TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 96-03-27

From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <[email protected]>

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.56/96 27.3.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Atun returns from Turkey, comments on contacts

According to illegal Bayrak radio (6:00 hours, 26.3.96) "Prime Minister" Atun completed his contacts in Turkey and returned to the occupied area. He said that at the Fourth Congress of the Turkic States and Communities Friendship, Brotherhood, and Cooperation Council he had the opportunity to discuss the expectations of the Turkish Cypriots from the other Turkic states, as well as the general political situation. He recalled that after the Congress, he met with Turkish State Minister Ayfer Yilmaz who is responsible for Cyprus affairs, with Foreign Minister Gonensay, and Prime Minister Yilmaz.

According to TRT (18:00 hours, 25.3.96), Yilmaz stressed that every kind of support will be extended and that Turkey is determined to maintain its interest in and contributions to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

"In fact, even though this is a problem that must be resolved between the two communities, as I said in my call for peace and dialogue to the Greek Government yesterday, the solution of the bilateral problems between Turkey and Greece and the elimination of the current tension between us will indirectly help to solve the Cyprus problem. Consequently, we believe that the call we made yesterday is important in terms of the future of the Cyprus problem and the solution of the Cyprus problem as well. We retain our expectation that the Greek Government will positively assess our call", Yilmaz said.

Prime Minister Yilmaz stressed that every kind of measure will be taken to ensure that the Turkish Cypriots are not "hurt" by the Customs Union agreement that went into effect on 1 January 1996.

Atun said that he briefed all Turkish officials on the Cyprus problem and on domestic problems. He said: "I told them that our work has reached the final stage, the stage of decision- making. I told them of our important problems, of our medium-term stability measures, and of our long-term plans."

Atun summarized these plans as harmonizing the "TRNC" customs "laws" with Turkey's following the Customs Union, organizing the issue of a value-added tax and other tax reforms, taking the necessary steps toward privatization, and improving the "state" structure. Atun said that the Turkish Government officials heard these things with great excitement and sensitivity.

Atun said that Minister Ayfer Yilmaz, Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay, and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz are getting ready to visit the occupied area as soon as possible.

[02] Talat comments on Cyprus solution, Yilmaz' call to Greece

According to illegal Bayrak radio (11:30 hours, 26.3.96) Mehmet Ali Talat, Republican People's Party (RTP) leader, "State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister", met with Richard Boucher, US Ambassador to Nicosia and conferred with him for some time.

Explaining in a statement he issued after the meeting, which was held at RTP headquarters, that he observed that the Americans were in favour of holding comprehensive talks in a bid to achieve a deep-seated solution to the Cyprus issue, Talat added that an American proposal to that effect may be raised in the coming months. Noting that there are approaches that link EU membership to a Cyprus solution, Talat remarked: "In other words, there are those who think that any agreement on a Cyprus solution should be considered as an EU document." Talat explained that they, as the RTP, support and find favourable the view of all circles involved, that a definite stand on the Cyprus issue should be adopted now that Cyprus' EU membership is gaining momentum. Talat continued: "We should aim toward the EU, which is the main wish of everybody, after the Cyprus issue is solved."

Assessing President Suleyman Demirel's upcoming visit to the United States, Talat said that the fact that Greek Prime Minister Constantinos Simitis will also visit the United States is a manifestation of the United States' interest in Cyprus and Turkish-Greek issues.

Noting that Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz' call to Greece to launch a dialogue might pave the way to positive developments on the Cyprus issue, Talat added that, as the RTP, they support Yilmaz' call. Talat further stated that Yilmaz' call will yield great benefits if it is not used as a tool for internal politics in Greece and Turkey.

Commenting on the Cyprus report submitted to the EU Foreign Ministers Council by Federico Di Roberto, representative of the Italian EU Presidency on the Cyprus issue, Talat noted that the RTP also favours developing the relations between the two communities as stated in the report. Recalling that the issue of demilitarizing the island as noted in the report would anyway be raised after a solution is reached, Talat added: "Saying that the talks should begin after the island is demilitarized, however, is tantamount to saying that the talks should not begin."

Adding that the RTP is not favourably inclined to mobilizing international forces in Cyprus, Talat explained that such a move is undertaken in those areas where there is war and bloodshed, like Bosnia, adding that Cyprus cannot be included in that category.

[03] Atun and Talat to visit London and Ireland, respectively

According to YENIDUZEN (27.3.96), the so-called Prime Minister of the pseudostate Hakki Atun and his so-called deputy Mehmet Ali Talat will be leaving the occupied area on 31 March, 1996 for London to attend a fund-raising ball for the reforestation of the Pentadactylos range which was burnt during a forest fire last June.

The ball is organized by the Union of Turkish Education.

YENIDUZEN says that on 1 April Atun will go to Istanbul and from there, on 3rd April, he will return to the occupied area.

Meanwhile, Talat will go to Belfast, Ireland, where he will meet with the Friends of Turkish Cypriots Union. He will also hold a political meeting with Irish Euro-MPs as well as tour operators and travel agents.

Talat will also have a meeting with Turkey's Ambassador to the UK Ozden Sanberk as well as Turkish Cypriot community leaders in the UK. He will be back in Cyprus on 7 April. (MY)

[04] KTOS Trade Union against integration

According to YENIDUZEN (27.3.96) the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Trade Union, KTOS, in a recent statement has declared that it is against integration with Turkey and supports a federal solution in Cyprus. The statement reads:

"For years the policy of integration is being followed in our country. What are the indications of this policy? What is the relation between integration and the rights won? It would be beneficial to refer to these issues. Integration means: - Removing the moving scale. - Holding salaries and wages low and continuous dropping of the buying power. - Taking back all the rights won including the retirement rights. - Increasing the burden already existing on the workers' shoulders through VAT and other taxes. - Transferring to Turkey or to the Turkish bosses companies such as the Turkish Cypriot Airlines or the Turkish Cypriot Petroleum Company under the guise of privatization. - Turning our country into a "free for all" country by removing passport procedures from Turkey and allowing the entry to our country with Identity Cards. - Getting rid of Trade Unionism through illegal workers and manpower with low wages. - Estrangement of the Turkish Cypriot community and emigration from Cyprus." KTOS underlined that it is against such policies and urged those who share its views to come forward and do what they have to do. (MY)

[05] British bases give financial aid to Turkish Cypriot institutions

According to KIBRIS (27.3.96), the British Sovereign Base Area Administration (HQ - SBAA) has extended financial aid to Turkish Cypriot Institutions in the occupied Pergamos village and in the mixed village of Pyla.

An SBAA official donated 1000 CYP to the so-called Pergamos Municipality, 500 CYP to the Turkish primary school in Pyla and 750 CYP to the Sports Club of Pergamos.

Base officials said that this aid will continue.

The commander of the Dhekelia Base Major S. Adlington presented the cheques. (MY)

[06] Pseudostate participates in Tourism Fair

According to KIBRIS (27.3.96) the so-called Director of the "Tourism, Promotion and Marketing Department" Orhan Tolun left the occupied area yesterday for Moscow to attend an international tourism fair.

The Moscow Tourism Fair will last for five days. Tolun will return to the occupied area on 31 March. (MY)