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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-09-03
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA
No. 159/99 -- 3.9.99
[A] A NEWS ITEMS
[01] Denktash, Hercus discuss arson at tomb, murdered Greek.
[02] Akinci in Oslo.
[03] ``Military Service Bill''.
[04] Cyprus: Eroglu visits governors in quake areas.
[05] Ertugruloglu criticizes Dame Ann Hercus.
[06] Lambi Harpas murder.
[07] ``Military Service Bill''- Businessmen.
[08] Denktash to Turkey.
[09] Low production.
[10] Folk dance Festival.
[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS
[11] AVRUPA links recent violence to Greco-Turkish détente.
. NEWS ITEMS
[15] Denktash, Hercus discuss arson at tomb, murdered Greek
Anatolia Agency (2.9.99) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash
met on Thursday with Ann Dame Hercus, the UN Secretary General´s Special
Envoy for Cyprus.
The issues of arson attack on Hala Sultan Tomb in Larnaka, the alleged non-
permission of entrance to Turkish journalists who wanted to pass the free
areas to see the Tomb and a Greek Cypriot who was found dead in Karpass
were taken up at the meeting.
Speaking after the meeting, Denktash said that the incident that took place
in Karpass was a murder and that the ``police'' will do what is necessary
to find the criminals.
Noting that this should not be considered a political issue, Denktash
pointed out that Ann Hercus informed him about the arson attack in Hala
Sultan Tomb, and they focused on the seriousness of the incident.
An autopsy was performed on enclaved Stelios Harpas, who was found dead in
his car in Karpass, Denktash said, adding ``we performed the autopsy, the
UN was there as an observer. Now the Greek Cypriot side wants us to send
the dead body to the south and perform another autopsy.''
Pointing out that children of the dead Greek Cypriot waited at the Ledra
Palace check-point to cross to the occupied area, Denktash said that the UN
official perceives the incident as a retaliation to the alleged non-
permission to Turkish journalists.
``Our foreign ministry did what was necessary. Our police searches for the
criminals and we hope the criminals will be captured and brought to the
court. There is no need to try to find a political reason behind that,''
Denktash claimed:
Stelios Lambi Harpas, the Greek Cypriot who was found dead in the burned
car in Karpass, was shot dead, the ``police'' reported. Investigation
continues.
[52] Akinci in Oslo
ORTAM (3.9.99) reports that the so-called state minister and deputy prime
minister Mustafa Akinci continuing his contacts in Oslo.
He met yesterday with the leader of Norway´s Labour Party Thorbjorn
Jagland. Replying to reporters question after his meeting, Akinci said he
informed Jagland about the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and
explained the views of the Turkish Cypriot side''. He said he underlined
that ``the attitude towards the Cyprus problem is wrong and the application
of the Greek Cypriots to join the EU is one sided''.
Claiming that the Cyprus Government is a Greek Cypriot government and does
not represent the Turkish Cypriot side'', Akinci pointed out that ``there
are two different states on the island''.
The officials of the Labour Party promised that ``they will try to develop
relations between Norway and the TRNC'', adding also that ``a delegation of
the Labour Party will visit ``TRNC'' in the near future.
Akinci also said that the Norwegian Labour Party will assist the Communal
Liberation Party in its efforts to become member of the International
Socialist.
Akinci gave a lecture (1.9.99) on the Cyprus problem at the International
Peace Institute in Oslo.
He underlined that high ranking officials and the press were also present
at the lecture Akinci claimed that an ``unfair embargo is imposed on the
Turkish Cypriots.
Akinci met yesterday afternoon with the Deputy Prime Minister of Norway.
(DP)
[86] ``Military Service Bill''
According to HURRIYET KIBRIS (3.9.99) the leader of Democrat Party (DP)
Serdar Denktash criticized the last statement of the so-called prime
minister Dervis Eroglu over the military `Bill´ , saying that ``Eroglu is
the first `Prime Minister´ who lies to himself´ and ``he is not a reliable
man as a ``Prime Minister''!
Serdar explained that ``Eroglu in order to avoid the responsibility, blames
everything on the commandership of the Security Forces''. He added that
``Eroglu at first said that he did not say anything on reducing the
duration of the military service and yesterday said that he had spoken
about reducing the military service to 18 months''.
(DP)
[102] Cyprus: Eroglu visits governors in quake areas
Ankara Anatolia (2.9.99) reports that Dervis Eroglu, so-called prime
minister visited Erol Cakir, the governor of Istanbul and expressed his
condolences for the victims of the earthquake.
Governor Oguz expressed gratitude to Eroglu for the help ``TRNC'' has given
to the victims.
[111] Ertugruloglu criticizes Dame Ann Hercus
According to KIBRIS (3.9.99) the so-called foreign and Defence Minister of
the pseudostate Tahsin Ertugruloglu declared that the statement made by
Dame Ann Hercus regarding the Turkish Cypriot journalists crossing into the
free areas to visit the muslim holy shrine Hala Sultan Tomb ``does not
reflect the realities.''
He said that the permission given to the Turkish Cypriot journalists
contained unacceptable conditions.
Ertugruloglu said that the note was returned to the UN demanding correction
of the mistakes'' as he put it otherwise he added they would not put into
process the note.
Commenting on Dame Hercus´ statement that ``the UN did not prevent Turkish
Cypriot journalists to cross into the free areas, and immediately issued
permission, Ertugruloglu said ``the UN Peace Force has no authority to
grant or deny permission. The authority which will give permission is the
Greek Cypriot administration in the south. The UN Peace Force officials
only establish contacts between the sides. The Peace Force has no authority
to give permission to the north or to the south''.
(MY)
[136] Lambi Harpas, murder
KIBRIS (3.9.99) reports under banner headlines that enclaved Stelios Lambi
Harpas, was first shot on the head and then burned in his car.
KIBRIS adds that according to the autopsy report, Harpas received two shots
on the head with a 9mm pistol.
During the autopsy, two bullets were removed from the victim´s head. KIBRIS
further reports that police also found, at the site of the crime, a can
with inflammable turpentine (thinner) in it.
KIBRIS also says that one of the four persons arrested by Denktash´s police,
Recep Gungor (27) admitted that he was the person who last talked to Harpas
but he denied the accusation of killing Harpas.
Denktash´s police refused to give further information about the case,
saying that interrogation and investigation regarding the case continues.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, admitted that Harpas was
murdered saying that the issue is not political but ordinary crime. He
wished that the perpetrator will soon be apprehended and brought before
justice.
Referring to his meeting with the UN Special Representative in Cyprus Dame
Ann Hercus, during which Dame Hercus, asked him why members of
Harpas´family were not allowed to cross into the occupied area and whether
this was a retaliatory action since so-called TRNC Foreign Minister was
quoted as saying: ``If they do not allow the journalists, then we will not
allow them either'', Denktash said that he had told Dame Hercus that there
was no such thing and that he gave the order immediately to allow Harpas´
family to cross into the occupied area.
KIBRIS also reports that so-called TRNC Foreign and Defence Minister
Ertugruloglu denied that there is a retaliatory action against the Harpas´
family. He accused Dame Hercus of not knowing the ``Turkish nation''. (MY)
[174] ``Military Service Bill'' -Businessmen
According to KIBRIS (3.9.99) the so-called Turkish Cypriot Businessmen
Association expressed its view regarding the new military service bill.
The chairman of the so-called Association Mustafa Damdelen said that they
support and consider correct the idea of establishing a professional army,
but he said the decision to find the resources is wrong.
He said that instead of demanding 12 thousand Sterling for exemption from
military service, it would be better to increase the VAT by 1%. He said
that the whole community wants to fulfil its responsibility in the
``defence of the homeland''.
The whole community should foot the bill of a professional army, he added.
(MY)
[191] Denktash to Turkey
KIBRIS (3.9.99) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash left
this morning for Turkey, on Suleyman Demirel´s private airplane. Denktash
will visit the areas hit by the devastating earthquake in Marmara region,
accompanied by the Turkish State Minister responsible for the Cyprus issue
Sukru Sina Gurel.
On Sunday Denktash will leave of the United States.
(DP)
[203] Low production
According to KIBRIS (3.9.99) the leader of Republic Turkish Party Mehmet
Ali Talat met yesterday with the President of ``TRNC'' Chamber of Industry
Eren Rifat Ertanin . The two men exchanged views on the problems of
industry.
Talat said that the biggest problem of the economy in the ``TRNC'' is low
production which derives from the reduction of work in the industrial
field. (DP)
[213] Folk dance Festival
AVRUPA (3.9.99) reports that a dancing group representing the ``TRNC''
participated in the 40th International Folk Dance Festival which took place
in Belgium between 19-25th of August. Groups from Peru, Bolivia, Egypt,
Ireland, Spain, Russia and Belgium also participated.
The printed programme distributed during the Festival made reference to the
Folk dances of the TRNC whole.
(DP)
[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS [226] AVRUPA links recent violence to Greco-
Turkish détente
A commentary in AVRUPA (2.9.99) under the pen name ``Kalayci:'' ``We Saw
This Film Before'', says the following about the recent arson attack
against Hala Sultan and the murder of enclaved Stelios Harpas: ``It is
clear as daylight that the improvement in Greek-Turkish relations has upset
some quarters.
First, the Hala Sultan Mosque in the south was bombed.
You could not have expected those in the north to remain idle, could you?
They had to resort to a murderous act to prove their superiority.
I do not know but I wonder if the police documents have any record of an
incident in which a man has been locked in his car and burned to death.
We had never heard of such a crime before. All we knew was that people
could be murdered in their beds, shot dead in the streets, or that mosques,
news agency offices, association and party headquarters could be bombed.
Now, the act of burning people to death has been added to this list.
The point is to prove who is more murderous, who is more chauvinist, and
who can best block the path of peace.
Both our people and theirs have entered a competition.
You will remember, in the courtroom (last month), Denktash saying the
following of the TMT (Turkish Cypriot Resistance Organization): `I admit
the operations that I have ordered and refuse to admit those that I have
not ordered´.
The Pancyprian Organization of Cypriot Fighters assumed responsibility for
the sabotage in the south. As yet, no one has claimed responsibility for
the murder in the north''.
From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/
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