TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS (95-11-06)

Foreign newspapers Directory

From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <pzaphiri@Glue.umd.edu>

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.207/95 4-5-6.11.95

A. NEWS ITEMS

1. Denktash rejects new "cabinet" list

According to illegal Bayrak radio (15:00 hours, 4.11.95) Rauf Denktash has rejected the new "cabinet list" which included the changes introduced by the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) and Democratic Party "coalition government".

Denktash has said that the present system -- regardless of whether or not it is liked -- grants the "president" the power to reject the "cabinet".

He added that the people are very sensitive regarding the issue of Mehmet Ali Talat, "national education and culture minister", in the wake of recent incidents. Explaining that hundreds of protest letters were sent to him regarding the issue, Denktash said that the issue is under investigation. Stressing that he definitely bears no enmity toward Talat, Denktash added: "However, this last incident cannot be overlooked." Recounting that Talat insulted the people when he said that the problem is not in the book but in the readers, Denktash alleged: "I cannot show favour to Talat and accept his appointment as deputy prime minister when this sensitivity is continuing."

Noting that he is also against Omer Kalyoncu's assuming any "ministerial posts" in the "cabinet", Denktash said: "I have explained my reasons for not wanting Kalyoncu in the cabinet during earlier personal contacts". Denktash further stated that he is willing to brief the public regarding his reservations regarding Kalyoncu.

The news conference held jointly by Denktash, Atun, and Ozgur lasted 15 minutes. Atun and Ozgur continued their meeting with Denktash after press members left the reception room. In his statement after the meeting, Ozgur said that he will go to party headquarters and call party officials to a meeting in order to discuss the latest developments.

Meanwhile, according to illegal Bayrak radio (6:00 hours, 5.11.95) the Party Council of the Republican Turkish Party RTP met last Saturday and decided not to change the list of RTP "ministers" in the "cabinet", which was rejected by Rauf Denktash the previous day.

In a statement after the RTP Party Council meeting, leader Ozker Ozgur said that the changes in the "cabinet" were approved by the Democratic Party and, given this situation, Denktash must approve the change. By rejecting the new changes, Ozgur charged, Denktash will add a "government" crisis to the community's existing problems. The community cannot endure such a crisis, Ozgur remarked. Pointing out that the Cyprus problem is on the verge of a new negotiating process, Ozgur claimed that Denktash wants to evade this by creating a crisis.

On the other hand, according to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 5.11.95), Denktash has said that allegations that he is seeking a crisis are ridiculous, and claimed that he is the one who is preventing the crisis from exacerbating.

Explaining that Atun is responsible for the "government", Denktash said that Atun had several options open, such as submitting a new list prepared by the RTP, replacing vacant "ministerial posts" in the event that the RTP persists in pursing the same stand, and forming a "national cabinet" and announcing that it is an early election "cabinet". Denktash reiterated the view that under a so-called presidential system such a "government" crisis would not have occurred.

In response to a question on whether a DP-National Unity Party is being considered, Denktash said that this question should be asked to the officials of both parties.

2. Turkish coalition government program receives vote of confidence

According to Ankara TRT Television network (13:43 hours, 5.11.95), a vote of confidence was held at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) yesterday for the government program submitted by the True Path Party-Republican People's coalition formed by Prime Minister Tansu Ciller.

A total of 414 deputies participated in the voting; 243 deputies voted in favour and 171 voted against. According to these results, the TGNA gave its vote of confidence to the Council of Ministers set up by Ciller.

3. Ozgur: Cyprus must not join EU before federal solution

According to illegal Bayrak radio (16:30 hours, 3.11.95) Republican Turkish Party (RTP) leader Ozker Ozgur has said that the EU must persuade the Greek Cypriot side to agree to Cyprus' membership in the EU only after a federal solution based on political equality is reached on the island.

Ozgur received the French Embassy charge d'affaires last Friday. Ozgur discussed the RTP's views on the Cyprus problem and, on the charge d'affaires' request, the reasons for his resignation from his "government" post.

In a statement to illegal TAK (Turkish Cypriot News Agency) after the meeting, Ozgur claimed that Cyprus is not ready to join the EU, and must not be accepted to the EU before a solution is reached.

Ozgur alleged that the Cyprus Republic was established by the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities in partnership in 1960 but was subsequently destroyed by the Greek Cypriots. He said that if the EU sees the future of Cyprus within the EU, then for this to happen, the EU must help solve the Cyprus problem first. He claimed that "by considering the administration in the south as the representative of the whole of Cyprus, the EU is not helping solve the Cyprus problem. The EU must change this attitude and treat the two communities equally."

Asked if the Greek Cypriots will be admitted to the EU before a solution, Ozgur said that he does not think so. He alleged that if the Greek Cypriot side is accepted to the EU on behalf of the whole of Cyprus, that would mean that the existence of the Turkish Cypriots was being ignored. That would create a new situation, he said, and that new situation must be assessed not only by the RTP, but by the entire community.

4. Turkey's Chief of Staff on ties with Greece, Cyprus

According to Anatolia new agency (15:10 hours 3.11.95) General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, Turkey's chief of the General Staff, addressing the international security and cooperation conference in Kemer, said: "Turkey's relations with the Balkan countries are developing in every field. However, the existing problems with Greece have not yet been resolved. Turkey has always maintained that these problems should be resolved through dialogue and bilateral negotiations... I have invited my Greek colleague, the chief of the Greek General Staff, to a dialogue on various occasions. I regret to say that I received a negative answer each time."

On the Cyprus question, Karaday claimed: "Turkey wants the CBMs to be implemented as soon as possible and believes that they will help reach a final solution. Lately, it has been observed that the Greek Cypriot Administration is seeking a military, rather than a political solution. With military expenses approaching $2 million a day, the Greek Cypriot Administration is turning the island into a stick of dynamite ready to explode. Under the name of the joint defense doctrine, the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece are carrying out joint exercises, and trying to develop naval and air bases. I believe that these negative developments not only involve Cyprus but are against Turkey as well, and that as a result, they will damage the atmosphere of peace and security in the Eastern Mediterranean."

5. Denktash: Strategically, Cyprus should not be left to Greece

According to KIBRIS (6.11.95), the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, speaking to a group of Turkish Political Sciences Faculty graduates, has claimed that they have wasted twenty years trying to realize federation.

He accused the Greek Cypriot side of "trying to gain time", fanning the flames of nationalism. Denktash claimed that "Cyprus is for Turkism a question of honour and pride and that strategically Cyprus should not be left to Greece."

Repeating his known allegations regarding Cyprus' EU membership, he declared that it was impossible for them to say "yes" to EU membership. He repeated that if Cyprus becomes an EU member, the Turkish Cypriots will integrate with Turkey. (MY)

6. Wrestling tournament in the occupied area

According to KIBRIS (4.11.95), wrestlers from Turkey, Kazakhistan, Azerbaidjan, Skopje (FYROM) and the Russian Federation will be arriving in the occupied area to take part in the so-called Republic's 4th International wrestling tournament, to be held between 11-12 November. A total of seven wrestling teams will participate in the tournament. (MY)

7. Pseudostate represented in world travel congress in Istanbul

According to KIBRIS ( 4.11.95), the pseudostate is being represented at the World Travel Agency Unions Federation Association Congress being held in Istanbul. The paper alleges that around 600 travel agency representatives are taking part in the Congress. (MY)

8. New "stamps" in the pseudostate

According to KIBRIS (4.11.95), the so-called Postal Department of the pseudostate will be issuing six new "stamps" of the "1995 Anniversary Commemorative Series". (MY)