Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-01-10

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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. 5/00 -- 8-9-10

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash wants increased contacts with EU officials.

[02] ``TRNC'' denies training Chechen fighters.

[03] Aid arrived from Turkey, bank crisis over.

[04] Denktash says path to peace with Greek Cypriots `opened/.

[05] Turkey said `weary/ of Turkish Cypriot spending.

[06] Turkey/s Kocbank opens branch in occupied area.

[07] 1,685 Turkish Cypriots cross over to visit Hala Sultan.

[08] ``Cyprus Turkish Airlines'' to rent new planes.

[09] Talat meets British diplomat.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash wants increased contacts with EU officials

It has been learned that the pseudostate, which is waiting to establish contacts with the EU, will, in addition, study the information it has acquired concerning the community in order to better know what effects Cyprus/ EU membership, in part or in whole, will have on the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Rauf Denktash, who paid a special visit to Ankara in late December, said in a meeting with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel that the road to the EU was now open to Turkey and added, ``This will give Turkey an opportunity to better explain the Cyprus problem. The road is also open to us''.

It has been discovered that Denktash has put two topics on the agenda concerning the EU in his contacts with Ankara. He advocated the fact that Turkey/s views should be better explained to the EU and drew attention to the importance of dialogue and increasing contacts with the EU officials. He also stressed the importance of expert appraisal of what is known about the Community in order to better understand the possible effects of European regulations should Cyprus, in whole or in part, become a member of the organization. By way of a solution, diplomatic sources have said that even if Cyprus joins the EU as a whole, then it would be desirable to maintain the status quo on the island, i.e. two sectors and two communities, and that for this reason it would be necessary to scrutinise those rules concerning the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people.

[02] ``TRNC'' denies training Chechen fighters

[03] Aid arrived from Turkey, bank crisis over

In reply to reporters/ questions, Eroglu said that a loan to the tune of $12 million and not of $200 million had arrived from Turkey. Eroglu explained that initiatives had been launched to secure a loan of $200 million in a bid to strengthen the economy of the pseudostate. Noting that the loan of $12 million was part of the amount allocated to the ``TRNC'' in the 1999 budget of the Turkish Government, Eroglu added: ``This money has been transferred to the Central Bank.''

Describing as ridiculous the press reports on statements issued by Republican Turkish Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat to the effect that the local banks were reduced to bankruptcy on purpose in preparation for ``elections'', Eroglu added: These statements were issued with an ulterior motive.

[04] Denktash says path to peace with Greek Cypriots `opened/

Denktash added:

``My dear citizens, immediately after this Bayram, we will go to Geneva to struggle once again to protect your rights, your freedom, your equality, and your sovereignty, together with Turkey. This struggle is being waged by relying on you; it is because we know that you are behind us that we stand firm and at the same time follow a path of peace. It is because you are there and because we trust you that we are waging our struggle with great tranquillity and that we advance with peace of mind. It is because we protect your rights that our voice is loud, our head is up, and we are listened to. Those who listen to us say that we are right. However, they are in a difficult position too because decisions reached in the past do not enable them to give us our rights immediately. Let us continue along our path aware of this fact, with peace of mind. May we celebrate together many future Bayram holidays, much better holidays, in a tranquil Cyprus that will be created after an agreement''.

[05] Turkey said `weary/ of Turkish Cypriot spending

Ankara agrees with Rauf Denktash/s criticisms against the Dervis Eroglu ``administration''. The use of Turkey/s financial aid to the ``TRNC'' by Dervis Eroglu, who will run as a candidate in the ``presidential elections'' in April, to invest in his political future has made Turkey very uneasy. The Eroglu ``administration/s'' decision to use the collaterals of banks has been described as the most important reason for the banking crisis in the occupied area.

The banking crisis has worsened the uneasiness created in Turkey by the failure of the Turkish Cypriot ``officials'' to remove the structural deficiencies in ``TRNC/s'' economy.

It will be recalled that Turkey, considering the failure of the ``TRNC officials'' to take the necessary measures, linked its financial aid to the realization of reforms when it signed a ``protocol'' for economic cooperation with the pseudostate two years ago. However, Ankara hesitated to suspend its credits to the ``TRNC'' since then, regardless of the fact that the promises made to it have not been fulfilled.

Turkey extended $580 million to the ``TRNC'' from 1997 to 1999. That was a record amount, considering the fact that Turkey allocated $1.8 billion for the Turkish Cypriots from 1955 to 1987, including the amount it spent for its military invasion in 1974. Turkey firmly reiterated that its financial aid should be used as planned when Minister of State Sukru Sinal Gurel visited Cyprus in December.

[06] Turkey/s Kocbank opens branch in occupied area

It has been ascertained that the entry of Koc Holding into the occupied area will play an important role in the regaining of the Turkish Cypriots/ trust in and the rejuvenation of the banking sector.

The crisis in the banking sector, which was overcome with the freezing of the operations of two local banks, culminated in the entry of Koc Holding into the pseudostate. Turkish Cypriots have for a long time now been waiting Koc Holding to make investments in Cyprus.

The Koc Holding Administrative Council has decided to purchase the majority of the shares of Hurbank, which has seven branches in the occupied area.

[07] 1,685 Turkish Cypriots cross over to visit Hala Sultan

The Turkish Cypriots went to Larnaca by 33 buses. UN Peace Keeping Force and Greek Cypriot police were accompanying the buses.

[08] ``Cyprus Turkish Airlines'' to rent new planes

The first plane will be received on the 15th of February and the second at the end of February.

The ``Cyprus Turkish Airlines'' has representatives in Turkey, England, Germany and Israel. Its fleet consists of four Boeing-727 and two Airbus 310. With the addition of the two new airplanes its fleet will consist of eight planes.

Last year, the ``KTHY'' organized chartered flights to various countries such as France, Slovenia, Denmark and FYROM.

(DP)

[09] Talat meets British diplomat

Before the meeting, Talat stressed that they have very often meetings with the British diplomats and that the UK as a guarantor country has increased lately her interest in the Cyprus problem.

Talat also said that during the meeting he is going to explain his party/s views on the Cyprus issue.

On the EU issue, Talat said that with the latest developments the Cyprus problem has gradually become an EU problem and that the meeting with the British representative will be very fruitful.

(DP)

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

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