Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-10-14

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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. 190/98 -- 14/10/98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] YILMAZ, SIMITIS HOLD 50-MINUTE MEETING IN ANTALYA

[02] TURKEY'S INTEREST BURDEN INCREASES 86 TIMES IN 20 YEARS

[03] CORDOVEZ CLAIMS CONFEDERATION WILL NOT LEAD TO PARTITION

[04] GREEK CYPRIOT MISTAKENLY ENTERS OCCUPIED AREA

[05] SHARP DECREASE IN CITRUS PRODUCTION

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] YILMAZ, SIMITIS HOLD 50-MINUTE MEETING IN ANTALYA

Speaking at a news conference after his meeting with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Simitis said that Yilmaz "brought him a proposal to solve the problem between the two countries as a package."

Noting that the problems can be solved at the Court of Justice in The Hague as done by all EU member countries, Simitis added: "Sooner or later, Turkey will also realize this."

Pointing out that the Cyprus issue and the S-300 missiles were not discussed in detail at the meeting, Simitis said that this problem is not one between Turkey and Greece alone but is a multilateral problem.

Noting that the confidence-building measures being implemented within the framework of NATO are having positive effects in the Aegean, Simitis said that the permanent representatives in Brussels will be instructed to continue these measures.

Simitis said: "There should be no developments that will cause tension in the Aegean. We should at least accomplish that."

In reply to a question on the Kosovo issue, Simitis said that "all peaceful means should be pursued prior to the military intervention NATO is considering." Further on the Yilmaz-Simitis meeting, a report in Turkish daily MILLIYET (13/10/98) says that it has been ascertained that Simitis discussed the Cyprus problem and informed Yilmaz that any progress may have positive effects on the relations between Greece and Turkey. Stressing that a solution must be found to the problem on the basis of the UN resolutions, he conveyed the message that they objected to the Turkish Cypriot side's proposal for the establishment of a confederation.

The report says Prime Minister Yilmaz focused on the alleged support Greece gives to the Workers Party of Kurdistan (PKK). He said that "Greece's support has made Turkey uneasy." However, Simitis stated that Athens supporting the PKK is out of question. Yilmaz's move to discuss the PKK activities during his high-level talks with his Greek counterpart shortly after he adopted a firm approach towards Syria drew attention.

[02] TURKEY'S INTEREST BURDEN INCREASES 86 TIMES IN 20 YEARS

Twenty years ago, Turkey had repaid a total of seven billion Turkish Liras (TL) of foreign and domestic debts,while today this amount has reached 5 quadrillion 187.4 trillion TL in the first nine months of 1998.

Turkey's total domestic and foreign borrowing repayments from 1978 until the end of the first nine months of 1998 and their values in today's currency in return for the US dollar are as follows:

Year Repaid Interest(Billion TL) Today's Currency(Billion TL) 1978 7 80,818 1979 15 110,452 1980 28 101,828 1981 67 168,047 1982 77 132,288 1983 181 223,392 1984 375 284,231 1985 596 317,926 1986 1,081 446,514 1987 2,346 758,065 1988 3,378 657,407 1989 6,181 805,856 1990 12,486 1,355,768 1991 24,071 1,596,132 1992 40,298 1,617,768 1993 116,470 2,931,373 1994 298,284 2,776,549 1995 558,115 3,376,378 1996 1,497,401 5,102,858 1997 2,277,917 4,159,349 1998 First 9 months 5,187,400

[03] CORDOVEZ CLAIMS CONFEDERATION WILL NOT LEAD TO PARTITION

Speaking at the same seminar Sir David Hannay, the EU special Cyprus representative, said that partition will not be in the interest of either Greece or Turkey, nor the Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

(MY)

[04] GREEK CYPRIOT MISTAKENLY ENTERS OCCUPIED AREA

Skouriou said that because of his lack of knowledge of the area he mistakenly crossed into the occupied area. KIBRIS alleges that since Skouriou lives in Larnaca, his claim that he did not know the area was not convincing. Denktash's so-called district court issued a 4-day remand order for Skouriou.

[05] SHARP DECREASE IN CITRUS PRODUCTION

Giving figures, the paper says that in 1990 citrus production was 250 thousand tons and last year this decreased to 135 tons, thus dropping citrus' share in exports from 64% to 29%.

SAFAK also gives the export figures on a dollar basis and says that in 1985 29.895.000 US dollars worth of exports were realized and in 1997 these decreased to 20.500.000 million US dollars.

The paper publishes a photograph of a citrus grove where rows of citrus trees are shown in dying condition.

SAFAK also says that potato production has also decreased from 28.723 tons in 1985 to 13.500 tons in 1997.

(MY)

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