Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-03-16

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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. 47/98 -- 14-15-16.3.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Miller meets Gurel.

[02] Accord signed with France on Antitank missiles production.

[03] Denktash criticizes Britain for supporting Clerides offer.

[04] UBP favours continuation of "Coalition Government".

[05] Arrest of Greek Cypriot fishermen in Dherinya.

[06] Denktash says Clerides cannot invite Turks to EU delegation.

[07] Turkish President comments on Cyprus.

[08] Ambassador Batu: "We are not bluffing".

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Tension reported over succession of Turkish army chief.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Miller meets Gurel

Addressing a statement to the press after the meeting, Gurel said that the US is a secular ally of Turkey.

Noting that he exchanged views with Miller concerning "the recent developments regarding the Cyprus problem," Gurel added that "we will continue to exchange views with the US in the future as well."

Miller, said that he informed Gurel about his contacts in Cyprus and Greece, adding that "the approach of Gurel to such a difficult question is very constructive."

Noting that he will proceed to Athens and Europe after his contacts in Ankara, Miller pointed out that "we have to be realistic and I am not hopeful concerning a quick solution on the island. We should work on the possibility of finding a solution on the island and the concerned sides should be creative and flexible. If I believe that we would not be able to find a solution, then I would not work on this question."

Miller said that he will inform Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Representative to Cyprus, about his contacts in the region. .../..

Responding to a question, Miller stressed that the island does not have a static structure, adding that his mission is to decrease the differences in views and to help in finding opportunities which are not obvious at first glance.

[02] Accord signed with France on Antitank missiles production

The agreement, which will also provide modern technology for the Ground Forces, was singed by Lieutenant General Tuncel Kilinc, National Defense Ministry under secretary, and (Pierre Dubois), president in charge of the armament division in France's Aerospatiale firm. Kilinc said that Turkey is modernizing its systems, and it is stressing defense projects in doing this.

Under the agreement, the factory to be established in Turkey will begin manufacturing antitank missiles in one year.

The project, which will cost $441 million, aims at meeting Turkey's antitank missile needs within a period of 10 years. The short-range antitank missiles, which have a range of 600 meters, will be effective against all types of armoured vehicles and they will be furnished with night-vision equipment.

[03] Denktash criticizes Britain for supporting Clerides offer

Speaking to reporters Denktash replied to questions on "foreign and domestic" developments. Sharply criticizing Britain's support for Clerides' proposal that Turkish Cypriot representatives take part in the delegation that will conduct the negotiations with the EU, Denktash continued: "As the so-called president of Cyprus Clerides is proposing that the Turkish Cypriots accept an application that was submitted by the Greek Cypriots in violation of the 1960 agreements and that is aimed at usurping Turkey's rights over Cyprus. How big of him, how generous, and how beautiful!".

[04] UBP favours continuation of "Coalition Government"

In a statement after the meeting, Eroglu said that his party is in favour of the continuation of the "coalition government". Pointing out that the attitude of the Democratic Party will determine whether the "government" will continue to exist, Eroglu remarked, however, that at this stage the UBP does not want the "TRNC" to be left without a "government".

[05] Arrest of Greek Cypriot fishermen in Dherinya

[06] Denktash says Clerides cannot invite Turks to EU delegation

In a written statement he issued, Denktash claimed that "for the last 35 years there has been no government in Cyprus representing the two peoples", adding that the Turkish Cypriot side does not accept the existence of a Cyprus delegation.

He said that this delegation "was entirely a Greek Cypriot delegation", adding that "the perception that it represents the entire island is invalid". Denktash said that a political solution based on the sovereign equality of the two sides that is acceptable to both sides is needed in Cyprus.

[07] Turkish President comments on Cyprus

During a reception for the "Turkish Cypriot Farmers' Association", Demirel said: "Our kinsmen in Cyprus should not have any concerns in any respect. They are under Turkey's umbrella. The TRNC is an independent state. This has become more evident now. The TRNC will stand on its feet. It will receive more support from Turkey. It has been virtually isolated in the eastern Mediterranean because of the embargo imposed. this is a shame for the world. We will defend our citizens in the TRNC in a manner befitting Turkey's dignity."

[08] Ambassador Batu: "We are not bluffing"

Excerpts from the interview:

"Question: Following the Luxembourg Summit it is said that Turkey was forced to follow a new policy in north Cyprus. What are the basics of this policy?

Batu: In fact the point it has been reached today, has started at the Luxembourg Summit. This historic Enosis policy, when entered into the EU's expansion process, has ceded its place to the ideology of two Hellenic Republics in the EU. This ideology is:

To apply for EU, by excluding the Turks. To upset the balance between Turkey and Greece. To enter into EU with the pseudo-title of the Republic of Cyprus. To make the Cyprus problem a problem between the EU and Turkey. Against Turkey to bring in two Hellenic states into the EU. This strategy has been put into practice step by step from this point of view this is for us 1.

starting full membership negotiations with Greek Cypriots is a step towards upsetting the balance between the two communities in Cyprus. 2. By not giving Turkey a candidate state status, it has destroyed the balance between the two guarantor states, that are the two fatherland states. 3. All the parameters of the talks held under the auspices of the UN have been destroyed. Thus a new stage has been reached.

We have as Turkey and TRNC hand in hand started to chart a new policy. This new policy has taken shape. It should be taken seriously. There is no bluffing. And following is this policy: Closing in of the Greek Cypriots to the EU, Exclusion of the Turkish Cypriots from the decision taking stage completely, Greeces membership, excluding of Turkey not even giving a candidate perspective, completion of Enosis from military point of view between Greece and Greek Cypriots, and completion of economic and political ENOSIS through EU membership, has forced us to make new evaluations. This military ENOSIS has made the island an extremely dangerous place. We say that the parameters are destroyed and this is not a caprice, fancy. When we say the parameters are destroyed we mean; Turkey's guarantorship, bizonality, bicommunality etc. are destroyed.

What will happen now? We say the following; the application made by the Greek Cypriots should not be binding on the Turkish side. The intercommunal negotiations model has been bankrupt, because one of the communities has covered certain distance at the expense of the other community because of the EU's lack of discernment and this upset the balance. It is deceptive if these two communities sit as two equal communities, around the intercommunal negotiation table. The equilibrium has been turned upside down. How can this balance be re-established. The TRNC's sovereign equality should be recognized. It should be accepted that the pseudo Republic of Cyprus in the south has no sovereignty over the north. And then these two sovereign diplomatic entities, sit at first they establish peace on the island. There is still cease-fire on the island.

Question: How can peace be established?

Batu: How can peace be established. It has three parameters;

1. First the "give and take" issue should be settled. That is are they continue to claim that Kyrenia is their or are they going to settle this through compensation?

2. How will security be safeguarded.

3. Is there a need for border changes? This will be negotiated.

Peace shall be established between two equal entities.

Later on if they want a common life, a common political roof then they can establish a federation. This shall be done by the two states, two entities themselves and not through outside interference.

Until all this is done, the EU maintains an equal distance between the two communities. How can it maintain this?

It should start from this point; The application made by the Greek Cypriots is not binding on the north. That is: "There is one application only. We have accepted it hence we are starting the negotiations come and take part" it is not possible to accept this approach. Accepting this is tantamount to accepting the administration in the south as representing the whole of the island, which means giving up of all the principles that we have been defending for so many years.

Since this will not be realized what shall be done?

Either this application is withdrawn and if they want, as two equal sovereign communities they make a new application, or the application made by the Greek Cypriot is accepted as an application binding only the Greek Cypriots".

(MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Tension reported over succession of Turkish army chief

"One group in the army wants "the term of office of the Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, to be extended for one year". But Karadayi himself "does not favour an extension". Cankaya and the government agree with Karadayi.

"An artificial agenda" has been created in the past few days. There is an escalating tension. A tension that began with the turban crisis and that extends to charges that the government is not fighting reactionism adequately. In contrast, the assessments of reports by the National Security Council and other state agencies are very different. In other words, the government has no deficiencies in its battle against terrorism and reactionism. Then why these criticisms? What prompted Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Democratic Turkey Party General Chairman Husamettin Cindoruk to make such harsh statements on their way to Tbilisi two days ago?

The story is as follows:

General Karadayi's term of office expires next August and Karadayi is scheduled to retire. However, a group in the armed forces wants Karadayi's term to be extended.

Their argument is: "If his term is extended the command structure in 2000 and 2001 will be different than if he retires this year". If we make this more explicit:

"If Karadayi retires (this year), next August the Commander of the Land Forces, Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, will become Chief of the General Staff, the Commander of the 1st Army in Istanbul, General Atilla Ates, will become Commander of the Land Forces, and (the Deputy Chief of the General Staff), Gen. Cevik Bir, will become Commander of the 1st Army. Thus, General Kivrikoglu will serve as the Chief of the General Staff between 1998 and 2000, and General Ates will replace him in 2000. In the meantime, General Bir will have served out the maximum possible number of years as a full general and will be blocked (from becoming Chief of the General Staff. Then he would have to retire as Commander of the lst Army".

This is one of the scenarios. But there is also a second scenario, which affects the command structure if Karadayi's term of office is extended by one year.

Cankaya, Government Agree (subhead)

Now, the second scenario:

"If Karadayi's term of office is extended by one year, General Bir becomes Commander of the lst Army. In 1999, General Kivrikoglu becomes Chief of the General Staff, and General Bir becomes Commander of the Land Forces. When Kivrikoglu retires in 2001, the way opens for Bir to become Chief of the General Staff."

It is this "August calculation of one group within the army" that lies at the root of the artificial tension that has surfaced in recent days. As the tension is pumped up, the argument to extend Karadayi's term of office will look more reasonable to the public and that will help to open the way for Cevik Bir.

However, on this issue there is agreement between the top two authorities in the country. Some time ago, Karadayi told both President Demirel and Prime Minister Yilmaz that "he wants to retire this year." Consequently, Karadayi is opposed to calculations about the command structure in 2001 and artificial arrangements. In other words, the views of Demirel, Yilmaz, and Karadayi coincide on this issue.

Consequently, what a very small group in the army wants is an artificial and coercive plan, whose chances of realization are very slim. This is the essence of the unease that has been created in the last few days.

I could not write about Tbilisi from Tbilisi. I had to write about Ankara from Tbilisi because it is Ankara's pulse that is beating in Tbilisi. that is also in tune with democracy's pulse."

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

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