Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-05-27

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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

No. 91/98 -- 27.5.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash tells Miller situation of ``No TRNC'' is unacceptable.

[02] Denktash approves ``appointment'' of new so-called minister of labour.

[03] Talat said in Istanbul for talks with Asil Nadir.

[04] Mainland Turks arrested for possession of hashish.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Denktash said seeing CTP leader Talat as rival for leadership.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash tells Miller situation of ``No TRNC'' is unacceptable

Noting that Miller came to the island to attend a conference and hold talks with both sides, Denktash added, ``we explained to Miller that we can�t accept a situation in which there is no TRNC, in which we don�t have sovereignty on the island, and in which the Greek Cypriots� full membership application to the European Union is valid and the Turkish Cypriots are ready to support it.''

Responding a reporter�s question about the S-300 missiles, Denktash stressed that Miller talked about the missile issue with the Greek Cypriot side, not with them.

Denktash said, ``we want everybody to know that our rights to negotiate on the basis of a state should be accepted; that the decision of the United Nations Security Council which tries to show the TRNC as an illegal organizaiton, is unacceptable and unfair; that the Security Council isn�t a unit which can decide the TRNC is illegal, and the only illegal unit on the island is the Greek Cypriot Administration; that three guarantors including Greece, came to the decision that `there are two autonomous administrations on Cyprus�at the Geneva Conference, and that no development occured which will make one of these autonomous administrations the legal government of the other so far; that accepting the Greek Cypriots as the legal government of the island will be the approval of the colonization of the Turkish Cypriots.''

Thomas Miller noted that he won�t give information about the meeting, but said, ``we had a good meeting with Denktash.''

[02] Denktash approves ``appointment'' of new so-called minister of labour

Onur Borman, who is the only female member of the so-called cabinet, was born in Limassol in 1941. She graduated from the Political Sciences Department at Ankara University. She started her public career by becoming a teacher in 1965. She later assumed various responsible posts at the so- called ministry of economy and finance. She served as an ``under secretary'' in the so-called ministry of economy and finance and the so- called prime minister�s office and as a ``presidential aide'' until 1993. She was the so-called minister of economy and finance until18 January 1995.

[03] Talat said in Istanbul for talks with Asil Nadir

In its press release, however, the CTP headquarters said that Talat had gone to Istanbul to meet the Cypriot students there.

Reportedly, Hasan Ercakica, a member of the CTP executive board and the coordinator of Everest Bank, also went to Istanbul and was picked up at the airport by Asil Nadir�s private driver.

The political circles in the occupied area view these new developments in the context of possible alliances ahead of the so-called local elections and as an indication of a ``UBP (National Unity Party) - CTP coalition in the offing.''

[04] Mainland Turks arrested for possession of hashish

KIBRIS says that following a tip off, ``police'' agents disguised as buyers arrested the four mainland Turks in the occupied port town of Famagusta.

Denktash�s ``police'' found a kilo of hashish in their possession with a market value of 1.5 billion TL.

(MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Denktash said seeing CTP leader Talat as rival for leadership

``And, he has reason to worry! With Talat�s international contacts and personal standing on the rise, Denktash has been justified to be worried by that!'' Ercakica says. And adds:

``Denktash has two kinds of status. First, he is the `TRNC President�. He gains that status through the elections organized in north Cyprus. In our view, that status is as legal as the elections are democratic. But it has no international validity.

Though the status of `TRNC President� has no international validity, Denktash fills in that vacuum in his capacity as `the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community�. The international organizations, primarily the UN, and the states consider that status as legal and establish contact with him and listen to his views in that framework.

Any recognized state with developed international ties conducts its international relations by various means. Besides the president, the representatives of the parliament and the government, the opposition parties and civilian organizations also participate in these relations. And all such contacts are considered valid and legal, for the total of such contacts constitute the body of international relations of a given country.

But this is not the case for the TRNC. The foreigners establish formal contact only with Rauf Denktash as `the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community�. The government has no direct contact with the foreigners. Such an entity as the Assembly Foreign Relations Committee is not recognized. It is not possible to set up joint commissions or working groups.

This is where Denktash�s superiority rests. He executes foreign policy, though the TRNC constitution has not invested him with such a power. This power is given to him by the international community he appears to be opposed to and with which he is unwilling to enter into contact. And then Denktash uses this power not only against the international community itself but also against his opponents in north Cyprus. He has assumed the role of the sole upholder of the Cyprus problem. Those unwilling to subscribe to it he virtually declares as `traitors to the nation�.

The non-recognition of the TRNC and its institutions is the main source feeding Denktash�s strength on the international arena.

What a strange paradox, is it not?

Denktash is the only institution recognized by the international community. Yet, he skillfully uses this power both against those who recognize him and those who are in opposition to him.''

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

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