Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-03-19

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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. 53/01 -- 17-18-19

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash tries to justify rally of extremism.

[02] So-called Assembly Speaker calls on the British to leave Cyprus.

[03] The Turkish Cypriot Press on the rally organized by the occupation regime.

[04] Turkish Cypriot labour leader criticizes the pseudostate over restrictions on freedom of movement.

[05] Akinci refers to EU-Cyprus-Turkey relations.

[06] So-called Assembly Speaker to run for NUP leadership.

[07] Australian opposition politician in the occupied areas.

[08] Tansu Ciller: Turkey is currently cornered.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Turkish Columnist Slams Government for Bowing to the West, Predicts More Pressure.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash tries to justify rally of extremism According to illegal Bayrak Radio (18.3.01) the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr.

Denktash referred to what he called circles that issue statements everyday and said: They organized demonstrations at the time. They used the economic situation as a pretext. Actually, the economic situation is something very important. However, what they did, and maybe not deliberately, was to create the impression that we are opposed to Turkey and to the Turkish soldiers.

Denktash asserted that everybody who knows that this is not true was upset. It was very appropriate to organize this rally, he said, to show that this is not the political stand of the Turkish Cypriots. This rally was necessary for internal and external peace, he alleged.

[02] So-called Assembly Speaker calls on the British to leave Cyprus According to illegal BRTK television (18.3.01) the organizers of the ``Flag,

Hasipoglu said there is peace in Cyprus today, but no agreement and added:

``Any agreement has to be based on the principle of two states. We will build bridges between the two states. Otherwise, there will be blood and tears in this country again. There will be death. The conflict will not be confined to Cyprus only, it will spread to the two motherlands''.

Hasipoglu then said: ``Today, the British have two small pieces of land here. And that land is sovereign. I say this at every opportunity:

How can the British have sovereign pieces of land while we are not considered sovereign over this homeland for which we lost so many martyrs over the years? That does not make sense. If anyone has to leave this country it is the British. Wherever the British go, they create problems. Whatever country they leave, there are problems. Therefore, the first to leave this island should be the British. It would be very useful for both the Greeks and the Turks to understand that''.

[03] The Turkish Cypriot Press on the rally organized by the occupation regime

All the Turkish Cypriot newspapers, apart from YENIDUZEN and AVRUPA, presented the rally as a great success, using the following titles:

KIBRISLI: ``Determination: independence, sovereignty and peace depend on motherland''.

BIRLIK: ``A flag, homeland and freedom rally was held; thousands of people gathered at Inonu Square''.

HALKIN SESI: ``Turkish Cypriots shouted: No concessions from ``TRNC''.

VATAN: ``Thousands shouted: We will not abandon the TRNC''.

KIBRIS: ``We will keep the TRNC alive''.

ORTAM newspaper did not give great emphasis to the rally and carried its report in the inside pages.

On the other hand, AVRUPA and YENIDUZEN criticized the rally.

AVRUPA under the banner headline ``God is Great!'' writes that the news agency, TAK, exaggerated about the participation of people at the rally. The newspaper publishes some photos of the rally, stressing that only 5,000 people were present and that 90% of them were settlers from Turkey. It is also reported that the participants were carrying flags of the Grey Wolves and the three crescents and that they turned Nicosia into a Turkish province.

The participants, while passing in front of the offices of AVRUPA newspaper, were shouting pro-rightist slogans.

YENIDUZEN, under the banner headline ``The `state/ rally was a fiasco'' writes that while Turkey/s Council of Ministers is discussing the programme that will be submitted to the EU a rally against the EU was held in occupied Nicosia.

According to YENIDUZEN, observers assess that the rally was a part of the effort of some circles who exploit the Cyprus problem to stop Turkey/s accession course to the EU.

[04] Turkish Cypriot labour leader criticizes the pseudostate over restrictions on freedom of movement

In a statement he issued, Konuloglu said restrictions were imposed on crossings to the south and into the ``TRNC'' through the Ledra Palace check- point, adding that this is against the appeals being made for equality and sovereignty. He further said that democracy and human rights are being destroyed in the occupied areas.

[05] Akinci refers to EU-Cyprus-Turkey relations According to KIBRIS (19.3.01), the leader of the Communal Liberation Party

Speaking at a gathering to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of his party, Mr. Akinci expressed the view that Turkey/s European course would have positive effect on her relations with Greece, as well as on the Cyprus problem. Mr. Akinci also stressed that the economic problems in every country of the world could be overcome only through creating real democratic environment within the country itself.

[06] So-called Assembly Speaker to run for NUPleadership According to KIBRIS (17.3.01) the so-called Republican Assembly Speaker

Hasipolglu held a press conference and announced his candidacy, saying that by submitting his candidacy he aims at introducing a new dynamism to his party through change, to present a new vision to the Turkish Cypriots who are struggling with various problem, and to, thus, renew their confidence in the NUP. At the press conference, Hasipoglu explained the reasons why he wants to be the party leader. Noting that change is one of the most important prerequisites of democracy, Hasipoglu expressed the belief that a change within the party will increase the NUP/s dynamism. Noting that many problems have recently been experienced in the occupied areas and that, therefore, the people have lost their confidence in the NUP, the senior partner of the ``coalition government'', Hasipoglu added that a change within the party will infuse a renewed sense of confidence into the people. Pointing out that the ``government'' is not the venue for generating excuses but rather solutions, Hasipoglu said that a party that has lost the confidence of the people is bound to be disillusioned during elections, adding that this is the reason why he advocates a change.

[07] Australian opposition politician in the occupied areas According to KIBRIS (17.3.01) the member of Australia/s Victoria Senate and

Mr. Conroy, who visited the occupied areas met on Friday with the so-called Prime Minister Dervish Eroglu.

The Australian Shadow Minister stated that he went to the pseudostate in order to be informed about the Cyprus problem.

Mr. Conroy was accompanied by the President of the Turkish Cultural Association of Northern Cyprus in Australia, Mr. Mehmet Durmush.

[08] Tansu Ciller: Turkey is currently cornered According to TRT 2 Television (17.3.01) True Path Party leader Tansu Ciller

Assessing the current situation in Turkey, Ciller said: It is clear that the new Economy Minister, Kemal Dervish is going abroad together with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Turkey is currently cornered. It is faced with the situation of trying to ask for and borrow money. His going abroad together with the Foreign Minister under the current circumstances raises the question of whether Turkey will make concessions on the Cyprus issue, the policy on Iraq, and other issues.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Turkish Columnist Slams Government for Bowing to the West, Predicts More Pressure

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was offended by press reports about US Ambassador Robert Pearson's visit aimed at questioning the political support behind State Minister Kemal Dervish.

A written statement released early in the day said the reports about this matter were "unfounded." According to the statement, press reports indicating that the conversation between Ecevit and Pearson centered around the support to be lent to Dervish were entirely misleading.

How could the attempt made by the Prime Minister's Office to reverse this grim impression be convincing just 24 hours after the TV stations broadcast recorded images of the US Ambassador's meetings with the coalition leaders in their hourly bulletins?

Fikret Bila, a columnist whom Ecevit trusts most, wrote that Ecevit told the US Ambassador that "the government was backing Mr. Dervish and the program" in response to a call for political support.

I wish the government had been successful in managing the economy. In that case we would not have had to pay the bill for blindly adhering to the IMF's program by adopting a mentality in favour of a mandatory rule, which reminds of the last period of the Ottomans.

Alas! The extent of the subservience was timely diagnosed at the end of the nineteenth century, when the West was treating the collapsing empire like a sick man, and the proposed mandatory rule was refused as a result of the fight for independence and national liberation kindled by Mustafa Kemal and a self-respecting republic was founded thanks to leaders having confidence in their own people.

If you destroy the economic independence of a country, then ambassadors of foreign countries would shuttle between government offices to dictate any domestic or international policy.

The new US President, George W. Bush, wants to put an end to Saddam's rule whereas Turkey leans toward improving its commercial ties with Iraq.

Last month American warplanes bombed Baghdad.

Prime Minister Ecevit made a harsh statement condemning the operation, which was carried out without giving an advance notice to Ankara, and expressed his anxieties.

What did Washington do in response?

In what is considered as a retaliation to Ankara's reaction, fighter planes taking off from Incirlik Air Base staged another attack just a couple of days later after the first one.

The US administration is continuously sending messages to Ankara: "We will support you and give you a last chance. However, you must select your route and keep away from Saddam. If you intend to pursue your quest for joining the EU, you should put your economy back in order and demonstrate that you support Kemal Dervish."

These will probably be followed by other demands and Turkey will be expected to make many concessions ranging from lifting its reservation about the EU army to accepting a solution in Cyprus.

It seems that we will pay a high price for the economic crisis.

The cabinet's refusal to resign in spite of all the blunders has put Turkey in a very embarrassing and unfavourable situation.

Ankara is being governed from outside based on an above-party approach. After all, what correction could conceal the bitter fact?

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

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