TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA (Cyprus PIO review) 96-05-16

From: Panayiotis Zaphiris <pzaphiri@Glue.umd.edu>

Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Directory

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No.85/96 16.5.96

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Atun protests EU accession moves.

[02] Amnesty International: Even the children are tortured in Turkey.

[03] Turkish Constitutional Court: Confidence vote unconstitutional.

[04] Turkey repeats stance on EU membership of Cyprus.

[05] Denktash in Ankara for check-up.

[06] Inflation rate in the occupied area.

[07] Boucher: Turkey is our greatest friend.

[08] Excerpts of an interview to BIRLIK by the French Ambassador.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Adali on the church in occupied Trachonas.

[A] NEW ITEMS

[01] Atun protests EU accession moves

In a written statement Atun also claimed that the application submitted on behalf of the whole of Cyprus is not legitimate because it does not contain the approval of the Turkish Cypriots.

He stated that the EU membership issue can only be discussed after a solution and in light of Turkey's rights and responsibilities stemming from the 1960 agreements. Atun alleged that the EU is pursuing the wrong road by overlooking these facts and has thus proved that it cannot play a constructive role in the efforts for a solution.

He added that it has now become inevitable for Turkey and the pseudostate to seriously evaluate this recent development and undertake countermoves.

[02] Amnesty International: Even the children are tortured in Turkey

The meeting, similar to the one held in Istanbul last week, introduced to a Turkish audience speakers from the United States, China and Morocco, who spoke on human rights abuses in their own countries.

Carsten Jurgensen, an Amnesty researcher and expert on Turkey, told the Anatolia news agency that there existed systematic and extensive torture in Turkey, and that even children were tortured.

"The remand period in Turkey is very long and this makes it easier for incidents of torture to take place, this is because the long time period allows the marks of torture disappear", Jurgensen told Anatolia.

Referring to the incidents in Manisa, where high school students were tortured by police, Jurgensen said that torture was something that people talked about without even being shocked.

"Even the deputies openly admit that children were tortured in Manisa," he stressed.

"I know that there are a number of upright prosecutors who try to reveal incidents of torture. However, doctors are afraid to give reports on torture," Jurgensen said.

[03] Turkish Constitutional Court: Confidence vote unconstitutional

The court, however, refused to take a decision to invalidate the government declaring that its ruling will not be retroactive.

Refah, the biggest party in Turkish Parliament, had said the coalition needed an absolute majority of those who attended the assembly, in this case 273 `yes' votes.

The coalition government set up by the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Path Party (DYP) won by 257-207 votes with 80 abstentions. The Democratic Left Party (DSP) of Bulent Ecevit secured the confidence vote by abstaining at the vote. According to the new ruling of the supreme court, the DSP from now on will not be able to abstain in key votes and show its support to the government. DSP deputies will either have to back the government in the votes or stay away from the parliamentary session to help the coalition.

[04] Turkey repeats stance on EU membership of Cyprus

Recalling the 6 March decision regarding Turkey's Customs Union with the EU and the decision to start Cyprus' accession talks with the EU six months after the end of the Intergovernmental conference Ambassador Nurkan said:

"As we have stated earlier, before Turkey's accession to the EU becomes clear the Greek Cypriot Administration's EU membership should not be considered. In fact the provisions of the London and Zurich Agreements are quite clear on this issue. Turkey continues to abide by the principles included in the declaration signed by TRNC President Denktash and President Suleyman Demirel last December." (MY)

[05] Denktash in Ankara for check-up

KIBRIS says that Denktash will undergo medical check-up on 20 May, at the Ibni Sina Hospital.

He will return to the occupied area on 21 May.

Denktash's private doctor Said Kenan and his advisor Hilmi Ozen will accompany him. (MY)

[06] Inflation rate in the occupied area

KIBRIS says that these figures are provided by the "Turkish Cypriot Civil Servants Trade Union", KTAMS. (MY)

[07] Boucher: Turkey is our greatest friend

Speaking at the so-called Turkish Cypriot Kyrenia Bar Assoociation's dinner given in occupied Kyrenia, he said that while in Cyprus he always asks himself "why is the Cyprus problem not being solved".

Boucher added that in the Cyprus negotiations a certain distance has been covered and a basis for an agreement has been created and a bizonal federation agreement has been reached on many issues. There is no agreement reached on the details, he said.

"When we look at other countries that fought each other, we observe that the negotiations between them did not advance as in the case of Cyprus and yet they were able to live in peace. There must be something lacking, that's why they are unable to reconcile", he added.

He went on and said: "The two communities should create the opportunities. I don't think I have been successful on this issue... If people want to live in peace then they have to reconcile. However, what is being done and experienced here shows that peace is not wanted. In case peace is desired both sides should say their intentions openly. This is what is lacking. We, as mediators, will only help you by giving ideas, money, security and similar subjects. You have to agree among you whether you are sincere on the issue of peace."

Ambassador Boucher further said that the Greek Cypriots arm themselves because they consider themselves to be not secure, and the Turks are keeping an army in Cyprus in order to feel secure. Ambassador Boucher added that as USA they think about their own interests and that Turkey is their greatest friend. (MY)

[08] Excerpts of an interview to BIRLIK by the French Ambassador

In reply to a question whether France will recognize the pseudostate in the future, Mr. Jacolin said: "No, never, because we consider Cyprus as a single state and we agree with the UN resolutions. We consider Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus as Cypriots. We admit that there has been a misunderstanding between them since 1963. Both sides committed mistakes. We accept that these mistakes led to the incidents of 1974. Cyprus has always maintained its integrity in the course of history despite the fact that it was under different administrations. We would like to see Cyprus as a single island."

In reply to a question whether the situation in Cyprus resembles to that in Bosnia, the French Ambassador said: "Answering this question will take time and it will be a long answer. The two issues do not resemble each other. Cyprus has always been a whole. But the situation in former Yugoslavia was not like this. Part of it for centuries was under Austrian rule, another part was under the Macedonians, and another part under the Ottoman rule. I did not refer to Bosnia because there is a similarity. I wanted to stress that if there is will, even the more complex problems can be solved."

To question on the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots he answered:

"Enter into the EU and all these will end. The train has moved out of the station. Cyprus is on the train. You, too, should get on the train and not miss it. This train is heading for Europe. You can travel on this train as Greek and Turkish Cypriots."

In reply to a question whether the fact that the Greek Cypriots are buying arms will create a balance of power, Mr. Jacolin said: "No, they cannot establish a balance because the Turkish Armed Forces are much superior. The ratio here is approximately 3:1. Both of you are spending money. For this reason I am proposing a reduction of military forces. The Greek Cypriots arm themselves in order to reduce the effect of your crashing superiority." And further on he specifies:

In conclusion and in reply to a relevant question, the Ambassador said: "Whatever the case, a wall is a wall, a separation is separation. This wall here in Cyprus should be buried into history."

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Adali on the church in occupied Trachonas

Adali adds that young people are working hard to turn the Church and the surrounding buildings, which were left unattended for 22 years, into a place where they could carry out their activities.

He says that because the Church in Trachona is given to the Youth Centre, actually the building will be saved from destruction.

Adali, however, express the fear that the occupied regime has decided to built a road connecting occupied Morphou and Mia Milia, which will pass by the Church yard. "I hope that with the excuse of building a new road the Church will not be pulled down."

Adali also suggests that Trachona's football field, which is now being used as a junk-yard, be given to the so-called Nicosia Municipality and not to the occupation army. He says that it should be turned into a sports and recreation centre, in the service of the Turkish Cypriots. (MY)