Greek businessmen offer help to Turkish counterparts

Greek businessmen made an offer to owners of factories destroyed in the earthquake to produce Turkish goods in Greek factories on behalf of the Turkish factory owners. They also suggested using Turkish labels on the produced goods. The offer was announced by Greek Businessmen Association Chairman Pavlos Koutsikos.

Koutsikos, who made the offer to prominent Turkish businessmen like Rahmi Koc and Sarik Tara, said: ``As Greek businessmen, we believe that the important thing is not to offer money to our Turkish counterparts, whose businesses were hit by the earthquake. The important thing is to prevent the loss of customers for the goods produced by factories that are no more operational as a result of the earthquake. Customers are considered the source of life for a factory. No matter how much money is offered as aid, it will not compensate for the loss incurred as a result of loss of customers before new factories are built.

We are taking this reality into consideration and are offering the Turkish factory owners to produce their goods in Greek factories. We are also offering to mark these goods with Turkish labels. We are planning to do this free of charge in the initial stage''.

Koutsikos also caught everyone´s attention before the earthquake struck by his offer to improve Turkish-Greek relations. He also stressed that the Turkish-Greek friendship can only be attained in deeds and not just words.

Meanwhile, only Greek citizens are depositing money as aid in accounts opened in Greek banks. Some 24 million Drachmas (66 billion Turkish lira) have been collected in 24 hours. The money-collecting campaigns are increasing every day.

Within the framework, money was collected for the Turkish people in Greek churches after the Sunday mass.

Prominent Greek businessman Vardis Vardinogiannis has contributed $100,000 as aid from his personal fund to the Turkish people. The Athens Municipalities Association, which also handed over a check for $100,000 to the Turkish Ambassador in Greece, noted that a similar aid-collecting campaign has begun by the Greek Women´s Association for the women and children of the Turkish families affected by the earthquake.

About 15 Greek nurses have gone to Turkey as volunteers to help earthquake victims. Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who organized the largest aid campaign, was to arrive in Istanbul on Wednesday (25 August) to extend material and moral support.

It appears that this tragic earthquake has moved the hearts of the politicians as well, the report says. Minister of National Defense Akis Tzokhatzopoulos, who is known to be one of the hawkish Greek politicians, called his Turkish counterpart and offered the extension of the Greek Armed Forces´ assistance to the earthquake victims in Turkey. Tzokhatzopoulos indicated that military tents, containers, preserved food, blankets and anything else that the Turkish people might need will be made available by the Greeks.

Athens, which is accused of blocking Turkey´s entry into the EU, has reportedly begun work on extending more aid to Turkey and the opening of a special fund for the country. Articles published in the Greek press called for the changing of Greece´s policy toward Turkey and advised that during the EU summit meetings due to be held in Helsinki in December Greece must remove the obstacles it has placed before Turkey.

[03] Ertugruloglu: Federation has lost its validity

Anatolia Agency (14:43 hours, 25.8.99) reports that he further claimed that the bicommunal and bizonal federation formula referred to in the report has lost all its validity under the present conditions. Ertugruloglu added: ``The 31 August confederation proposal is the only reconciliation formula that can be discussed at present. Those who seek a lasting reconciliation in Cyprus should well assess this realistic proposal instead of obsolete models and should persuade the Greek Cypriot side that this constructive proposal may be the last chance for reconciliation. We are justified in expecting this.''

[04] Vine tree in occupied Limnitis to enter Guinness book

The periphery of the tree is almost 1.40 cm.

The owner of the vine-tree Sefika Fehim said that the tree is about 51 years old.

The length of the first branch is about 19 and a half metres, and its thickness is 85 cm. It produces 3 tons of vine each year.

(DP)

[05] Measures against animal smuggling

With this framework, a committee of representatives from the ``finance ministry'', the ``foreign affairs ministry'' the ``agriculture ministry'', the ``security forces command'' and the so-called police headquarters has been formed.

It has also been decided, in order to prevent the smuggling of animals, that all existing animals will be marked with a number and then registered into computers.

Further security measures will also be taken along the green line. (DP)

[06] New so-called army drafting regulations

According to the new ``bill'', any ``TRNC citizen'' of military age irrespective of his place of domicile, whether he is living in the ``TRNC'' or abroad, if he pays a 12,000 sterling pounds fee will be exempted from military service.

Those who pay 6 thousand sterling pounds will do a 12 months service instead of 24.

[07] KIBRIS on current Cyprus developments

Speaking to reporters in New York, Weston said that he ``is not taking any solution plan with him'' as claimed in the Greek Cypriot press.

Quoting diplomatic sources, KIBRIS reports that Thomas Weston´s efforts will be aimed at convincing the sides in Cyprus to sit around the negotiation table without any preconditions, that is in line with the G-8 declaration, with a view to reaching a bizonal bicommunal federal solution. ``Weston wants both community leaders to sit around the negotiation table in October,'' KIBRIS reports.

KIBRIS further reports that Thomas Weston will throw all his weight on convincing Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot side.

However, adds KIBRIS, Turkish diplomats in New York and Washington who met with Weston, reiterated that ``unless the Turkish Cypriot side´s sovereignty and equality are recognized it is definitely out of the question to sit around the negotiation table and have a result''. They also demanded, as a goodwill gesture from the Cyprus government, to remove the so-called embargo imposed on the Turkish Cypriots.

KIBRIS further reports that diplomatic circles in the UN said that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is waiting Rauf Denktash to come to New York for bilateral contacts.

(MY)

[08] Chartered flights from Germany

He claimed that many Germans would like to spend their vacation in the pseudostate if there was a direct flight.

The ``Frankfurt Marmara Plane Company'' has chartered a plane from the so- called Turkish Cypriot Airlines and as from 15 July has carried out fourteen chartered flights.

Seven of these chartered flights made the Frankfurt-Istanbul-Tymbou route.

The company will also prepare tourist catalogues to attract German tourists in the occupied area for the winter period. The company´s aim is to have 1 or 2 chartered flights from Germany, via Turkey, during the winter period.

(DP)

[09] ``Shooting Federation''

The so-called vice chairman of the ``Shooting Federation'' Tansu Ercantan has stated that they had applied once before to become a member of FITASK, but at the last minute the Greek Cypriot side put obstacles to their application. (DP)

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

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