Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-12-01

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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. 232/00 -- 1.12.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Reactions to arson attack against AVRUPA.

[02] Two ``Public Sector'' unions to stay away from indefinite general strike.

[03] Ozdem Sanberk on EU, Cyprus.

[04] British diplomats meet DP officials.

[05] ``DAU'' acts against AVRUPA newspaper.

[06] New Turkish ``envoy'' arrives.

[07] Conference at ``DAU''.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Sener Levent on arson attack against AVRUPA newspaper.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Reactions to arson attack against AVRUPA KIBRIS (Internet Version, 28.1.00) reports on reactions to the recent arson

KIBRIS reports that, reacting to the incident, YBH [Patriotic Unity Movement], BASIN-SEN [Press Union], CAG-SEN [Union of Turkish Cypriot Public Workers], KTGB [Union of Turkish Cypriot Reporters], and DAU-SEN [Union of East Mediterranean University Academic Personnel] in announcements said that AVRUPA newspaper has been subjected to an arson attack.

A delegation led by CTP [Republican Turkish Party] General Secretary Ferdi Sabit Soyer paid a visit to Avrupa newspaper. In a written statement he made following the visit, Soyer said: "We condemn and protest this outrageous attack against Avrupa newspaper."

YBH General Secretary Izzet Izcan, for his part, has said: "Hitherto unknown individuals have attempted to suppress through violent means the freedom of people who think differently to express their views in the TRNC''.

On the other hand, BASIN-SEN General Secretary Hasan Cakmak has said the following regarding the incident: "In fact, the subject matter arson attack is directed against democracy and the freedom of the press and not against AVRUPA alone."

In a written statement regarding the matter, the CAG-SEN Administrative Council has indicated that the incident is an attempt at silencing democratic voices by creating terror in the pseudostate.

KTGB Chairman Ozer Hatay, for his part, has called on the ``police'' to determine the exact cause of the fire that broke out at Avrupa newspaper's printing house and to conduct their investigation into the incident in a transparent manner.

Finally, describing the incident as an arson attack, DAU-SEN has said that the incident that has been carried out by dark forces is aimed at intimidating the people by silencing the opposition press.

[02] Two ``Public Sector'' Unions To Stay Away From Indefinite General Strike Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (11:30 hours, 30.11.00) reports that Kamu-Sen and

Kamu-Sen leader Ahmet Otuken, and Kamu-Is leader Ahmet Calida issued a joint statement where they replied to the criticism levelled at them during a news conference organized on behalf of the 41 organizations. Otuken and Calida said that they were merely told of the date of the general strike and that their proposal to plan the strike jointly and to set a date together was not even discussed.

[03] Ozdem Sanberk on EU, Cyprus According to KIBRIS (1.12.00), former Turkish Ambassador and President of

Speaking at the European Community School of the Marmara University in Istanbul, Sanderk said that ``there is a misconception in Tukrey that the EU wants to make us full member''.

Noting that the strongest opposition to Turkey/s EU membership comes from Germany, Ozdem Sanberk said that this was due to the problems between the EU and Germany. If Germany solves these problems, then she might look into Turkey/s membership favourably.

There exists no majority in the EU except in Ireland that favours Turkey/s membership, Sanberk said and added that the reason Ireland favours Turkish membership is because there are few Turks living in Ireland. ``The EU does not want to take in a problematic Turkey''.

Recalling the fact that on March 2002 accession negotiations between the EU and Cyprus will be completed, Sanberk added: ``If the Cyprus problem is not settled by this time, then the EU can come and say `I will take Cyprus in its divided form/. In that case the EU will be in strategic conflict with Turkey in the East Mediterranean and if it says `I will not accept/ (Cyprus) then Greece will veto the EU decision''.

[04] British diplomats meet DP officials YENI DEMOKRAT (1.12.00) reports that British Deputy High Commissioner Philip

The two British officials were informed on the latest situation in the Cyprus problem and had a meeting with the new leader of DP, Salih Cosar.

[05] ``DAU'' acts against AVRUPA newspaper The front page of AVRUPA (1.12.00) under the title ``Our newspaper AVRUPA

[06] New Turkish ``envoy'' arrives KIBRIS (1.12.00) reports that the newly appointed Turkish ``envoy'' to the

[07] Conference at ``DAU'' KIBRIS (1.12.00) reports that the conference on ``Nationalisms in Rivalry''

Among the participants there is a US professor of Greek origin, Christopher Vassilopoulos of CCSU. Names of some of the academics who are taking part in the conference are: Prof. Gavro Altman, Prof. Robert Young of West Ontario University, Prof. Norton Mezvinsky of CCSU, Prof. Tareq Ismael of Calgary University, Dr. Eric Knudsen of ``DAU'', Prof. Reiner Dieterich and Prof. Lutz Reuter of the German Der Bundeswehr.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Sener Levent on arson attack against AVRUPA newspaper Sener Levent, writing in daily AVRUPA (28.11.00) says:

A number of people have expressed the view that this is the result that those who engage in arguments with GKK would encounter. Come what may be, I would like to say that I do not join these people in pointing the fingers at GKK.

The view that GKK is behind the incident stems from prejudice. However, in some ways these people have the right in believing that GKK is behind the incident. We have been at loggerheads with GKK until very recently. GKK hurled a large number of threats at us from the podiums during the swearing in ceremonies. These were threats asking for our blood...

General Ali Nihat Ozeyranli warned in the spirit of an executioner in Saudi Arabia that he will drown us in blood. Thereafter Ozeyranli devised a plot and filed innumerable lawsuits against us at the military courts.

Given all these developments, who other than the military forces should one blame for the arson attack? However, this may be the weak point in the arguments raised as to the identity of the individuals behind the arson attack.

Since GKK is the first suspect that comes into one's mind with respect to this incident, then the job of those behind the arson attack is easy, is not it? Knowing well that GKK would be blamed for the attack, those who are behind the attack would feel safe because no one will suspect that anyone other than GKK may carry out such an attack...

Let me now ask you the following question: Would the soldiers attempt to involve themselves in an incident knowing full well that they will be the first ones to be blamed? Do you think that people are so stupid and hold enough to carry out such an attack?

The identity of those behind the arson attack against Avrupa is very important... Individuals who plan such incidents are clever and make a thousand calculations before moving into action. In this case, these individuals aim at killing two birds in one stone, and the present circumstances provide them with the best opportunity to do so...

The first aim behind the incident is to increase the existing tension between Avrupa and GKK. This is the first bird that those behind the arson attack intended to kill with one stone.

The second bird that these people sought to kill with the same stone was to incite the EU's anger against and reaction to Turkey.

The explanation is very simple: This is how the Europeans will explain the arson attack against Avrupa newspaper: `Turkey is crushing those who want peace in north Cyprus, a solution to the Cyprus problem, and EU membership for the island./

Will these remarks please those who are in favor of EU membership in Ankara? No, they will not.

On the other hand, those who are against EU membership will exploit this incident against Turkey. As a matter of fact, these people are using the Cyprus problem as a tool to force Turkey to abandon its plan for joining the EU...

All these mean that those who are behind the arson attack are bitter enemies of Avrupa newspaper in the first place. It may be that the main dream of these people was to destroy Avrupa and its owner Sener Levent. This is exactly why the attackers are exploiting the tension between Avrupa and GKK. Meanwhile, the main characteristics of these people are the fact that they are enemies of the EU. They are so much against Europe that they get mad when they hear the word Avrupa [Europe].

Is it very difficult for GKK to prove that it is not a suspect in this case? No, it is not difficult. All that GKK has to do is to find out and apprehend the culprits. Light will then be shed on a number of incidents that have taken place in the past. Turkish Minister of Interior Affairs Sadettin Tantan has single-handedly apprehended a number of gang members and handed them over to the judicial authorities in the 65-million strong Turkey. Will not the GKK and the police be able to do the same thing in our 200,000-strong country, especially at a time when this country is considered a military zone?

If the GKK fails to discover the culprits, then it will not be able to save itself from being considered a suspect in the case.

Had Ali Nihat Ozeyranli been here now, we would have asked him the following question: `Are you responsible for the recent incident in the same way that you were behind the plot regarding the spying charges?/

Who wants to consider himself responsible for the sins that Ozeyranli has committed in the past?''.

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

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