Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-01-04

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. 3/01 -- 4.1.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Secret Action Plan.

[02] Secret Action Plan said to be economic and social integration.

[03] Ecevit on Cyprus/ importance to Turkey.

[04] Talat Says Economic Integration With Turkey Not to Solve Problems.

[05] Some U.S. Arms Companies Banned From Turkish Defense Bids for One Year.

[06] Eroglu in Ankara to sign agreement.

[07] Reaction in pseudostate to secret action plan.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Columnist on Cyprus, Draws Ecevit/s Attention to National Program.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Secret Action Plan Turkish daily SABAH (3.1.01, Internet Version) reports:

What will happen when the decision comes into effect? The Turkish Cypriot teams will play at Turkey/s league, the TRNC naval fleet will hoist the Turkish flag.

During last week/s meeting the Council of Ministers accepted a secret action plan which envisages the integration of North Cyprus with Turkey in many fields ranging from education to transportation and from sports to forestry. Within the framework of the integration plan, there is reference to detailed programmes which institutions, organizations and ministers will hastily put in force.

In the ten-page `Secret Action Plan/ it is stressed that the TRNC will be considered as a Turkish area with priority for development and the TRNC will reach its goals without being treated as a third country.

The works that institutions and organizations will carry out as listed in the `Secret Cyprus Action Plan/ are the following:

- Prime Ministry and Treasury Deputy Ministry: The investments in the private sector will be accelerated with an effective stimulate system. Structural reforms will be supported in fields like the banking sector, social security, taxes and privatization. The TRNC will be considered in the East Mediterranean region as ``a centre of tourism, trade, light industry and higher education''.

- Agricultural Bank: Credits will be granted according to the conditions that apply also in Turkey in the fields of agriculture, tourism and industry.

- Customs Deputy Ministry: The works of harmonization of the regulations which had started between Turkey and the TRNC on the issues of foreign trade and customs, will be completed.

- Ministry of Agriculture: The development of animal-breeding, the progress of the works and projects that already exist and the taking of the necessary measures will be secured. Vital products like fertilizers, seeds and medicines will be secured for the producers of the TRNC at the same prices.

- Forestry Ministry: Within the framework of the master plan, the reforestation works will be continued and the creation of a National Park in the Karpassia area will be initiated.

- Land Registry General Directorate: Within a short period of time, the projects related to the settlement/dwelling and equal value property will be completed. The works for a topographic map will be completed by 2003.

- Ministry of Energy: The problem of energy production will be solved with the transportation of energy through cables from Turkey. The assessment relating to these investments and the works on these projects will be completed speedily. The project for water transportation with pipelines, which is of critical importance, will be accelerated.

- Ministry of Tourism: Joint promotion projects with the participation of tour operators will be promoted.

- Ministry of Transportation: The TRNC naval fleet, which consists of 40 ships, will hoist the Turkish flag. A quick connection by sea with Antalya will be established.

- Ministry of Finance, Prime Ministry, Treasury Deputy Ministry: Air, sea and ground transportations to and from the TRNC will be considered as domestic lines. Entry taxes will be lifted.

- Ministry of National Education: National programmes in the fields of education, culture, youth and sports will be at an equal base. There will be complete cooperation in these fields between the two countries. The educational system of the TRNC will be evaluated as part of Turkey/s educational system.

- State Ministry responsible for Sports Affairs: The sports clubs of the TRNC will participate in the leagues in Turkey. In particular, Turkish Cypriot footballers will compete in Turkey/s sports clubs and will not be treated as foreigners.

- Ministry of Justice: The works that have begun for the adjustment of the legislation will be accelerated.

- Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Labour: The mutual recognition of court decisions will be secured. The cooperation between the two countries at the level of consulates and the social security sector for the solution of the problem of illegal workers will be increased.

- Ministry of Interior: The necessary works will be urgently done in order for TRNC citizens to be able to acquire Turkish citizenship without the condition that they must be inhabitants of Turkey. Within this framework, the applications for obtaining citizenship will be gradually satisfied taking into consideration such facts as the completion of military service and emigration. As for procedures like the buying of land, the TRNC citizens will abide by the legislation in force for Turkish citizens''.

[02] Secret Action Plan said to be economic and social integration Illegal Bayrak Radio (16:30 hours, 03.1.01) reports that the Turkish Council

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that this is an economic and social integration. Speaking at his weekly news conference, Turkish Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said that this development will have no affect on Turkish foreign policy. At its meeting two weeks ago, the Turkish Council of Ministers accepted a secret action plan that envisages the integration of the ``TRNC'' with Turkey on many fields ranging from education to transportation and from sports to agriculture. The ten-page action plan noted that the ``TRNC'' will be viewed as part of Turkey's development regions and that the goals will be attained without the ``TRNC'' being treated as a third country.

[03] Ecevit on Cyprus/ importance to Turkey The state-funded Ankara TRT 1 Television (18:00 hours, 2.1.01) carries a

To a question concerning the Cyprus problem and the proximity talks, Ecevit declares: "In 2000, the EU and the UN secretary general once again tested us to see if they can get the Turks, both the ones in Turkey and the ones in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC], to take a step back. However, they realized that they were not able and they will not be able to make us bow down. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan raised a proposal -- unofficially though it was -- that would revert the situation to the pre- 1974 period. It was impossible for us to accept this. Moreover, the existence of the TRNC is extremely important not only in terms of the security of the Turkish Cypriots but also that of Turkey. The importance of this can be easily seen by looking at the map. Greece will encircle us from the south as well as from the west. This is happening de facto, and it will become even more official. All Cypriots will fall under the auspices of the EU, and the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriots will actually become detached from Turkey and from its supervision. Naturally, we cannot accept this."

[04] Talat Says Economic Integration With Turkey Not To Solve Problems Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (16:30 hours, 3.1.01) says the Republican Turkish

CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that the integration policy, which was speeded up in the aftermath of the 1997 Luxembourg decision, has contributed nothing to the solution of the Cyprus problem. He further said that it dragged the Turkish Cypriots into the biggest economic, democratic, and political destruction in its history. Talat added that current initiatives to give momentum to this policy will not be beneficial for either the Turkish Cypriots or Turkey.

[05] Some U.S. Arms Companies Banned From Turkish Defense Bids for One Year Daily SABAH (1.1.01) reports that during the Turkish invasion on Cyprus, the

[06] Eroglu in Ankara to sign agreement BIRLIK (4.1.01) reports that the so- called council of ministers convened

After the meeting, the so-called state minister and deputy prime minister Mustafa Akinci announced to the press that ``prime minister'' Dervis Eroglu will fly to Ankara on January 10 to sign the $350 million loan agreement with Turkey.

[07] Reaction in pseudostate to secret action plan The article of SABAH (3.1.01) referring to the Secret Action Plan of the

The front page article of YENIDUZEN (4.1.01) under the headlines ``The procedure to transform the TRNC into a province'' says:

``The purpose behind Denktash/s decision to withdraw from the talks, the economic package and Turkey/s `action plan/ has been exposed: Cyprus must become Turkey/s 82nd province.

- While Greek Cypriots will be entering EU, those who are content with the non-solution status in Cyprus, are pushing forward the policy of integration.

- The initiative for a quick gain through the integration policy will not benefit Turkey nor the Turkish Cypriots''.

According to the same newspaper, the leader of the Turkish Republican Party (CTP) Mehmet Ali Talat will give a press conference today to evaluate the latest political developments on Cyprus.

The front page article of AVRUPA (4.1.01) under the title ``Look, Turkey proposed the action plan to North Cyprus. Annexation to Turkey'' and with the subtitle ``Ankara decided to officially annex North Cyprus to Turkey! Those who call yourselves `this is our country/ . where are you now?/ , writes:

``If the Turkish Council of Ministers/ decision comes into effect, then North Cyprus will be to a great extent connected to Turkey. The Turkish Cypriot teams will be playing at Turkey/s league and the TRNC naval fleet will hoist the Turkish flag''.

The front page article of HALKIN SESI (4.1.01) welcomes the action plan, under the headlines ``Integration, good luck'', ``Congratulations''.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Columnist on Cyprus, Draws Ecevit's Attention to National Program Columnist Sedat Sertoglu, writing in SABAH (3.1.01) under the title "Letter

"Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was interviewed by Sedat Ergin, Hurriyet's representative in Ankara, a few days ago. As far as we can recall, he replied to a question on Cyprus as follows: "Even Shakespeare realized how important Cyprus was for Turkey in the 16th century... Unfortunately, our officials have failed to do so."

Ergin is one of our very valuable, polite, and calm colleagues. That is why he is a good journalist. Considering that, he might have decided to avoid asking a relevant question in order not to make Ecevit feel uneasy. So, with his permission, we want to ask the Prime Minister to explain the foreign policy the Government will adopt with the conditions that existed in the 16th century in mind. Yes, we are curious. We will be happy if he explains that to us.

It seems that Ecevit has been fully influenced by the hawks. He only hears what they have to say on the problem and completely ignores the views of those who do not agree with them.

It is a fact that politicians in Turkey generally ignore the views of those who do not see eye to eye with them. Former President Turgut Ozal and former Prime Minister Tansu Ciller tried to change that in the past. They were successful to a certain extent.

Ecevit viewing the 21st century from the point of view of the conditions that existed in the 16th century was very unfortunate, not only for him but also for Turkey. Mr. Prime Minister, no one wants unilateral concessions to be made on Cyprus. That is a fact, regardless of the effort that is made to distort it. We view the negotiations on Cyprus as a serious development, a give and take process. We stand to gain if we act with common sense and take the necessary measures. Why have you not opened the Maras [Varosha] sector of Famagusta? Obviously, you planned to use it as a bargaining chip. Mr. Prime Minister, is that not so?

The hawks and those who greatly benefit from the no-solution situation in Cyprus criticized us when we called for the settlement of the problem in this column in the past. We were strongly criticized and even accused of being a Greek Cypriot agent.

We now want to ask whether or not Ecevit has been informed on the realities in detail. That has made us curious. We do not believe that he has been fully briefed on the developments because the bureaucrats fear that they might be in trouble if he is fully informed. For example, what has changed in the political and economic fields in the TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] during the past 18 months? Nothing has changed... Ankara transfers funds to north Cyprus to help the Government pay the salaries and wages in the TRNC. So, the strange system Turkey established during the past 20 years continues to exist. How long will that situation continue. Will it be allowed to continue until it reaches a point where it will completely obstruct Turkey's accession to the EU?

The work on the national program Turkey will submit to the EU has reached its final stage. Together with its supplements, it will be made up of 700 pages or more. The document will be very important for Turkey's future. That is a fact. Volkan Vural is having it drawn up with the political requirements in mind, not in accordance with the views of the political leaders. All the realities will be included in it.

Mr. Prime Minister, the document will be a historic turning point and a historic opportunity for Turkey. It must not be wasted for the sake of unproductive policies and a few votes. I want to believe that you will take the necessary measures for the sake of those who live in this country and for the sake of the future generations... Please, do not disappoint us..."

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