Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-01-11

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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. 8/01 -- 11.1.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Patriotic Unity Movement against integration policy.

[02] Akinci on EU, decision to withdraw from talks.

[03] Turkish Parliament Dialogue Group asks EU to clarify intentions.

[04] Protest march.

[05] ``Joint Association Council'' meeting.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Ilter Turkmen criticizes Turkish policy on Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Patriotic Unity Movement against integration policy According to KIBRIS (11.01.01) the General Secretary of the Patriotic Unity

At a press conference organized at the Party/s headquarters yesterday, Izcan said that Turkey, with the action plan it prepared, is openly putting forward its intentions regarding Cyprus. ``The Ankara administration on the one hand is speeding up the integration work that it has been carrying out for years in Cyprus, and on the other hand, with a view to doing away with international pressure, it says that the action plan is aimed at mending the destruction caused in Cyprus'', he said.

Izcan said that statements saying that the destruction will be mended with the ``action plan'' do not inspire trust.

He accused Turkey of ``resorting to a policy of pressure, threat and blackmail to gain time''.

He said that ``Turkey/s policy of integration of north Cyprus is contrary to the Treaties that carry Turkey/s signature, to Turkey/s obligations as an EU candidate country and against the will of the Turkish Cypriots. For these reasons, we oppose Turkey/s integration policy''.

Izcan said that the Turkish Cypriots/ communal existence is officially and actively in danger.

[02] Akinci on EU, decision to withdraw from talks YENIDUZEN (10.1.01) reports that the so-called state minister and deputy

Akinci stressed that, with the policy followed by the Turkish Cypriot side, it will not be possible to prevent the Greek Cypriots/ ``unilateral'' entry to the EU. He added that it is not possible to reach an agreement with insistence on this kind of policy.

Akinci said that he does not think that the Greek Cypriots have a political strategy to enter the EU alone, but that the political behaviour of the Turkish Cypriot side leads to the point, ``in case we cannot jointly enter EU, the Greek Cypriots will enter alone''. He pointed out that the decision to withdraw from the negotiations opens the doors to Greek Cypriot to enter EU alone and he wonders if this is a conscious policy.

Akinci said that the question ``if this policy exists, where will it take us?'' is necessary and added: ``If these policies appear to be unconsciously supporting the Greek Cypriot administration/s unilateral effort to EU membership, we must be careful. If this is done consciously, then we should be even more careful''.

Replying to a question n whether the ``government'' had discussed or not the decision to be withdraw from the indirect talks with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, Akinci said that the ``government'' did not take the decision to withdraw from the proximity talks and reminded that Denktash announced the decision alone at the special session of the pseudo-assembly. ``As a matter of fact the government did not want to take such a decision'', Akinci said.

[03] Turkish Parliament Dialogue Groups Asks EU to clarify intentions Anatolia Agency (11:10 hours, 10.1.01) reports that the Turkish Parliament

``Parliament is not very well informed about domestic and especially certain foreign developments. Pressure on Cyprus issue are increasing and dangerous games are being played. The Cyprus issue which is a national matter for us is being presented as a cost for our relations with the European Union (EU). This is not acceptable.

The Accession Membership Document dated Dec. 4, 2000 is full of conditions and instructions which block the starting of membership negotiations. Suggestion of year 2010 for Turkey at the Nice summit, and mentioning about Turkey in a separate paragraph in the final declaration, not in the part about enlargement, indicate that Turkey is separated from the other 12 candidates. The EU should clarify its real intention regarding its relations with Turkey,'' the statement said.

[04] Protest march The front page article of YENIDUZEN (11.1.01) under the headlines ``On this

CTP protested against the ``Joint Association Council'' meeting which will be held on 12th of January in Ankara and the ``Action Plan''.

The protesters carried olive plants and their slogan was ``As long as the CTP exists, integration cannot be realized''.

Speaking during the march, Talat said: ``Although that they want to uproot us from our land, they will not be able to achieve it''.

The General Secretary of CTP Ferdi Sabit Soyer read the telegraph that they were going to send to Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, where it is said that the Turkish Cypriots will never turn Cyprus over to foreign hands.

[05] Joint Association Council'' meeting According to KIBRIS (11.1.01) the ``Joint Economic Sub-committee'', which is

The occupied area/s ``delegation'' consists of five so-called ministers, six ``undersectaries'' and five ``deputies''.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Ilter Turkmen criticizes Turkish policy on Cyprus Ilter Turkmen (HURRIYET, 9.1.01) commenting on the Turkey-occupied area

He explains the reasons for this ``danger'' and urges the Turkish government to act accordingly. Turkmen says: ``It is very difficult to understand the government/s policy on Cyprus, which is based on a continuous call for challenge. The prime minister (Tr. Note: Turkish PM Bulent Ecevit) has said:

`Even if the Turkish Cypriots agree to cede the TRNC to foreign hands-which they will not do - we cannot accept it/. What does foreign hands mean? Will Turkey say no to our Cypriot bretherns/ desire to become EU members within the framework of a settlement that will safeguard their security, political identity and their equality in deciding the future fate of Cyprus?

What is obvious is that in Ecevit/s view one thing weighs heavily in the Cyprus issue: The island/s strategic importance. Ecevit says that even Shakespeare realized this. Yes, but in the 16th century the Ottoman State was following a policy of expanding its hegemony in the Mediterranean. Today, when identifying Turkey/s strategic interests, one cannot apply the same model. Today what is important for Turkey is not to allow Cyprus to be used as a base for acts against it, and to disarm the island except from those forces that will guarantee the agreement reached. This element exists in all settlement formulae put forward. However, if Turkey continues to see Cyprus as a strategic platform, then it will be faced with ever increasing international complications.

And putting forward the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline issue will constitute a boomerang because international support to this Baku-Ceyhan project will diminish since it will negatively effect the Cyprus problem.

If Ecevit, the architect of the 1974 military and political victories, turns the Cyprus problem into a hurdle blocking Turkey/s path, he will commit first of all an injustice against himself''.

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

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