Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-02-21

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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. 36/01 -- 21.2.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader replies to a question on the proximity talks.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader insists on Turkey/s guarantees.

[03] So-called Director of Post-office arrested for covering up embezzlement.

[04] Denktash comments on Tsiakourmas brother/s statement regarding placing bombs in Pyla.

[05] Mustafa Akinci analyses the pseudostate/s targets for tourism in 2001.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader replies to a question on the proximity talks The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Rauf Denktash, who visited Istanbul for a

Question: You are frequently stressing that you see no benefit in participating in the UN-sponsored talks until a new environment is created. What kind of new environment, Mr. Denktash?

Answer: These talks, the talks which we cannot continue to take part in, were organized to serve a certain purpose. The purpose was to prepare the ground for the actual comprehensive talks stage. Therefore, we cannot attend them. We are ready to conduct talks to prepare the comprehensive talks. They were to be held without any preconditions. Without serving this particular purpose, they progressed to the comprehensive talks. However, the promises made to us must be kept. They said there will not be any preconditions, but now our accepting the EU norms has been turned into a precondition. Moreover, negotiating within a framework proposed by the UN Secretary-General was presented as a precondition. Conditions that will totally annihilate us were also presented with regard to the exchange of property.

Consequently, we told the Secretary-General to renounce these preconditions, that this will not yield any outcome, and that it must be realized that as long as they are recognized as the legitimate government of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriots have no need to reach an agreement with us. A new outlook is needed for Cyprus. The Greek Cypriots are not the government of the Turkish Cypriots, and they cannot be our government. They must understand this.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader insists on Turkey/s guarantees The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Rauf Denktash, yesterday delivered a speech

According to KIBRIS (21.2.01) in his speech on the Cyprus problem Denktash referred to the historical process experienced in Cyprus and the struggle of the Turkish Cypriots, alleging that the Greek lobby of the US and Britain accepted the Greek Cypriots as the legal government to protect the bases in Cyprus from the Greek Cypriot terrorism and that the issue could not be solved starting from that date.

Denktash said: ``The Cyprus question was brought as an element of pressure in Turkey/s accession to the EU. Other issues would be brought to the agenda even if the Aegean and the Cyprus problems are solved.

When the EU gave the green light to the Greek Cypriots, this closed the doors of compromise totally. The EU norms which were foreseen to continue the talks meant return of the Greek Cypriot refugees and that was unacceptable''.

Denktash further said some conditions had to be fulfilled to continue the talks between the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot side, pointing out that sitting at negotiation table was not enough to solve the problems.

Reiterating that they would not accept an agreement that will remain ``on the paper'', Denktash said: ``We want to be protected there. We want to protect the rights and guarantorship of Turkey. We will not give in to seem peaceful''.

[03] So-called Director of Post-office arrested for covering up embezzlement According to KIBRIS (21.2.01), the so-called Director of Post- office in the

She has been accused of protecting five ``post office employees'' who were involved in the embezzlement case.

Denktash/s police announced that Gulten Kuran was arrested on suspicion that she could be an accomplice in the case.

The paper says that five ``post-office employees'' are accused of usurping around 76 billion TL.

[04] Denktash comments on Tsiakourmas brother/s statement regarding placing bombs in Pyla

[05] Mustafa Akinci analyses the pseudostate/s targets for tourism in 2001 According to KIBRIS (21.2.01) the so-called State Minister Responsible for

He said that in the tourism sector, they were unable to make the desired steps forward, but there were no steps backwards either.

He said that maintaining the last two years/ figures was an important achievement, taking into consideration the economic difficulties in the occupied areas.

He claimed that in the current year they envisage major progress in the tourism sector.

Akinci said that in 1998 the number of hotel beds were 8,972 while in 2000 10,213, i.e. there was an increase of 13.8%.

In 1998 the number of visitors to the occupied areas were 393,027, while in 2000, 432,953, scoring an increase of 10.2%.

As regards tourists crossing over to the occupied areas from Ledra Palace check-point, Akinci said that last year there was an increase of 29.3% since in 1998 the number of visitors was 14,762 and last year 19,088.

Akinci attributed his optimism for the current year to the increase in the flights to and from the occupied areas, improvements in the installations of the illegal Tymbou Airport and a ``protocol'' signed with Turkey which will encourage the organization of students/ trips from Turkey, conferences and an increased number of Turks visiting the occupied areas.

On his part the so-called ``Director of Tourism'' Zeki Ziya said that during the last two years the number of tourists from Great Britain increased by 28% and that flights from Manchester will increase to two weekly from next March, to three from next May and that as from next October flights will start from Glasgow.

Zeki Ziya also said that efforts are going to prepare packages for the German tourists.

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

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