Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-06-01

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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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish coalition protocol detailed.

[02] Turkish Ministry assignments.

[03] Eroglu on water transportation from Turkey.

[04] Turkish Cypriots opposed to intervention of G-18 countries in Cyprus.

[05] New government expected to continue ``rigid'' posture on Cyprus issue.

[06] Talat meets British official

[07] Morphou area water contaminated.

[08] Lawsuit against Eroglu for ``citizenship'' scandal.

[09] Eroglu will be ``presidential'' candidate.

[10] Clinton reportedly wants to discuss Cyprus problem with Ecevit.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish coalition protocol detailed

``Our nation has showed that it prefers solution of the problems by tolerance, reconciliation and cooperation rather than instability, clash and polarization in our political life. The formation of the government by three parties does not give the opportunity to the three parties to implement their own programmes''.

The coalition protocol also states the following: ``The parties which are partners of the coalition will charge one deputy prime minister in the government. The legal arrangement concerning the third deputy prime minister will be realized soon. Dr Devlet Bahceli, the leader of MHP will represent the prime minister during the partnership. Appointments which are done by one signature will be realized by written decrees having two signatures, those which are done by two signatures will be realized by written decrees having three signatures and appointments which are done by four signatures will be realized by decrees having four signatures. The changes in the number of parliamentarians of the coalition partners won´t change the distribution of ministries among coalition governments. Necessary initiatives will be taken in order to adopt a repentance law which will be supported by the public opinion and which will strengthen the struggle with terrorism. The new budget will be tried to be adopted by the parliament in June. The bank law will be adopted in a way which will protect savings of citizens, support productive investments and exports and give confidence to internal and external markets. Another priority of the government is to change the Articles 83 and 100 of the Constitution to limit the parliamentary immunity. The state security courts will be re- arranged. The law regarding the widening of authorities of the local administrations and increasing its resources, the laws regarding social security reform and political ethics law will be adopted as soon as possible.''

As regards the targets of the coalition these are stated as follows:

``A) Public administration

Our government is determined to reconstruct the public administration.

An understanding of just, transparent, productive and participatory administration will be implemented in public administration and public services.

Discrimination will be prevented in appointments and entrance exams of civil servants will be done by a central system.

B) Economic and Social Policies

The foundation of economic and financial policies which will be implemented by our government will be to realize sustainable government.

The economic programme which will be implemented will be the basis of development of the country in stability. Economic stability will be provided by decreasing budget deficits, taking effective measures against unregistered economy. Thus an atmosphere of confidence will be created in economy.

For financing public deficits, the resources of the Central Bank won`t be used in any condition. The realist rate of exchange policy which is being implemented will continue. While struggle against inflation continues, poor people will be protected.

Economic and social policies will be formed to increase the prosperity of farmers and villagers and to overcome the underdevelopment of southeastern and eastern Turkey. Deficiencies in infrastructure will be overcome by ``build-operate-transfer'' system.

Privatization will be carried out in a way which gives trust to public opinion and which takes into consideration the public interests.

Importance will be attributed to infrastructure of railway and sea transportation.''

The eight years compulsory education will continue, the protocol of the 57th coalition government further noted.

It also pointed out that the Turkish Republic will continue to pursue a peaceful foreign policy which will be based on ``peace at home peace abroad'' principle of Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular republic.

``The leading condition which will be taken into account in our relations with any country or international institution will be nonexistence of support to separatist terrorism in our country,'' added the protocol.

The last two parts of the protocol are as follows:

``C) Education

Our government will continue to implement the eight years compulsory education.

No opportunity will be given to ideological polarization or conflicts in schools and universities.

Vocational and technical education will be encouraged.

Those students who complete their fifth year in primary school can take Koran courses to be given by the Department of Religious Affairs and to be inspected by National Education Ministry.

D) Foreign Policy

The aim of foreign policy is to provide our state to be an effective side in bilateral and multilateral international relations by an understanding which takes into consideration the rights, interests and concerns of our state.

Tureky´s full membership to the European Union (EU) is a right stemming from history, geography and agreements. No concession will be given from our national rights and interests in return to the efforts to be a full member of the EU.

Necessary initiatives will continue to be taken in order to correct the defects that come out in implementation of the customs deal.

In our foreign policy, special importance will be given to all our regional relations particularly with the Balkans, the Middle East and Caucasus.

Meanwhile importance will be paid to improvement of existing relations particularly with Islamic countries, Russia, Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) countries and China.

Our government will pursue an active and stable policy aiming at improving cooperation with Turkish Republics in economic, social, cultural and political fields.

Our policies directed at protecting and improving the gained rights of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will continue.

The conditions of improving relations with Greece are respectively stated as; the end of Greece`s support to terrorist activities in Turkey, her acceptance of solving problems through dialogue and not casting EU´s shadow on our bilateral relations.

Armenia should end invading the Azerbaijani territory and give up the hostile campaign she carries out against Turkey in the international field so that our relations can improve.

Our effective contributions to prevent our Bosnian and Kosovar brothers from pressure and injustice and even genocide will continue in resolution''.

[02] Turkish Ministry assignments

At the end of a critical discussion in the bargaining among the parties, the Ministry of Finance went to the Motherland Party (ANAP) at the last minute while the Democratic Left Party (DSP) held on to the (Ministry of State for) Village Services. The DSP, which has attached special importance to the eight-year uninterrupted education system, also won another bargaining session by taking the Ministry of National Education.

Representation in the National Security Council (NSC) was taken into account in the distribution of ministries among the three parties. The DSP will be represented in the NSC by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) by the Minister of National Defense, and the ANAP by the Minister of the Interior. MHP General Chairman Devlet Bahceli, who will be a Deputy Prime Minister, will also attend the NSC meetings, but he will not have voting rights.

Investment volumes of ministries, the extent of their presence across the country, and the number of their personnel were also taken into account in the distribution of ministries. In addition to the equal distribution of three ministries that have close contacts with the President and the army and have seats in the NSC, three ministries that are considered to be closely intertwined with society were also equally distributed. Of these, the Ministry of National Education went to the DSP, the Ministry of Health went to the MHP, and the Ministry of Labour went to the ANAP.

In exchange for letting Village Services go the DSP, the MHP took the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, which is considered important in rural areas by virtue of its ties to agricultural cooperatives (as published, possibly referring to the Ministry of Agriculture), also went to the MHP.

Investing ministries among the executive ministries went to two of the coalition partners. The MHP took both the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Transportation while the ANAP managed to retain control of the Ministry of Energy, which it had during the 55th government.

The administration of the economy was also shared equally among the three parties. The DSP took control of the helm of the economy by taking the Undersecretariat of the Treasury and the Chairmanship of the Stock Market Board.

In the bargaining over the public banks Ziraat (Agriculture) Bankasi was initially envisaged to go to the MHP. However, when the MHP got the Public Housing Administration, Ziraat and Emlak Bankasi switched places. Thus Ziraat went to the DSP and Emlak went to the MHP.

The Undersecretariat of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Secretariat General of the NSC were not included in the protocol´s list of supplemental ministries and agencies. However, these two agencies will again be affiliated with the Office of the Prime Minister.

Cabinet of the 57th Government (subhead)

Democratic Left Party (subhead)

Six executive ministries: Justice, Foreign Affairs, National Education, Culture, Environment, Forestry.

Six state ministries: State and Deputy Prime Ministry, State Ministries Responsible for the Economy, Women and Family, Youth and Sports, Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP), and Village Services.

Agencies under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister: Secretariat General of the NSC and Undersecretariat of the MIT.

Agencies affiliated with ministries: Legal Medicine Agency, Agency for Credit and Dormitories for Higher Education, Directorate General of State Theaters, Directorate General of State Opera and Ballet, Special Environmental Protection Agency, Directorate General of Forestry, Directorate General of the National Lottery, Turkish Coal Agency, Eti Holding.

Affiliated organisations: The Treasury, State Personnel, Religious Affairs, GAP Administration, Family Research Agency, Village Services, Youth and Sports, Status of Women, social Services and Child Protection, Fund to Encourage Social Assistance and Solidarity, Soccer Federation.

Associated organisations: Ziraat Bankasi, Halk Bankasi, Central Bank, Turkish Development Bank, Chairmanship of the Stock Market Board.

Responsibilities: Problems of citizens overseas, coordination with Cyprus, overseas contracting, relations with parliament, government spokesmanship.

Nationalist Action Party (subhead)

Six executive ministries: National Defense, Public Works, Health, Transportation, Agriculture and Village Affairs, Industry and Trade.

Six state ministries: State Ministries Responsible for the Economy, Maritime Affairs, Public Housing, Relations with Turkic Republics, Promotion of the Handicapped and the Weak.

Agencies affiliated with ministries: Undersecretariat of Defense Industry, Highways, Bank of the Provinces, Chairmanship of the Hygiene Institute, Wireless, State Railways, Postal Administration, State Airports Administration, Turk Telekom, Soil Products Office, General Directorate of Agricultural Management, Turkish Patent Institute, Turkish Sugar Factories, Machine Chemical Institute, Association for the Development of Small and Medium Businesses, National Productivity Center.

Affiliated organisations: Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade, State Planning Organization, Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs, State Statistics Institute, Public Housing Administration, Ataturk Cultural Center, Language and History Institute, Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency, Land Registry Office, General Directorate of State Meteorology, Promotion Fund Administration, Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Organization, Turkish Press Agency.

Associated organizations: Emlak Bankasi, Eximbank, Administration for the Handicapped, Turkish Institute of Standards, Turkish Middle East Public Administration Institute.

Responsibilities: Relations with the Council of State, Turkic republics and communities, problems of the handicapped, refugees from Bulgaria, Ahiska Turks, relations with parliament, government spokesmanship.

Motherland Party (subhead)

Five state ministries: Interior, Finance, Energy and Natural Resources, Labour and Social Security, Tourism.

Five state ministries: State Ministries Responsible for Privatization, Human Rights, Relations with the EU, Press and Broadcast Agencies, and Religious Foundations.

Agencies affiliated with ministries: Directorate General of Security, Gendarmes, Coast Guard, the Pension Fund, Soil Products Office, State Hydraulic Affairs, Electricity Works Study Administration, Petroleum Affairs, Mining Research Institute, Turkish Petroleum Corporation, Turkish Coal Works, Petroleum Pipeline Transport Corporation, Turkish Electricity Generation and Transmission Corporation, Turkish Electricity Distribution Corporation, Turkish Iron and Steel Works, Organization for Labour and Employment, Social Security Organization, Social Security Administration for the Self-Employed, Tea Works, State Monopolies.

Affiliated organizations: Customs, Privatization, Higher Auditing Board, Turkish Atomic Energy Commission, Religious Foundations, Press and Broadcast Information Office.

Associated organizations: Vakiflar (Religious Foundations) Bankasi, Turkish Radio and TV Administration, Anatolia Agency.

Responsibilities: Collective labour agreements in the public sector, human rights, relations with the EU, relations with parliament, government spokesmanship.

[03] Eroglu on water transportation from Turkey

In reply to journalists´ questions, Eroglu remarked that the water transportation balloon has been out of order for some time, but it is now being repaired.

In response to a question about the project to transport water from Turkey to the occupied area via pipeline, Eroglu stated that the decisions pertaining to the project have been adopted and that the relevant studies have been conducted. He added that contacts will be held with the Turkish government with the aim of accelerating the project following the establishment of the new government in Turkey.

Pointing out that officials in Turkey are very sensitive about the transportation of water via pipeline, Eroglu noted that this project has reached a stage where it can be implemented.

[04] Turkish Cypriots opposed to intervention of G-8 countries in Cyprus

Addressing a statement following his weekly meeting with Rauf Denktash, Eroglu noted that some people say that there are preparations for a constitution concerning Cyprus and that they oppose to such preparations which are realized in absentia of the ``TRNC''.

Eroglu stated that they evaluated the developments about the Cyprus issue and the new government of Turkey in their meeting.

[05] New government expected to continue ``rigid'' posture on Cyprus issue

Officials in Washington said that it would be hard to make any predictions on whether the coalition of the Democratic Left Party, the Nationalist Action Party, and the Motherland Party will be ``long-lived''. They said:

``It is clear that a stable government that can stay in office is necessary to solve Turkey´s pressing problems. The government may be long-lived if Turkish politicians and the Turkish public act with this awareness.''

Welcoming the retention of Minister of State Hikmet Ulugbay in the cabinet, US officials expressed hope that the economic stability program that has been launched will continue and that the agreement of principles reached with the IMF a few months ago will be put into practice.

According to US officials, Turkey will be able to obtain credit support from the IMF if it can activate an anti-inflationary program that incorporates structural reforms and serious spending cuts.

The officials also believe that ``reforms in human rights'' must be another priority of the new government and that, in particular, restrictions on freedom of expression must be lifted urgently.

Commenting on the foreign policy of the tripartite coalition, the officials said that the new government will ``keep a distance from Europe''. The officials also found the retention of Ismail Cem as Foreign Minister as ``surprising but positive''. Noting that there were rumours that Cem would be left out of the cabinet, one official said: ``Thanks to his mild style, he has been effective on the international level and is able to establish one-on-one relations. Rumours that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit would remove him from office have not come true. That is a positive development from a standpoint of continuity in Turkey´s foreign policy''.

However, the Clinton administration does not believe that this is a government that is ``ready for a change in the status quo'' in Cyprus and is concerned that Ankara will continue its ``rigid'' posture on this issue. On the bilateral level, the most important issue for Washington is the continuation of the solidarity between the two countries against Iraq, in particular with regard to the protection of northern Iraq from Saddam´s forces.

[06] Talat meets British official

Speaking prior to the meeting Talat said that he would convey to Mr. Wood his party´s views on the Cyprus issue.

In his turn, Mr. Wood said that he was on holiday, therefore he was not authorized to make a statement and that his meeting with Talat was unofficial. (MY)

[07] Morphou area water contaminated

Two analyses carried out last month showed that there are bacteria in the water which are harmful to health and render water not suitable for human consumption.

(MY)

[08] Lawsuit against Eroglu for ``citizenship'' scandal

[09] Eroglu will be ``presidential'' candidate

He said that the term of the ``president'' should be limited and that ``Constitutional'' amendment to this effect will be realized in autumn and then a referendum will be held.

(MY)

[10] Clinton reportedly wants to discuss Cyprus problem with Ecevit

Sources close to the US Administration said that the fact that the new government in Turkey enjoys strong parliamentary support encouraged Washington to revive its Cyprus efforts.

KIBRIS reports that one wing in the US administration believes that it will be possible to overcome the impasse in the Cyprus problem through negotiations with Ecevit. Another wing thinks that the present government is not ready for any concessions on the Cyprus problem.

KIBRIS also claims that observers in Washington think that Turkey scored a positive point when it agreed to open its airfields for NATO´s Kosova operations.

(MY)

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

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