Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-04-18

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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] TURKEY SAYS CYPRUS POLICY REMAINS UNCHANGED

[02] OLD CYCLAMEN TREE AT THE ANTIFONITIS CHURCH YARD DIED

[03] JAUNDICE EPIDEMIC IN THE OCCUPIED AREA

[04] INTERNATIONAL "CHILDREN FESTIVAL" IN OCCUPIED CYPRUS

[05] PARTIES LOOKING FOR ALLIANCES TO WIN ELECTIONS

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] SMALL TOWN POLITICS DO NOT BECOME CYPRUS

[07] COLUMNIST SEES DENKTASH WIN IN SECOND ROUND

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] TURKEY SAYS CYPRUS POLICY REMAINS UNCHANGED

Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Sermet Atacanli, in reply to a question, said: "The fact that we get together at certain EU forums does not mean that the way we view the Greek Cypriot administration has changed". He added that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has already noted that the Helsinki decision will not change Turkey's views or policy on Cyprus.

Atacanli alleged that since the "destruction in 1963 of the 1960 Partnership Republic by the Greek Cypriots through the use of arms and pressure, there has been no state in Cyprus that represents the two separate peoples" and one which has the right to speak on behalf of the entire island".

Atacanli concluded by alleging that the Cyprus government was established by the Greek Cypriots living in Cyprus and that its sphere of authority end at the buffer zone.

[02] OLD CYCLAMEN TREE AT THE ANTIFONITIS CHURCH YARD DIED

KIBRIS correspondent Serhat Incirli quoting the Church's watchman Iatih Cem Koksal Kavales the Cyclamen tree which is used for incense, died three years ago.

The watchman said that a small spring was flowing near the tree and when the spring dried up three years ago the Cyclamen tree died also. The watchman said that tourists show great interest in the Antifonitis Church and Chapel nearby. He said that bats nest in the chapel now.

He claimed that three years ago when he took the job, the area was filthy and in a dilapidated state. The watchman urged the occupation regime to take the necessary measures to maintain and preserve the historic monument.

[03] JAUNDICE EPIDEMIC IN THE OCCUPIED AREA

YENI DUZEN reports that jaundice is a contagious disease and that it has caused panic among the students and teachers as well.

It further reports that there is a shortage of vaccine in the hospitals and clinics.

YENI DUZEN reports that people living in the occupied Morphou expressed concern regarding the jaundice epidemic and urged those responsible to take necessary precautionary measures.

[04] INTERNATIONAL "CHILDREN FESTIVAL" IN OCCUPIED CYPRUS

The Festival is organized to coincide with "Child Day" of 23 April. Children from 13 countries, Turkey, Fyrom, Spain, Germany, Slovakia, Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Romania, Albania and Italy will participate at the Festival in the occupied areas. It is expected that 380 dancers and 120 musicians will attend.

The children, who will come, will be offered hospitality with the students' families.

[05] PARTIES LOOKING FOR ALLIANCES TO WIN ELECTIONS

The Communal Liberal Party (CLP) will announce today its decision for the elections. On the other hand the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) will define its position after the contacts with the two candidates, the "Prime Minister" Denis Eroglu and the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] SMALL TOWN POLITICS DO NOT BECOME CYPRUS

On Thursday evening I was in Nicosia.

We brought together the seven candidates who will be taking part in the [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC)] presidential election. My aim was to have each of these candidates explain on my programme, "the 32nd Day" , why he wants to be president.

The seven candidates came together for the first time and all hell broke loose. Such speeches were made and such words uttered that it was, according to some, a Greek tragedy and, according to some others, a farce. But, at the same time, highly significant announcements were made. Unfortunately, those words got lost in the midst of "small town politics".

I felt sad because I am acquainted with the Cypriots. They have a seriousness and quality higher than many politicians in Turkey. But this time things got out of control - probably due to excitement caused by the election.

If we leave aside all the turmoil, we can sum up in the following manner the serious messages of those who represent the Turkish Cypriot community of some 200,000 people:

The Turkish community now want a solution and their consciousness raising. They look at the Greek Cypriots' affluence and they think that

their backwardness stems from a lack of solutions. They seriously desire that the problem be brought to an end in this or that manner - without surrendering to the Greek Cypriots.

The Turkish community wants to join the European Union . They do not want to miss that train.

For this impasse they hold Rauf Denktash responsible, whom they love as a father but, at the same time, are bored with or see as a figure who is worn

out after remaining in power for a long time. One part of the people believe that if Denktash were to be replaced everything could change, that even a solution could be found more easily. However, they cannot bring themselves to sever their links with Denktash. And they still cannot come to terms with another figure to replace him.

When asked, "What is the solution", they become confused. Their opinions conflict with one another. For some of them a federation would suffice, for

others a confederation. Some say a solution must be found first and that participation in the EU should come after that. Others say that joining the EU is something to be done immediately so as not to leave the Greek Cypriots on their own.

In the end, a great part of the people living in the KKTC want a change in the way things are going. Although they are not saying so - or they do not want to say so - openly, they are not happy with Ankara's general approach.

Understand Cyprus well..

Those who govern Ankara do not listen to the KKTC as they should. They do not understand properly the messages that come from there. They will see Cyprus as a "small town of great strategic importance" and the Cypriots as "people whose opinions are not to be taken into consideration much". This is a big mistake.

And it is time the Cypriot politicians stopped engaging in "small town politics" and behaving like "small town politicians".

Ankara and the Cypriot administrators will one day find no Turkish Cypriots left on the island unless they hear out the people and duly change their attitude.

[07] COLUMNIST SEES DENKTASH WIN IN SECOND ROUND

The final result in the TRNC presidential election will now be known next week. Though Rauf Denktash has increased his votes compared to the elections five years ago, he could not bring the job to a close at the first round.

The elections are over in reality. Denktash, who had obtained 67 per cent of the votes in the second round five years ago, will muster 70 per cent this time around as presaged by his rising popularity.

Denktash told us at the start of the balloting, I will bring the Cyprus problem to a conclusion during this term if the Greek Cypriots come to the table. Noting that he will be more actively involved in domestic policy during his new term, Denktash pointed out that after the elections the political parties might undergo important changes."

Shadow of Fraud

There has been talk of fraud from the start of the elections, there were claims that groups of people sold their votes en bloc. I wanted to investigate these allegations in person. I established myself at the Democratic Party, DP, headquarters. And the opportunity I was waiting for emerged in front of me unexpectedly. I was told that there is a voter inside who wants to sell his votes. Please you talk with him. I went to the special room nearby. They brought a young man in. He introduced himself, telling me that his name is Samir Cavusoglu, comes from Yenisehir area, and that he is originally from Bulgaria, worked as a labourer in the Greek Cypriot side, and crossed into the north in 1991 and became a citizen. He told me, I have 20 sure votes, adding, this number could go up to 50. Well what is your price? I asked.

TL60 million will be enough per person, he replied.

Why did you choose Denktash? I asked next.

In our region there is someone called Sanli Cohan, he buys votes for Eroglu. I though to myself. If I am going to sell my vote it is better if I sell it to Denktash, he replied.

I took his phone number and told him we will call you. For those interested here is his phone number: 863 16 22.

Composition could change

Denktash is certain to win in the second round. And once he wins the composition of the parliament will change too. I was told by politicians that the UBP will definitely crack up. The UBP now has 23 deputies. The second largest party, DP, has 13 seats. It is said that at least six deputies will break away from the UBP. That would make the DP the leading party. That means an early election could be considered within a year.

Rumour Mills

In the meantime, Cyprus is rocked with political rumours, which have more to do with the families rather than leaders themselves. Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu's spouse Meral Eroglu is known as an ambitious person. According to claims, Mrs Meral, who holds all the strings in her hands, has reportedly said, I will enter the presidential mansion in a wedding dress riding a white horse and leave it only in a coffin. And the policemen sporting Ataturk pins at the polling stations in Famagusta have supposedly been told to remove them because that pin is also the symbol of the DP.

The final non-official results:

Rauf Denktash 43.67 per cent Dervis Eroglu 30.14 per cent Mustafa Akinci 11.70 per cent Mehmet Ali Talat 10.03 per cent Arif Hasan Tahsin 2.60 per cent Sener Levent 0.92 per cent Turgut Afsaroglu 0.56 per cent Ayhan Kaymak 0.35 per cent.

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

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