Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-09-19

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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. 179/00 -- 19.9.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash says confederation could become a federation in the futrue.

[02] Cem calls OIC to support ``TRNC'' for `realistic solution/ to Cyprus issue.

[03] Cem has surprise meeting with Holbrooke.

[04] Hasipoglu: Greek and Turkish Cypriots cannot live together

[05] Cem briefs Joschka Fischer on Cyprus issue.

[06] Turkey/s Logoglu meets French Ministry official.

[07] Turkish Cypriot Worker Unions stage march to protest socioeconomic package.

[08] Salamis Bay hotel to change ``owner''.

[09] Turkish Cypriot family among UK underworld.

[10] Ertugruloglu calls OIC members to recognize political equality of ``TRNC''.

[11] Turkey will not use `right of defense/ in Greek Cypriot case at European Court of Human Rights.

[12] Potato and dairy exports.

[13] Turkish Cypriots at folklore festival.

[14] ``TRNC'' raki to be sold in Turkey.

[15] Cooperation with German tourist foundation.

[16] St. Hilarion castle to be restored.

[17] Bulgarian athletes to be part of Turkish Cypriot teams.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash says confederation could become a federation in the future KIBRIS (19.9.00) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has said

Denktash replied to reporters/ questions after his meeting with Alvaro de Soto, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan/s special envoy.

Shedding light on the confederation-federation discussion, Denktash said:

``This could become a federation in the future. At the beginning, however, there should be two states. A confederation is formed when two states get together. In the future, this can lead to a situation, which existed in the past.''

Explaining that the issue of the reports in Greek Cypriot press and leaks was raised at his meeting with de Soto, Denktash said the following: ``We complained about this. They (United Nations) regret this as well. We, however, were not submitted the maps, proposals, and cantons published. Such things were not discussed with us. I think, all this could be to boost the morale of the Greek Cypriot side. It could also be that they are trying to lower the morale of the Turkish Cypriots. The morale of our people, however, cannot be lowered. We will protect our state''.

In reply to a question by a Greek Cypriot correspondent on the dangers of setting up a federation on the island, Denktash said: ``What are the dangers of having a confederation?'' Anatolia at 20:45 hours on 18 September, reports on Denktash/s comments prior to his meeting with de Soto. Denktash said that ``Cyprus is the motherland of two nations'', and made a call to Greek Cypriots saying, `let/s become friends again/. He also responded to questions of Greek Cypriot journalists.

Denktash said, ``if it is true, Glafcos Clerides has explained everything about the territory issue. All of these are the figments of his imaginative power. Cyprus has always been the motherland of the two nations. You tried to make Cyprus the motherland of the Greek Cypriots by attacking on us but you failed. Consequently, you have your own motherland and we have our own motherland. Let/s set up a bridge between these two motherlands. Let/s become friends again. Don/t think that you can make the Turkish Cypriots/ motherland a split region. Don/t ignore the realities''.

In the meantime, Denktash had a meeting yesterday with the Bangladeshi Foreign Affairs Minister, Alhay Abdus Samad Azad.

[02] Cem calls OIC to support ``TRNC'' for `realistic solution/ to Cyprus issue Anatolia Agency (23:35 hours 18.9.00) reports that in his address at the

Stressing that ``Turkey supports the proximity talks launched by the United Nations'', Cem said that this fact should be included in the OIC final communique.

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriots need the solidarity of the Islam countries, Cem called on his ``Muslim brothers to support the Turkish Cypriot people against the inhumane embargo imposed by the Greek Cypriots and their efforts at isolating the Turkish Cypriots''.

Cem called on the Islam countries to establish trade, tourism, cultural, information, investment, and sport relations with the pseudostate to this end.

Calling on the OIC to review favourably the ``TRNC'' request for full membership, Cem claimed that the support to be extended on the above areas will also help in terms of the UN talks.

The ``TRNC'' is still participating at the OIC meetings as an observer.

In the meantime, according to information received by the Anatolia correspondent from diplomatic sources, the following is the manner in which the Cyprus issue will be included in the OIC final communique:

``The OIC emphasizes that it will extend full support to the just cause of the Turkish Cypriot people, confirm the previous declarations it issued on Cyprus, and calls on the sides to secure a just solution to the Cyprus issue. The OIC stresses that the solution should be acceptable to both sides and respect the legitimate tendencies and the political status of both sides.

The OIC recomments that the sides mutually acknowledge their equal status and welcomes the efforts to be exerted to secure a solution along these lines.

The OIC welcomes the declaration of the UN Secretary General at the opening of the fourth round of Cyprus talks on 12 September.''

The OIC said that the issuing of the communique may take a couple of days because of the preparations involved.

[03] Cem has surprise meeting with Holbrooke A report by Anatolia Agency (6:48 hours, 19.9.00) says that Turkish Foreign

The meeting which was reported to be unofficial, took place upon the request of Holbrooke.

Huseyin Dirioz, the Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman, pointed out that the main topics of the meeting were Cyprus, the statement of Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, issued on September 12, and the Turkish- Greek relations.

Stressing that ``Holbrooke conveyed Cem that he was pleased over the situation on Cyprus,'' Dirioz said the meeting lasted for 15-20 minutes and that the details were not taken up.

Foreign Minister Cem also met with Igor Ivanov, the Russian Foreign Minister.

Dirioz said Cem and Ivanov also discussed Cyprus, and Cem briefed his Russian counterpart about the recent developments.

Foreign Minister Cem and his consultants yesterday proceeded from New York to Brussels.

[04] Hasipoglu: Greek and Turkish Cypriots cannot live together Anatolia Agency (12:05 hours, 18.9.00) reports that so-called parliament

``Peace is only possible on the basis of two separate states'', he alleged. ``Today there is no other option other than two different homes'' he went on to say. ``The opposite would be risking both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, Turkey and the whole world. Greek and Turkish Cypriots do not trust each other, and they cannot live together''.

[05] Cem briefs Joschka Fischer on Cyprus issue Anatolia Agency (15:40 hours, 18.9.00) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister

[06] Turkey/s Logoglu meets French Ministry official Anatolia Agency (12:43 hours, 18.9.00) reports that Loic Hennekinne, the

Hennekinne responded to the questions of the reporters following his meeting with Faruk Logoglu, the Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary.

Hennekinne said the French government, as it was in the past, maintained that this was not the work of the parliament, and that history should be interpreted by the historians.

Hennekinne said they could not be always successful in persuading the French Senate, yet added that French authorities, in every level, are trying to prevent this decision to be issued in the French Senate.

Pointing out that they discussed political, economic and cultural relations between Turkey and France, Hennekinne said they noted the perfect bilateral relations and discussed the relations between the EU and Turkey.

Responding to another question, Hennekinne said Cyprus and the Aegean issues were not discussed in his meeting with Logoglu, adding that he learned that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou met in New York, and that he supported improvement of relations between the two countries.

When asked a question about human rights, Hennekinne said they did not discuss this issue in detail, and pointed out that they only discussed the Copenhagen criteria of the Helsinki summit.

[07] Turkish Cypriot Worker Unions stage march to protest socioeconomic package

The surprise package contained caricatures, criticizing the socioeconomic package.

Meanwhile, the bank depositors held a sitting protest in front of the ``prime minister/s'' residence, demanding the ``government/s'' resignation.

[08] Salamis Bay hotel to change ``owner'' According to AVRUPA (19.9.00) the Salamis Bay Conti Hotel, which is ``leased''

The Director General of the Istanbul Airlines in the occupied area, Mehmet Kral, has said that the Salamis Bay Conti Hotel will be re-leased because of the financial crisis facing the Istanbul Airlines.

Kral said that at this stage there is nothing official regarding the take- over. He said that several companies applied for the take-over.

The income to be received from the take-over of the hotel will be used to overcome the company/s difficulties in the occupied area. Mehmet Kral further said that the company will sell all its assets and businesses except the Airlines in order to solve its financial problems.

When asked whether an Israeli firm is going to take over the hotel, Kral admitted that an Israeli company has shown interest but added that the Israeli company is one of several companies that have shown interest in the hotel.

[09] Turkish Cypriot family among UK underworld KIBRIS (19.9.00), quoting News of the World published in the UK, says that

The Arif brothers, reports KIBRIS, are engaged in narcotics smuggling. Three of the four brothers are in British jails serving jail terms ranging from 18 to 23 years.

Behir Arif who is currently serving a jail term of 23 years is the seventh richest gangster in the UK with five million pounds sterling worth of assets.

[10] Ertugruloglu calls OIC members to recognize political equality of ``TRNC''

In a statement Ertugruloglu distributed to foreign ministers of Muslim countries, he stated that ``they will not make any concessions during the fourth round of talks''. He stressed that they would not bargain on the ``state status'' of the ``TRNC'' and said that they have politically equal status with Greek Cypriots.

At the meeting, Ertugruloglu also asked the participants to raise the ``TRNC/s'' observer status to a full member.

He claimed the ``TRNC'' proved its willingness to reach an agreement with Greek Cypriots during the talks in Geneva and New York and therefore had positive contributions to the process.

[11] Turkey will not use `right of defense/ in Greek Cypriot case at European Court of Human Rights

The Cyprus Government side brought a case to the ECHR under the title of a ``state application'' and said that Turkey was guilty of violations like missing people in Cyprus, people who were forced to leave their places, torture allegations, situation of Greek Cypriots in the Karpass and confiscation of property.

Sources said that Turkey won/t use its right of defense at this case.

In accordance with the ECHR regulations, the country against which a case is brought is not obliged to use its right of defense.

Diplomatic sources recalled that the Cyprus Government had earlier lodged a complaint against Turkey at the ECHR for three times with the same accusations, and Ankara/s opinions had been conveyed in detail at each time.

Diplomatic sources said that Turkey had taken such a decision ``against the Greek Cypriots` attempt to make the ECHR a political tool.''

In two separate cases brought to the ECHR in 1979 by the Cyprus Government, the Council of Europe/s jurisdiction organ Ministers` Committee decided that Turkey did not make a violation.

In the third application made to the ECHR in 1992, the Delegates/ Committee decided the publication of Human Rights Commission/s decision that ``there is a violation'' as a report, and avoided a decision against Turkey.

The ECHR sentenced Turkey to pay almost 500 thousand US dollars compensation in accordance with a decision it took in 1998 after the application of Titina Loizidou.

[12] Potato and dairy exports According to KIBRIS (19.9.00) four experts from Turkey have arrived in the

The so-called minister of agriculture of the pseudostate Irsen Kucuk has declared that the Turkish experts will help overcome difficulties faced in exporting potatoes and dairy produce to Turkey.

[13] Turkish Cypriots at folklore festival KIBRIS (19.9.00) reports that the ``Yerolakkos Cultural Association'',

Despite protests by the Greek team that was to take part in the festival, the Turkish Cypriot team took part in the festival while the Greek team withdrew.

Dancing associations from FYROM and Italy also participated in the festival.

[14] ``TRNC'' raki to be sold in Turkey According to KIBRIS (16.9.00), Nationalist Action Party deputy Hidayet

He promised to discuss this issue with the minister responsible with the issue.

He added that within the framework of this ``protocol'' he will do all he can to secure the sale of alcoholic beverage Raki (ouzo) produced in the occupied area in Turkey.

``If need be, I will raise this issue on the parliament/s rostrum'' said Kilic.

[15] Cooperation with German tourist foundation According to KIBRIS (19.9.00) a known German tourist foundation and the

It is expected that the first foreign tourists with interest in aviation sports will arrive in the occupied area in October.

Within the framework of this project, the German tourist foundation has sent a crew to carry out investigations on the historical and touristic sites of the occupied areas and especially on the aviation activities. They also spent 50,000 DM to prepare a film, CDs and brochures which promote the pseudostate and the aviation sports.

They will distribute them in different towns in Germany.

[16] St. Hilarion castle to be restored According to KIBRISLI (19.9.00) the St. Hilarion castle on the occupied

The so-called deputy prime minister/s office coordinator Askan Efe has declared that the ``Great Hall'' of the castle which was badly damaged by the fire will be restored and will be opened to the tourists.

He further added that the Castle will be cleared and if need be they will appoint personnel for the maintenance of the castle.

[17] Bulgarian athletes to be part of Turkish Cypriot teams KIBRISLI (19.9.00) reports that two Bulgarian athletes, a volley-ball player

The woman volleyball player, reports the paper, will play with the so- called East Mediterranean University team and the footballer will play for Yenicami.

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

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