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Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media 96-08-08
From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" <dist@hri.org>
TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA
No.142/96 9.8.96
CONTENTS
[A] NEWS ITEMS
[01] Karayalcin on motorcyclists demonstration.
[02] TURKIYE on motorcyclists demonstration speaks about a possible war.
[A] NEWS ITEMS
[01] Karayalcin on motorcyclists demonstration
According to TURKIYE (9.8.96) former Turkish Foreign
Minister Murat Karayalcin has said that on Sunday the Greek
Cypriot Motorcyclists' attempt to cross into the occupied area
might lead to dire consequences and called on the Motorcyclists to
pay attention to Denktash's warnings. He went on and said: "Their
only aim is when they cross into the Turkish side, fire should be
opened and blood would be shed. Thus they want to make the world
public opinion to stand up. In order to stop this it is not
possible to engage in official action. Moreover, it is not known
which forces are behind this provocation. It seems that this is
not a government initiative, so interstate initiatives could not
be result oriented. However, it is necessary to act calmly".
[02] TURKIYE on motorcyclists demonstration speaks about a possible war
Ali Obuz reporting in TURKIYE (8.8.96) regarding the
Motorcyclists' protest demonstration in Cyprus against the
occupation, claims that the Turkish Foreign Ministry went into
action as Cyprus stands on the verge of war due to the
demonstration by motorcyclists.
He then quotes Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash's threats
that are tantamount to war cries: Denktash declared: "We will
retaliate if they attempt to cross the border." "With this
statement he raised the possibility of a war," says Obuz, and
adds:
"That is, if on 11 August the Greek Cypriot motorcyclists attempt
to cross the border, the TRNC, like any other independent state,
will exercise its right to protect its borders."
He then says that the Turkish Foreign Ministry went into
action when the Greek Cypriots "took a stance favouring another
war in the island." Foreign Ministry officials began a series of
contacts to draw the world's attention to the island and called
for a warning to be issued to the Greek Cypriot sector to prevent
a possible war. He claims that a secret dialogue was established
with Greece asking it to persuade the Greek Cypriot sector to
refrain from such provocations.
A high-ranking Foreign Ministry official, said that the
Greek Cypriots will not dare to cross the border, and added that
contacts have been established with the EU countries. The same
official said: "Even if the demonstrations are held without
crossing the border they are in themselves provocations to the
TRNC. I do not expect them to cross the border. If they do, war
might possibly ensue. We asked the EU countries to warn the Greek
Cypriot administration. A war will benefit no one." (MY) LL/SK
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