Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-02-10

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

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 26/97 10/2/97

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH CHAIRS 'COMPREHENSIVE' MEETING TO REACH CONSENSUS

The meeting which lasted about two hours was attended, in addition to Denktas, by Olgun Pasalar, ''acting speaker'' of the pseudo - Assembly, Dervis Eroglu, National Unity Party (UBP) leader and ''Prime Minister'', Taner Etkin, ''Minister of foreign affairs and defense,'' Kenan Atakol, UBP foreign relations official and former''foreign minister'', Secretary General Enver Emir and Mehmet Bayir from the Democratic Party, Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the main opposition Republican Turkish Party [CTP], Ferdi Salih Soyer, secretary general of the CTP, Feridun Onsal, foreign relations secretary of the CTP, Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Communal Liberation Party [TKP], Huseyin Angolemi, secretary general of the TKP, Gungor Guntan, foreign relations official of the TKP, Salih Bayioglu, so-called president of the ''High Court'', Akin Sait, ''chief prosecutor'', ''Ombudsman'' Nail Atalay, Ismet Kotak, illegal Bayrak Radio and Television director , former so-called Assemly speakers, former ''prime ministers'', former ''foreign ministers,'' and former ''chief prosecutors.''

In a statement before the meeting, Denktas said that they were going to assess the things that can be done within the framework of the latest views posited by President Clerides. Denktas said that because the Turkish Cypriots saw where the developments were leading to, they drew the line, together with Turkey, ''beyond which the Greek Cypriots cannot drag Cyprus . He alleged that the line was drawn on a course which was to have turned Cyprus into a Greek Cypriot republic through membership in the EU. Denktas said: ''We do not have the right to let that happen. We will prevent this ploy by any means. If we cannot prevent it, we will resort to alternative plans.''

Denktas said that the S-300 crisis did not happen all of a sudden, or out of the blue.

He went on to claim that with the statements he makes, President Clerides makes it clear that he does not want to set up a partnership republic with the Turkish Cypriots. He added that a resolution would not be reached at the end of this meeting, but that the aim of the meeting was to reach a consensus. He said that it is wrong to deceive the people into thinking that there will be an agreement. ''The citizens must be told the truth,'' he said.

In statement after the meeting, Dervis Eroglu said that they appraised President Clerides' latest statement and preconditions. He said that similar meetings will be held in the future.

DP Secretary General Enver Emin pointed out that these joint meetings have gained great importance for the future. He said that the DP will convene on 17 February to discuss the situation and formulate certain views. He added that in line with the views to be adopted by the party assemly, they will call all the party leaders to a joint meeting. It may be possible to reach a consensus among the parties, he said.

CTP leader Talat said that they made a general assessment in connection with the latest developments. He said that the CTP expressed the view that it is time to resolve the Cyprus question. He added that the need for a federal solution based on the Ghali Set of Ideas has become even more obvious.

TKP leader Akinci said that some things will definitely be posited in March or April, and that it is very useful to hold such meetings.

[02] TURKISH CYPRIOT ''POLITICIANS''AND BUSINESSMEN ARE HOLDERS OF CYPRUS REPUBLIC PASSPORTS

VATAN says that according to information that reached the paper, a Greek and a Turkish Cypriot living in London are involved in securing the Republic' s passports to the Turkish Cypriots. They carry out the work in partnership'' says VATAN and adds that these two lawyers have made a lot of money.

VATAN further adds that politicians, officials and military circles in Ankara are also concerned over this issue and they want parliamentary inquiry to be opened to find out who are carrying these passports. The paper then asks the following:

- The names of the ''TRNC'' citizens'' who are holders of Greek Cypriot passports

- Is this a crime or not?

- Who are the members of the gang or syndicate abroad who secure Greek Cypriot passports to ''TRNC citizens''? Who are their collaborators in the ''TRNC''?

- Why do the ''TRNC Assembly and legal officials of this TRNC'' not open an inquiry?

[03] DIPLOMATIC SOURCES CITED ON THE SITUATION IN CYPRUS

Diplomatic sources in Nicosia said that a development is not expected to take place in 1997 or 1998.

Diplomatic sources also said that the countries and organizations that are concerned with the Cyprus problem particularly the UN organization and the United States and Britain which have been making an effort to have the problem resolved as quickly as possible have been disappointed by the negative developments on the island. According to the paper, they asserted: ''The negative developments in 1996 and 1997 have significantly weakened the hope for a solution. The talks the Greek Cypriot Cypriot side will hold with the EU during the second half of 1997, the elections that will be held in south Cyprus in 1998, and the missiles the Greek Cypriots will acquire in 16 months obstruct the peace talks like barbed wire. They added that, considering the negative situation a meeting between Rauf Denktash and President Glafkos Clerides will not be useful. Tension has escalated during the past year. That has undermined the common basis for an agreement. A common basis does not exist at the present time. Nor does any goodwill for a solution. The door to a solution is closed but not locked. It can be slightly opened if the two sides act with goodwill , they said.

[04] TURKISH CYPRIOTS BRIEF UN ISLAMIC GROUP ON RECENT EVENTS

Osman Ertug, so-called TRNC representative at the United Nations, addressed the Islamic Group meeting.

The report states that the Greek Cypriot side is allocating close to $2.5 million a day to military expenditure. It also states that the Greek Cypriots are also preparing to purchase K-50 Black Shark assault helicopters from Russia.

Meanwhile, Ertug held a meeting with Britain' s special envoy to Cyprus, in new York. During the meenting, Ertug conveyed to Hannay the Turkish Cypriot stand, particularly with regard to the S- 300 missilles. Hannay also met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. No statement was issued to the press in connection with the meeting.

[05] CIAM CHAIRMAN IN THE OCCUPIED AREA

Pimenoff paid courtesy calls to the so-called Minister of Transport Mehmet Bayram the so-called Foreign Ministry under-secretary Aytug Plumer and Turkish envoy Ertugrul Apakan.

He also attended a demonstration carried out by members of the Model Aircraft Club.

Pimenoff will leave the occupied area for Turkey today. (MY)

[06] NEWLY OVERHAULED PLANE FOR ''TURKISH CYPRIOT AIRLINES''

ORTAM reports that the body of the plane was overhauled in France and the motors in Istanbul at a cost of 3,5 million US dollars.

Denktash's regime has named the plane after the Turkish Cypriot terrorist organization TMT- Gecitkale.

The 229-seat capacity plane has been overhauled in order to meet international civil aviation norms. (MY) EF/MaP