Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-04-18

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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] Joint press conference by Cem and Denktash in occupied Nicosia.

[02] RADIKAL newspaper sees a serious change in Ankara/s policy on Cyprus.

[03] Denktash replies to Talat/s call to return to the negotiating table.

[04] YENIDUZEN criticizes the so-called Minister of Foreign Affairs

[05] Turkey and Syria to sign military cooperation agreement.

[06] Occupied Palm Beach hotel manager murdered.

[07] A soldier of the so-called security forces was killed in a bloody incident.

[08] The illegal airlines of the pseudostate are also affected by the economic cirisis.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Joint press conference by Cem and Denktash in occupied Nicosia The Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who is currently visiting the

Speaking to reporters Cem listed his meetings with politicians, other representatives and so-called members of the ``government'' and said that he had very useful contacts and exchange of views.

He said that during his meetings he stressed Turkey/s determination to stand by the occupation regime and to continue to develop the existing relations.

Regarding the settlement of the Cyprus problem, Cem reiterated the Turkish view that a mutually acceptable settlement passes through a confederal solution, based on equal sovereignty and on two states.

Cem described the future accession of Cyprus to the EU without a settlement of the Cyprus problem to be tantamount to a ``Pyrrhic victory'' for the Greeks.

He warned that such an accession could be the beginning of a process that could bring pain to both the Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

When asked to comment on the resumption of the stalled proximity talks Cem said that he did not discuss this issue with the Turkish Cypriot leadership, that they knew that these talks were for the sake of holding talks, and that they are just a front.

He then went on and expressed his personal views regarding the proximity talks, that the Greek Cypriot side does not care about the negotiations, but just to give the impression that they are negotiating until they realize the EU accession. They are not in for searching a settlement. These talks lack seriousness. If, he said, there is a change in the negotiating process, then the proper respondent is not Turkey but the ``TRNC''.

When asked to comment on President Clerides/ recent statement on S-300 missiles, Cem said that he would like to advice people not to resort to this mistake of bringing the missiles to Cyprus. He said that Turkey will strongly and seriously react to it. It will increase the tension in the region and change the balance.

This balance has always been maintained. We have used this in recent times with the Greek Foreign Minister, the Greek Government and our government. We have maintained this balance in Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean. Such an attempt will completely tilt this balance and will make things more difficult. It will provoke Turkey/s strong reaction.

Cem noted that Turkey will take precautions not to create the ground for such a development.

[02] RADIKAL newspaper sees a serious change in Ankara's policy on Cyprus

Radikal estimates that this move is a U-turn on behalf of Ankara. Radikal says, among other things, the following:

``Ankara, which regards the accession of the Greek Cypriot Administration to the EU to be definite, is searching for new ways. Therefore, after last week 's contacts of TRNC President Rauf Denktash to Ankara, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem went yesterday to Cyprus. Ankara worries about becoming the side which occupies a country member of the EU in case the Greek Cypriots enter the Union without the Cyprus problem being solved. Ankara also worries about the Greek Cypriots` being able to use the veto against Turkey. However, Ankara is searching for different alternatives in order to seat at the (negotiating) table, because the proximity talks for finding a solution to the problem, which had been conducted under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, were stopped at the fifth round. Turkey is not in favour of the resumption of the proximity talks which were stopped after Annan brought onto the table a suggestion that gave to the Turkish Cypriots the status of a minority. A high ranking official of the Foreign Ministry said that if the necessary ground was prepared, even the beginning of face to face negotiations could be possible. Denktash who abandoned the negotiating table repeated yesterday that they will not make any concessions on the issue of the two separate states. A Turkish diplomat said that Cyprus was one of the most important mines on the road of Turkey towards the EU and stressed the urgency of the solution. ...''

[03] Denktash replies to Talat/s call to return to the negotiating table According to illegal Bayrak radio (16.4.01) Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the

In a written statement Talat had criticized the remarks Denktash made during his visits over the weekend. Talat said: This is not the time to heroically fault your own citizens and save the day during inauguration ceremonies. This is the time to use reason, to reach a solution that will be in the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community and of Turkey, to formulate a policy to join the EU, and to ensure communal unity on this basis.

Talat said that Denktash will not be able to divest himself of his responsibility regarding the current developments by faulting certain circles -- which Denktash claims want the Turkish Cypriots to regress in their national cause -- for the collapsing economy when it is the ``government''that is responsible.

The RTP leader said that it is wrong to try to silence each other. On the contrary, he said, there is a need to discuss the relations between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community on a sound basis. He stressed that by upholding the lack of solution, the Turkish Cypriots enabled the Greek Cypriots to join the EU on their own but on behalf of the whole of Cyprus.

On his part speaking to the members of the new administrative council of the Chamber of Forestry Engineers who visited him, Denktash commented on an article which appeared in the local press with the headline: ``Denktash, sit at the negotiating table immediately''.

Denktash said that because he does not attach importance to ugly articles that appear in certain newspapers, he does not respond to them or even read them. He said: We have no time to waste with articles written with ill intention, articles that try to divert attention.

Denktash said that the Republican Turkish Party [RTP] wants to declare him enemy of the RTP, adding: ``I am not the enemy of any party. I believe in the necessity of parties but if the parties insist on a wrong point in the national policy that is being pursued I must point out to the truth. As a person elected by the majority of the people, I too can say what I believe in''.

Denktash charged that the newspaper in question ran the headline calling on him to immediately return to the negotiating table because Turkish Foreign Minister Cem is visiting Cyprus. Denktash said: It is easy to sit at the negotiating table but it is very difficult to get up from it once you sit. If the others try to push you to the wrong channel at the negotiations, you cannot get up and leave before entering that channel. Once you enter that channel, you cannot get up, and you are dragged to the end of that channel. If you try to leave they say: You entered the channel knowingly, why are you running away now? And then you are done for.

Denktash alleged that he participated in the Cyprus proximity talks with goodwill in order to establish the proper basis for negotiations, but that he realized that certain circles were instead trying to prepare a framework not based on the sovereignty of the justified party, a framework not based on sovereignty. No matter what you call a system that is not based on sovereignty, he said, we would be a minority and we would inevitably be exploited by the Greek Cypriots. He added: I believe that our friends who criticize us are aware of that too; they are not ignorant.

Denktash added: However, the Greek Cypriots were told that the Cyprus Republic exists and that the two communities must confer. At the same time, though, one of these two communities was being treated as the Cyprus Government. That was and is the reason for the Cyprus problem.

Finally Denktash stressed that the Turkish Cypriots are not without alternatives if the Greek Cypriots join the EU.

[04] YENIDUZEN criticises the so-called Minister of Foreign Affairs Turkish Cypriot newspaper ``Yeniduzen'' (18.04.01) criticises the fact that

The paper writes that it seemed like Mr. Ertugruloglu did not give importance to Cem`s visit as he had gone to Israel instead of returning to the occupied areas after his contacts in Turkey. YENIDUZEN adds that a lot of people called its offices complaining about the so-called Minister's attitude.

According to YENIDUZEN it is said that while in Israel Mr. Ertugruloglu will have contacts on tourism and other matters.

[05] Turkey and Syria to sign military cooperation agreement Turkish Daily News (17.4.01) reports that as a result of the continuing

Syria/s ambassador in Ankara, Dr. Said Al-Bunni told the Turkish Daily News that the two countries will pave the way for a cooperation agreement between their armies in the near future. Gen. Resat Turgut, head of the Plans and Principles Department, left for Damascus on Sunday to meet with Syrian military officials, Bunni said.

Gen. Mahmoud Ammar, Director of the Political Department of the Syrian army visited Ankara in January and was received by General Yasar Buyukanit and the commander of gendarmerie forces. Turkey proposed to Syria to cooperate in the field of defense industry as well, diplomatic sources said.

[06] Occupied Palm Beach hotel manager murdered The Turkish Cypriot Press (18.4.01) cover the murder of the General Manager

Soykut was shot yesterday morning in front of his hotel in occupied Famagusta. The assassin, Mahmut Yucetas, was arrested and appeared before the illegal court and will remain in custody for 3 days.

According to the newspapers, the murder was committed as a result of a car parking dispute. The accused yesterday morning parked his car in front of the entrance of Palm Beach hotel. The security employees asked him to move his car, but he refused and created trouble asking to see the manager of the hotel. Soykut went to the scene and had an argument with the accused. When he turned to go back to the hotel he was shot. It is believed that the accused was drunk.

[07] A soldier of the so-called security forces was killed in a bloody incident

He was serving in the 7th Battalion, 3rd company.

It is not known how the incident occurred because neither the ``Security Forces Command'' nor the pseudo-police issued any statements.

The family of the soldier, who lives in the occupied village of Lapithos, have asked for an autopsy to be carried out in order to ascertain the reason for his death.

[08] The illegal airlines of the pseudostate are also affected by the economic crisis

``For years, during both summer and winter periods we have only a few passengers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays'', noted Mr. Basoglu adding that for this reason on Tuesdays they would have only one flight to Istanbul. The ticket price from occupied Tymbou airport to Istanbul is 155 US dollars, while during the same period last year it was 145 dollars.

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

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