Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-03-28

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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. 58/00 -- 28.3.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriots help Greek Leukaemia patient.

[02] Eroglu: Denktash at end of road.

[03] Ankara defends ``TRNC universities''.

[04] Denktash rejects Clerides statement.

[05] Denktash wishes speedy recovery.

[06] Turkish armament.

[07] Prof. Mumtaz Soysal/s interview.

[08] Reaction to Soysal/s interview.

[09] Youth campaign.

[10] Ayia Anastasia Church-a tourist complex.

[11] Turkish-Korean women association.

[12] Sky-high prices.

[13] Lectures on alcohol and drugs by US Embassy guests.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriots help Greek Leukaemia patient

Noting that he was pleased with the sensitivity shown by the Turkish Cypriots to this absolutely humanitarian campaign, Eroglu said, ``we hope the required blood tissue is found and little Andreas recovers.''

Mustafa Akinci, so-called Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister, said he supported the campaign, which he described as humane.

He recalled that 13-year-old Turkish Cypriot Kemal Serdaroglu suffers from the same illness and is receiving medical treatment in London awaiting for a donor.

Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said his party supports the campaign, and that he would give blood sample.

The report makes a reference to Government Spokesman/s comment on the Turkish Cypriots/ campaign as well as to the coverage given by Greek Cypriot newspapers.

The Turkish Cypriots gave blood samples yesterday at the centre established by the UN Peacekeeping Force in the Ledra Palace Hotel.

[02] Eroglu: Denktash at end of road

According to Ankara Anatolia (27.3.00) in statements made while touring various villages in the Karpass Peninsula as part of his election campaign, Eroglu accused Rauf Denktash of dividing the ``Turkish Cypriots into those who are wanted by Turkey and those who are not'', adding: ``Denktash has come to the end of the road''.

Criticizing the fact that Denktash is a ``presidential'' candidate for the sixth time, Eroglu said that there should be a limit in the number of terms one can serve as president, Eroglu said that Turkey came to the island to ensure tranquillity, security, and prosperity of the Turkish Cypriots and added that Turkey extends every kind of aid to the ``TRNC''.

He said that the views regarding Cyprus he expressed many years ago, have now become the joint policy of the ``TRNC'' and Turkey. Eroglu concluded:

``Let no one be deceived by what Denktash is saying regarding the national cause. We can easily and confidently shoulder both the cause and the duty of negotiator. The important issue regarding the national cause is to secure the support of the people and to know what to say. We have no problem on the issue.''

[03] Ankara defends ``TRNC universities''

The statement was made in response to a question on what the report describes as attempts by the Greek Cypriot administration to obstruct the cooperation between the universities in the ``TRNC'' and other universities. Atacanli remarked that the education in these universities is on a par with world standards.

Atacanli said that 21,000 students are studying in the five universities in the ``TRNC'' and added that it is natural and necessary for the universities, which are universal educational institutions, to have connections with educational institutions in various parts of the world.

Atacanli continued: ``The attempts of the Greek Cypriot administration to obstruct the TRNC universities/ international activities is an unjust intervention in the right to education. These efforts aim at adding another restriction to the embargoes that have been in effect since 1963, in violation of the Turkish Cypriots/ human rights. However, this time, the attack is not only against the rights of the Turkish Cypriot students, but also against the hundreds of foreign students currently attending these universities''.

Through these efforts, he claimed, the Greek Cypriots are continuing their hostile attitude toward the Turkish Cypriots.

The statement concluded: ``This campaign, which intensified at a time when the proximity talks process is continuing, will adversely affect the quest for a solution on the island. We expect the Greek Cypriot administration of south Cyprus to immediately stop this attack against the TRNC universities, an attack that constitutes a violation of the right to education.''

[04] Denktash rejects Clerides statement

Denktash asserted that the Church and Clerides envisaged privileged minority rights for the Turkish Cypriots, and accord priority to EU membership. ``By proposing that a solution can follow EU membership he is demonstrating his insincerity. He is continuing to impose embargoes on us. There is no proposal on the table other than our confederation proposal. Let Clerides stop hiding behind his false title. Let him set aside the precondition that he is the legitimate Cyprus government and let him lift the embargoes. This will pave the path to a solution. We do not have any preconditions. There are realities. Let us begin the work by accepting the realities. We are ready.'' Denktash concluded.

[05] Denktash wishes speedy recovery

Ayla Gurel, a lecturer in ``East Mediterranean University'' who pioneers the blood campaign said that nearly 300 people participated in the blood campaign, adding that it will continue in the buffer zone today.

[06] Turkish armament

Professor Dursun Ali Ercan, a former retired officer who was appointed the new undersecretary of the Defense Industries two months ago, claimed that there have been inaccurate news stories and speculations on both the Attack helicopter project and on Turkey/s arms expenditure. He denied that Turkey has been involved in efforts to arm itself. ``It is true that Turkey is faced with the problem of strengthening its economy. But the regional atmosphere obliges Turkey to ensure its security. We have been observing to what extent countries in the region take seriously Ataturk/s famous call for ``Peace at home, peace in the world'', Ercan said. He added that the existence of states in the region which give support to international terrorism, obliges the Turkish Armed Forces to be on the alert all the time. Turkey has not been involved in arming itself but has been seeking to bridge the gap with its neighbours, said Ercan.

According to the statistics given by Ercan, Greece spends $43 to arm an area of 1 square kilometre, whereas Turkey spends only $10. Among Turkey/s neighbours only Georgia and Bulgaria allocate to defence smaller amounts from their gross national product Ercan said. He also added that Turkey allocates 4% of its GNP to military spending whereas Greece/s ratio is about 4.7 percent.

On the same subject Ankara Anatolia reports that Ali Ercan stated ``Turkey does not target armament. Turkey aims at improving its economy and providing its security. Turkey has taken serious lessons from the Cyprus Peace Operation in 1974.''

Recalling that the 20th century was the century of sharing energy resources, Ercan told reporters that the 21st century will be the century of protection of the shared areas.

Journalists were given a brief on the Attack helicopter project. Gurkan said the battle capabilities of Attack helicopters, which had been used by Turkish Air Forces since 1990, have improved and are now indispensable to modern armies.

Gurkan said that a total of 145 helicopters will be produced, and the supply will be carried out in three phases.

He said: ``As the new world order takes its last shape, economic problems, ethnic and religious tensions and claims on historical land come to the forefront in the world. As a result, instability in the Balkans, Caucasus and the Middle East have escalated and clashes erupted. Turkey is situated among these three unstable regions. Following the end of the Cold War, security needs of Europe decreased while Turkey/s security needs increased. Most of Turkey/s neighbours preserve their military forces. Some of them continue to develop their armed forces. There are 10 thousand tanks, 1,700 war planes, and 300 assault helicopters in neighbouring countries. Turkey which has vast territories, great population, very important geographical position and international commitments, allocates 8.8 percent of its budget to defense expenses. This figure was 18 percent in 1986. Turkey has gradually decreased its defense budget .

``The Turkish Armed Forces plans to reduce the number of soldiers once the threat of terrorism is uprooted. Preparations are underway to change the military service to this end. Within this scope the number of privates will be decreased while the number of the contractual officers and non- commissioned officers will be increased.''

[07] Prof. Mumtaz Soysal/s interview

Criticizing Soysal AVRUPA says: Prof. Mumtaz Soysal/s views, envisage Turkish Cypriots living as Turkey/s hostages for a long time since many years are needed for Turkey/s full membership to EU. This is another oppression period for the Turkish Cypriots because nobody is in love with the Turks. On the contrary. The Turks have created an image part of which derives from history and part has been created by foreigners.

This image is warlike, cruel, that we slay people. And of course may be it is because of this image that peace in Cyprus continues. Otherwise there could have been incidents because of some indulgence, so, in a sense peace in Cyprus is based on the fear of Turkey. Therefore it will be wrong to push the security consideration to secondary levels. The Turkish Cypriots since 1974 operation, have reached the worst possible situation, and pushing the Turkish Cypriots to a new and long term hostage situation is tantamount to the annihilation of our people.

Our people do not need people like Prof. Mumtaz Soysal for this reason we propose: Soysal should immediately be removed from the ``TRNC''. Presidential advisor position! If not, those who make decisions will be responsible for setting new traps to our people.

(MY)

[08] Reaction to Soysal/s interview

``Esteemed Denktash and Turkish officials who think like esteemed Mumtaz Soysal, always hide their real thoughts and deceive the Turkish Cypriots. Contrary to that, Esteemed Mumtaz Soysal puts forward his intentions and of those who think like him, in a straight forward manner.

We thank him, not for what he said but for his honesty. If we consider that Esteemed Soysal was once Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus and now advisor to Denktash, then we see that what Soysal says is in fact the official line of the Republic of Turkey and the administration in our country.

Two years ago Esteemed Mumtaz Soysal had said that even if the whole population of 150 thousand strong Turkish Cypriots want federation, this means nothing because 65 million strong Republic of Turkey is more important. And now with the same line of thought he says that what is important is Turkey/s accession to the EU.

This policy is based on Turanism (Tr. Note: Pan Turkism-unification of all Turkish speaking peoples) and on the partition of Cyprus. We ask: What will Soysal and people who think like him do if the US says it will give everything to Turkey on condition that all the Turkish Cypriots be annihilated? Will they sacrifice all of us?'' (MY)

[09] Youth campaign

It is reported that approximately 100 youths in Smirni started collecting signatures, in a campaign to amend the Military Law. Their demands are to reduce the cost (12,000 sterling) of buying exemption from military service and to reduce the duration of military service.

(DP)

[10] Ayia Anastasia Church-a tourist complex

(DP)

[11] Turkish-Korean women association

They will stay for five days and will visit historical and tourist sites. (DP)

[12] Sky-high prices

[13] Lectures on alcohol and drugs by US Embassy guests

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

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