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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-01-25
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
TURKISH PRESS
AND OTHER MEDIA
No. 16/00 -- 25.1.00
[A] NEWS ITEMS
[01] «Cyprus peace water project».
[02] «Agriculture minister» leaves for talks in Ankara.
[03] Minimum salary; shopping expenses.
[04] Denktash: Help from Turkey to arrive soon.
[05] Talat meets Demirel and Bahceli in Ankara.
[06] Exclusive interview with Rauf Denktash.
NEWS ITEMS
[01] «Cyprus peace water project»
Anatolia Agency (14:40 hours, 24.1.00) reports that the «Cyprus Peace
Water Project», which is developed to meet water needs of Cyprus, will start
this year. Within the framework of the project, the water which will be
taken from Anamur Dragon stream, will be transported by giant pipes having
1600 mm diameter.
The in land stage of the project will last for four years, and the pipe
installation will last for 24 months. Alarko Alsim undertook the general
administration of the project.
The project is expected to be concluded within five years.
The starting cost of the project was estimated to be 180 million US
dollars. Dolsar Engineering will construct the land section, Swedish Sweco
will construct the sea section, the Dutch Van Oord Acz will construct the
sea passage, Alarko Alsim will construct the land process, and Dizayn Group
will produce the pipes required for sea passage.
Kemal Gurbuz Orun, having the patent right of the project, addressing the
promotion meeting of the project, said 35 million cubic meters water could
be obtained from existing water sources in Cyprus.
Orun said 75 million cubic meter water needs of Cyprus will be met with
this project adding that the water in question will be used in economic
activities based on agriculture and tourism. He said, «with the project,
TRNC economy will be enliven, and by giving water to Southern Cyprus, we aim
at strengthening the positive atmosphere formed with Greece».
[02] «Agriculture minister» leaves for talks in Ankara
According to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 24.1.00) so-called
agriculture and forestry minister Irsen Kucuk has left for Ankara as the
guest of Cumhur Ersumer, Turkish minister of energy and natural resources.
During his four-day visit to Ankara, Kucuk will conduct work on the solution
of the energy problem of the occupied area and on other issues pertaining to
his «ministry». Prior to his departure, Kucuk said that the pseudostate is
facing a big energy crisis. Kucuk added that this problem will be solved as
a result of the joint work to be conducted with the Turkish Energy Ministry.
Pointing out that a new power station of some 40 to 60 megawatts is needed
for the fundamental solution of the energy problem, Kucuk said that the
decision on the construction of such a power plant will be made in Turkey.
He added that a power station that might be constructed in line with the
build-operate-transfer model will ease the pseudostate/s energy problem for
at least ten years, stressing that this project should be reinforced by
alternative energy sources such as solar energy.
[03] Minimum salary; shopping expenses
According to KIBRIS (25.1.00) the shopping expenses of a four-member family
has increased by 54,6% in the last five months. The minimum salary in the
occupied area is only 115 million TL but the shopping expenses are estimated
at 173 million TL.
(DP)
[04] Denktash: Help from Turkey to arrive soon
KIBRIS (25.21.00) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has
called on Turkish Cypriots to be patient and that economic help from Turkey
is expected to arrive soon.
Denktash said that he spent the weekend with Turkish State Minister Sukru
Sina Gurel and that they discussed this issue and that of the recent bank
crisis.
(DP)
[05] Talat meets Demirel and Bahceli in Ankara
According to YENIDUZEN (25.1.2000) RTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat continues
his contacts with the Turkish officials in Ankara.
Talat yesterday had separate meetings first with State Minister and Deputy
Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli of the Nationalist Action Party and later with
Turkish President Suleyman Demirel.
During the meeting with Bahceli, Talat conveyed his party/s views regarding
the latest political developments, the developments in the Cyprus problem,
the economic situation and the crisis in the banking sector in the occupied
area.
The paper reports that the meeting was held in a positive atmosphere.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with President Demirel Talat said:
«We know well esteemed Demirel/s sensitivity regarding the Cyprus problem».
He further noted that progress in the Cyprus problem will positively effect
the Greco-Turkish relations and it will contribute to Turkey/s covering the
EU road speedily.
Talat urged that instead of moving on with bias, one has to adapt oneself
to present conditions and the search for peace should be developed within
this framework.
He concluded by saying «Cold war era is over, a world of mutual relations
is created».
(MY)
[06] Exclusive interview with Rauf Denktash
Turkish Daily News (24.1.00) publishes an exclusive interview with Turkish
Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. During the interview, Denktash said the
EU/s decision to accord Turkey candidate status has created a new situation.
«Until Helsinki, when Turkey spoke about the Greek Cypriot bid to join the
EU, the EU responded in chorus, `this is a matter for the EU. It/s none of
your business. No one from outside the EU can discuss this issue/. Or, the
EU told Ankara that it has no right to intervene in Greek Cypriot-EU
affairs. Now, Europe can no longer say such things because Turkey is not
outside the EU. Turkey is now a candidate country. Therefore, Turkey can
easily defend its position and its rights in Cyprus. Of course, Turkey will
make every possible move to defend its rights, will continue its contacts
and explain better the Cyprus problem to Europe», Denktash said.
Talking extensively on the first round of proximity talks in New York,
Denktash ruled out the speculation in the Greek Cypriot media that there had
been discussion on the territorial aspect of the problem «and that he had
been offered 24 percent, from the current 35 percent of the land of the
island». «Let me clearly and precisely state here that the territorial
aspect of the problem was not taken up in any manner. This issue never
came up on the agenda because when we were told, `Let/s take a look at the
map of Cyprus,/ my response is clear-cut: We can talk about the map when
there is an agreement on all other issues, headed by the sovereignty of our
state. We can talk about readjustments to the borderline only after our
sovereignty is accepted», Denktash said.
Denktash, still to travel to Geneva to attend the second round of proximity
talks, expressed his readiness to attend the third round demonstrating his
commitment to the process. He said the third round most likely would still
be in the form of proximity talks, but a fourth round might be face to face
talks between himself and President Glafcos Clerides.
Talking also on the forthcoming «presidential polls» Denktash said he was
confident that he would be reelected with over 60 percent support.
In reply to a question, Denktash inter alia said, «The Turkish Cypriot
state is a factor that the EU must consider. And, the Greek Cypriot side
should not forget that as time passes, the existence of the TRNC is becoming
more and more clear, and that more and more people acknowledge its
existence. If they want to leave settlement on the island to time and hope
to enter the EU unilaterally and then force a settlement through EU
membership, and to particularly force such a settlement before Turkish
accession, I am afraid they will have to recalculate their policies
accordingly. They are already at each other/s throats because of this
anyhow. They are calling Clerides to resign. and such.
What I am trying to say is that a new door has been opened, but if we step
in without knowing what/s ahead, we may end up in a very serious situation.
Someone may place something on the floor and once you step over it, they
pull it and bring you down. Or someone may trip you as you go through that
door. Therefore, we must know what/s ahead before passing through. What
are our recognized rights, what will be our status, who will conduct the
negotiations [for accession], when and how will the economic disparity on
the island be eradicated and how will the economic level of the north be
raised to the level of the south. When will Turkish Cypriots have direct
contact with the EU and who will make that contact and in what capacity? We
must know all these answers before passing through the door [to EU
membership]. These are all delicate considerations that must be evaluated.
Now, we are talking about all these issues in depth with experts from the
EU. We are preparing ourselves accordingly. That is why we are far better
off. We are currently examining what lies ahead of the door.»
In reply to another relevant question on Greco-Turkish relations, Denktash
inter alia said: «It is my sincere wish that this atmosphere can be
utilized in reestablishing the Turkish-Greek balance in Cyprus. It must be
seen that, unless the Greek Cypriot leadership abandons its claim of having
sovereignty over northern Cyprus as well; unless it recognizes the existence
of two equal and sovereignty peoples and their administrations; unless it
understands that a solution to the Cyprus problem is possible only on the
basis of two equal sovereign states on separate geographies and with
separate flags; unless it grasps the reality that a future settlement could
come through talks between these two equal sovereign states who after the
settlement will continue to exist with their flags and territory but
represented abroad by the central government, there can be no settlement on
the island.
Besides, such a settlement must be endorsed by the two motherlands [Turkey
and Greece] who will be sighing a settlement accord together with the two
states on the island. This is a settlement I have been struggling for since
1968. I am in favour of it, I am ready for it. None of the two sides will
dominate the other. Turkey/s effective guarantee should continue.»
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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