Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-01-11

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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. 4/99 -- 9-10-11.1.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash threatens to quit as interlocutor.

[02] Debate on ``Coalition Government Programme''.

[03] Another soldier commits suicide.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash threatens to quit as interlocutor

Denktash added that it was a ``wrong decision'' not to include the confederation thesis in the NUP-CLP ``coalition protocol''. He said: ``After the vote of confidence, I will call a meeting of the Council of Ministers. If I do not take a satisfactory answer, I might leave the interlocutor´s post''. As for the forthcoming ``presidential elections'' to be held in April 2000 Denktash said: ``I am a future candidate of the election (April 2000). If the conditions prevailing at that time are different, then I might consider not to be a candidate. However, it is my right to see whether my people approve or not the policies followed.''

When asked to comment on the Cyprus government´s decision not to deploy the S-300 missiles in Cyprus and whether this could be termed as a victory for the Turkish side Denktash inter alia said: ``There is no need to term this as a victory. This can be assessed as a backing down of the Greek Cypriot side´s wrong step in the face of the decisive stance of Turkey and the TRNC. However, they (the Greek Cypriots) made this issue an issue for bargaining. Turkey and we have said that this issue will not be a subject for bargainig. But they concluded this bargaining with the US, the UK and the UN who told them not to bring the missiles. As a result of this bargaining they were able to secure from the Security Council principles that we cannot accept.''

To another question, Denktash predicted that they will experience intensive pressure. However, he said, ``we will resist all kinds of pressure''.

[02] Debate on ``Coalition Government Programme''

Democratic Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktash, who is the leader of the main opposition party, was the first to address the ``assembly''.

Serdar Denktash, whose criticisms focused mainly on the Cyprus policies, claimed that the ``Government Programme'' was ambiguous on the Cyprus issue. Explaining that the ``Government Programme'' gave the impression that the ``Government'' no longer safeguarded the confederation proposal, Serdar Denktash added: This is a contradiction. Calling on the ``coalition'' to express openly whether it relinquished the confederation proposal, Serdar Denktash said: ``Otherwise, the president, who is in the position of a negotiator, will find himself in a difficult role. In the event that the mistake committed on the Cyprus policy is rectified, we will give our vote of confidence to the government''.

Mehmet Ali Talat, Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader, who took the podium after Serdar Denktash, claimed that numerous policies in the ``Government Programme'', including the Cyprus issue, had been transferred to Turkey. Explaining that cooperation with Turkey is one thing and expecting Turkey to provide solutions for all issues is another, Talat charged that this is not an approach that shows resolve. Noting that the ``Government'' left foreign policy issues totally to Denktash, Talat asserted that the ``coalition'' apparently had no say on the issue.

CTP Secretary General Ferdi Sabit Soyer recounted that Serdar Denktash in the past tried to confuse the pubilc by making the same nationalistic statements Eroglu is making now. Explaining that the main goal of the politicians should be to secure peace, Soyer added that the UBP and the DP alienated the people from politics and that the TKP mentality did the same.

Akinci, in turn, responded to the criticisms, and said ``we are ready for a federation under Turkey´s de facto guarantee. We will, however, continue to exert a determined effort to strengthen and promote the TRNC''. Noting that the Greek Cypriot side had an alternative to federation, Akinci recalled:

``The official proposal of the TRNC is no longer a federation.'' Recounting that the ``TRNC'' has no recognition demands from the United Nations, Akinci added that the confederation thesis constitutes an approach toward acceptance and not recognition.

Finally, Eroglu took the podium to reply to the critiicisms leveled at the ``Government Programme''. In reply to claims that the confederation proposal was omitted from the ``Government Programme'', Eroglu reiterated it included expressions such as the continued existence of the ``TRNC'' and pursuing the policies on the Cyprus issue together with Turkey. Noting that the ``Government Programme'' was crystal-clear on the EU issue, Eroglu stressed that recognition of the Greek Cypriot side as the government of the Turkish Cypriots was out of the question.

[03] Another soldier commits suicide

It reports that in a period of three months four soldiers, one of them of Lebanese origin, have committed suicide in the so-called Turkish Cypirot Security Forces under the command of Turkish officers.

The latest suicide occurred yesterday morning when 19-year old Semih Arigan, serving at the 1st battalion, committed suicide while on sentry duty.

AVRUPA says that Semih Arigan´s family returned to the occupied area six years ago from Australia.

On 8.1.99 another soldier serving at the same battalion committed suicide. He was Raafat El-Habta (23) of Lebanese origin.

KIBRIS (9.1.99) reports that El-Habta, prior to committing suicide, argued with his commanding officer and it is reported that he said to him ``First I will kill you, then I will commit suicide''.

KIBRIS says that El-Habta comes from a poor family of six chilldren. His father was found dead in a fishing boat off the occupied Famagusta port three years ago.

KIBRIS notes that three suicide cases occurred at the same battalion and express concern over the fact. (MY)

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

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