Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-01-19

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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. 13/01 -- 19.1.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash rejects Talat accusations, proposals

[02] Reactions to French bill on Armenian genocide, NGO/s condemn, call for boycott.

[03] Denktash meets Belgian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

[04] Turkish convicts in pseudostate prisons.

[05] French senator to prepare report on Cyprus/ EU perspective.

[06] Crimean Tourism Minister visits occupied area.

[07] Akinci meets German Ambassador.

[08] NGO/s announce strikes.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Denktash views resumption of talks in letter to columnist.

[11] Columnist disputes Turkish Commander/s views on Kurds, EU, compares with Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas Rejects Talat Accusations, Proposals Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (11:30 hours, 18.1.01) reports that Turkish Cypriot

In a written statement issued, Denktas responded to Talat's remarks with regard to the Cyprus issue. In his statement, Denktas noted that Talat is pursuing a mission he believes in, but he himself is also pursuing together with the motherland a mission the Turkish Cypriots believe in, ``within a national framework and authority granted to him by the Turkish Cypriot people''.

Denktas said that he is being accused of withdrawing from the talks without consulting with the Turkish Cypriots, but this attitude is not becoming of a responsible party leader like Mehmet Ali Talat. Denktas added: ``Everyone knows that first the government decided that these talks lead to an impasse and that they are leading us to a dangerous and risky place we never want to go. Then, this policy was endorsed during the Ankara summit, in which I participated together with government officials, and the Republican Assembly of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [TRNC] adopted a decision that supports this policy''.

Talat is underlining his own views by engaging in a progressive versus reactionary debate, Denktas remarked, adding that in order to be able to say that the ``president'' is not telling the truth, Talat must first clearly explain to the people what these truths are. Denktas pointed out that the Turkish Cypriots do not want an agreement that enables the Greek Cypriots to return to their old homes and that will again force them to become refugees. Noting that the Turkish Cypriots want their ``state'', their existence, their sovereignty, and their political equality to be accepted, and they declare that they will not renounce the guarantee of their motherland, Denktas said that the model presented to the Turkish Cypriot side during the talks rejects the demands of the people and envisages a single Cyprus and sovereignty.

Denktas recalled that Talat also proposed that, alongside the talks conducted under the auspices of the United Nations for the solution of the Cyprus problem, the Turkish Cypriot side also participate in the negotiating process with EU on the basis of a similar formula. ``In saying this'', Denktas stated, ``Talat is forgetting the decision adopted by the EU about us; he is ignoring the response given to the initiatives we undertook with the aim of changing this decision; and he is not afraid of the unknown factors in the event the Turkish Cypriots are dragged into the EU without Turkey''.

In his statement, Denktas remarked that over 80 percent of the Turkish Cypriots want first an agreement, then EU membership, and over 30 percent of the people favor first an agreement, then Turkey's EU membership, then our membership in the EU.

Denktas said: ``Mr. Talat must explain the motives for the proposal to join the talks. Will he protect the existence of the state? Will he insist on sovereignty? Will he insist on full exchange with regard to the right of settlement and property, and advocate that the EU norms are not valid on this subject? Does he or does he not accept that peace can be achieved on the basis of a sovereign state, rather than through an agreement on paper which can be torn to pieces, like the 1960 agreement? He must explain all this''.

[02] ReactionsTo French Bill on Armenian genocide NGOs Condemn, Call for Boycott

At 1258, AA in English reports that "Sinan Aygun, the Chairman of Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO), called on Turkish people to boycott French products." AA reports that in his statement Aygun said "that the business world should impose economic sanctions against political decision taken by the French parliament despite all historical facts." Claiming that the government was late to intervene in the matter, Aygun said, 'we are losing blood in foreign policy. Now Turkey is paying the price of its inner withdrawal. French parliament's decision to recognize so-called genocide on Armenians happened during a cold period in relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU). This cannot be a coincidence. Turkey is under an intentional siege. Turkish business world should impose economic sanctions against political decision taken by the French parliament despite all historical facts.' Stressing that Turkey should react harshly to prevent similar initiatives in other countries, Aygun said, 'the most influential reaction will be embargo on French products.'"

At 1359 GMT, AA in Turkish reports True Path Party leader Tansu Ciller's comments on the issue. "Strongly condemning the development," Ciller says:

"Turkey is faced with a great injustice. On the other hand, however, I think that the gap left by the present government is extremely grave. It was evident that this was bound to happen. The prime minister should have gone there in person and take the necessary measure to resolve the issue."

At 1424, AA in Turkish carries the reaction of Sevket Bulent Yahnici, Nationalist Action Party deputy leader. In reply to reporters' question at the Assembly, Yahnici said that Turkey should do whatever it takes to settle this issue with Armenia and added: 'The Turks in France should raise their voices saying that they do not recognize this decision.' Explaining that it was not a surprise decision, Yahnici added: 'Turkey regrets this decision and is concerned to this end. It is obvious that the EU members should take more care of their relations with Turkey, which is a EU candidate.' Explaining that Turkey should be alert to all the propaganda against it, Yahnici said that Turkey should undertake a defensive and offensive attack in its foreign policies.

At 1446 GMT, AA in Turkish carries the statement issued by Virtue Party leader Recai Kutan on the issue. In reply to reporters' questions at the Party Headquarters in Ankara, Kutan said that France was considered a country that respects human rights and democracy without any prejudices and added: 'They have proved us wrong with their recent attitude.' Explaining that it should be remembered well that the French carried out a genocide in the real sense of the word in Algeria, Kutan said that it is incomprehensible for France to place on the agenda an incident, which happened 80-90 years ago. Noting that calling Turkey's Paris ambassador back is the first step of the reaction to this country, Kutan added: 'I propose the government that this is a national issue. Therefore, this issue is not the responsibility of the government. It is most essential that the government and the opposition adopt a joint policy. The government has ignored the opposition in its performance until now. Regarding this national issue, however, the opposition and the government should decide together the steps to be taken. In the wake of this call, the government should call on us for a meeting.'

At 1448 GMT, AA in Turkish reports that the nongovernmental organizations throughout Turkey condemned the approval of the Armenian genocide resolution by the French National Assembly, adding that the decision will undermine the economic-political relations between Turkey and France.

At 1449 GMT, AA in English reports: "Zafer Caglayan, the Chairman of Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO), said on Thursday, 'Turkey has made a serious mistake by approving the draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians.' Releasing a written statement, Caglayan stressed that approval of the draft would play havoc with relations between Turkey and France. He emphasized that France would have to pay political and economic price of its unfair attitude. Caglayan said: 'France has opened the door for whole Europe by approving the draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians.

Dangerous developments will occur in the coming days. It will spread to whole Europe like a virus. Here is the result of laziness, negligence and unproductive domestic political rivalry. Unfortunately, approval of the draft resolution revealed that the foreign policy of Turkey collapsed. Turkey did not take the necessary measures in the right time.' He added, 'Turkey's credit was damaged throughout the world. Now, we should assess with common-sense what should be done. We should be reasonable against their foolishness. Turkey should bring onto agenda what France did in Algeria in the past.'

At 1508 GMT, AA in Turkish says that Turk-Is [Turkish Confederation of Labor] protested the French National Assembly's decision and "called for boycotting all French goods."

At 1516 GMT, AA in English reports that Halil Zor, the Chairman of Anatolia Press Union, said: 'Turkey should suspend its cultural relations with France, and it should boycott French products.' Condemning in his statement the approval of draft resolution on genocide on Armenians by the French parliament, Zor emphasized that Turkey should not remain silent against approval of the draft. He stressed, 'Turkey should suspend its cultural relations with France, and it should boycott French products. All street names regarded with France or with Paris should be changed. Turkey should implement visa on French people. All French schools in Turkey should be closed down and education in French should be ended. Those who go to France for their wedding parties should give up their meaningless desire.'

At 1409 GMT, AA in English reports: "State Minister Tunca Toskay said that he considered the approval of the resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians by the French parliament as 'a negative attitude which Turkey does not deserve.' Toskay said that the relevant state authorities, especially the government would make a decision against such an attitude.

"'I suppose that the Turkish people will spontaneously make reactions.'' When asked whether or not a crisis similar to the one with Italy would occur, Toskay said, `I can't know this and I can't speculate. Those who are authorized convene and make a decision. It seems like the beginning of a bad period for the traditional Turkey-France relations. They should take into consideration Turkey's reaction if they approve such a resolution/.''

At 1558 GMT, AA reports that "Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi condemned the approval of draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians by the French parliament, and said: 'The Turkish parliament cannot accept such a draft resolution.'

In his news conference, Izgi said: 'The French parliament approved the draft resolution submitted by 30 parliamentarians two and a half years ago. Although French authorities claimed that such a resolution having no binding power, would not have negative impacts on Turkey, our citizens living in France, and our citizens who go to France on cultural or business activities, will be unjustly blamed. European countries who were taking such decisions, destroyed natives in Africa and South America to found their own sovereignty. Turkey does not have such a stain in its history. The Turkish parliament will never accept such a draft resolution.

Within the next 15 days, French parliament speaker, the chairman of a executive organ, the president or the prime minister may launch initiative at the Constitutional Court for annulment of the decision which is contrary to the Constitution. This is the way to remove their serious mistake. This way can prevent damage in relations between Turkey and France. Otherwise, our relations with France cannot be protected, and the Republic of Turkey will respond to the draft resolution,' he stressed.

Responding to a question, Izgi said, 'the decision of the French parliament will not affect relations between Turkey and the EU. But other member countries to the EU, can submit similar draft resolutions to their parliaments in the future by taking this resolution as a basis./

At 1739 GMT, AA in English reports that "Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan said regarding the adoption of the resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians that France made a big mistake. Responding to questions of journalists about the issue, Okuyan said that such claims had earlier been voiced in the U.S. and Italy.

"Okuyan said that the decision of the French parliament won't bind Turkey. 'Such kind of decisions will put in question the good relations at the international platform. France has to question itself by taking such a decision. This decision will be to the disadvantage of France more than us. Is this decision to the advantage or disadvantage of Armenia? France didn't evaluate that. Turkey aimed at improving its relations with Armenia. France has to assess well the geographical status of Armenia,' he said."

At 1744 GMT, AA in English reports that "Cengiz Altinkaya, the deputy chairman of ANAP, condemned on Thursday the adoption of the resolution on the so-called genocide on Armenians by French parliament. 'They performed an incredibly irresponsible behavior. It will be France who should be hold responsible from possible sanctions,' he added.

"Altinkaya told reporters that they regard the resolution on the so-called Armenian genocide which was adopted in the French parliament as 'the indicator of evil intentions over Turkey.' Emphasizing that ambitions of some circles targeting Turkey's sovereignty and territorial integrity were revealed with that decision, Altinkaya said, 'they performed an incredibly irresponsible behavior. It will be France who should be hold responsible from possible sanctions. Blaming Turkey for the sake of gaining advantage in domestic policy, is unjust and unforgivable. Distorting historical facts is irresponsibility We will not bow in front of this.'"

At 1832 GMT, AA in English reports that Republican Peoples Party leader Deniz Baykal describes the French decision as "very sad."

Explaining that "Turkey has been incapable of explaining the truths in this issue to the world, Baykal later says that "the decision taken today in the French parliament will negatively affect the relations between Turkey and France, Turkey and Armenia, and Turkey and Europe.'"

At 1833 GMT, AA in English carries a report on the reaction of Dervis Eroglu, so-called prime minister of the pseudostate. Issuing a written statement, Eroglu said that 'all the political parties in France committed the crime of distorting the history in order to get the votes of the Armenian population living in France. The decision taken means France's denying its own historical evidences. France was a party during the First World War and it knows the realities about the Armenian issue. No parliament has the right to condemn Turkey and the Turkish history upon events claimed to have taken place 100 years ago and which can't be proven. France only blackened itself by its attitude.'

[03] Denktash meets Belgian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs KIBRIS (19.1.01) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash met

Denktash/s advisorrs Ergun Olgun and Mustafa Evran were also present at the meeting.

In a short statement after the meeting, Belgian State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Annenie Neyts Uytlebroeck said that the aim of her visit was to get first-hand information about the Cyprus problem and to meet with Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in order to learn the Turkish Cypriot position.

Replying to the question ``what was the main message that you brought and what was the answer that you received''?, Neyts said: ``I came in order to be informed about the situation in Cyprus from esteemed Mr. Denktasn and be familiarized with the issue''. She continued: ``I wanted to learn which are the necessary roads to follow for a possible settlement in Cyprus according to esteemed Mr. Denktash. We discussed this issue in the meeting. In addition to that, at the beginning of the meeting I breifed them about the position of my government related to the accession of Cyprus into the EU''.

Asked ``what is the position of the Belgian government'', the Belgian official said: ``We, as the Belgian government, are committed to the results of the Helsinki Summit on this issue''.

[04] Turkish convicts in pseudostate prisons CUMHURIYET/s (15.1.01) correspondent in the occupied area, Resat Akar,

He reports that of the 155 convicts in the Central Prison in the occupied area, 92 are Turks from Turkey who entered into the occupied area as ``tourists''.

According to the statistical report prepared by the so-called director of the Central Prison, Meric Taydemir, the convicts were accused of and imprisoned for burglary, theft, murder, narcotics smuggling.

According to the so-called ``bilateral'' agreement signed between the occupied area and Turkey, a Turkish national who is convicted and imprisoned in the occupied area, after two years of imprisonment he/she has the right to appeal and serve the rest of his/her sentence in Turkish prisons.

With this so-called agreement and the new asylum law passed in Turkey, a Turkish national can be set free but for the same crime a Turkish Cypriot has to serve his/her whole term.

CUMHURIEYT/s correspondent reports that having this anomaly in mind, parents of the Turkish Cypriot convicts want the same thing to be applied in the case of their children and want the Turkish Cypriot convicts to be set free.

[05] French senator to prepare report on Cyprus/EU perspective According to KIBRIS (19.1.01), Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash had a

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Senator Louis Le Pensec said that he has been given the mandate by the French Senate to draft a report on Cyprus/s EU membership perspective, and that he will have a number of contacts with political leaders on the island. He said he will be reporting to the French Senate the progress scored by Cyprus until today.

He further said that he will try to establish to what extent Cyprus is ready for the Aquis Communautaire and what kind of problems it is facing.

He went on and said that the EU membership, will provide equal, opportunities and advantages for both communities and it will be to their benefit.

He said that what Mr. Denktash told him about the Cyprus problem and EU membership provided him the chance to understand the Turkish side/s views.

[06] Crimean Tourism Minister visits occupied area According to KIBRIS (19.1.01), the Minister of Tourism of Crimea, (Tr. Note:

KIBRIS reports that Mr. Taryanik arrived in the occupied area within the framework of a familiarization visit organized by the Acun Tour Airlines, wh ose headquarters are in Istanbul.

Besides Mr. Taryanik, a 17-member group has arrived in the occupied area from Crimea to take part in the familiarization visit.

The group will visit touristic sites in the occupied aera.

Mr. Taryanik will leave the occupied are on 23 January, 2001.

[07] Akinci meets German Ambassador According to VATAN (19.1.01) the so- called state minister and deputy prime

No statement was made before or after the meeting.

[08] NGO/s announce strikes YENIDUZEN (19.1.01) reports that the 41 Turkish Cypriot NGO/s announced that

The first strike will take place today (19.1.01) in front of the ``Telecommuncations Department''. The second one will be held on 22nd January in occupied Famagusta and the third one on 23rd January in the occupied part of Nicosia.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIAS

[09] Denktas Views Resumption of Talks in Letter to Columnist Columnist Sami Kohen writing in MILLIYET (Internet Version, 16.1. 01) says:

In that article I had recommended that despite the deadlock in the Cyprus talks, the Turkish side should show the pragmatism of not falling into a position of being the sides that "evades the talks" and act with flexibility on resuming the talks under a new formula.

In his letter, Denktas notes that the UN Secretary-General's views were not the sole reason for the deadlock, adding: "Secretary-General's statement came to indicate the endorsement of the goals De Soto tried to impose on us at the 5th round; it clearly showed the destination where they wanted to take us to. The EU and Britain too stand behind the Secretary-General's views."

And this is how Denktas explains the destination where the Turkish side is being lead to: "Just look at the conditions placed before us: The real aim is the EU accession. And agreement should not be incongruent with the EU norms, there will be no mention of sovereignty (because they say the sovereignty of the Cyprus Republic is still valid), we will not raise the issue of status (even as Cyprus Republic's EU process proceeds full speed ahead), and the EU countries will continue encouraging the Greek Cypriots into believing that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots cannot veto Cyprus' EU accession. The EU will realise sooner or later that Cyprus' membership application is illegal and it would be a great mistake to extend membership to Cyprus at the request of one side on an island that has two nations, two religions, and two languages."

Touching on the statement, "There is also a government in the north," made by US President Clinton's special representative for Cyprus Alfred Moses, the KKTC President says at the end of his letter: "Moses' statement has upset the Greek Cypriots. He told them that they cannot tango alone. These realities must be the starting point if there is going to be any resumption of talks."

Denktas conveyed these views also to Sir David Hanney and Alfred Moses, who visited the region to ensure the resumption of the talks, insisting that he would not return to the talks under the old conditions. UN Secretary- General's special representative De Soto will probably hear the same things when he visits Nicosia in the near future.

At the same time, it seems that contacts would continue concerning some new ideas on the new format of the talks brought by President Clinton's special representative.

For Denktas to accuse the United States, and Britain, for being behind the ideas that are being imposed and at the same time talk positively about US Representative Moses' latest statement is meaningful.

But this does not yet mean that a magic formula has been found for the resumption of the talks. But it has also become quite obvious that the "circles interested in a solution" (it includes the United States, EU, and the UN) are not going to give up on the issue, but would rather continue exerting pressure.

The EU's encouragement of the Greek Cypriot membership is seen by Denktas as one of the most important reasons for the deadlock in Cyprus. Denktas says in the letter: "If the EU does not want to share a border with Turkey along the Green Line, it has to wake up to the adventure into which Greece has been drawing the EU through blackmail. If the EU is prepared to forgo Turkey for the sake of the Greek Cypriots, then the EU's benefits for Turkey should be reviewed."

With that Denktas is both asserting that the EU's posture would eventually pit Turkey and the EU against each other, and is also telling Turkey how to act in these days when the EU has become a hot topic in Turkey''.

[80] Columnist Disputes Turkish Commander's Views on Kurds, EU, compares with Cyprus

``War Academies are as much "academic" institutions as they are military. It is very natural for them to organise symposiums and debates on various issues.

When commanders make public speeches at these symposiums they generate effects that go beyond being a mere "internal academic deliberations." These statements are closely monitored even by the diplomatic circles. They are also debated just like everything else that comes to the attention of the public.

This was also the case with the symposium organised the other day. Brig. Gen. Halil Simsek, Commander of the Armed Forces Academy, has reportedly said the following at that symposium: "With the individual rights and freedoms mentioned in the EU Accession Partnership Document [APD], an attempt is being made to partition our country under the pretext of 'cultural,' 'broadcasting,' and 'educational' rights in mother tongue for our Kurdish-origin citizens, who are co-founders and original element of this state."

The phrase used by the esteemed Brigadier General, "our Kurdish-origin citizens who are the co-founders and original element of this state," is not only wrong but "dangerous." No ethnic group within a unitary state can be referred to as the "co-founder and original element."

For our "citizens of Kurdish-origin" to be referred to as the "co-founder and original element" of this country is a claim that the Kurdish militants themselves want acknowledged. Apo [alias for PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan] defended this concept of Kurds being the "original and co-founding element" in court [during his trial] as well as in his long petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal 9th Penal Department. He has based his political claims on this concept! (page 3)

Our own federation thesis in Cyprus is itself based on the fact of Turks being the "founding element" [of the Cyprus state] together with the Greek Cypriots, or as Rauf Denktas puts it in their being the "co-founders."

Kurdish ideologist Kemal Burkay [leader of Kurdish Socialist Party] propounds a similar thesis!

Certainly the "similarity of the words" cannot hide the differences of purpose. Surely in using the term "co-founder and original element," esteemed Brigadier General wanted to bolster our national unity and convey the idea that there can be no separation of Turks and Kurds when it comes to the establishment of the state.

But the intention is one thing and the legal, political, and diplomatic meaning of concepts another. That is why officials with authoritative and responsible positions should speak out after consulting the Foreign Ministry on issues that remain outside their field of expertise.

The view, "The EU wants to partition us," expressed at the symposium is also wrong. Leaving aside the fact that such a view would encourage the separatists, it is not correct in itself.

The "similarity of some words" between the APD criteria and the PKK demands does in no way indicate that the EU pursues the same objectives as the PKK. The demands of Europe are freedoms widely practised there, and besides are not at odds with the concept of "unitary state." Even Spain, with local autonomies, is a unitary state.

What we should be discussing instead is whether or not the individual freedoms would abate or agitate ethnic nationalism. And this primarily is a "sociological" debate.

The unitary state is as important for Turkey as its geographic integrity; it can never be relinquished. And the strengthening of the social foundation of the "unitary state," that is, the progress of our social integration, is a matter linked with social, economic, and democratic processes. And the development of our ties with the EU, especially the full membership, would only bolster this unity.''

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

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