Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-10-19

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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. 193/98 -- 17-18-19.10.98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Black Sea Partnership to amend Straits bylaws.

[02] Denktash on option of integration with Turkey.

[03] Denktash comments on contacts abroad.

[04] ``Foreign Press Union'' boycotts Hercus reception.

[05] Greek Cypriot ``sentenced'' for entering military area.

[06] Turkey not to sign agreement on ban of land mines.

[07] Turkey hopes France to extradite mafia boss Cakici.

[08] Ancient tombs to be destroyed.

[09] Interview with Mr. Kasoulides published in HURRIYET.

[10] Vienna Philarmonic Orchestra performs at Bellapais.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] Columnist raps mafia, politician, media ties.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Black Sea Partnership to amend Straits bylaws

The first session of the International Black Sea Partners Meeting, which was organized by the Association of Peace with Nature, was held last Saturday at the Social Center of the Istanbul Technical University Foundation. Speaking at the session, Ali Talip Ozdemir, Motherland Party Deputy from Istanbul, criticized the Istanbul Greater City Municipality by saying: ``The Istanbul Municipality is unfortunately very insensitive to the Straits issue. Despite a municipal budget of 1 quadrillion Turkish lira, it still does not have a marine firefighting service. It does not have a single vessel to remove oil from the sea in the event of a spill.'' Ozdemir continued: ``Every day tankers 315 meters long pass through out straits. It would be disastrous if a tanker hit the Dolmabahce Palace''. Minister of State Kara said: ``Nearly 65 to 70 percent of the pollution in the Black Sea originates from the Danube River. Turkey is responsible for only 7 to 10 percent of the pollution in the Black Sea.'' Kara also disclosed that the Straits Code of Regulations will change this week. He said: ``We will change the dimensions for vessels entering the Bosporus. The Straits will become known as the `Turkish Straits´ rather than the Bosporus Strait and the Canakkale Strait. Vessels carrying waste material will be required to declare their cargo.''

[02] Denktash on option of integration with Turkey

Addressing a ceremony staged for the opening of the Rehabilitation Center of SSK (Social Security Institute) in which Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister, and Sukru Sina Gurel, Minister of State, and Nami Cagan, Minister of Labour and Social Security, participated in, Denktash said they believed in the integration of Turkey and the pseudostate.

Meanwhile, Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister, said it would not be true to identify the ``Cyprus issue'' as the ``Cyprus question'' adding that this issue was solved for the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey 24 years ago. Ecevit said the ``TRNC'', which is not recognized by any country, ``is a fact that cannot be ignored and challenges the whole world with its 200,000 population.''

Ecevit alleged the world will have to recognize the ``TRNC'' in the end.

[03] Denktash comments on contacts abroad

In his statement to reporters in Istanbul, Denktash said that during his contacts he conveyed the message that the world has remained a mere spectator to the Greek Cypriot embargo and the ``inhuman treatment'' of the Turkish Cypriots. Claiming that the officials with whom he met ``were ashamed in the face of these facts'' and that the journalists learned facts of which they were not aware, Denktash added: ``The world should be briefed on the Cyprus realities. Efforts along these lines will continue.''

Recounting that he had the opportunity to explain his confederation proposal during his contacts, Denktash claimed: ``We once again displayed our goodwill when we laid the confederation proposal on the table. In this way, we showed the way to the union of two states in Cyprus.''

Furthermore, according to illegal Bayrak radio (5:00 hours, 17.10.98), Denktash also said that there were reports to the effect that some 300 Greek Cypriots have appealed to the European Court of Human Rights on charges that Turkey did not allow them to visit occupied Kythrea. He alleged: ``This is shameful behaviour, because the principle of an exchange of refugees and property has been accepted since 1977. I call on the UN Secretary General to convey this fact to the European Court of Human Rights.''

[04] ``Foreign Press Union'' boycotts Hercus reception

Alkan stated that those members of the Foreign Press Union who were invited to the reception will not attend because of the reasons cited.

[05] Greek Cypriot ``sentenced'' for entering military area

``Prosecutor'' Ilkel Serpar said he was not convinced by Sotiriou´s explanation that he was unaware of the need to seek permission to cross over into the occupied area. Sotiriou agreed to a prison sentence of one month, saying that he is unemployed and does not have enough money to pay the fine.

[06] Turkey not to sign agreement on ban of land mines

This attitude of Ankara was conveyed in the first committee meeting, working in relation with the UN General Assembly, where disarmament and international security issues are being discussed.

Tuluy Tanc, Turkey´s UN Deputy Permanent Representative, addressing the committee meeting, said that Turkey fully supports the humanitarian sides of the agreement which is briefly known as the Ottawa Agreement.

Tanc said ``nevertheless, Ankara can fulfill the aspects envisaged by the agreement only in stages'', adding that this stemmed from the geographical location of Turkey.

Turkey and the US share almost the same views on the issue of land mines and say that they can not fulfill the provisions of the agreement due to similar reasons.

More than 100 countries signed the agreement which bans production, stocking, purchase and usage of land mines. The agreement, confirmed by 40 countries, will take effect on 1 March 1999.

Noting that Turkey supported the idea that land mines should be banned completely, Tanc recalled that Turkey launched activities to cleanse the land mines which are at the border between her neighbours such as Bulgaria and Georgia with which she doesn`t have problems.

Tanc mentioned the security of the flank countries within the framework of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE). Turkey and Norway are among the flank countries.

Tanc also mentioned the close relations between weapons and drug trafficking and expressed Turkey´s sensitivity to this end.

[07] Turkey hopes France to extradite mafia boss Cakici

Justice Minister Hasan Denizkurdu said that the 500-page file requesting the extradition of Cakici has been found compatible with international legal criteria by the French Justice Ministry, which has forwarded the request to a relevant court.

If Turkey´s request for extradition is, however, turned down, then a 15- person Turkish delegation will go to France to obtain a deposition from Cakici. The delegation will include judges and prosecutors from five Turkish courts where Cakici is being tried in absentia and members from the Justice Ministry Legal and Foreign Relations Directorate. The Turkish delegation, which is to go to France in case of rejection of the extradition request, would be given copies of the telephone list and other written documents, an inventory of articles, and copies of the cassettes found on Cakici.

[08] Ancient tombs to be destroyed

KIBRIS says that some people are constructing an unauthorized building on the site, to be used as a night club.

People living in the area have launched a complaint and despite the order to stop construction workers continue their building work. (MY)

[09] Interview with Mr. Kasoulides published in HURRIYET

[10] Vienna Philarmonic Orchestra performs at Bellapais

The forty-member Orchestra, under conductor Ola Rudner, played pieces from Haydn, W.A Mozart and F. Mendelsson.

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey and the 15th anniversary of the illegal UDI of the pseudostate, after the performance, the audience gave a standing ovation to the orchestra. (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] Columnist raps mafia, politician, media ties

Korkmaz Yigit, whose star has suddenly shone in the business world, is the new patron of MILLIYET, YENI YUZYIL, Kanal-6, and Kanal-E.

The recording of his conversation with Cakici is now in full view. Look what Kokmaz Yigit is saying in his own defense: `I saw to it that Cakici does not meet with anyone and create a new incident.´

Already, days before the contents of the cassette became public, industrialists, businessmen, and big patrons were discussing the Alaattin Cakici-Korkmaz Yigit ties among themselves.

Before the cassette was made public, CHP (Republican People´s Party) Deputy Fikri Saglar met his leader Deniz Baykal and played the tape to him.

We now have a question: Why did the CHP leader himself not divulge the existence of such an important cassette?

We believe Deniz Baykal feared the `power of the media´. In fact, after the disclosure of the cassette, the director of one of Yigit´s papers called him and said: `If you have a party leader I myself have a patron.´

Yet another important point is this: The Cakici-Yigit cassette was made public at the parliament by CHP Deputies Fikri Saglar, Sahin Ulusoy, Onder Kirli, Yahya Simsek, Bekir Yurdagul, and Mahmut Isik.

Why were the CHP group deputy whips Onder Sav, Nihat Matkap, and Oya Arasli not present at the news conference held at parliament?

Is Korkmaz Yigit the sole reprehensible person in these chain of events?

There have always been Alaattin Cakicis in putrefied and fetid societies.

Is it not true that Turkey is just now reaping the bitter fruits of 12 September 1980 (coup)?

If Cakici is able to declare that he is a friend of many businessmen, including President Suleyman Demirel´s nephew Yahya Demirel, if he is able to establish close ties with (late president) Turgut Ozal´s son Ahmet Ozal, if this is how the cogs of the system operate, can you expect a decent behaviour from those involved in `tenders?´

There will never be a `clean society´ in Turkey as long as we refuse to see the underlying reasons that have led the former Idealist and famous mafia godfather to establish ties with the businessmen, politicians, industrialists, and media tycoons.

If Alaattin Cakici acts in unison with the `citadel of the state´ then what do you expect from Korkmaz Yigit, who wants to buy the Turkbank. He would, of course, hold a ´pally and brotherly´telephone conversation with Cakici and ask for help.

This is after all the rule of the New World Order and the new market economy!

Its name tells it all: `Savage capitalism!´

Are the perpetrators of mystery murders in this country not roaming the streets freely?

Are those refusing to take any action on Mehmet Eymur´s (an official of the Turkish Intelligence Organization, MIT, removed from the agency for involvement in gang activity) statements at the State Security Court not those very persons who issued a `red´ (diplomatic) passport to Cakici and a `green´ (visa-free passport, the holder of which could use VIP halls and pass customs unchecked) passport to Abdullah Catli (another underground figure who died at Susurluk traffic accident)?

Yet another question: Was it not months ago that some members of the Football Federation resigned under pressure from Cakici who told them to `resign if you want to live?´ Alaattin Cakici is acting as if he is the state itself! Who catapulated him to that position?

Cleanness should begin from the media! Dirty ties should be exposed one by one! But, with which media should be cleaned?

The society is forgetful and apathetic. People buy newspapers merely to collect `coupons´. The society is disorganized. There are no trade union organizations in any newspaper and television except at CUMHURIYET newspaper, and Anatolia, ANKA, and UBA news agencies!

The de-unionization is continuing rapidly. The black economy is whetting the mafia´s appetite. The Treasury lands and forests are being plundered and the reactionary-fascist tide is steadily gaining momentum.

Turkey is being pushed into a blind alley. This means that not only politics but all the institutions and organizations too have been sullied.

The time has come for the left to forge solidarity, but, unfortunately, nothing moves on that front at all!

Are we going to remain silent to save our jobs? Are we going to give up our ethnic values for the sake of $10,000 to 20,000 a month?

If we do not raise our voice and if we sit in a corner, we would as a society be buried under the crumbling wall. Are we aware of this?''

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

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