Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-12-07

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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. 225/98 -- 7/12/98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on "Elections"

[02] Turkey condemns EP report

[03] Denktash calls for cease-fire agreement

[04] Turkey on Greece's protecting the Aegean with missiles

[05] "Election" results

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Columnist on military cooperation with Greece, S-300 missiles

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash on "Elections"

Denktas cast his vote at ballot box no. 108. Speaking to reporters following his voting, Denktas said that the evaluation about the "general elections" is made only by the public.

"Our duty is to show respect to the results and help the government," Denktas stated.

Denktas said, "we held very good general elections without any unpleasant event. I hope this will get better and go further."

"The world now has to open its eyes and realize our existence. The world has to perceive that the Turkish Cypriots have the right to hold separate general elections since 1960 in accordance with the then Constitution and should not evaluate today's elections as invalid," he claimed.

[02] Turkey condemns EP report

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Necati Utkan claimed that the EP has always had a prejudiced attitude toward Turkey, adding that the EP has become a mouthpiece for those circles that are hostile to Turkey.

At a news conference at the Foreign Ministry, Utkan alleged that this time too, the EP failed to sensibly change its attitude and move toward improving the relations between Turkey and the institution. He asserted that the report approved the other day unacceptably intervenes in Turkey's domestic, political, and social order, as well as its foreign policy.

Utkan described the EP's proposal "to convene an international Kurdish conference" as misguided. He added that "this means the insensitive and indifferent approval of terrorism which killed thousands of our citizens."

On those sections of the report concerning the Cyprus problem, the Foreign Ministry spokesman claimed that they do not reflect the truth and that they are invalid. He added: "It is a known fact that Cyprus' membership in the EU is impossible in terms of international law and legitimacy until such time as a solution is found through free negotiations between the two peoples and two states on the island."

Commenting on those sections of the report concerning Turkey's full membership in the EU, Utkan asserted that the proposals made in the report cannot be the price for Turkey's membership. He said: "It is wrong and futile to even think that, except for certain general criteria, Turkey will take steps that might hurt its national interests. The majority of the points raised in the report concern Turkey's vital priorities." Utkan called the EU member countries and public opinion not share the EP's "irresponsible approach".

At its session last Thursday, the EP approved a report in Turkey drawn up by Austrian parliamentarian Hans Swoboda and called for the "convening of an international Kurdish conference".

[03] Denktash calls for cease-fire agreement

Denktas and so-called economy minister Erdal Onurhan met a delegation from the Antalya Chamber of Trade and Commerce. The delegation headed by Akay Arman, president of the chamber's administrative council, was accompanied by Eren Rifat Ertanin, president of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry.

In a statement at the meeting, Denktas expressed his great pleasure over seeing Turkish investors in the occupied area and asked that joint fields of cooperation be determined during this visit. Noting that great strides have been taken in bilateral economic relations and that the "TRNC" wants to benefit from Antalya's tourism, Denktas added: "If we can draw only 1 percent of the tourists in Antalya to the TRNC, then we will have achieved a great development on the issue."

Pointing out that the customs walls between Turkey and the pseudostate will be eliminated, Denktas stressed that if Turkey purchases the goods manufactured in the "TRNC", it can make a great contribution to the economy. He added: "My hope is that when assessing the north, the Greek Cypriots will renounce their delusional belief that they can overpower us with their economy and their population. All my efforts are in that direction." Denktas asked that Turkey settle on the island with all its capital and investments and provide employment to the Turkish Cypriots, thus preventing their migration.

Noting that Turkey's Cyprus policies during the last two years have caused him great happiness, Denktas added that the further development of bilateral relations in all fields and the great political strides that have been taken have provided great comfort and contentment. Denktas noted that he, as the negotiator and the "president", was greatly relieved by the support extended by Turkey, recalling that Turkey informed the entire world that those who aim against the "TRNC" will have aimed against Turkey. Noting that Greek Premier Simitis subsequently declared that those who aim at the Greek Cypriots will have aimed against Greece, Denktas continued: "We have no intention of aiming against the Greek Cypriots. We have no plans to join the EU, go to Limassol, or occupy Larnaca. Neither are we the ones who want to be the government of the entire island. They are the ones who have such claims. Therefore, Turkey's declarations have more validity."

Denktas proposed that the two sides sign a non aggression pact and relax and called on the Greek Cypriots to renounce their arms expenditures. Denktas claimed that the Greek Cypriots, instead of purchasing arms, should put that money aside to be able to pay compensation to the Turkish Cypriots!

Adding that in the near future the situation will be further improved with Turkey's contributions, Denktas said the greatest guarantee that one can give to the people is to assure that no concessions will be made on the stand that insists on negotiations between "two states". Denktas said that if an agreement is reached at the end of such negotiations and an attack then follows, "the world will see that the attack was launched by one state against another." Denktas claimed that, in that case, the world will object to the assault.

[04] Turkey on Greece's protecting the Aegean with missiles

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement commenting on a statement made by Greek Defence Minister Tsokhatzopoulos to the Greek news agency ANA on 2 December. The Foreign Ministry said, in the statement: "If Tsokhatzopoulos' statement was aimed at derailing the S-300 problem, it will be sufficient to say that the only valid alternative regarding this issue is to cancel the missile deal."

The statement also says that the FIR responsibility is a technical responsibility given by means of regional agreements on international air spaces on connection with air traffic services. "Consequently," it adds, "the establishment of FIR borders, air corridors, and terminal monitoring areas (TMA), their changing, or their reorganization in terms of international air space must take place with the agreement of the regional countries and the approval of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Council." The Foreign Ministry claimed that contravening international law, Greece is exploiting the technical FIR responsibility and trying to portray it as a sovereign right. It added: "Greece -- which enters the international air space in the Aegean, demands the flight plans of our military planes, changes our maneuver NOTAMs, and creates various difficulties and obstacles during our national and NATO air maneuvers in the Aegean -- has now gone one step further, and is threatening -- by violating international legal norms -- to equip the Athens FIR with missiles. Tzochatzopoulos' statement indicates Greece's intention to erode the status of the eastern Aegean islands which were given to it in the 1960's by international agreements and on condition that they remain demilitarized. It also indicates how justified our contention is that this is indeed the Greek intention."

The Foreign Ministry stated that "Greece will not get anywhere by means of its threats," and that Turkey will take all the measures it deems necessary "for the protection of its vital and legitimate interests in the Aegean Sea."

[05] "Election" results

Party				% taken	   Number of seats
National Unity party		40.33		24
National Revival Party		 4.57		 0
Democratic Party		22.61		13
Our Party			 1.24		 0
Communal Liberation Party	15.36		 7
Republican Turkish Party	13.35		 6
Patriotic Unity Movement	 2.51		 0

Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said last night that Eroglu's National Unity Party spent a lot of money during the "election" campaign and accused Eroglu for buying votes. (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Columnist on military cooperation with Greece, S-300 missiles

The shared objective of Cairo and Athens is to counterbalance the relationship between Turkey and Israel. The Athens government is afraid that, in a possible war between Turkey and Greece, Israel may support Turkey, perhaps not actively but by other means.

Despite assurances by Israel on this issue, Athens has not hesitated to express this concern openly in bilateral talks. It is alleged that Egypt and Greece have even discussed the possibility of conducting joint military exercises, the columnist says.

Sertoglu adds that the Husni Mubarak administration, on the other hand, is uneasy about remaining outside relations between Turkey and Israel and has expressed this uneasiness frequently in talks. Desiring to assume the role of boss in the Middle East, Egypt is concerned that it cannot attain this goal because of military relations between Turkey and Israel. And Sertoglu continues: "The second important development is related to the S-300 missiles. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis warned the Greek Cypriot administration: 'Turkey will attack if you these missiles on the island. Then we would also have to go to war. At this time we do not have the strength to fight Turkey. We would lose.' It is reported that such pressures by the Simitis government on the Greek Cypriots will produce results.

However, a wrinkle has developed on this issue: Russia wants to be paid for the missiles. This difficulty is about to be resolved by the payment of $500 million, which was the cost of the missiles, to Moscow. Greece will pay this money.

Greece will pay but it will not take delivery of the missiles. It seems that, thanks to Turkey's resolute stance on the issue, the idea of shopping the missiles to Crete will be shelved for a long time."

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

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