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Thursday, 18 April 2024
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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-08-17Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 148/98 -- 15-16-17.8.98[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Some 30,000 cubic meters of water transported to ``TRNC''According to Anatolia Agency 7:14 hours, 16.8.98) Dogan Altinbilek, so- called director general of the ``State Water Works'' has said that 30,000 cubic meters of water have been transported to the occupied area since 24 July, the day the water project was officially inaugurated.Altinbilek said that the transport, which is currently done once a week, will be increased to once every three days as of 24 August. Altinbilek said that the transport of water is continuing regularly with the balloon. He continued: ``At the moment, however, we are unable to fully meet the water need of Famagusta and Nicosia. When we start transporting water with three balloons then we shall be able to meet the TRNC water need.'' Altinbilek said that in addition to the 10,000 cubic meter balloon another one with a capacity of 20,000 cubic meters is on its way and that this second balloon will be operational as of 24 August. Altinbilek noted that in this manner, with the arrival of the 20,000 cubic meter balloon, the once-a-week transport will be increased to once every three days, adding that with the arrival of the third balloon in September the transport of water will be speeded up Pointing out that the transport of water is being carried out perfectly, Altinbilek said that in the first year some 3 million cubic meters of water will be transported to the pseudostate, adding that the plan is to transport some 7 million in the subsequent years. He continued: ``Our plan is to increase the capacity of the balloons. At the moment we are planning to transport water with three 20,000 cubic meter capacity balloons.'' Pointing out that no technical problems were encountered in the transports, Altinbilek said that once the system becomes established new transport requests are expected. [02] Serdar Denktash views illegal BRT´s ``protocol'' with Turkish groupAccording to illegal Bayrak radio (15:30 hours, 14.8.98) Serdar Denktash, so-called state minister and deputy prime minister, has declared that the 1974 turkish invasion was ``the realization of a dream'', and the duty now is to strengthen the pseudostate economically and transform it into a developing country, regardless of the world embargoes imposed on it. The illegal BRTK (Bayrak Radio and Television Corporation) delegation, which signed a cooperation agreement with the Raks-Karacan media group in Turkey, and Serdar Denktash, who attended the signing ceremony, returned to the occupied area. Under the agreement, which was signed in Ankara following the initiatives of Turkish State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, illegal BRTK will begin to broadcast in the Black Sea region as well.In a statement to illegal BRT upon arrival at occupied Tymbou airport, Denktash stressed that the ``protocol'' is very important in terms of better conveying the events in Cyprus to Turkey and better informing the Turkish public with regard to foreign policy developments, which have recently intensified. The ``protocol'' will allow the exchange of technical know-how and programs between the two institutions, Denktash remarked, adding: ``The protocol will b ear fruit in a few months time. This will be felt in the BRT programs as well.'' [03] Drought said drying up occupied area´s irrigation reservoirsAccording to a report in KIBRIS (14.8.98) most of the irrigation reservoirs in the occupied area face the threat of drying because of the drought for the last three or four years. One-third of the 40 large and small irrigation reservoirs has dried up. While six of the 18 irrigation reservoirs do not contain even a drop of water, there has been considerable reduction in the amount of water in 7 reservoirs compared to last year.The occupied Geunyeli reservoir, which had 60.7 water content last year, has gone completely dry this year. With occupied Mandres reservoir also suffering a similar fate, the number of dried up reservoirs has reached six. The occupied Photta, Kanli, Skylloura, and Ayia Irini reservoirs had already no water for the last three years. The occupied Morphou, Philia, and Khrysiliou dam-reservoirs, built years ago to inject and enrich underground waters, have remained dry for the last five years. But, in contrast to the general trend across the area, there has been an increase in the amount of pool waters in Mesaoria, which was hit by a flood (in spring). The water level in occupied Kythrea, Chatos, Mia Milia, and Ovgoros rose compared to the last year. The occupied Lefkonico reservoir left its dry days in the past and for the first time this year filled up by 3.8 percent. [04] US-UK think tank accuses West of double standards over CyprusAccording to a report in Turkish Daily News (15.8.98), an Anglo-American Security Information Council (BASIC), argued in a report published last Thursday that the US plan to supply Turkey and Greece with new weapons was only serving to escalate the arms race between the two countries. BASIC emphasized, in its report entitled ``Diplomacy and Arms: West Sends Mixed Messages to Aegean Adversaries'', that the deployment of S-300 missiles in Cyprus was a very dangerous move that would spread chaos in NATO´s southern flank.Highlighting the huge amount of defence spending by both Turkey and Greece, the report said that both countries together had more tanks that Britain, Germany, France and Italy combined. ``Turkey plans to spend a further $31 billion over the next ten years, whilst Greece will spend $24 billion over eight years on fighter aircraft, attack helicopters, frigates and tanks'', the report underlined. The paper argues that these procurement programs are aimed at projecting power beyond the Aegean. ``Both countries are developing the necessary capabilities to fight a war in Cyprus. Both countries have requested the US- made E-15E fighter aircraft, an addition that would double the reach of their respective air forces'', the report argued. A senior analyst at BASIC, Tassos Kokkinides, said that it was ironic that, while the State Department is trying to mediate between the two adversaries, the Pentagon is escalating tension by selling advanced offensive weapons. According to Kokkinides, this double-standard is not acceptable. The paper offered recommendations to reduce risk in the Aegean. It said that demilitarization should be emphasized and added that the international community should exercise restraint in the transfer of weapons to the region. ``In particular, the European Union member states should apply the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports agreed in June, 1198'', the report stated, and added that the code called on EU countries no to issue export licenses if there was a clear risk that the intended recipient would use the proposed export aggressively against another country. BASIC´s report also called for the implementation of confidence and security building measures and the continuation of the mediation efforts. The paper proposed a four point plan to reduce the heat over Cyprus. It highlighted the importance of stopping the deployment of the S-300 missiles. ``In return for Cyprus´ agreement to halt the planned missile deployment, Washington and London should offer to enforce a no-fly zone over the divided island,'' the report stated as part of its recommendations. It then went on to suggest that Turkey should withdraw its 30,000 strong forces in the occupied area in return for the demobilization of the Cypriot National Guard and the withdrawal of the Greek forces stationed in Cyprus. ``United Kingdom forces based in Cyprus could play a crucial role in verifying implementation of such a disarmament'', the report explained. According to BASIC, Greece and Cyprus should also renounce their joint Defence Doctrine and freeze all related military procurement programs. ``In return, Turkey should cease political, economic and military integration with the TRNC'' the report stated. The paper also argued that the increased involvement of the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was necessary for arms control on the island. BASIC´s paper said international pressure must also be brought to bear on the pseudostate to engage in meaningful negotiations on ``workable'' solutions in Cyprus. According to the paper, Ankara has a vital role to play in persuading the Turkish Cypriots to resume negotiations. ``Turkey may be more likely to acknowledge the need for a political settlement if the European Union drops its opposition to Turkey´s membership on the condition that Ankara adheres to high standards of human rights and democracy'', the BASIC paper argued. From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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