Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-04-29

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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. 69/99 -- 29.4.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit, Gurel hold news conference on Cyprus problem.

[02] All phone lines in pseudostate break down.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ecevit, Gurel hold news conference on Cyprus problem

Turkish State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, who is accompanying Ecevit on his visit to the pseudostate, held a news conference on the Cyprus issue. Ecevit, who also attended Gurelīs news conference, made a statement on the issue as well.

Ecevit said that he was very pleased that Rauf Denktash met with the reporters who arrived on the island to follow his visit. Pointing out that in this way the recent introverted Turkish agenda will be channelled to the Cyprus question, Ecevit said that currently there is no cause for concern in the Cyprus problem, adding that, however, Turkey should be very careful on the issue.

Ecevit said: ``The TRNC has always had and will continue to have a significant place on Turkeyīs agenda''. He noted that the economic and political relations between the two sides have been developing in recent years, adding:

``The Greek Cypriots might be disturbed by this but they should know that as long as the economic embargo they have imposed on the TRNC continues and as long as the EU embargo continues, the relations between Turkey and the TRNC will be accelerated. Then everyone will understand the reality that the TRNC has the identity of a separate state. In brief, no one will achieve any results from the pressure applied through these embargoes. They can only cause a total intensification of relations between the Turkish Republic and the TRNC''.

At the news conference, Gurel assessed the current state of Turkish- pseudostate economic cooperation.

Noting that the $250 million loan agreement signed between the two sides began to be implemented during their term in government, Gurel said that this loan met some of the infrastructure needs of the pseudostate.

Explaining that their government acted in the knowledge that ``the existence of the TRNC is of vital importance for Turkey, '' Gurel said that the embargo imposed on the pseudostate has led to the expansion of the economic integration between the two sides. Gurel stressed that this development should not be interpreted as ``annexation'' because Turkey did not seize the entire island even when it had the opportunity to do so.

Gurel said that the transport of water in balloons to the occupied area is continuing, adding that work is under way to transport water from Turkey through a pipeline. Gurel noted that the four important water sources discovered will become operational soon.

In reply to a question, Gurel said that the arrangements to facilitate the customs procedures between the two sides will be implemented as soon as possible. He said the following in connection with the short-range missiles Cyprus is planning to purchase: ``Naturally, the Turkish Republic has no intention of permitting the deployment in Cyprus of weapons that will disrupt the balances in the eastern Mediterranean and in the region in general.''

After having answered that question, Gurel turned to Ecevit and asked:

``Isnīt that right?'' In reply Ecevit said: ``Naturally, that is correct''.

In reply to a question on the preparations for a new constitution which Britain has included on the agenda, Gurel said that in the past many initiatives were taken to impose a solution on Cyprus from the outside and described this one as one of these initiatives. Gurel concluded by saying that initiatives that will not be accepted by both sides on the island cannot yield a solution.

[02] All phone lines in pseudostate break down

It was reported that the cause of the breakdown in the phone system stems from a malfunction in the fiber-optic cables which connect the pseudostate to the world via Turkey.

Work is under way to repair the malfunction.

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

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