Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-07-12

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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. 131/00 -- 12.7.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] French Ambassador meets Talat.

[02] Serdar Denktash accuses `government/.

[03] Two journalists in Turkish Cypriot spy case released from jail.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] French Ambassador meets Talat

In a statement after the meeting, Talat said that they discussed the Cyprus problem, the EU relations and the on-going third round of proximity talks.

[02] Serdar Denktash accuses `government/

Serdar Denktash remarked that the question of subordinating the "police" to the so-called interior ministry was suddenly raised when the discussion about the package began to take shape and the unions started to display solidarity against the package. The most important issue was thus pushed to the background, Serdar Denktash stated.

Reiterating that the pseudostate can rid itself of its problems only if the current "government" quits and a new "government" is established from within the "assembly", Serdar Denktash went on: "The question of who will replace the existing government is being asked. It does not matter what government comes instead. There is a certain parliamentary composition in the assembly. The important thing is for this incompetent government to go as soon as possible and the damage inflicted on the country to come to an end."

In the meantime, a written statement issued by the National Unity Party (NUP) criticized Serdar Denktash for his statements against the "government".

According to BIRLIK (12.7.00), the NUP statement said: "The constructive, serious, and realistic criticism levelled against our party and the government partners is always received in the spirit of democracy and maturity. However, we feel the need to respond to the unjust, unfounded, and nonserious attacks directed against us in order to prevent our democratic maturity from being interpreted as weakness. Recently, both Mr. Serdar Denktash and his party have been issuing irresponsible statements targeting the NUP and our government and levelling accusations against us. It is impossible to tolerate the attempts that do not take into consideration the existing conditions in our country and even try to further exacerbate them on the part of those who have not displayed any successful performance in the past in a spirit of lethargy and irresponsibility. Mr. Serdar Denktash, whose only skill is the culture of confrontation, is trying to gain political advantage on the basis of his inconsistent statements."

[03] Two journalists in Turkish Cypriot spy case released from jail

The two released journalists were Ali Osman Tabak and Harun Denizkan, editorial writers for the left-wing AVRUPA newspaper.

The remaining four defendants - AVRUPA/s owner and editor-in-chief Sener Levent, a photographer for the newspaper and a non-commissioned officer and his wife - were still under custody.

Levent, a one-time "presidential candidate", is one of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash/s prominent critics, accusing the latter of intransigence for his policy on the division of the island.

The occupation regime fined AVRUPA 225,000 dollars in December for allegedly libelling Denktash and later seized its computers when the newspaper failed to pay the fine.

The daily has recently been involved in a fierce debate with the commander of the Turkish Cypriot "security forces", a brigadier general of the Turkish army. The paper has called for the "police" and "security units" to be attached to the "government".

/SK

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

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