Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-05-17

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 92/00 -- 17.5.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Paper quotes unnamed Turkish Cypriot "official" on need for Denktash to take power to solve problems - Akinci reacts.

[02] Denktash to Ankara for presidential inauguration.

[03] AVRUPA/s computers seized in Denktash "court" case.

[04] Turkish President Sezer takes over presidency from Demirel.

[05] International Mediterranean Poets Festival.

[06] Turkey/s NTV channel partners with top web news site.

[07] Akinci meets Austrian Ambassador.

[08] Arab journalists visit pseudostate.

[09] So-called youth and sports minister to visit Germany.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Turkish Cypriot columnist sees KIBRISLI article as coup call.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Paper quotes unnamed Turkish Cypriot "official" on need for Denktash to take power to solve problems -Akinci reacts

"A Coordination Council and President Denktash should take charge of the administration provisionally (the timetable for the new parliamentary elections shall be determined beforehand) to introduce reforms within the needed period, consider a change of regime, and apply a bitter economic prescription (those causing bank collapse and abusing their powers shall be punished and malfeasant politicians too shall be jailed to inspire popular confidence in the new regime).

Denktash shall appoint a Constituent Assembly, which shall then pass the laws promptly. All the reforms shall be put in place and the constitutional order revamped within one or two years at most, after which new elections shall be held. Once the Constitutional Assembly is set up the (present) parliament shall be dissolved.

Presidential system is the ideal regime for the small countries, because the parliament oversees the president and the ministers and can remove them from office if need be, paving the way for the election of a new president by the people.

The crucial point here is to execute this project promptly and ask for Turkey/s help if need be.

Otherwise, we would leave the country in a worse situation".

So-called state minister and deputy prime minister Mustafa Akinci reacted strongly to this article which says that the "government" must be toppled, the "parliament" abolished and the regime replaced.

According to illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (10:30 hours, 16.5.00), Akinci stressed that such a system is called dictatorship, that the people would not go along with that, and that it is ridiculous to even think about it. He stated that democracies may have weaknesses but these must be resolved in democratic ways. He emphasized that dictatorships are not a solution in that they lead to the misery and destruction of the countries and societies involved.

Akinci asserted that only the people can change the "parliament" and expressed his astonishment at the contention in the said article that Denktash and the "Coordination Council" must seize power.

Akinci went on to say: "In democracies, the ways of changing parliaments are clear. It is not for nothing that Mr. Demirel says there are innumerable solutions in democracies. Nothing should lead us to giving up democracy. Granted, our democracy has its deficiencies. However, it is inconceivable to think of giving up democracy and especially to put this in writing. Believe me, it is the writers of such articles that will hurt most if what they advocate comes true, because there will be no freedom of the press in such a regime".

Akinci stressed that such a solution is out of the question at a time when the society/s aim is first a solution in Cyprus and then membership in the EU.

[02] Denktash to Ankara for presidential inauguration

Denktash will be accompanied by his aide, Ergun Olgun, during this visit.

[03] AVRUPA/s computers seized in Denktash "court" case

In a suit filed by Rauf Denktash, the "court" found the AVRUPA newspaper guilty and ordered it to pay a fine of 120 billion Turkish lira. Denktash did not claim the money. After the paper stated last week that it could not pay the 3 billion TL owed to Denktash/s lawyer Veziroglu for his services, the "court officials" gave the paper until yesterday to come up with the money. When the paper failed to do so, the "court officials" went in and confiscated the computers.

Replying to reporters/ questions while the computers were being carried away, Sener Levent, the paper/s chief editor, said that this will not intimidate them and that they will continue to wage the struggle. Asked if the paper is receiving the support of other press organs, Sener Levent said that the Journalists/ Union and Basin-Sen (Press Workers Union) have extended their support.

[04] Turkish President Sezer takes over presidency from Demirel

[05] International Mediterranean Poets Festival

Greece was represented by Costas Asimokopoulos.

[06] Turkey/s NTV channel partners with top web news site

The partnership site, www. ntvmsnbc. com, offers a wide range of news and current events drawn from the two partners.

The new web site, realized with the financial backing of one of Turkey/s leading Internet service providers, ixir, features Turkish economic and political events, as well as news on sports, health, living arts and culture, technology and weather.

NTV/s team in Istanbul will provide editorial content and continuously updated news and current affairs. A team of 30 journalists and computer experts will make history by becoming Turkey/s first 24-hour online news provider. NTVMSNBC, unlike other Turkish media web sites, will concentrate on breaking news.

[07] Akinci meets Austrian Ambassador

In a short statement before the meeting, Akinci reminded the journalists that it was his second meeting with the Austrian Ambassador in the same day. He said that they would discuss the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

The Ambassador said that the aim of his visit is "to get first-hand information on North Cyprus on the Cyprus problem and to inform my government on what is going on". He also said that his government wants to help the two sides reach a solution on the Cyprus problem. When asked how Austria can help with a solution, Sabaditsch replied that his country is member of the EU, adding "within the framework of EU, we are convinced that we will contribute to the solution of the problem as soon as possible".

To a question "how can you contribute", Sabaditsch said "of course, through peaceful means and through the negotiations, whether you call these negotiations proximity, or direct or face to face."

[08] Arab journalists visit pseudostate

The Arab journalists arrived in the occupied area to have first hand information about the occupied area, mainly its touristic possibilities.

The Arab journalists were brought to the occupied area by the Istanbul- based tour operator firm "Mercan Tourism".

Hasipoglu said that they welcome anybody who wants to know the occupied area, "especially those who share the same religion with them".

[09] So-called youth and sports minister to visit Germany

Doratli will be present at the inauguration of a football field in the city of Weldkirchen. During his visit Doratli will have a meeting with the chairman of the Federation of the state of Bavaria.

Turkish Cypriot football team Cetinkaya will also attend the inauguration and play a game there.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Turkish Cypriot columnist sees KIBRISLI article as coup call

"The revelry is continuing.

Denktash occupied the presidential chair, but is not satisfied with it. Now, he has also to solve the government problem.

As long as Communal Liberation Party (TKP) and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) refuse to form a coalition government with the Democratic Party (DP), it is very hard (for Rauf Denktash) to remove National Unity Party (UBP) from the government by democratic means.

That is why, the supporters of Denktash have taken an initiative to solve the matter in a radical way.

Their formula is simple:

A Coordination Council and President Denktash would temporarily take charge of the administration. In another word, a small operation would be carried out under Denktash leadership against the established constitutional order.

First, the links of the TRNC with the outside world would be severed and the 50 deputies would be called to the presidential mansion to get their approval for this small operation. Just the way it happened on the night of 14 November 1983.

At the time, the publicly announced reason was to declare a unilateral "independence". But, its real and hidden purpose was to change the constitution of the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus to lift the two-term presidential limit before Denktash, who was due to leave office in 1986.

Now the publicly stated reason is "to extricate the country from the crisis it is in".

They have even taken the opinion of an expert on the necessity of conducting this operation.

The expert on this issue lists thus the measures to be taken after Denktash takes over power with the assistance of the Coordination Council: Reforms will be introduced within the required time, a change in regime would be considered, and bitter prescriptions would be applied. In the meantime, punishments and imprisonment would be meted out to inspire popular confidence in the new regime. Those responsible for bank collapse and misuse of power would be punished. The politicians too would be jailed if found guilty of crime. Also the parliament would be dissolved to give way to a constituent assembly, whose members would be appointed by Denktash. And the most crucial aspect of the operation is the transition to a "presidential system".

All that I have said above was published in KIBRISLI paper yesterday under the heading "an Expert View".

Some are openly saying: The only way out is a coup.

But who is going to carry out a coup?

They say the Coordination Council.

Under whose leadership?

They say under Denktash/s.

What is the purpose?

They say to replace the parliamentary system with a presidential system.

This is North Cyprus, the cradle of full democracy. In this wide world, there is no other democracy where it is freely written in newspaper columns who will carry a coup and how against the established order!"

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

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