Cyprus News Agency: News in English (AM), 98-02-18

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] Former Turkish captain says Denktash is "butcher"

[02] US Navy for ratification of Law of the Sea Treaty

1030:CYPPRESS:01

[01] Former Turkish captain says Denktash is "butcher"

Yalcin Kucuk, 60, in self-imposed exile in Paris, told the local private TV channel ANT1 and a Greek weekly magazine of the horrors and crimes committed against unarmed civilians by the invading Turkish army.

In the second part of his interview transmitted here last night, the Turkish intellectual put a lot of the blame for many of the atrocities committed on Rauf Denktash, pointing out that "as long as he stays (in power) there could be no solution to the Cyprus problem".

Describing Denktash as a "butcher", a "gangster" and a "killer", Kucuk stressed "that man is not good for Turks, is not good for Greeks. He is fascist".

Turkish Generals knew that, he said, adding that some of them told him with tears in their eyes that Denktash is not serving the Turkish nation.

He referred to the pillage of churches in the occupied areas, noting that one particular church was looted six times by Denktash himself.

Asked about the fate of Greek Cypriots missing since the 1974 invasion, Kucuk said "he does not believe they are alive", adding that there were murders. "We know our prisons", he remarked.

Expressing his deep sympathy to the families of the missing, Kucuk said he understands "human beings cannot live without hope".

He pointed out that many Turks who have had their children and relatives killed in Turkey, still "think that they will come one day".

Kucuk, a prominent intellectual and political scientist, has worked closely with high-ranking Turkish politicians, including Bulent Ecevit who was Prime Minister during the 1974 invasion.

He has been accused by Ankara of pro-Kurdish and anti-Turkish activities and he has been living in self-imposed exile in Paris since 1993.

Turkish troops have been occupying 37 per cent of Cyprus territory since 1974, in violation of repeated UN resolutions calling for their withdrawal.

CNA MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

1210:CYPPRESS:02

[02] US Navy for ratification of Law of the Sea Treaty

Washington, Feb 18 (CNA) -- The US Navy is pushing for ratification of the Law of the Sea Convention by the US Senate, according to Pentagon sources.

This comes as a major shift in US policy regarding the Law of the Sea Convention, signed by 123 nations in the early 1980s and designed to regulate and guarantee freedom of passage on the high seas, define territorial water rights and fix boundaries for national fishing rights.

This major policy change by the US has very important implications on the issue of territorial waters in the Aegean Sea because it will be difficult for the US, if it ratifies the treaty, not to condemn Turkish positions and threats against Greece in the Aegean.

In a statement to US newspaper "Defence News", US Undersecretary of Defence for Policy, Walter Slocombe describes the Convention as of "tremendous importance to the US, especially from a defence and security point of view".

Slocombe says "the US can neither urge other nations to join the Convention, nor take an appropriate leadership role in its implementation until the Senate has given advice and consent to ratification".

According to US military officials, changes made in 1994 overcome previous objections and the treaty now supports US objectives for the future governance of the world's oceans. Vice Admiral, James Ellis, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policies and Operations, told "Defence News" the Law of the Sea Convention "protects customary and essential use of the world's oceans by the Naval forces".

The Admiral said the Convention "preserves our (US) ability to conduct both routine and crisis response operations and formalises our right to take advantage of the numerous economic, access and engagement benefits the oceans offer as we accomplish naval missions critical to regional stability and our national security".

US officials believe that failure by the Senate to ratify the treaty could put Washington in a position under which it could not have full participation in deliberations over worldwide ocean policies, fishery management issues and sea transit talks.

CNA DA/MCH/GP/1998

ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

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