Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-03-12

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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. 45/98 -- 12.3.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Miller request to meet Yilmaz and Ecevit rejected in Ankara.

[02] Denktash against efforts to link Cyprus to EU issue.

[03] Turkish Spokesman repeats claims that Cyprus parameters have been changed.

[04] Altinisik dismissed.

[05] Commander briefs press on military situation in Cyprus.

[06] Ecevit: Government ready for early elections at any moment.

[07] Inal Batu to visit pseudostate.

[08] Turkey's Batu on Cyprus, EU, Greece-Turkey relations.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Miller request to meet Yilmaz and Ecevit rejected in Ankara

During his contacts in Ankara, Miller will meet with Sukru Sina Gurel, state minister in charge of Cyprus and EU affairs, and various officials from the Foreign Ministry.

[02] Denktash against efforts to link Cyprus to EU issue

In a statement yesterday, Denktash noted that the French Government adopted a stand that it would be wrong to negotiate with a Cypriot delegation that would exclude the Turkish Cypriots. Stressing that Greece reacted very strongly to this French stand, Denktash said that the Greek press attacked the French stand.

Noting that he is amazed at the insistent attitude adopted by certain friends, as he called them, to have the Turkish Cypriots participate in the EU accession negotiations, Denktash claimed that the Cyprus problem is being turned into one of joining or not joining the EU. Pointing out that the EU is a union that envisages free circulation and free exchange, Denktash added, however, regarding the Cyprus issue the Turkish Cypriot side wants to impose various limitations on the issue of settlement and property exchange. Alleging that former President Vassiliou and the UN Secretary General accepted this Turkish Cypriot view and the preservation of the Turkish-Greek balance, Denktash said that the Greek Cypriot side has put forth the EU idea in a bid to get rid of them.

Referring to the EU invitation, Denktash said that the Turkish Cypriot side has been invited to the EU accession talks together with the Cyprus Government without the right of speech.

He said he did not understand the procedures relating to the invitation.

[03] Turkish Spokesman repeats claims that Cyprus parameters have been changed

In reply to a question during his weekly news conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Necati Utkan said that the letter sent by Rauf Denktash to President Clerides last week was not accepted. Utkan alleged that the Greek Cypriots must accept that there is an entity in the northern part of the island equally sovereign as them and equal to them.

"It will definitely be a grage mistake for the various officials interested in the Cyprus issue to continue to behave as though nothing has changed in the wake of the Luxembourg summit.

Moreover, as far as the work conducted under the auspices of the United Nations is concerned, if there are those who insist on pursuing the wrong path in Luxembourg and if these people are undermining the UN Secretary General's mission through their intervention, they must refrain from such action", Utkan claimed.

Meanwhile, Taner Etkin, "foreign affairs and defense minister of the pseudostate, was to arrive in Ankara today (12.3.98). Etkin and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will exchange the ratification documents of the "agreement" on the establishment of a "Partnership Council" between Turkey and the pseudostate.

[04] Altinisik dismissed

Rauf Denktash yesterday held separate meetings with Serdar Denktash, "state minister and deputy prime minister" and later with Eroglu. Altinisik's dismissal was discussed in both meetings.

In a statement after his meeting with Rauf Denktash, Serdar Denktash said that the stand adopted by Eroglu shows that he has not taken into consideration the Democratic Party (DP) views on the issue. Noting that Eroglu sent a letter to Rauf Denktash asking that Altinisik be removed from "office" and that Denktash was "constitutionally" bound to fulfill this request, Serdar Denktash said: "The developments show that the prime minister has disregarded our views on the issue." Pointing out that the DP authorized organs will assess the situation, Serdar Denktash did not elaborate on the issue.

After Serdar Denktash' meeting with Denktash, Eroglu arrived and met with Rauf Denktash. In a statement after the meeting, Eroglu said that he favours the continuation of the "government". Eroglu added that, however, this depends on the will of the "coalition" partners and that an agreement has to be reached. He noted that the "coalition" partners were aware of the letters he wrote in connection with the Altinisik case and that he is ready to meet with everyone. Eroglu recalled that different press reports appeared on the issue before he had a chance to meet with Serdar Denktash after he sent the letter to Denktash. He added that upon these developments Serdar Denktash said that he would not discuss the issue with Eroglu other than through the press. Eroglu noted that Altinisik was informed in advance of his visit to Turkey and that Eroglu would be going to Turkey because of health reasons.

After Eroglu issued this statement, Rauf Denktash talked to reporters on the Altinisik case. Denktash said that the hitches being experienced in the implementation of the "coalition protocol" do not concern him, adding that the "government" partners should hold talks to resolve this issue. In reply to a reporter's question on whether there is a "government" crisis, Denktash said: "Serdar Denktash told me that the party authorized organs will assess the issue".

[05] Commander briefs press on military situation in Cyprus

Yalcin received members of the Turkish Diplomatic Correspondents Association and gave information on the military developments on the island. He noted that the Greek Cypriot side has increased its ground and armoured forces as well as its mobility and firing power in the last eight years, adding that it has also modernized its command control systems. Pointing out that the United States and Europe have remained spectators in the face of these armament efforts, Yalcin said: "The S-300 missiles are gradually approaching the island. We are extremely sensitive to the disruption of the balance of powers against us". He noted that 120 Greek and Greek Cypriot soldiers are currently undergoing training on the S-300 missiles in Russia and that preparations are underway in positions where the missiles will be deployed.

Claiming that Greece and the Greek Cypriots are eager to make the most of the opportunities to be presented, Yalcin said that the necessary measures have been taken to prevent a hot clash.

Pointing out that the Paphos base is ready to b e opened any moment and that the Turkish side has taken countermeasures, Yalcin said that in the event of a hot clash the first sortie will be launched from the Paphos base and that it will take three minutes to hit the target. Pointing out that the occupied Lefkoniko airport can be used at any time, Yalcin continued: "We have aircraft deployed at Lefkoniko at all times. If it takes three minutes to hit a target from Paphos base the same is valid for Lefkoniko". He added that, however, from the military viewpoint there might be no need to use Lefkoniko.

Yalcin said that Russia takes a great interest in the island and that Russian technicians are employed in the maintenance training of the T-80 tanks it has sold to the Greek Cypriots. He also claimed that Russia intends to have a military presence in Cyprus. Yalcin further claimed that the PKK (Workers Party of Kurdistan) organization has a base in the free areas. He also put forward the outrageous allegation that the island is being used as a transit center, that logistic support is being obtained and that it is being used as a stopover by PKK members travelling from Europe, Turkey, or Syria.

Brigadier General Hasan Pekel Gunal, commander of the so-called security forces, said in a statement to reporters that three Cessna type aircraft used in ground aviation and 5,000 troops are stationed in occupied Lefkoniko airport.

[06] Ecevit: Government ready for early elections at any moment

"Our government is a three-party minority government. It is unusual for such governments to make comprehensive reforms that yield long-or medium- term results. Even though we keep in mind that early elections can be held at any moment outside our will, however, we are trying to find long- and medium-term solutions to Turkey's deep-rooted problems as if we are a lasting government," Ecevit said.

[07] Inal Batu to visit pseudostate

(MY)

[08] Turkey's Batu on Cyprus, EU, Greece-Turkey relations

To a question on Greece-Turkey relations, Batu, inter alia, said: "The relations between the two countries have not improved. The old problems have not been solved. New problems have been added to them. No way out has been found. Greece has long been using Turkey's accession to the EU as a trump card to put pressure on our country. Turkey will not hold talks with the EU on its relations with Greece." He said that new problems, such as the Kardak issue, have been added to the old, that military links have been established between Greece and Cyprus and claimed that has turned the island into a dangerous area.

Asked how will the situation that will be created when the EU moves to hold talks with Cyprus on accession affect Turkey's relations with the organization Batu claimed inter alia:

"Two important points should be outlined. The first is that the Greek Cypriot administration's application to join the EU is not a legitimate and valid initiative. The EU involved itself in such an illegitimate move by accepting the application and deciding to hold talks with south Cyprus. The second is the fact that the 1960 Agreements prevent Cyprus from joining an organization of which Turkey is not a member. The EU misled Turkey many times in its effort to hold talks with the Greek Cypriots. It said: `We will not accept the Greek Cypriot application to join the organization'. That was a lie. It later said that the organization will not disclose the Greek Cypriot side's views on accession. However, it published its views. It lied to Turkey a third time. It said that `talks will not begin on the Greek Cypriot side's accession'. It recently said that it `prefers Cyprus to join the organization as a bicommunal federation.

Agreeing to allow only the Greek Cypriot side to join the organization will be very difficult'. We wonder whether that is a lie as well. I am worried that it may be the fourth time the EU has lied to Turkey.

Let us now consider what may happen if the Greek Cypriot side joins the EU. The island will definitely be divided. Two countries will be able to use their veto against Turkey in the EU. Greece and south Cyprus will veto Turkey's relations with the organization. Meanwhile, the Greek Cypriot side will join the Western European Union (WEU). Every EU member automatically joins the WEU. In short, the Greek Cypriot side's unilateral accession will divide the island and worsen the relations between Turkey and the EU. That will be an undesirable situation. We are convinced that the friendly countries in Europe do not want Cyprus to be divided. Nor do they want a dispute to emerge between Turkey and the EU. In view of that, they must act with common sense. They must not allow south Cyprus to join the organization as an entity that represents the entire island before the problem is solved. The sooner the mistake that was made is rectified the better. The European diplomats informed us in private in the past that the decision made on talks with the Greek Cypriot side was wrong. We expect them to reveal their views now so that the mistake that was made can be rectified quickly."

Asked how will Turkey react to the Greek Cypriot side's accession and to comment on the policy it might adopt against such a development, Batu said: "Ankara has decided not hold talks with the EU on the Cyprus problem and the relations between Turkey and Greece, which have been used against our country as a means of pressure. That is the right approach because the pressure on Turkey w as unfair."

To a question if the Cyprus problem can be solved, he replied: "That depends on how the problem is looked at. the mistakes that were made by the EU weakened the possibility of a federal solution. The EU decision to hold talks with south Cyprus on accession removed the parameters that might have paved the way for the solution of the problem. A solution may be found on the basis of new parameters in the future. They may call for a solution based on two states. A shift from a federal solution to the establishment of a system based on two states is in question now".

To a question on German-German relations, he said: "The EU summit in Luxembourg could have paved the way for new relations between Turkey and Europe. However, the summit coincided with elections in Germany. Meanwhile, Luxembourg chaired the summit.

That was very unfortunate for Turkey because it is not a country that can use its influence on important issues, such as Turkey's accession to the organization. Another important point is that it is influenced by Germany. The question of freedom of movement made Germany uneasy.

Germany is the leading country in the EU because of its economic strength. Consequently, it will have to meet most of the cost of Turkey's accession to the organization. It has a unique situation. It has to meet most of the financial cost of freedom of movement for Turkish workers in the EU. Furthermore, it has to meet most of the cost of the effort to improve Turkey's economy and bring it in line with EU standards. All that will be very important for relations between Turkey and Germany in the organization. Meanwhile, it must be stressed that historic bilateral relations exist. They have had close ties through history. So we hope that Germany will view its historic relations with Turkey as more important than its short-term and insignificant interests after elections are held there. We also hope that it will adopt a positive and favourable approach. That is what we hope for."

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

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