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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-09-12
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA
No. 174/00 -- 12.9.00
[A] NEWS ITEMS
[01] Cem, Denktash comment on Cyprus proximity talks.
[02] Ecevit repeats claim of Cyprus "realities".
[03] So-called speaker questions British bases in Cyprus.
[04] Comar poll results.
[05] Akinci meets German diplomat.
[06] Denktash insists on issue of "status".
[07] Cem meets De Soto, conveys Turkish sensitivities on Cyprus issue.
[08] Hotels close for winter season.
[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS
[09] Turkish paper views Cyprus/ importance in balance between Turkey,
Greece.
[12] Cem, Denktash comment on Cyprus proximity talks Anatolia Agency (17:43
hours, 11.9.00) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader
Rauf Denktash who is in New York for the fourth round of Cyprus proximity
talks held under auspices of the United Nations (UN), said on Monday that
"TRNC" gives priority to compromise.
Denktash, the accompanying delegation, the Turkish Foreign Ministry
officials headed by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Denktash/s consultant
Mumtaz Soysal held a meeting in New York.
Following the meeting, Denktash responded to the questions of the
journalists.
When asked whether or not the direct talks can start after this tour,
Denktash claimed "no. Because the Greek Cypriots prefer to hide themselves
behind fake titles. They prefer the fake title to face-to-face meetings
with us. They give priority to the integration with the European Union (EU)
under this title. Our priority is compromise. We will launch initiatives
in the EU after we reach compromise".
Denktash noted that they will be stronger in the fourth round of the
proximity talks which will start on Tuesday and that they are well-prepared
for this round.
When asked if he is hopeful, Denktash said, "I am neither hopeless nor
hopeful. We have come to defend our state and people. We have already
extended our hand for peace but they do not hold our hand. If they hold our
hand, they will recognize us. We exist either they recognize or not
recognize us. They lost many years due to their ideas. They think they
gained something but they are losing us. I hope they will be more moderate
in this round".
Later, Cem told reporters that Denktash is highly skilled in the proximity
talks and that what they can do is to only extend support to Denktash in
the talks.
[49] Ecevit repeats claim of Cyprus "realities" NTV (10:30 hours, 11.9.00)
carries a live news conference by Turkish Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit, during which he referred to the on-going Cyprus
talks in New York and said: "A serious result from New York should not be
expected as long as the realities existent in Cyprus are not accepted and
as long as the fact that there are two separate states in Cyprus is
disregarded. Actually, the fact that there are two separate states in
Cyprus is increasingly being accepted in the world."
[59] So-called speaker questions British bases in Cyprus According to
Anatoila Agency (17:08 hours, 11.9.00) Ertugrul Hasipoglu, the
so-called parliament speaker of the pseudostate, said on Monday that
British bases on Cyprus should be up for discussion.
Hasipoglu met with Arif Tahir Erisen, the Spokesman of the Turkish Cypriot
Rights Committee functioning in Britain.
Drawing the attention to the "embargo", visa application and other so-
called injustice that the British government does towards Turkish Cypriots,
Hasipoglu said that the British people got the blame for the present
situation of Cyprus.
Stating that the Turkish population in Britain is almost equal to the
population in "TRNC", Hasipoglu said that the lobby activities carry
importance.
[77] Comar poll results On 9 September, KIBRIS publishes the results of a
COMAR poll on the problems
facing the Turkish Cypriots.
The replies to the question what are the most important problems of the
pseudostate were as follows:
39.9% Inflation/cost of living 11.6% Bank crisis
9.5% Non solution of the Cyprus problem 6.8% Education
6.5% Leave from Cyprus (emigration) 5.4% Unemployment
4.6% Embargoes 4.3% Dependence on Turkey
4.3% The "government/s" mistakes 2.3% Illegal workers
1.7% Internal security 1.4% Lack of productivity
1.2% Others 0.4% Health
0.3% Environmental problems
[101] Akinci meets German diplomat According to KIBRIS (12.9.00) the so-
called state minister and deputy prime
minister Mustafa Akinci had a meeting yesterday with Mario Soos, the new
Counsellor at the German Embassy, who is currently the charge d/affaires of
the Embassy.
No statement was made after the meeting.
[110] Denktash insists on issue of "status" KIBRIS (12.9.00) reports under
the banner headlines "There is no hope" and
says that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has said that they want to
see the Greek Cypriot side/s proposals. Answering questions put to him by
SIM FM correspondent Sami Ozulu in New York, Denktash declared that they
prepared a new evaluation based on the document they had submitted in
Geneva and that they will act at the 4th round of talk to be resumed in New
York today in light of this evaluation.
Expressing the view that he will feel satisfied if the necessary ground is
prepared for a face to face meeting, Denktash said that they are not aware
of what the Greek Cypriot side had put on the negotiation table. He said
that he will ask UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to provide information on
this issue.
Stressing that in order to discuss "land borders" and other issues the
issue of the status quo should be settled first, Denktash demanded that the
Cyprus government admit that it does not represent the whole of Cyprus.
Denktash repeated his known allegation that they did not accept and will
never accept the UN resolutions that consider, as he put it, the "Greek
Cypriot administration as the legitimate government of Cyprus".
Referring to the proposals they have submitted to the UN Secretary
General/s Special Cyprus envoy, Alvaro de Soto, during the third round of
talks in Geneva, Denktash said that they will sit around the negotiation
table during the fourth round of talks with the new evaluation they have
carried out in the light of the contacts they have held within the
framework of these proposals.
Claiming that they have no official information about the Greek Cypriots/
demands, Denktash said that "what we have learned from the press is that
the things they want from us are things that we cannot give".
Branding the issue of status as the lock and key of the Cyprus problem,
Denktash said that "the land issue and other issues could be discussed once
the status issue is unlocked."
[149] Cem meets De Soto, conveys Turkish sensitivities on Cyprus issue
Anatolia Agency (21:02 hours, 11.9.00) reports that Turkish Foreign
Minister Ismail Cem has conveyed to Alvaro de Soto, UN Secretary General
Kofi Annan/s special Cyprus envoy, the views and sensitivities of the
Turkish side regarding the Cyprus issue.
The meeting between Cem and Do Soto, which was held at the Turkish House in
New York yesterday, lasted 50 minutes. Replying to reporters questions
after the meeting, De Soto said that the meeting was "beneficial".
Recalling that there is a news blackout regarding the Cyprus talks, De Soto
said that he would not go into details.
Diplomatic sources said that at the meeting, De Soto listened to the views
of the Turkish side and "expressed the wish for progress".
According to the views of the Turkish side, the talks aim at preparing the
ground for direct talks and securing the recognition of "TRNC/s" political
equality and sovereignty.
Fred Eckhard, Annan/s press spokesman, said that "the Secretary General is
optimistic regarding the fourth round proximity talks".
Eckhard concluded by saying that "taking into account the complexity of the
situation, it would not be realistic to expect a solution in the near
future".
[177] Hotels close for winter season HALKIN SESI (9.9.00) reports that due
to the recent electricity and fuel
price hikes, some hotel owners in the occupied area have decided to close
their hotels during the winter season. The hotels involved are the Club
Acapulco, Club Lapithos and Oscar Hotel.
[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS [185] Turkish paper views Cyprus/ importance in
balance between Turkey, Greece Columnist Kamaran Ozbir, writing in Ortadogu
(4.9.00) under the title "Why
is Cyprus Important?" says:
"Why is Cyprus Important?
Greece has an important strategic advantage with the air bases it
established in the Aegean Sea near Turkey right after 1974. It is
technically and theoretically possible that the Greek planes might attack
the strategically important industrial and residential areas of Turkey in
the Marmara and Aegean regions in a very short period of time. The Turkish
Air Force will need a relatively longer period of time to respond to and
fight against such a surprise attack. During this time it is possible that
the Greek Air Force will inflict big losses on the Turkish side. It is
impossible for Turkey to carry out a similar surprise attack on Greece,
because the bases of the Turkish Air Force are far away from Greece/s
strategically important industrial and residential areas. In addition,
having stated that it will not allow a Turkish-Greek war, the United States
will have prevented the attack by activating its political and military
influences before Turkey attacks back.
In the light of such a scenario, how will Turkey get Greece to reconsider?
This is where Cyprus/ strategic importance comes into play. Turkey can be
prevented from attacking back in case of a surprise attack from Greece.
However, in case of such a surprise attack, Turkey has the power to invade
the Greek part of Cyprus with 30,000 soldiers and the necessary equipment
it has on the island. Thus, if Greece decides to extend its control in the
Aegean Sea to 12 miles or to attack Turkey, Greece knows it will lose
Cyprus completely. In the light of this scenario, it is assumed that Greece
will back off. This is Cyprus/ role in the strategic balance between Turkey
and Greece.
The Russian-made S-300 missiles on the Greek part of Cyprus (as published)
disturb the balance. An air attack on the southern part of the island will
be very difficult due to these missiles. Therefore, the Turkish military on
the island will not withdraw for as long as trust between Turkey and Greece
is not maintained. The pressure on Turkey to withdraw its military power
from the island will not bear any results as long as Greece does not make
any effort to dispel Turkey/s misgivings about Greece. In order to
establish stable trust and peace between Turkey and Greece, the military
strengthening should come to an end. Thus, Greece should give up on the 12-
mile dream".
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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