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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-09-02Cyprus 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. 160/98 -- 2/9/98[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Yilmaz on ´Full Support´ for DenktashAccording to Anatolia Agency (1503 hours, (1/9/98), Turkey´s Council of Ministers convened on Tuesday in Ankara.Prior to the meeting, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that the latest economic developments will be taken up in the meeting of the Council of Ministers. Pointing out that the Cyprus issue would also be discussed in the meeting, Prime Minister Yilmaz stressed that Turkey supports the confederation proposal of Rauf Denktash . Addressing the opening speech of the meeting, Prime Minister Yilmaz said that the evaluation of the latest economic developments and the Cyprus issue are the major topics of the meeting. Recalling that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem illegaly visited the occupied area two days before, Prime Minister Yilmaz said that Rauf Denktash had announced a new proposal package for the solution of the Cyprus issue. Stating that they would also discuss this issue, Yilmaz said, ``we will evaluate the reactions of the concerned sides. From this perspective, I want to emphasize that we, as the Turkish Government, give full support to the proposal of President Denktash''. [02] Denktash reacts to President Clerides rejection of proposalAccording to illegal Bayrak Radio (10 30 hours, 1/9/98), Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has alleged that the immediate rejection of his confederation proposal by the Greek Cypriot Greek side ``stems solely from the wish to ignore the existence of two equal and sovereign peoples in Cyprus and to eliminate Turkey´s guarantee''. Denktash called on Lieutenant General Aydin Sen, commander of the so-called Turkish Cypriot peace forces, and stressed once again that ``our independence and sovereignty will be protected that under Turkey´s guarantee''.In a statement during the meeting, Denktash responded to reactions with regard to his proposal for a confederal solution in Cyprus. Claiming that the Greek Cypriots are not being asked to concede rights, Denktash said: ``We do not expect rights from the Greek Cypriots. As an equal and sovereign people and as a former partner, we submitted to them a new proposal for a partnership under a confederal roof, provided that we have our sovereignty''. Noting that the support accorded by Turkey in this regard is great support, Denktash claimed that the world has been given the message that the Turkish Cypriots do not intend to divide Cyprus. He claimed that the Greek Cypriot - Greek side did not look at the relevant documents and that basing themselves on news agency reports, ``they anxiously and fearfully said no and termed the proposal unacceptable''. Denktash added: ``At the time, we wanted regional autonomy. They rejected this because we were asserting our equality and sovereignty. Later, we established our federated state and asked them to establish their own federated state, noting that the outstanding problems would diminish in the meantime and that the Cyprus problem would be solved. Again they rejected this view.'' Denktash alleged that the sole reason for the Greek side´s rejection of these proposals is their failure to accept Turkey´s guarantee. Denktash claimed that the Greek side does not want a federation because the world recognizes the Greek Cypriots as the Government of Cyprus. Repeating has claim that the Cypriot application for EU membership was submitted with the aim of elimination the rights of the Turkish side, Denktash alleged: `` Clerides is engaging in the same tactics employed by Kyprianou at the time. He intends to resort to the UN General Assembly and condemn us by means of unilateral resolutions''. Denktash added: ``We are equal and sovereign, and we do not willing to accede to a disruption in the Turkish-Greek balance''. Reiterating his belief that a confederal roof can be established, Denktash said that a proposal for partnership was made in order to avoid a recurrence of the events that were experienced 35 years ago. At the end of his statement, Denktash underlined that the Greek Cypriots cannot Hellenize the island, as he put it. [03] Sezgin warns of ´Extent and Power´of responce to S-300s´According to TRT Television Network (1200 hours 1/9/98) Ismet Sezgin, Turkey´s deputy prime minister and national defense minister, has declared that Turkey does not want the existing balances in Cyprus and the Aegean to be upset. He said that all of Turkey´s neighbors are aware of the extent and power of Turkey´s response with regard to the S-300 missiles. In reply to a question during a news conference at the Istanbul Governor´s Office, Sezgin stressed that Cyprus is a national cause for Turkey.``A balance was established on the basis of the 1959 and 1960 London agreements. We do not want this balance to be disrupted. There is also a de facto situation on the island today. We do not want this to be disrupted either. Furthermore, there is a balance in the Aegean introduced by the Lausanne Treaty. We do not want this balance to be upset. We want this issue to be resolved in a lasting and just manner'', he said. A journalist reminded Sezgin of the Greek declaration that if Turkey intervenes with regard to the S-300 missiles, Greece will act in kind. In response, Sezgin referred to the Turkish proverb that the one who will bite does not show his teeth. ``The S-300 missiles are too much for Cyprus and too little for Turkey. I do not believe that our Greece neighbors will engage in such madness. Our neighbors are aware of the extent and power of the response their actions will elicit'', Sezgin threatened. [04] Sezgin dismisses PKK´s cease-fire callAccording to TRT Television Network (1700 hours, 1/9/98) Ismet Sezgin, Turkey´s deputy prime minister and national defense minister, was asked by a journalist in Instanbul to comment on the cease-fire call issued by the leader of the PKK. Sezgin said that a similar tactic was used in the past as well and that ``as usual, Turkey does not treat the bandits as its respondent''.[05] Denktash says Islam world passive on Cyprus issueAccording to Anatolia Agency (852 hours (1/9/98) Rauf Denktash claimed on Monday that while the Christian world continues to launch efforts to transform Cyprus into a Christian island the pseudostate is very hurt by the passive attitude of the Islamic World towards the Cyprus question.Meeting the delegation headed by Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the Chairman of Religious Affairs, Rauf Denktash said that the Turkish Cypriot young people have to be educated by knowing Islam, which suggests love and peace towards the humanity. Noting that the pseudostate aims to further spread the Islam to the Turkish Cypriots ``by the mediation of Kemalist conscious and well-informed people''. Denktash asked for construction of a new mosque in the pseudostate adding that ``everybody should remember that Greek Cypriots destroyed 107 mosques in the past, nobody is aware of that fact. We inform the Islam countries about this situation but we can´t get any answer''. Meanwhile, the ``Cyprus Foundation of Religious Affairs'' which was established by the ``protocol'' signed between the Directorate of Religious Affairs of Turkey and the ``Cyprus Department of Religious Affairs'', will be implemented soon. Furthermore, according to illegal Bayrak Radio (1030 hours 31/8/98), at the same meeting Denktash after recalling that the Greek Cypriots complained to the whole world that a church was being used as a mosque, added: ``We always empty out a church when building a new mosque. Final decisions on this issue will be taken after the Cyprus issue is resolved. Until that time, however, churches are houses of God and we are going to use them as places of worship''. [06] 20,000 cubic meters water balloon in occupied areaAccording to Anatolia Agency (0707 hours 1/9/98) the first balloon of the Mediterranean Water Distribution Company, containing 20,000 cubic meters water, arrived on Monday to the occupied area.The second balloon carrying 10,000 cubic meters water will be sent after the first one is emptied in 3 September. A third balloon having 10,000 cubic meters capacity is expected to arrive by mid- September . Akman Ozoran, an ``official'' from the pseudostate´s ``Water Works'' said that a total of 180 thousand cubic meters water will be brought in September. [07] Italian parliamentarians visit the pseudostate as Denktash´s guestsAccording to Yeni Demokrat (2/9/98), Italian parliamentarians from the Forsa Italia party Antonio D´ali, Osimo Ventucci, Vitorio Taruiti and the Director of the Trade Bank Roberto Amadasu, who are currently in the occupied area, had a meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash. During the meeting Denktash stressed that the only way out in Cyprus is a confederal solution. Denktash also referred to the statement made by Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini and repeated his known allegations. The paper reports that the Italian parliamentarians have arrived in the occupied area as Denktash´s guests to attend the Othello Opera staged by a German group.The paper further claims that the Italian parliamentarians said that ``it would be very difficult to reach a settlement without recognizing the Turkish Cypriots´ sovereignty''. They also promised that they will work for the recognition of the pseudostate, the paper says. ``When our party cames to power we will further our views'', the Italian parliamentarians claimed and added that they have informed the Italian government of their visit to the occupied area and that upon return to their country they will convey their impressions and what should be done for the pseudostate to the Italian government and Parliament. They also said that they have started working towards establishing direct flights between Italy and the occupied area. ``We will raise this issue with the governement and the Parliament'', they claimed. [08] Commentaries in Turkish Cypriot press on Denktash´s proposalSuleyman Mert writing in Yeniduzen (1.9.98) under the title ``Impressions from Saray'' refers to Denktash´s press conference where he announced his ``confederation proposal'' . He says: ``President Rauf Denktash´s sudden Condederation proposal, which coincided with the US diplomat Miller´s recent visit to the island, gave rise to various commentaries. The most interesting among these is the one which says ´To make such proposal the TRNC and Turkey definitely got support from the USA. Otherwise, neither Turkey nor the TRNC would have the courage to take such a step´.'' On the other hand Sener Levent writing in the local daily AVRUPA (1/9/98) under the title ``Special.....'', refers to Denktash´s proposals and says:``Yesterday our side was trying to emphasize that ´the proposals came from Denktash and support for them from Turkey´. We think that the core of the issue was just the opposite: the proposals came from Turkey and Denktash just announced them! Otherwise, did Mr Ismail Cem come here for a one-day visit in vain? Moreover, AVRUPA (2/9/98) reports under the banner headlines ``There are big bosses behind the proposals'', ``The US and the UK are behind the scenes''. AVRUPA reports that the proposals made the other day by Denktash are the proposals made to both sides earlier by the US President´s special envoy to Cyprus, Richard Holbrooke. The paper further reports that there are claims that behind the scenes regarding the proposals are both the USA and Britain. 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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