Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-09-21

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 181/00 -- 21.9.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash `very pleased/ with New York talks, denies Turkey rules ``TRNC''.

[02] Denktash says property exchange must be monetary, global, not individual.

[03] Cem, Papandreou agreed on Aegean confidence steps.

[04] Cem/s contacts with EU officials in Brussels.

[05] Serdar Denktash visits parties, NGO/s for joint `antigovernment/ actions.

[06] Conference cancelled.

[07] Delegation in Ankara for the economic package.

[08] Elmas Guzelyurtlu in Romania.

[09] ``Endustri Bank'' resumes operations.

[10] Turkish Cypriots at dancing festival.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash `very pleased/ with New York talks, denies Turkey rules ``TRNC'' According to illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (5:00 hours, 21.9.00), Turkish Cypriot

Yesterday (20 September), following his 90-minute meeting with Alvaro de Soto, the UN Secretary General/s special Cyprus representative, Denktash replied to reporters/ questions. He said: ``Turkey supports us by 100 percent. That is why we feel strong. That is why we can sit down and negotiate with the Greek Cypriots under equal terms''.

Asked if he confers with Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit every day, Denktash replied: ``We speak about twice every three months, and that only if necessary.''

Asked to comment on the suit filed against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, Denktash claimed that accusing Turkey of ruling the ``TRNC'' is a political mistake. He said: ``Turkey does not rule the TRNC. Turkey protects north Cyprus in line with the agreements and its undertakings. Therefore, the court cases accusing Turkey will be of no use. We run our own state and Turkey protects us. That court is one-sided; the statements are made unilaterally. I hope that those who speak in that court come to Cyprus and see us with their own eyes. They should come to Cyprus to see what we do, how we rule ourselves.''

Asked if he is pleased with the document De Soto gave him, Denktash stressed that de Soto did not give him a document, that there is no document, and that they discussed issues. He recalled that there is a ban on disclosing the issues that are being discussed.

Denktash said that he was very pleased with the negotiations and the developments. He stated: ``What the Greek Cypriot press is writing in order to boost their morale and lower ours is not true''.

A reporter asked if the negotiations cover the four basic issues. Denktash replied that the negotiations cover all the basic issues which number more than four.

Asked when the fourth round of talks will be concluded, Denktash replied:

``Clerides wants them concluded on 27 September. I believe that we will conclude them on 26 September''.

[02] Denktash says property exchange must be monetary, global, not individual Anatolia Agency (4:53 hours, 21.9.00) says that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf

Denktash, speaking to Turkish reporters in New York yesterday (20 September), said: ``We will discuss the territorial issue last, and only if our sovereignty is accepted. The whole world knows that''.

Denktash then said: ``We were not told anything about this map the Greek Cypriots are spreading. The Greek Cypriots may have given it to the United Nations''.

Denktash went on to claim: ``The Greek Cypriots struggled for enosis, not independence. They created the impression that they accepted independence for a while only with the purpose of using it as a stepping stone for enosis. That is why we insisted on placing precautionary measures in the Zurich and London agreements and on the deployment of a military force on the island to guarantee the agreements. A partnership agreement to be signed between the two sides will be recorded at the United Nations. Turkey would not violate that''.

Denktash pointed out that ``the exchange of property on the island must be global, not individual. The criteria here must be a measure of value, monetary value. The Turks left vineyards, gardens, fertile land, and farms''. He added that ``part of the Greek Cypriot fields in the north have been turned into universities or apartment buildings, therefore taking them back is impossible''.

Anatolia at 6:06 hours reports that Denktash said ``the fifth round of the talks would probably be held in Geneva in November'', and that the best time would be either from 1 to 10 November, or after 20 November, since the OIC is going to convene from 8 to 15 November. Asked on the US and British contributions to the negotiation process, Denktash replied that ``Alfred Moses and Sir David Hannay, the US and British special representatives for Cyprus respectively, are helping De Soto in every field''.

[03] Cem, Papandreou agreed on Aegean confidence steps Daily SABAH (19.9.00) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and

Delegations, to be made up with officials from the Turkish and Greek Foreign ministers, will meet in Ankara on 29 September with the particular objective of reviewing ``good neighbourly'' relations in the Aegean. Apart from the package, Cem and Papandreou also agreed on ``exploration of oil reserves in River Meric'', ``joint struggle against environmental problems in River Meric'', ``organizing 2008 Soccer Championship in Turkey and Greece'' and ``exchange of mutual visits to enable young people from both countries to get to know each other''.

According to the paper, Cem/s package of confidence-building measures includes:

- The number, scope and range of military exercises performed by Turkish and Greek armies in the Aegean shall be reduced.

- Turkish and Greek warplanes flying over the Aegean shall be equipped with IFOF electronic devices used for indicating identity.

- Turkish and Greek warplanes shall fly disarmed over the Aegean.

- Military flights carried out in the Aegean/s international airspace shall be jointly controlled by Eskisehir (Turkey) and Larissa (Greece) military bases.

- Turkish and Greek warships shall exchange visits.

- International observers shall be invited to national military exercises performed by the armed forces of both countries.

- Training flights of Turkish and Greek warplanes shall be mutually controlled under ``Open Skies'' agreements.

- Turkish and Greek maritime shipping companies shall establish direct contacts among themselves.

[04] Cem/s contacts with EU officials in Brussels Anatolia Agency (14:27 hours, 20.9.00) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister

Foreign Ministry officials who informed the press on Wednesday after the meetings of Cem with the Socialist Group Leader Enrique Baron Crespo, the Greens Group Co. Chairmen Paul Layone and Heidi Anelli and Christian Democrat Group Leader Hans Gert Pottering, said that the contacts were held in a positive and constructive framework.

Cem told the EP Christian Democrat Group that ``the EU shares certain values'', adding that Turkey was recognized as an equal candidate by a decision taken in Helsinki and the approach of discrimination should be left behind from now on.

Pottering told Cem that there is no consensus of opinion within the Christian Democrat Group regarding Turkey and they believed in the benefits of improving the dialogue with Turkey.

Cem noted that there is no parliamentarian in the EP which represents Turkey and added that the members of the EP should have full information beforehand about the debates on Turkey.

The representatives of the Greens Group told Cem that they don/t regard the EU as a formation having one religion.

Cem, who is expected to speak and answer questions at the European Parliament/s Foreign Relations Commission at the end of this year or in the beginning of 2001, also focuses on developing new mechanisms of dialogue.

European parliamentarians asked Cem for information about the concrete developments in Turkey and they brought onto agenda human rights and death penalty in their meeting with Cem. Cem told them that ``these sensitive issues are also discussed in Turkey.''

Reminding the parliamentarians about the recent letter of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan about the Cyprus question and the negative reaction of the Greek Cypriots to that, Cem said that it is seen also by this development that it is not easy to solve this problem.

Cem also met with Liberal Group Chairman Patricx Cox. Cem was to meet with the EU Commissioner for enlargement Guenter Verheugen last evening and participate in the dinner that was to be hosted by Verheugen in his honour.

[05] Serdar Denkash visits parties, NGO/s for joint `antigovernment/ actions Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (10:30 hours, 19.9.00) reports that Democratic Party

Serdar Denktash and DP Secretary General Hursit Eminer first paid a call on Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Secretary General. In a statement after the meeting, Serdar Denktash noted that the ``government'' is unable to find solutions for the people/s problems, adding that he will share these views with the political parties and NGO/s. He claimed that ``the economic package is not compatible with the realities in the country and its implementation will further exacerbate the economic crisis.'' Serdar Denktash stated that a big action can be staged against the contents of the economic package and the lack of performance on the part of the ``government''. Pointing out that actions to be undertaken within a democratic framework will be aimed at activating the ``coalition government'', Serdar Denktash said that actions aimed at ousting the ``government'' will be introduced if the ``government'' is unwilling to solve the people/s problems and fails to take action.

Also speaking after the meeting, Soyer said that the CTP ``is open to all kinds of views and opinions for the solution of problems''. Soyer charged that the letter of intent on the economic package sent by the ``government'' to Turkey violates the ``constitution''.

Serdar Denktash also visited Nationalist Justice Party leader Zorlu Tore, who stated that ``the problems in the country should be solved within democratic rules, but in the present situation, politics are blocked and the trust in politicians has decreased''. Tore said he does not believe that the ``government'' will solve the problems, and therefore asked for the ``government/s'' resignation.

Serdar Denktash and Eminer also called on National Revival Party leader Enver Emin. Pointing out that early ``elections'' is also an option, Serdar Denktash said that his party is not dwelling on this alternative at present.

Emin, also speaking after the meeting with the DP officials, expressed the belief that the DP goal is to achieve social peace. He asked for the resignation of the ``coalition''. Emin said that ``his party is in favour of early elections''.

Illegal Bayrak Radio at 10:30 hours on 20 September continues to report on Serdar Denktash/s visits. Serdar Denktash and Hursit Eminer visited Kamu- Sen (``Turkish Cypriot Civil Servants Union'') and Turk-Sen (Federation of Turkish Cypriot Worker Unions) and conferred with their leaders and administrative council members. Serdar Denktash warned that the economic difficulties have reached proportions that could lead to ``social explosions''.

Kamu-Sen leader Ahmet Otuken underlined ``the need for serious actions and alternative solutions''. He said that a serious restructuring is necessary in the political arena, and asked for a readjustment in the relations between political parties and the ``state'' as well as for a revision of the ``public administration''.

Onder Konuloglu, leader of Turk-Sen, in a statement during the meeting with Serdar Denktash said he concurs with the views of the DP. He said that the ``government/s irresponsibility'' played a part in the negative developments in the pseudostate. Konuloglu also stressed that the ``government'' must resign if it fails to solve the problems.

[06] Conference cancelled YENI DUZEN (21.9.00) reports that the joint water conference that was to be

The conference was organized by the German Cyprus Forum, the Turkish Cypriot Architects and Engineers Union of Chambers (KTMMOB) and the Technical Chamber of Cyprus (ETEK).

[07] Delegation in Ankara for the economic package According to KIBRIS (21.9.00) a three man ``technical'' delegation left the

The delegation will work on the package with the Turkish experts in Ankara and will give it its final form.

The Turkish government invited the three men to Ankara for consultations.

[08] Elmas Guzelyurtlu in Romania The front page article of KIBRISLI (21.9.00) refers to Turkish Cypriot

According to KIBRISLI, a reporter of the newspaper met Elmas in Romania and took him an interview.

Elmas, owner of the bankrupt Everest bank, accused so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu and other ``officials'' for the economic crisis in the occupied areas. He added that Eroglu convicted him without trial, so he had to leave. He claimed that he did not ask for political asylum from the Greek Cypriot side, that he did not accuse the pseudostate and that he did not betray his people. He did what he did in order to escape from Eroglu, because the latter tried to annihilate him, he said.

[09] ``Endustri Bank'' resumes operations According to KIBRIS (21.9.00) the so-called coalition government in the

Endustri Bank/s operations were suspended following the banking crisis in the occupied area.

Following this development the ``Endustri Bank'' will resume its operations at ``full speed''.

[10] Turkish Cypriots at dancing festival According to KIBRIS (21.9.00), the ``Kyrenia Municipality Folklore Dancing

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

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article