Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-12-27

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. 248/00 -- 27.12.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash claims responsibility of British Base in alleged kidnapping of Turkish Cypriot.

[02] Talat: ``Presidential'', General Eelections'' must be held in ``TRNC'' in 2001.

[03] Denktash affirms decision not to attend proximity talks.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] Turkish paper: ``Gurel resembles Soysal''.

[06] Columnist speculates on US role in possible coup in Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas claims Responsibility of British Base in alleged Kidnapping of Turkish Cypriot

Earlier, Edward Clay, British High Commissioner in Cyprus, had said that he had ``special responsibility`` for Cakurmas, the Greek Cypriot man who was kidnapped by the so-called Turkish Cypriot security forces.

Denktas said the Turkish Cypriot man, Omer Gazi Tekogul who was arrested for drug smuggling, said during his interrogation that he was constantly being provoked by the Greek Cypriot police. Denktash said the British administration should feel the responsibility they feel towards the Greek Cypriot man also towards Tekogul.

``If they act like this, it is not likely to reach an agreement with them. The Greek Cypriots have no justice. Therefore, we have to protect our state. The Greek Cypriots will see that they could not reach anywhere if they don`t accept our equality as a state. Then, maybe there could be an agreement,`` Denktas commented.

[02] Talat: ``Presidential'', ``General Elections'' Must Be Held in ``TRNC'''in 2001 Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (11:30 hours, 26.12.00) reports that Mehmet Ali

Talat held a news conference where he assessed the political and economic developments in the occupied area in 2000 and discussed his expectations from 2001.

Talat announced that the CTP will celebrate its 30th anniversary on 27 December. He stressed that the party will continue to its struggle for peace and democracy.

The CTP leader charged that the pseudostate is the most expensive country in the world, adding that the country needs a package that will increase production and strengthen the economy.

Talat said that from the end of 1999 and throughout 2000, very important developments took place in connection with the Cyprus problem. He noted that Turkey was made a candidate member of the EU, that the Greek Cypriot side continued to hold accession talks with the EU unilaterally, and that five rounds of proximity talks were held. Talat emphasized that the Cyprus Government will complete its membership talks with the EU in 2002. He said: ``Cyprus will join the EU and nothing can stop that''.

The CTP leader pointed out that with Turkey's approval and in line with the Helsinki resolutions, the Cyprus Government will be able to join the EU before the Cyprus problem is resolved. He stressed that the Turkish Cypriots must join this process. ``If this is not done, and if the TRNC waits for Turkey to join the EU, the borders in Cyprus will be eliminated and the conditions that existed prior to 1974 will prevail once again'', he said.

Talat stressed that he disagrees with the decision to withdraw from the proximity talks. He said that many things must be done in 2001.

[03] Denktash affirms decision not to attend proximity talks Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (6:00 hours, 27.12.00) reports that Rauf Denktash has

``How can I give a clearer and more final negative reply? The response has been given as a nation. If they had acknowledged that we exist as an equal side to the Greek Cypriots, they would have understood this answer and refrained from committing the mistakes that put an end to the talks''.

Denktash was asked to comment on the remarks made by Alfred Moses that he is expecting to see Denktash in Geneva for the sixth round talks, that he does not consider the statements that the talks have ended as a final no, and that he envisaged a bizonal and bicommunal federation.

Denktash said that people do not want to understand that no one can drag the Turish Cypriot side into the EU, where Greece has free reign. Denktash remarked that the Greek lobby in terms of the United States and the sovereign bases in terms of Britain could constitute reasons for the continuation of this ``injustice'', and Russia could be taking advantage of this situation to protect its own interests.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] Turkish paper: ``Gurel resembles Soysal'' A report in Turkish daily SABAH (Internet Version, 18.12.00) inter alia

``State Minister Professor Sukru Sina Gurel from the Democratic Left Party [DSP] drew public's attention with his participation in debates about the state economy and privatization with businessmen during the Turkish Industrialist Businessmen Association [TUSIAD] meeting last week. Gurel is likely to take over Professor Mumtaz Soysal's role that he played during the Republican People's Party [CHP] and the DSP governments.

Gurel follows Soysal's path in terms of expressing his views against the governments' views on state economy, privatization, European Union and Cyprus issues during the Council of Ministers' meetings. He stands out with his rigid approach on these issues. Gurel, who is a former student of the School of Political Economy, is specialized on Greece, Aegean, and Cyprus issues.

Foreign Ministry

Professor Gurel was Ecevit's candidate for the Foreign Minister position before Ismail Cem. Gurel's candidacy was discussed by the ANAP-DSP-DTP [Democratic Turkey Party] coalition government. However, it was reported that Suleyman Demirel, who was the president then, did not approve of Gurel's candidacy for the foreign minister position due to his uncompromising attitude on Greece, Cyprus and EU issues. For this reason, Ismail Cem, who also had more state experience, was appointed as the foreign minister. Ecevit assigned Gurel for EU and Cyprus affairs. This attempt had been interpreted as an attempt to preserve the balance due to Ecevit's sensitivity about the Cyprus issue. The DSP-MHP [Nationalist Action Party]-ANAP government assigned the EU Coordination Affairs to ANAP deputy Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, who has Foreign Ministry background. The scope of Cyprus affairs assigned to Gurel was limited under the `Turkey's compatibility and relationship with North Cyprus/ heading. Gurel frequently criticized the government. During the Council of Ministers meeting on the Helsinki summit on 10 December 1999, Gurel's criticisms lead to an argument. Ecevit had to intervene in the argument between Gurel, Irtemcelik and Cem. Irtemcelik resigned as a result of his increasing conflict with Ecevit during the presidential elections. The EU Affairs were not assigned to Gurel. The importance of this issue was once again revealed with Gurel's view that no compromises should be made without reciprocation. Gurel had expressed his views during the EU Accession Partnership Document's discussions, which was drafted on 8 November and approved during the Nice summit on 4-5 December.

The main reason for Gurel's sensitivity about EU affairs is Cyprus. Gurel affects the political developments in North Cyprus as well. Former Foreign Minister Professor Mumtaz Soysal, who has been Denktas' counselor, and Gurel, share the same views, especially on the Cyprus issue.''

[55] Columnist Speculates on US Role in Possible Coup in Turkey Columnist Cetin Altan, writing in SABAH (Internet Version, 21.12.00) says:

The article went on to say: `By calling on the National Security Council [MGK] to take charge of the economy, the President of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce [ITO] has unwittingly helped those who are laying this trap. Have we not yet realised that each military coup only serves to prepare the ground for the next coup?/

And casting an oblique glance around us, we too are coming to the conclusion that the ground is being prepared for the introduction of a military diktat.

It is always the same: First comes utter chaos and then a military diktat.

Today's developments instil such a fear in our minds whether we want it or not.

In terms of `unfair national income distribution,/ Turkey is one of the five most backward countries after Tanzania. As such it is a country exposed to all sort of provocation.

What I mean is that in such a country it is not that difficult to create confusion moved by certain stealthy motives.

There is however a but. Turkey is a NATO member. Is it ever possible to introduce a military diktat in a NATO country without the knowledge of Washington?

Out of question.

If so...

Then we have to ponder things on the basis of certain assumptions.

Thus:

[94] Can Washington condone the introduction of a military diktat in Turkey?

Why?

Because Turkey is dragging its feet in complying with the requirements of the globalisation process. After the transition to a military diktat, a schism could be created in the country and after a bloody shock wave similar to a civil war, NATO and US forces could intervene to pacify the country. Then it would be easier for the country to change the status quo.

The new cadres to come to power would speedily solve the Cyprus and the Aegean problems, as well as the problem of the southeast, that is, the Kurdish problem.

Next caught in the spiral of the global capital, it would be much easier to make the transition from the `encrusted state structure,/ which is currently shaped according to the interests of the higher echelons that live off the back of the Treasury, to the `technocratic state/ structure that would serve the popular masses.

Would Washington prefer such an alternative for Turkey?

We have no means of knowing it. We are simply speculating.

[120] Now, let us also look at the situation from the point of view of Athens.

Would Greece welcome Turkey's slide into a military diktat?

To find an answer to this question we have to cast a glance at the political strategies Greece has been applying toward Turkey.

Greece has always kept Turkey in a secret pincer unseen from Ankara. On the one hand it has obstructed Turkey's economic development by pushing Turkey into an excessive defence spending, and on the other tried to create a situation whereby Turkey could only join the EU with a weak economy.

The idea is that when entering the EU, Turkey, which in terms of `standard of living/ is 65 rungs below Greece, will, though reciprocally, allow the Greeks to own property and engage in businesses in Turkey.

This will usher in a period whereby the Turks will own property in Athens and Thessaloniki and the Greeks in Istanbul and the Aegean coast.

Both the Turks and Greeks will enjoy the rights and opportunities recognised to the European citizens in the EU. In other words, they will be owners of a common homeland.

According to the secret pincer applied by Athens against Ankara, the more Ankara resists the globalisation the more its economy will collapse, and the more Ankara integrates with the globalisation process the more Greece will expand its potentials.

For that reason, Greece will not be perturbed with Washington's calculations, whatever they are.

For how long could Turkey put off the inevitable consequences of globalisation?

The longer it delays the more the internal troubles will spread, even under a period of military diktat.

But both this prospect and the rapid globalisation equally threaten the undeclared sultanate of the dominant forces in Ankara.

We should not have let the 20th century pass us by with such a shameful fiasco intoxicated by misguided heroism.

But sadly enough we have also let the 20th century slip away from our hands, lowering Turkey to the 93rd rank on the universal chart in terms of `per capita income./

Now no matter what we do, we will have to endure difficulties for some time to come yet. A completely new period will start for Turkey as of 2020.

The suffering of meaningless hardships is the fate of unprofessional and unlucky Turks.''

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