TRKNWS-L Turkish Daily News (April 21, 1996)

From: TRKNWS-L <trh@aimnet.com>

Turkish News Directory

CONTENTS

TURKISH DAILY NEWS / 21 April 1996

[01] IPU warns of renewed Cyprus tensions

Turkish Daily News

ISTANBUL- The 95th Inter- Parliamentary conference concluded in Istanbul on Saturday with a warning over increased tensions on the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

The conference also issued a report on 64 detained or harassed parliamentarians, including 23 from Myanmar (Burma) and 16 from Turkey.

More than 600 deputies from 117 countries attended the six- day conference of the Geneva- based Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU), the association of world parliaments.

"Instead of declining, tension concerning Cyprus has been growing between the political leaders of the parties concerned, fuelling the anxiety of the population of the island, for whom outbreak of a direct conflict would be a veritable disaster,"

a committee report submitted to the conference declared.

The report said an arms buildup on Cyprus in the past six months has made the Mediterranean island "one of the most heavily armed points of the globe."

It said the recent dispute between Turkey and Greece over the sovereignty of the Kardak (Imia) islands in the Aegean only increased tensions in Cyprus.

Turkey has about 20,000 troops on Cyprus, but increased its numbers following the Kardak crisis, the report noted.

Reuters reported Friday that Greek Cypriots were buying 41 tanks from Russia for $174 million and planning to acquire surface- to- air missiles.

Withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island, combined with the reopening of the Nicosia Airport and the Varosha zone, it said, would contribute greatly to a settlement of the Cyprus dispute.

In 1974, Turkey invaded and occupied the northern two- fifths of Cyprus protect the Turkish minority following a coup engineered by the military junta then ruling Athens aimed at uniting it with Greece. The Mediterranean island has been split into Turkish Cypriot and Greek zones since then.

The Turkish Cypriots declared an independent state in their northern part of the island in 1983, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot administration.

The Greek Cypriot government is recognized by most countries in the world as the sole administration in Cyprus.

In addition to 16 deputies from the pro- Kurdish democracy Party (DEP) in Turkey and 23 pro- democracy deputies Myanmar, authorities had detained or harassed two deputies in Indonesia, two in the Maldives, seven in Nigeria, three in Togo, one in Albania, one in Bulgaria, five in Burundi, six in Cambodia, seven in Colombia, and one each in Gambia and Honduras.

[02] Gonensay condemns Syria, deplores Israeli attacks

ANKARA- Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay condemned Syria Saturday for supporting separatist Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and deplored continued Israeli bombings of Lebanese territory.

Speaking on foreign policy developments during the debates on the Foreign Ministry budget, Gonensay declared that institution of an atmosphere of confidence between Ankara and Damascus was marred by continued support of Syria for the clandestine PKK.

"As long as Syrian support for the gang which has murdered thousands of innocent people and which has been targeting Turkey's territorial integrity 's continuing, it is impossible to establish an atmosphere of confidence (between Turkey and Syria. Furthermore, devoid of any justifiable reason, Syria has been claiming that there is a water problem between itself and Turkey and establishing a link with the water and terrorism issues, it is supporting PKK terrorists in order to achieve a solution (to the water problem) befitting its interests," the minister said.

Gonensay said the military training cooperation accord signed between Turkey and Israel were subjected to unjust and wrong evaluations by some Arab countries. He said the accord with Israel was not aiming any third country.

"Fighting terrorism is a right and responsibility of all countries" the minister said adding "however, in doing so civilians should not be hurt, excessive force should not be used and laws should be respected. This evaluation of Turkey is valid for the Israeli operations against Hizbollah positions in Lebanon as well. We have conveyed our worries to Israel."

The minister said Ankara expected Israel to end its operations in Lebanon urgently.

Commenting on the latest "spy-diplomats" crisis between Turkey and Iran, the foreign minister said Ankara tried to defuse the tension by accepting mutual withdrawal of the accused diplomats. However, he stressed that Turkish diplomats were unjustly accused by Tehran as a result of a meaningless "reciprocity" understanding.

Talking on Iraq, Gonensay reiterated Turkey's commitment to the preservation of Iraqi national and territorial integrity. He said Turkey was against carving up a Kurdish state in northern Iraq.

He said the power vacuum in northern Iraq has provided an atmosphere for the separatist PKK to get organized in those areas and stage attacks into Turkey. he said Turkey will not allow the PKK to reorganize in that territory.

Talking on Azerbaijan-Armenian dispute, Gonensay said Ankara wanted a negotiated settlement to the problem and reiterated Turkey's preparedness to open the border with Armenia in order to contribute to peace efforts.

Recalling that Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has offered a comprehensive dialogue process to Greece, Foreign Minister Gonensay said Greece should abandon its policy of trying to hamper Turkey's interests in the European Union and to support anti-Turkey groups.

He said Ankara is still hopeful that a comprehensive dialogue with Greece could be initiated.