Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 96-11-20

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TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 209/96 20.11.1996

CONTENTS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash criticized for partiality, remarks on religion.

[02] Denktash reaffirms stand on religious affairs.

[03] Durduran raps Denktash for remarks on religious issues.

[04] Serdar Denktash defends Asil Nadir.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Mumtaz Soysal recommends two separate states in Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash criticized for partiality, remarks on religion

Republican Turkish Party (RTP) deputy Salih Usar charged that Rauf Denktash wants "constitutional amendments" to be made so that the Religious Affairs Directorate of Turkey can take over the religious affairs of the occupied area. Usar stressed the importance of secularism. He then said that the RTP is disturbed by the Greek Cypriot arms build up or by "border" actions. "Having civilians confront each other on the border is a mistake", Usar said, expressing hope that 1997 will be a year of peace.

Huseyin Angolemli of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP) charged that Denktash suspends his impartiality at times in order to be reelected. He noted that Denktash's remarks about religious affairs were a message to certain circles. Angolemli stressed that the majority of the Turkish Cypriots want a bizonal solution guaranteed by Turkey and based on political equality, but that Denktash does not reflect this to the world.

National Unity Party (NUP) Deputy Salih Niroglu said that even though the "Constitution" limits the "president's" powers, Denktash sometimes intervenes. Niroglu pointed out that in democratic parliamentary systems, presidents are elected by parliament, adding that if the existing system continues, the "president" will have to be given more powers.

NUP Deputy Irsen Kucuk charged that foreign policy has been run by Denktash for years, and that starting now, "parliament" must come to the forefront. He noted that constitutions do not always reflect real democratic life, that progress toward the solution of the Cyprus problem has always been achieved thanks to Turkey's initiatives, and that the Turkish Cypriots have always lost to Greek Cypriot propaganda.

The committee then voted on the "presidential budget" and approved it without change.

[02] Denktash reaffirms stand on religious affairs

In a written statement he issued yesterday, Denktash alleged that the speeches delivered during the ground breaking ceremony of the mosque in occupied Kyrenia are being misinterpreted and exploited. He said: "A certain circle has been formed over the years which believes that being pro-Ataturk means not teaching our beautiful religion to our children. As a result, a generation grew which is incapable of saying a prayer for their ancestors".

Denktash said that the lack of measures taken in the field of religion encouraged the exploiters of religion, and that everyone complains of that. He pointed out that he has been suggesting for years that the religious affairs of the "TRNC" be attached to the Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate. "This will bring discipline to the religious affairs", he claimed, as well as lift a big burden from the shoulders of the Waqf organization. He pointed out that the religious affairs in Turkey are run by a pro-Ataturk administration.

He also stated that the objections to the issue have gone as far being excessive accusations, and that at the root of this lies the fear that integration with Turkey is being started in the field of religious affairs. He said that the cooperation of people who share the same religion is not incompatible with the principle of sovereignty. He added: "In fact, it is the execution of sovereignty to lift a constitutional obstacle in order to carry out a step which was not considered back when the Constitution was drawn up but which will be in the interests of the country now".

Denktash denied the allegations that the Turkish delegations who were in Cyprus exerted pressure to have the religious affairs attached to Turkey. He reiterated that it was his idea to do that, adding: "It is very unfair to think that I have an ulterior motive in that. This step must be taken to increase the moral value of the pro-Ataturk elements".

Denktash alleged that with protocols and agreements to be signed with Turkey, "the religious affairs and religious training of the Turkish Cypriots will be raised to a civilized and modern level, and that at the same time, this will render a great service to the youth who are confronting the bloody attacks of the Greek Orthodox Church", as he charged.

Denktash thanked the Turkish Religious Director, saying: "Those who know that we will improve with the aid to come from Turkey resorted to these attacks in order to leave us in need of the Greek Cypriots and to extinguish the enthusiasm coming from Turkey. However, our people are aware of all this and will ignore the obstacles".

[03] Durduran raps Denktash for remarks on religious issues

[04] Serdar Denktash defends Asil Nadir

Serdar Denktash held a press conference yesterday during which he said that a 500 thousand US dollars credit is being provided to Asil Nadir to renovate and complete the Crystal Cove Hotel. He said that Asil Nadir has received the credit from the so called Development Bank and Tourism Incentive Fund.

"If next year I will he able to put into service a five-star beautiful complex, then I give this money. The money has been used for project purposes and it is paid for the construction company. Apart from this the Crystal Cove Hotel is to be rented to the Learned Company by the state and Asil will transfer the management of it to NET Holding.

It is necessary to welcome all those who are after a serious investment. The road to development passes through here. Had the state of that time not turned a sole investor into a sole employer, what happened to Asil Nadir maybe would not have happened. There the mistake is not Asil Nadir's but the state's" said Serdar Denktash. (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Mumtaz Soysal recommends two separate states in Cyprus

"It is also a known fact that this is the only valid starting point if one wants development and realistic steps towards the future. Making this observation and making one-sided statements on the issue, however, is insufficient. The world has to be persuaded on the issue as well. Especially the world that, through the pressure of Greece, has been demanding a `solution' from Ankara and the Turkish sector of Nicosia. In other words, the United States and the EU.

All those who ask `why the problems on this tiny island have remained unsolved until now' and who assume the role of problem shooter, all the `special representatives', all those who have been especially appointed, after having made a few trips to the island and having seen the difficulties, arrive at the same conclusion: None, however, will openly admit the reality. Why?

One of the reasons, I believe, is that Ankara has not formulated a clear Cyprus policy. To be more correct, it has not clearly voiced such a policy. Had Ankara been able to state from the very beginning that `as you can see, there can be no other way; there is no alternative than to start with two independent states and build mutual trust within the current conditions on the island and only after that encourage the establishment of joint organs' then the current false impressions would not have been created. Turkey was unable to show this courage and joined those who dabbled with proposals for solutions that it believed were inapplicable. A clearer stand, despite the reaction it would have generated initially, would, maybe, have long ago created the solution that would be auspicious for both sides.

The second reason is that the failure in making north Cyprus economically viable and achieving an economy that will be an asset not only to the island but to Turkey as well has further encouraged the foreign cruel intentions. The intention in question is the one that aims at making the Turkish Cypriot people suffer economically and to later force it to accept unwanted solutions.

The last example of this intention is the EU plan to render the Turkish Cypriot people insane by saying: You are now isolated from the world; and we are offering you just the opposite, in order words, European citizenship. There are attempts to force the Turkish Cypriots to accept a majority administration based on the supremacy of the Greek Cypriots within a Europe in which Turkey will not participate". EI/EF