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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-07-18Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 135/00 -- 18.7.00[A] NEWS ITEMS
[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Denktash rules ļut 'Plot' in arrest of journalists A report by Anatolia Agency (1334 hours, 17/7/00) says that Turkish Cypriotleader Rauf Denktash has ruled out that there was a plot in the recent ``arrest'' of certain persons, including journalists, for treason.Denktash was speaking during a visit to his office by a delegation. He said that the ``security forces'' briefed him for two and a half hours and that he can say with full confidence that the incident was not a plot. He stressed that ``the Security Forces Commant'' and the ``Police Directorate General are the two most sacred and impartial insitutions functioning in the country''. He said that it is wrong to sling mud at these institutions.. Denktash pointed out that he responds to the letters he receives from the world, and that he says in those letters that the ``courts'' in the ``TRNC'' are completely impartial, that the ``political or military authority'' cannot tell the ``courts'' what to do, and that the release of the three journalists is proof of that. Denktash warned against the taking of any action that might influence the ``judges''. He said he regrets to see that certain persons who claim to be ``state officials'' but who have always tried to create a rift between Turkey and the ``TRNC'' are using this incident as a pretext to escalate the tension. Their aim, he said, is to separate the Turkish Cypriots from Turkey, to remove Turkey from the island, and to place the Turkish Cypriots under Greek Cypriot hegemony once again within the framework of the 1960 agreement. [02] One of four ``treason suspects'' released According to illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (15.30 hours, 17.7.00) Mehmet Inanci,one of the four ``suspects'' being questioned by the ``police'' after being arrested on charges of treason, was released yesterday. Avrupa chief editor Sener Levent, Noncommissioned Officer Vasfi Tutuncu, and his wife Pembe Tutuncu appeared before a ``judge''. The ``prosecutor'' asked the three to be remanded. Mehmet Inanci did not appear before the ``judge'', the ``prosecutor'' said, because no links were found with the crime he was accused of.[03] International Federation of Journalists official in Cyprusfor Turkish Cypriot journalists' ``detention'' Avrupa (17.7.00) reports that Human Rights Officer, Jarah de Jung, from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), who had arrived in Cyprus last week, is closely watching the developments regarding the ``detention'' of AVRUPA'S journalists by the occupation regime. Mrs Jung will be meeting Communal Liberation Party Chairman and so-called deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Akinci and with Patriotic Union Movement official Izzet Izcan.Mrs Jung is also trying to have separate meetings with Denktash, Dervish Eroglu, DP leader Serdar Denktash, and detained AVRUPA'S editor in chief Sener Levent. Mrs Jung will try to attend the ``trial'' of Mr Levent which will take place next Friday. [04] ``TRNC's'' Ertug on proximity talks with Greek Cypriots, EU Issue Anatolia Agency (0840 hours, 17/7/00) reports that Osman Ertug, theso-called undersecretary of the ``Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministry'', claimed on Monday, ``even if they fulfill all criteria, the Greek Cypriots cannot become a full member of the European Union (EU) without solving the Cyprus question.''Ertug who proceeded to German capital of Berlin after attending the third round of proximity talks in Geneva, Switzerland, staged a press conference at the Berlin-Brandenburg Turkish-German Businessmen's Union (TDU). Addressing the press conference, Ertug said, ``we have alternatives. We may unify with Turkey. This unification will not be an annexation, but it will be a political and economic rapprochement.'' Noting that ``TRNC's'' relations with the EU countries especially with Germany were further improving, Ertug stressed that the meeting between Rauf Denktash and German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer was a sign of this improvement. He further said: ``The Cyprus proximity talks aim at preparing appropriate ground for 'meaningful negotiations'. Meaningful negotiations mean face-to- face talks. It will not be realistic to expect a solution for the Cyprus question without holding face-to-face talks. It is necessary to form the ground on the basis of equal rights. The Greek Cypriot side must recognize the Turkish Cypriot's state statute. What is ideal is mutual recognition. All of our thesis is based on equality. If there will be a solution and reconciliation on the island, good relations should be set up between existing two independent states.'' He claimed that they were offered to lift the Green Line on the island, ``but the Greek Cypriots in fact did not want it''. Ertug called on Turkish businessmen living in Germany to make more investments in the ``TRNC'' in the fields of tourism, transportation and energy. [05] Quake of 3.4 registered offshore Cyprus An Anatolia Agency report (1708 hours 17/7/00) says that an earthquake shookoffshore Cyprus yesterday.The pseudostate's so-called meteorology department said that an earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale jolted offshore Cyprus. They added that the epicenter of the earthquake was 78 kilometres away from Lefka Earthquake Station which is on the northwest of the occupied area. [06] Why is a high-level Turkish delegation not present at invasion ``celebrations''According to HURRIYET (18.7.00), Devlet Bahceli, Turkish State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Nationalist Action Party, when asked by journalists whether he will be going to the occupied part of Cyprus to attend the so-called Peace Operation ``celebrations'', answered categorically ``No, I am not going''.Bahceli further said that recently Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan where it was decided that Turkey would not be represented by a high-level Turkish delegation. ``For this reason Turkey will be represented by a delegation leaded by State Minister Responsible for Cyprus Affairs, Sukru Sina Gurel'' Bahceli said. HURRIYET recalls that when Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was announcing Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz's joining the Cabinet, he said that his telephone conversation with Annan had no effect on his not going to the ``TRNC''. [07] Protest rally According to KIBRIS (18.7.00) 35 organizations among them the RepublicanTurkish Party and the Patriotic Union Movement will hold a protest rally tonight in the occupied Nicosia with the slogan ``This country is ours''.The organizations call on everybody to attend the rally for ``claiming the peace, democracy and ownership of our country.'' [08] Verheugen's ``Draft Accession Partnership Text'' for Turkey HURRIYET (18.7.00) reports under the banner headlines ``Difficult Homework''and says during the recent visit to Turkey of Gunter Verheugen, EU commissioner for enlargement, the latter submittet to the Turkish Government a ``Draft Accession Partnership Text'' which demands establishment of a Kurdish TV and Kurdish education.HURRIYET further reports that the draft text also refers to the Cyprus problem and considers the ``TRNC as non-existent''. ``The draft text has created great concern in Ankara'', HURRIYET reports. HURRIYET says that the Turkish and EU sides have agreed not to leak anything to the press regading the draft text. However, it reports, HURRIYET'S acquiring information about the draft text has caused concern among the Turkish Government and the EU circles. Meanwhile, Emin Colacan in his column in the same issue of HURRIYET under the title ``Commisioners of Europe'', strongly criticizes EU-Turkey relations and expresses opposition to the demands put forward by the EU. He compares these demands to the concessions made by the Ottoman Empire to the Europeans under ``capitulation'' and claims that these demands, among them: 1) support for Kurds 2) concession to the Greeks in Cyprus, will hurt the National Honour. He says that the Europeans will never make Turkey a core member. ``What they want is just to dress us up like a goose''. He demands the publication of the draft text submitted by Verheugen to the Turkish Government. Colacan concludes by saying: ``Our government should know the following very well: Their (Europeans') demands from Turkey will never end. They will always exploit us and they will never make us a member. We know this film from back in the Ottoman period; its beginning and its end as well as its main actors and the walkers-on. The only difference is that the commissioners of the Ottoman time died and they have been replaced by new-comers. Their grandparents' task against the Ottoman empire is now the mission of the grandchildren against the Turkish Republic. The scenario is the same but the walkers-on on both sides are different. Unfortunately there is no new Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk) who will rise against them like a lion and teach them a lesson.'' [B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS[09] Turkey's initiatives in ``TRNC'' criticized Hikmet Cetinkaya, writing in Cumhuriyet (13/7/00), refers to the dispute onwhether on not the ``Interior Ministry'' should control the ``police'' in the pseudostate and says that this issue began in January 1999 whey the ``Security Forces Command'' opposed the ``government'' viewpoint by saying: ``The Cyprus problem has not been solved. Only a cease-fire agreement is in force. So, the police cannot be affiliated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs...'' The ``government'' responded by asking: ``Considering that, how can I maintain the administration in north Cyprus?'' And Cetinkaya goes on to say: ``The people in north Cyprus are frustrated. They have been frustrated by the politicians and Turkey's initiatives. Investments have not been made in north Cyprus and production is nil. Whoever one might meet is either a Government employee or a retired civil servant! Compared with the situation in 1999, life has become more difficult now.I met some of my friends in Famagusta in April. They said: 'Look at the mother and you will be able to determine the situation of her offspring.' The state organization in Turkey has been besieged by the tarikats (religious sects) and reactionary and fascistic groups since the 1950s. That has affected north Cyprus. Partisanship is widespread, as in Turkey. Political party interest form the basis of daily life. The police is affiliated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in south Cyprus. However, the Greek Cypriots are not a politicized community. Licenses are issued for additional taxicabs prior to parliamentary elections in north Cyprus. If only 50 new taxicabs are required, 500 licenses are issued. No one carried firearms in north Cyprus until five years ago. Nearly 10.000 people have been authorized to buy and carry firearms now. Even those who want the police to be affiliated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs wonder 'what might happen if we end up having a partisan police organization?' The people in north Cyprus should criticize Turkey and their own officials. How many banks would you say exist in the TRNC today? Some 70 offshore banks and 36 local banks exist in north Cyprus. Is it not true that their objective is to launder black money? North Cyprus has many problems. It is a fact that the large-scale immigration form Turkey to the TRNC has reduced the Turkish Cypriot population. Considering all that, the intellectuals, socialists, social democrats, and democrats in north Cyprus must ask: 'A productive industrial sector has not been established in the TRNC since 1974. The agricultural sector has gradually weakened. Who is to blame for that? Can Turkey be held solely responsible for that state of affairs?' The economy in north Cyprus has collapsed, regardless of the hope that was vested in tourism. The general conviction in the TRNC now is: 'The presidential system will be adopted. The Government will be made up of technocrats. The policies the IMF has imposed on Turkey will be adopted in north Cyprus. The civil servants will be crushed by the high rate of inflation.' The situation in north Cyprus must be carefully studied. That is the only way to realities can be seen ...'' From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |