Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-01-18

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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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash stresses cooperation with Turkey.

[02] EU official defends Cyprus/ EU membership.

[03] Ertugruloglu rejects bicommunal contacts.

[04] Turkey, Jordan discuss Manavgat water project.

[05] British police attends ``trial'' in occupied area.

[06] Turkish Cypriot delegation in Strasbourg.

[07] Denktash meets foreign diplomats.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIAL

[08] ``Now it/s Cyprus/s turn''.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash stresses cooperation with Turkey

``The cooperation between the two states make other countries jealous. And this upsets our enemies a little. They are trying their best to prevent this. Some circles are working to disrupt this cooperation. These attempts have always existed,'' Denktash said during the meeting referring to the cooperation between Turkey and the pseudostate.

Usenmez assured that ``the friendship between Turkey and TRNC would continue as long as the world exists.'' ``Neither the European Union nor other unions can be as strong as our unity with TRNC. This should be known by everyone,'' he added.

Usenmez will have contacts on issues related to his ministry. So-called public works and housing ministry Mehmet Albayrak said they would exchange opinion to expedite works on title deed and land survey according to a ``protocol'' between the two sides.

Usenmez later met with ``parliament speaker'' Ertugrul Hasipoglu, prime minister'' Dervis Eroglu and ``deputy prime minister'' Mustafa Akinci.

During the visits, Usenmez said they were ready to use Turkey/s 150 years of experience in title deed and land survey to speed up related works in ``TRNC''.

Hasipoglu claimed that problems rooted from title deed constituted a major part of the Cyprus problem. He said that there was a population exchange with the Greek Cypriots in 1974 and this needed to be completed with a property exchange. Therefore, the problem is on the basic of the Cyprus problem, he said. Eroglu, on the other hand, said they wanted to make use of Turkey/s vast experience on this issue.

[02] EU official defends Cyprus/ EU membership

When asked why they want to see Turkey within the EU, De Costa said, ``because Turkey is already a European country and she proved this by taking role in European institutions for long years''.

Responding to a question about the EU membership of Cyprus, De Costa defended that membership of the island to the union will have an effect that will facilitate the long lasting Cyprus question. Recalling that proximity talks between the sides continued within the framework of the UN., De Costa said the existing US administration would like to find a solution to the problem.

[03] Ertugruloglu rejects bicommunal contacts

Ertugruloglu commented on reports that the Cyprus Government is conducting work on a package of confidence-building measures (CBM/s). Ertugruloglu stated: ``There are two separate sovereign states on this island. We are well aware of how the Greek Cypriots exploited such contacts for political purposes in the past. Our official policy consists of conducting talks from state to state.''

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriot side wants to conduct any contact in a way that will not be construed as recognition of the ``TRNC'', Ertugruloglu added: ``It is not possible for us to accept such contacts. There is no question of our denying the existence of our state''.

He declared that ``a solution on the island is possible through an agreement based on the existence of two separate sovereign states and through the assertion by the international community that the Greek Cypriot administration is not a state representing the entire island. There is no question of our making concessions from these main principles or taking a step back''.

``We have no cause to fear or avoid bilateral contacts as long as everyone learns to respect the Turkish Cypriot state. In my view, the Greek Cypriot side is far from this point'', he added.

Ertugruloglu also noted that there is no such package as the CBM/s, adding that the CBM/s are part of a past process which the Greek Cypriot side had rejected.

[04] Turkey, Jordan discuss Manavgat water project

Following the briefing, Ersumer told reporters that the ``Peace Water Project'' which was discussed during the Middle East talks envisaged supplying water to the Middle East from two southern rivers, the Seyhan and the Ceyhan. Price is an important element in water sales and it would change depending on the amount purchased. Israel and Jordan will discuss a price with Turkey once they evaluate the matter.

``We are ready to ship 500,000 tons of water by tankers under any weather condition. If Jordan wants it, we can ship it through Suez Channel. They will decide about it'', he added.

Mahadin noted that Turkey had rich water resources compared to other countries in the region. Jordan is planning to drill wells but the Manavgat Project is an important alternative, he said.

``Right now, we didn/t speak anything about the prices. What is important for us is to develop cooperation and relations between Turkey and Jordan. We believe that this project will help to develop relations. Peace is very important for people right now. Getting water from the Manavgat project is very important for us and we would like to benefit from it if we agree on the price,'' Mahadin said.

The waters of the Manavgat river which has been pouring into the Mediterranean for years will start giving life to arid Mediterranean countries and provide an income of 300 million US dollars a year to Turkey. The Manavgat project whose construction began on March 29, 1992 cost a total of 122 million US dollars. EMT Aydiner company made the construction of the plant. The waters of the Manavgat will be transferred to two floating platforms 1,300 meters away from the coast, and from there it will be shipped to Israel, the ``TRNC'' and other Middle Eastern and African countries by tankers or balloons, the paper says.

Authorities said the plant could provide up to 90 million cubic meters of purified and 90 cubic meters of unpurified water annually. The water could be sold to Israel, Gaza Strip, Malta and Libya. It is planned to sell one cubic meter of water to all domestic and foreign companies for 5 to 10 cents or cheaper.

[05] British police attends ``trial'' in occupied area

KIBRIS says that Nusret Guven who allegedly killed Serkan Ozcan on 16 May, 1996 and was on the run for two years, on 12 May 1998 arrived in the occupied area with a forged passport issued in the name of Maurice Martin Faithfull.

When the British police was informed that Guven was in the occupied area and was being tried for using a forged passport and for entering the occupied area illegally, it sent a policeman to the occupied area.

KIBRIS reports that the British policeman yesterday just followed the proceedings at the ``Criminal court''. This is the second time in two months that British police goes to the occupied area.

(MY)

[06] Turkish Cypriot delegation in Strasbourg

The so-called assembly delegation will be headed by Ertugrul Hasipoglu. The delegation will return to the occupied area on 30 January.

(MY)

[07] Denktash meets foreign diplomats

During the meetings the proximity talks and the Helsinki Summit results were discussed.

(MY)

[08] Serdar Denktash against Brussels Bicommunal Contacts Office

In a statement to reporters after the meeting which lasted almost an hour, Serdar Denktash said that he had conveyed to Ambassador Dusan Rozbora his party/s reaction and opposition to the opening of the Bicommunal Contacts Office in Brussels. He said that they thought that the opening of this office will have negative effects on the positive developments that started taking place after the Helsinki Summit.

(MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] ``Now it/s Cyprus/s turn''

The TRNC continues its existence, despite the `heroic/ speeches and ovations made in Turkey, as a `Pirate Island/ that no state recognizes.

This `Pirate Island Identity/ which enables it to stay out of any control has been very favourable for a lot of people. A lot of mysterious things have happened in Cyprus and continue to happen, as in the case of the woman who was caught with narcotics and then all of a sudden she disappeared''.

Mehmet Altan goes on to say that it is very normal that those who have vested interests in such dealings insist on non-solution in Cyprus. ``However'', he notes, ``it seems that in Cyprus as well there will be an end to this kind of dealings.''

Altan then explains the reasons why the USA is resolute on solving all the conflicts presently existing in the world, and says that this is a must for the interest of the US/s new world order. ``As a result of this'' notes Altan, ``it is not possible for the TRNC to stay an unending problem in the Mediterranean.''

Criticizing Denktash and Turkey/s Cyprus policy for the economic difficulties facing the occupied area as well as for ``destroying the Turkish Cypriot identity'', Altan stresses that those Turkish Cypriots who criticized Turkey were branded as traitors.

Altan concludes by saying: ``To make these people, whom we claim that we have saved, repent in order to be saved, serves nobody/s interest except that of a handful of people who are after obscure and sinister affairs''.

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

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