Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-07-13

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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. 123/98 -- 11-12-13.7.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01]] Ankara should reassess its policy on Cyprus.

[02] Yilmaz: If Greeks deploy S-300 missiles, so will Turkey.

[03] General Karadayi promises continuous ``presence'' in the occupied areas.

[04] ``Ecevit: We will not bargain for missiles''.

[05] T.D.N on the no-fly zone over Cyprus.

[06] Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman on S-300s.

[07] Forged US dollars circulating in the occupied area.

[08] Turkish jets receive training in Israel to destroy S-300 missiles.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ankara should reassess its policy on Cyprus

We made it possible for the American administration, which had hitherto acted to counterbalance Russia�s anti-Turkey initiatives on Cyprus, to vote along with Moscow. Bravo to the Ecevit team! It has indeed made a great achievement.

There is not a single party in Turkey that is interested in foreign policy. Had there been one, it would have raised the following questions:

1. What is the government�s strategy?

2. What tactics does it use to implement this strategy?

3. Which objectives are important for Turkey?

4. Was the timing right to implement a new policy, that is, change the parameters?

With the opposition failing to ask these questions and Mesut Yilmaz surrendering foreign policy to Ecevit�s team, Turkey has found itself heading toward a wall.

Does Ankara now not need to come to its senses and ``reassess its policy on Cyprus?''

Is no one in Ankara aware that ``seeing a mistake and correcting it is a virtue?'' It should not be difficult to rectify a mistake.

Now, let us look at the other mistakes by made Ankara:

Despite the promises made to the US President, Ankara failed to legislate the harmonization laws (with the EU) and has done nothing in that direction. Gentlemen, had Ankara introduced the harmonization laws soon after the 1995 constitutional amendments, the EU Luxembourg summit would not have been able to come up with the decision that it made. I do not know if you are aware of that. I do not think so.

[02] Yilmaz: If Greeks deploy S-300 missiles, so will Turkey

Replying to another similar question, he said: ``The deployment of these missiles would be a development that would change all the balances in the eastern Mediterranean and that would greatly help Russia�s historical dream of extending to the Mediterranean. This should worry the Europeans and the Americans more than us. We will take the necessary measures as far as we are concerned. If you look at the developments so far, you will see that it will not be that easy to deploy the missiles. But, as I said, even if they are deployed, it does not matter. We will take corresponding measures to defend ourselves, that will maintain the balance of power there in our favour. You can use your imagination to include anything in that. What I think is that the S-300 missiles issue was posited mostly as a bargaining chip to be used against us. The Americans liked that and so did the Europeans. They sort of said to us: If you make certain concessions in Cyprus, then we will pressure the Greeks to give up on the idea of the S-300�s.

When we insistently stressed that these were not issues that can be linked, that the Cyprus issue must be solved within its own parameters, and that they should not expect one-sided concessions from us, they realized that this is not a bargaining chip. They realized the negative strategic consequences the issue may create for them. I believe that from now on, they will be more insistent than us regarding this issue.''

[03] General Karadayi promises continuous ``presence'' in the occupied areas

According to illegal Bayrak radio (10.7.98) the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr. Rauf Denktash received General Karadayi. During the meeting Mr. Denktash referred to the Cyprus Government�s efforts to become a full member of the EU, and he said: ``They get their courage in this vein from the EU, which accepted the Greek Cypriots as a candidate country in the wake of a mistaken decision. In this way, the EU has eliminated all the parameters which we considered as grounds for peace''.

He, also, claimed that the presence of the Turkish soldiers on the island is within the framework of the UN parameters and added: ``A lasting peace in Cyprus depends on maintaining the Turkish- Greek balance and having the two communities on the island live in line with their own will''.

Stressing that peace can be secured if based on realities, Denktash said:

``A bridge between the two sides can be established if the existence and the equality of the two sides and the sovereignty of the two sides within this equality are accepted.

According to Anatolia Agency (10.7.98) Gen. Karadayi, addressing a dinner given in his honour by Mr. Denktash, said: ``The Turkish presence in Cyprus and Turkey�s guarantee will continue forever. Everything necessary along these lines will be done''.

Turkish daily HURRIYET covers also the visit of General Karadayi to the occupied part of Cyprus. In an unattributed report it writes: ``The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) reacted at the highest level to the landing of Greek warplanes in the Greek Air Base in Paphos and to the statements by Greek President Costis Stefanopoulos during his visit to the Republic of Cyprus. Arriving in the island for this purpose, the Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, conveyed to the Turkish Cypriots the message:

``We will not leave the field to Greece. The TAF is determined to fulfill its historic responsibilities on Cyprus. ``Karadayi also inspected Turkish military units on the island, observed on location their ``level of preparedness for war,'' and reviewed with military officials the measures that will be taken against the S-300 missiles. The visit of Gen. Karadayi, who will retire on 30 August, also had the character of a farewell tour.''

[04] ``Ecevit: We will not bargain for missiles''

Commenting on the proposal for the establishment of a no-fly zone over the island, Ecevit said: ``We cannot bargain on our security.''

[05] T.D.N on the no-fly zone over Cyprus

[06] Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman on S-300s

Asked to comment about a statement by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz that Turkey would also install missiles in the island, Atacanli reiterated that Turkey was taking all necessary countermeasures. He declined to confirm that the visit of Chief of General Staff Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi to the ``TRNC'' on Friday was directly linked to the discussion of these measures and refused to elaborate on the details of Karadayi�s visit.

Regarding the suggestion for a no-fly zone over Cyprus, Mr. Atacanli said:

``No official proposal for a no-fly zone over Cyprus has been conveyed to Ankara yet� This is put forward simply as an idea''.

PM Yilmaz tough on Cyprus

In a television interview Thursday evening, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz reiterated Turkey�s determination not to make concessions over Cyprus. He emphasized that if the S-300 missiles are deployed in Cyprus, Turkey would respond by stepping up its military strength to protect the Turkish Cypriots.

``Our attitude is clear. If they want they can deploy the missiles� This will not harm us. Tension will escalate, maybe it will lead to a conflict, but we will not come out worse off'', Yilmaz was quoted as saying by Anatolia.

[07] Forged US dollars circulating in the occupied area

KIBRIS reports that following a search conducted by the Denktash ``police'' 16500 forged US dollar were found in the doctor�s possession.

The doctor and his son have been arrested.

The paper said that ``police'' thinks that an international gang is involved in the case.

(MY)

[08] Turkish jets receive training in Israel to destroy S-300 missiles

During the training exercise reported as successful, Turkish jets took part in blinding jamming and destroying the S-300 radars as well as the missiles.

Turkish experts and maintenance technicians took part in the exercise.

HURRIYET also reports that Israel has completed the delivery of Israeli made air to surface Poppeye-1 missiles to Turkey. The missile has a range of 150 kms.

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

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