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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-12-08Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 228/97 -- 8.12.97[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] EROGLU LEAVES FOR ANKARA FOR 'DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM' MEETINGAccording to illegal Bayrak Radio (1130 hours, 5/12/97), so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu has left for Ankara in order to attend the founding ceremonies of the "Turkish Cypriot development platform."In his statement at occupied Tymbou airport, Eroglu said that he will explain to the Turkish officials the problems in the pseudostate and added: "Issues such as activating the existent protocols and the transfer of the funds promised in the loan agreements to the TRNC will be taken up." Pointing to his infrequent visits to Ankara, Eroglu said: "I will try to put to good use this visit and find the opportunity to once again assess our concerns with the officials of the 55th Turkish government, which is doing everything in its power for the prosperity of the TRNC people." [02] EROGLU MEETS SEZGIN, ECEVIT, CETINAccording to TRT (1800 hours, 5/12/97), Dervis Eroglu, so-called prime minister of the pseudostate, arrived in Ankara and State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel received Eroglu and and his accompanying delegation at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. At first, Eroglu paid a visit to Ismet Sezgin, deputy prime minister and national defense minister.At the meeting, Sezgin said that it is out of the question for Turkey to change the stand it pursued on the Cyprus issue for the past 40 years. "We will hold our own in the face of any fait accompli. I want to state that regardless of the grounds on which the S-300 missiles are deployed, we will never make any concessions on the principles and targets that we have been defending until now," Sezgin said. Eroglu later visited Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. At the meeting, Ecevit claimed that there were various plans, in particular among EU circles, to force Turkey and the pseudostate to make concessions on the Cyprus issue. "These efforts are like swimming against the stream. Nobody can succeed in separating the Turkish Republic from the TRNC. I believe everybody realizes this by now. In the meantime, EU circles have adopted a more realistic approach to the fact that the TRNC is a separate state, even though none of them say this out loud. Relations between Turkey and the TRNC will become stronger in the coming months and years. Turkey and the TRNC will either become EU members together or not at all," Ecevit alleged. On his part, Eroglu stated: "The statements you issue on Cyprus make us very happy, and they reflect our sentiments. We seek to further our relations with the motherland on all issues. The TRNC was set up in its present boundaries following the decision you took in 1974. We are determined to have the TRNC continue to exist within these boundaries We are very happy that this determination is conflirmed and supported by you as well." Hikmet Cetin, speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, received Eroglu at the parliament. At the meeting Cetin claimed that the EU committed a mistake on the Cyprus issue and applied double standards. "The EU actually turns a solvable issue into an unsolvable one by considering the Greek Cypriot Administration the sole representative of the whole of Cyprus and saying that it will launch full membership talks with them", he claimed. Eroglu, in turn, welcomed Turkey's support and invited Cetin to Cyprus. President Suleyman Demirel received Eroglu at the Cankaya Mansion. State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel was present at the meeting as well. [03] CETIN, EROGLU COMMENT ON TURKISH CYPRIOT ECONOMYAccording to TRT (1800 hours, 6.12.97) the "Turkish Cypriot Development Platform," whose objective is to secure the economic and social development of the pseudostate, has convened in Ankara. The Turkish private sector will provide technical and financial assistance to the "Turkish Cypriot Development Platform," which was set up by 27 organizations and foundations and through the support of the Turkish Democracy Foundation.Addressing the opening session of the meeting, Hikmet Cetin, speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, called on the Turkish private sector to invest in Cyprus. "I would like to issue another call on the Turkish private sector on the issue of undertaking more lasting investment in Cyprus. In this way, the Turkish private sector will help close the gap with regard to the (word indistinct) in a short time," he said. So-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu, in turn, said that certain power circles seek to use the current economic crisis as a weapon. "For this reason, it is essential that some deep-rooted and lasting decisions are adopted and very serious steps taken before it is too late," he said. [04] YILMAZ RECEIVES EROGLU, ISSUES THREATS AGAINST EUAccording to TRT (1800 hours, 7.12.97), Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has claimed that so long as the EU fails to correct and insists on the "mistake" it has committed on the Cyprus issue it will have to suffer the consequences. Yilmaz held a meeting with Dervis Eroglu, so-called prime minister of the pseudostate who is currently in Ankara, at the Prime Minister's Office yesterday.In a statement to the media prior to the meeting, Yilmaz said that developments that are extremely important for the future of Cyprus might take place in the period ahead of us. "If the talks between the EU and Cyprus are held only with the south Cyprus Greek Cypriot state, which is sovereign only over part of the island, then Turkey's stand on the issue is very clear. The entire world has been informed of this stand well in advance of these developments. The joint declaration issued by our president and the president of the TRNC in January was later endorsed by the Turkish Gand National Assembly. No Turkish government should be expected to act contrary to this declaration," Yilmaz said. Yilmaz said that Turkey expects the EU to "rectify its erroneous step as soon as possible". Alleging that the delegation that will represent Cyprus can only be composed of the representatives of "the two sovereign entities on the island", Yilmaz added that no other formula can force the Turkish Cypriots to participate in these negotiations. "If the EU does not rectify this mistake and continues to insist on it, and if the Turkish Cypriots, who have so far been isolated and subjected to an economic embargo, are ignored in the upcoming negotiations then the EU will have to suffer the consequences. It will be responsible for all the consequences this erroneous step will create in Cyprus. Therefore, Turkey's stand on the issue is very clear. It has already been expressed and a deviation from this stand is out of the question. The EU has to decide. Let no one expect us to retreat from our stand," Yilmaz threatens. On his part, Eroglu stated: "Naturally, the Cyprus problem is a cause for concern among our people at a time when the Cyprus issue is on the world agenda and when the EU is getting prepared to begin membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot administration in south Cyprus. Everyone has certain concerns regarding the future. The statements issued by the honorable prime minister and the other members of the government raise the morale of and strengthen our people." [05] POLL VIEWS EXPECTATIONS FROM "ELECTIONS"According to KIBRIS (28.11.97) a large majority of "citizens" of the pseudostate believe that any results to emerge from an "election" would not bring changes to their lives.It seems that 77.2 percent of the "citizens" expect nothing from a general "parliamentary election". Only 2.4 percent said that "something might change in my life" depending on the results. The poll conducted by COMAR, the Cyprus Public Opinion and Market Research Company, also asked people whether or not they expect any change in their life depending on the outcome of a general "parlimentary election". It appears from the replies given to that question that the "citizens" believe that their lives will not change, no matter what the outcome of the "elections". This belief bears some parallel to their opinion on the politicians and their performance. Those who do not think much of the existing politicians, also expect nothing much after a possible "election". A "hopeless" response came from all the sectors of the community to the question of whether or not a general "parliamentary election" will make any difference to the lives of the "citizens." Some 79.4 percent of the women and 74.9 percent of the men expressed a negative attitude concerning the correlation between "election" results and improvement in life. While not even 1 percent of citizens in the age group of 35-44 believe that the elections could bring any change to their lives, the people above middle age do not even entertain that much hope. The higher the educational level the less the hopelessness. The illiterate and less literate people have lost the most hope. Those living in the occupied Kyrenia district and the villages believe that the elections will bring no changes to their lives at all. Compared to the right, those on the left of the political spectrum are more hopeful. The left's hope that "something might change", while remaining below those saying "nothing will change", is nevertheless higher compared to the right. And those who have lost the most hope are people affiliated with the DP. THE EXPECTATION OF CHANGE IN LIFE BY VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY AFTER A GENERAL ELECTIONSample Much Some- Nothing No idea group could thing could No reply change might change change (Gender) Women 2.6 13.3 79.4 4.7 Men 2.3 21.1 74.9 1.7 (Age Group) 18-24 3.2 24.1 70.0 2.7 25-34 2.2 18.3 76.4 3.1 35-44 0.9 17.3 78.2 3.6 45-54 3.4 10.9 82.3 3.4 54+ 3.1 14.0 79.8 3.1 (Education) Illiterate 4.0 12.0 84.0 - Literate - 17.2 75.9 - Primary school graduate 2.4 12.9 80.7 - Intermediary school grad. 1.8 15.5 79.1 - Lyceum grad. 2.8 17.7 76.4 - post secondary graduate 2.2 24.2 71.9 - (Regions) Nicosia 2.1 19.3 73.5 5.1 Famagusta 1.8 18.8 77.3 2.1 Kyrenia 4.6 9.1 85.7 0.6 Cities 2.1 19.1 75.3 3.5 Villages 2.8 15.0 79.4 2.8 EXPECTATIONS FROM THE ELECTION ACCORDING TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHYPolitical Much Some- Nothing No idea spectrum could thing could No reply change might change change Right 6.1 17.9 73.8 2.2 Left 3.2 22.8 71.5 2.5 Center 1.4 17.7 79.8 1.1 Those holding no political views 0.8 12.6 79.3 7.3 (Parties) UBP 9.0 18.6 68.8 3.6 DP 4.1 22.4 76.4 2.0 CTP 1.8 18.2 71.5 3.6 TKP 4.9 23.0 70.5 1.6 YKP - 25.0 62.5 12.5 Those casting mixed votes 0.5 15.6 83.4 0.5 Others - 08.7 82.6 8.7 [06] TURKEY AND PSEUDOSTATE SIGN "PROTOCOL" OF CULTURAL COOPERATIONAccording to Turkish Daily News (4.12.97) Turkey and the pseudostate signed Wednesday a "protocol" for cultural cooperation in order to increase the level of current relations and cooperation and to improve cultural relations in accordance with Ataturk's principles, Anatolian news agency reported. Turkish Culture Minister Istemihan Talay stated before the signing that the current relations will be further increased and that pseudostate artists will get the opportunity to perform in Turkey.He also said that historical sites from the Ottoman era in the "TRNC" will be restored in joint ventures. On the other hand so-called culture minister Gunay Caymaz said that Turkey has always been on their side and expressed his gratitude for this. Caymaz also noted that restoration works had begun in order to restore the house of late National Movement Party founder and leader, Alparslan Turkes, who was born in Cyprus. The protocol also foresees cooperation in combatting the smuggling of important historical artifacts. [07] TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS U.S. SECRETARY OF STATEAccording to TRT (1800 hours, 4/12/97), Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who is on an official visit in the United States, has met with U.S. Secretary of State Albright in Washington. In a statement to reporters after the meeting, Cem said that they discussed issues such as energy, regional cooperation, and economy. Recalling the strategic changes in Central Asia and the Caucasus in the aftermath of the cold war, Cem said that Turkey is also experiencing a process of change, adding that Turkey constitutes a significant model for its region despite its problems in various fields. He noted that Turkey has various problems with certain countries in the Balkans, the Caucasus, the Middle East and Central Asia and especially with Greece, adding that, however, these are the problems of the last 10 to 20 years following the cooperation of many centuries. Noting that the strategic changes in the region have brought Turkey and the United States into a new process of cooperation, Cem said that this process should be continuous. He added that working groups will be established with the aim of seeking joint working conditions and investigating possibilities for cooperation. Cem said that at the meetings he held with Albright and with the U.S. energy secretary he voiced the cooperation that can be conducted between the two countries especially in the field of energy. He noted that the U.S. Administration has a positive approach to the issue and that contacts will be held with the regional countries. Cem said that at his Washington contacts, held on the eve of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz’s visit to the United States in December, bilateral economic relations that are currently at a very low level were also discussed, including measures that can be taken on the issue.[08] CEM COMMENTS ON 'NEW PERIOD' IN U.S.- TURKISH RELATIONSAccording to TRT (1600 hours, 5/12/97), Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkish - U.S. relations have embarked on a new period, which envisages strategic cooperation. Cem, who concluded his contacts in washington, held a news conference.In his news conference, Cem said that the new period in these relations, which emerged in the wake of the common Turkish - U.S. interests in the region, will be launched by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz’s visit to washington. Explaining that the United States is working toward developing strategies in the region, which includes the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Turkey, Cem added: ``The United States considers the region of vital interest. Turkey, which is a regional country with a 700-year-old history, has a different view of the region than Washington.'' Noting that strategic relations will be established with the United States on issues such as the Eurasian transportation and communication corridors and the oil and natural gas pipelines, Cem said that a timetable would be set to determine the work of the various working groups to be established by the two countries. Cem continued: ``I said during my contacts that Turkish - U.S. economic relations were insufficient. I also told the U.S. side that the bilateral volume of trade should be expanded and textile quotas lifted. I expect favourable developments on this issue.'' 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 |
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