Browse through our Interesting Nodes on the European Union (EU) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Friday, 29 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-05-27

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>


TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 90/99 -- 27.5.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

  • [01] Demirel repeats stand on separate ``state'', separate sovereignty.
  • [02] Cem: European Union membership a goal, but not an obsession.
  • [03] Book says Napalm bombs used in Cyprus by Turkey.
  • [04] Further on the ``court'' case against AVRUPA.
  • [05] Denktash threatens with 100% integration with Turkey.

  • [A] NEWS ITEMS

    [01] Demirel repeats stand on separate ``state'', separate sovereignty

    Illegal Bayrak radio (5:00 hours, 26.5.99) reports that Turkish President Suleyman Demirel attended the traditional Taksim meetings in Istanbul the other day and, inter alia, replied to questions on Cyprus and the EU. Demirel claimed: ``The Cyprus issue is a national issue for Turkey. Turkey is not at fault for the fact that a political solution has not been found to the Cyprus issue''. Demirel said that Turkey will not adopt the policy of let go and get rid of. Noting that Turkey cannot consent to such a policy, Demirel said that there was a de facto situation in Cyprus. Demirel continued: ``Let those who live in the south as well as those in the north have a state. Those who live in the south think that the whole of Cyprus belongs to them. This is an unfortunate and unjust situation. The proposals put forward do not benefit Turkey. The world should first acknowledge the Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus as a state and a separate people and recognize their sovereignty.''

    In reply to a question on Turkey´s membership in the EU, Demirel said:

    ``Turkey is not obliged to go anywhere if it is not accepted as an EU member.'' Explaining that the EU was made up of 15 countries, Demirel added:

    ``Except Greece, the 14 countries accept Turkey´s membership. However, Greece is continuing its policy by telling the other countries that it is Greece that rules over them. In the present political geography of the world, a Europe without Turkey is incomprehensible, but we will not beg.''

    [02] Cem: European Union membership a goal, but not an obsession

    Turkish Daily News (25.5.99) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Monday that becoming a member of the European Union was still a major objective in Turkey´s foreign policy, but stressed that it was not ``an obsession''.

    Speaking at a conference devoted to the place of trade unions in Turkey-EU relations, Cem defended Turkey´s policy of non-dialogue with the EU on the three issues that were put forward as conditions for Turkey´s candidature - improvement of its human rights record, relations with Greece and resolution of the Cyprus problem.

    ``Due to the serious stance taken by Turkey in recent months there has been a significant improvement in the relations between Turkey and the EU,'' Cem said.

    He did not specify what ``the significant improvement'' was.

    Speaking at the same conference, the secretary-general of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Emilio Gabaglio, said that Turkey should accelerate democratization and human rights reforms in order to become a full EU member.

    The head of the Turkish Workers´ Union (Turk-IS), Semsi Denizer, defended the government´s EU position, saying that the Union discriminated against Turkey.

    In an apparent reference to the EU´s vocal criticism of Turkey´s policies in the mainly Kurdish Southeast, Denizer said:

    ``If the price of (full EU) membership is the disintegration of a country that was the first to win its national liberation war against imperialism… we do not want that membership.''

    Denizer and other union leaders drew attention to the problems that arose for Turkish workers with the functioning of the 1995 Turkey-EU customs union.

    [03] Book says Napalm bombs used in Cyprus by Turkey

    Ozgur Politika (Internet Version) 21.5.99) reports that the Turkish state has issued a ``secret'' directive in connection with the use of chemical weapons against guerrillas.

    An Internal Security Directive, stamped ``Secret'' and dated 27 February 1986, issued by the Turkish Land Forces Command calls for the production and use of poison gas against guerrillas when necessary, the report says.

    A book by Dr. Celadet Celiker, ``Chemical, Biological, and Atomic Weapons in Kurdistan and the Middle East'', says that the Turkish state has used chemical weapons in the past and publicizes Turkish army documents on this subject.

    A secret directive issued in the near past by the Turkish Armed Forces on the use of chemical weapons against guerrillas appears on pages 170-172 of Dr. Celiker´s book, which was published in Kurdish by DOZ Publications.

    Article (d) of the ``secret'' Internal Security Directive of the Turkish Land Forces Command, dated 27 February 1986, states that ``poison gas can be filled (as published) against terrorists if necessary.'' Article (e) of the same directive says: ``If necessary specially produced poisonous germs can be produced and used against the terrorists''. Commenting on this article, the book says that ``poisonous germs'' means biological weapons.

    Dr. Celiker´s book points out that the Turkish state used chemical gas (as published) in the Kasrok, Banik, Rojikan, and Merve regions of South Kurdistan on 11 October 1991. The book adds that some of the Napalm bombs used on that date hit several schools and a hospital, burning down those buildings. The book says that an official who served in the coalition forces which were present in the region at the time the Turkish Air Force dropped Napalm bombs on the region has confirmed this incident.

    The book says that the Turkish state used Napalm bombs, which it obtained from the United States, against Greek Cypriots in the Pasof (presumably Pafos) area of Cyprus in 1946 (as published) and then again during its invasion of the island in 1974.

    The book says that Napalm tops the list of chemical weapons used by the Turkish state. Napalm can generate temperatures of up to 800 degrees when used on its own, but this temperature may rise to 1,500 to 2,000 degrees when it is fortified with certain chemicals.

    [04] Further on the ``court'' case against AVRUPA

    AVRUPA (26.5.99) continues to report on the ``court'' case opened by Denktash against the paper´s three journalists asking from them damages amounting to 125 billion TL.

    During yesterday´s session one of the defendants, Kenan Inatci, was crossed- examined as witness.

    Kenan Inatci, who in 1960 was an intelligence officer within the TMT structure working independently from the general command, when asked whether there were spies among the Turkish Cypriots working for the Greek Cypriots at that time, he replied positively. However, when asked to name them he said that disclosing the names might harm the Turkish Cypriot community´s vital interests. When pressed further, Inatci admitted that these Turkish Cypriots were high - level officials and some of them are still alive.

    When pressed further Inatci said that, including Denktash, around ten people close to him were under observation.

    On the other hand, Sener Levent in his ``Angle'' column accused Denktash of lying to the ``court'' when the other day during the interrogation he denied an incident between him and Kenan Coygun, a TMT chief, during which both of them drew guns at each other.

    (MY)

    [05] Denktash threatens with 100% integration with Turkey

    According to YENI DEMOKRAT ( 27.5.99) Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has declared that ``if Cyprus becomes an EU member, this will legalize Greek Cypriots´ integration with Greece. If this happens, then Turkey´s hundred percent integration with the TRNC becomes fair and just''.

    Speaking at a seminar on the Cooperative movement in the occupied area and in Turkey and ways to develop their relations, Denktash referred to the Cyprus problem. Denktash said that ``Turkey has rights and interests in Cyprus and Cyprus is Turkey´s national cause. It is not possible to leave Cyprus to Greece. They are trying to tilt the balance. This will not be allowed,'' he said.

    (MY)


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


    Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    tcpr2html v1.00 run on Thursday, 27 May 1999 - 10:13:42 UTC