Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-03-22

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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. 56/01 -- 22.3.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ismail Cem openly threatens the EU on Cyprus and National Programme.

[02] So-called Universities hit by the economic crisis.

[03] Denktash comments on the sentence imposed by Larnaca Criminal Court on Tekogul.

[04] Mehmet Ali Talat met with a delegation of the German Social Democratic Party.

[05] The pseudostate protested over alleged statements by the British High Commissioner. B, COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mehmet Ali Birand: If Turkey wants to become a full EU member it should solve the Cyprus and Aegean issues.

[02] Columnist in AVRUPA criticizes the occupation regime for the settlers from Turkey and the distribution of the properties of the Greek Cypriots.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ismail Cem openly threatens the EU on Cyprus and National Programme According to Ankara Anatolia (AA) (21.3.01), the Foreign Minister of Turkey,

In statements made to NTV, Cem alleged that the continuation of the Cyprus intercommunal talks in their previous form will not serve any purpose.

He said that new parameters must be introduced if the Cyprus itnercommunal talks are to continue, calling on the United Nations to take into account the warnings issued by Rauf Denktash in this regard.

Repeating old allegations that the accession of Cyprus to the EU will constitute a development that will turn the balances in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean upside down, Cem said that Turkey, in turn, will do ``whatever is necessary'' on this subject together with the regime in occupied Cyprus.

He also said that there is no limit to what Turkey will do, and added: ``On the basis of the support it receives from the EU, the Greek Cypriot administration of south Cyprus is refraining from reaching a solution on the island''.

Referring to the National Programme to be submitted to the EU Commission over the weekend, Cem told the Ambassadors of the EU countries that they should not focus on specific points in the National Programme, but view it from a broad perspective, and declared: ``If you and certain circles in Turkey focus on one or two points and demand why some things are missing, this will not benefit the EU or Turkey. In that case, the EU would be regarded in Turkey only in terms of these two points''.

AVRUPA newspaper (22.3.01) criticizes Mr. Ismail Cem/s statements in its front page leader and writes that with these statements Cem has put an end to the hopes of those who were aspiring for a solution to the Cyprus problem in the near future.

``Cem/s words are in no way different from Turkey/s policy on Cyprus and as in the past it appears that he supports the status quo and non-solution'', writes the paper.

As regards Cem/s threats that if Cyprus accedes to the EU, Turkey and Denktash will do ``whatever is necessary'', the paper says that Mr. Cem did not make public what he means by ``whatever is necessary'' but only that there is ``no limit'' to it.

[02] So-called Universities hit by the economic crisis Under banner headlines ``They are going back'', KIBRIS (22.3.01), writes that

The paper writes that due to the fall in the value of the Turkish Lira against the dollar, after it was allowed to float last month, hundreds of students are unable to pay their fees and started going back to their country.

[03] Denktash comments on the sentence imposed by Larnaca Criminal Court on Tekogul

Denktash made the statement at illegal Tymbou airport last night after returning from Istanbul where he attended a panel discussion at Bahcesehir University.

[04] Mehmet Ali Talat met with a delegation of the German Social Democratic Party.

Speaking to the German guests Talat welcomed the delegation and said that an unfair and imbalanced EU process is being experienced in Cyprus and that the loss to be brought about by this unfair process to the Turkish Cypriots will be very high. Talat further said that with a view to taking certain steps in order to level off this imbalance and to do away with the loses, they will, as RTP, ask for certain favours from parliamentarians of one of the important countries of the EU.

Referring to the British High Commissioner/s alleged accusations, Talat said:

The unusual reaction demonstrated by the British High Commissioner is directed towards the ``Foreign Minister'' and the ``government'' only. The Turkish Cypriots are excluded from this.

The Turkish Cypriot community is a civilized European community, which shares European values and which wants to be friendly with the world.

The outdated and anachronistic approaches of the ``Foreign Minister'' and the others are not binding on the Turkish Cypriots''.

[05] The pseudostate protested over alleged statements by the British High Commissioner

In a statement by the so-called Foreign and Defence Ministry, Mr. Clay was accused of intervening in the internal affairs of the pseudostate. The statement expressed surprise in the face of the accusations directed against the pseudo-government and its authorities, by the High Commissioner.

The National Unity Party, NUP, also criticized the High Commissioner about what he said during the seminar.

In its turn the so-called Fighters Association called on the High Commissioner to make statements within the diplomatic parameters and reminded him that ``the TRNC is not a territory of British Colony''.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Mehmet Ali Birand: If Turkey wants to become a full EU member it should solve the Cyprus and Aegean issues

No matter if it becomes a member or is left outside, there are certain international facts that will never change for Turkey. Whether it likes it or not, Turkey will face them frequently in the international arena in the new century.

Turkey, in harmony with the international conjuncture and as a candidate for membership to the European Union, should do some things and at the same time avoid doing other things.

From now, the era for Turkey to move according to its wishes has ended. It can no longer say, ``you cannot interfere in our domestic issues''. It should be more careful when taking certain measures, no matter what the reason is.

[27] If Turkey wants to become a full EU member it should solve the Cyprus and the Aegean issues (by considering national interests). It should

You can also call it preliminary conditions.

What Turkey must do is produce policies by rationally considering long term interests.

[38] There should be no more sharp demonstrations in the Aegean. Even if some cracking voices are heard from Athens, instead of answering them with

[44] Turkey cannot neglect the issue of unresolved murders.

[46] Measures such as compulsory immigration and torching villages must be stopped, even when it is done for security reasons. Turkey should lift the

[50] Turkey can no longer jail those who do not agree with official policy, who write or make statements about the Southeast or other issues. It has to

[56] It has to share responsibility with Brussels.

[58] Turkey will enter a period that causes the government to move according to international factors and policies, not just according to interior

Of course, Turkey will survive without doing all of this too.

If this is the case, though, Turkey will play either at second or third league instead of first league. It will remain isolated and weak instead of becoming a super power in the region.

However, it should adopt these conditions and thus increase its power.

For this reason, becoming a member of the EU is an important thing. It will urge Turkey to take a big step.

Turkey should not miss this chance.

It it does, it will be unfair for future generations.

Mr. Birand stresses that everything depends on Turkey and that a little political courage will be enough for Turkey to become full member in the year 2010 or 2015, but if it gets involved in bureaucratic conflicts and political calculations Turkey will remain just a candidate, and concludes:

In the end, the negotiations will keep going without a solution, then this will cause boredom. The public will lose interests towards the issue and the relations end.

If this happens, then they will start mentioning 2025 or 2035 as a possible date for Turkey to become a full member of the EU. In this case, Turkey will look like a student who goes to university but never graduates.

It will remain a candidate until hell freezes over.

[93] Columnist in AVRUPA criticizes the occupation regime for the settlers from Turkey and the distribution of the Greek Cypriot properties

``He had come from Turkey in the year 1975. He was given a house to live and land to earn his living. In exchange his vote was enough. His children being citizens of the Turkish Republic served for 18 months in the army while the Turkish Cypriots at the time served for 30 months in the army. Two of his childlren were born in Cyprus. The time passed, two of his daughters became nurses, one son a teacher and the other, being employed in a government office, retired and settled in Silifke like his older brothers. Three of his nine children are in Cyprus at the moment.

This old uncle had settled in Cyprus in the good times. Other than his three children nothing was left in Cyprus now for the old man.

Why did I write this story? I met this uncle a year ago by chance. He was about to sell his house to a friend of mine. It was a characteristic Cypriot house made of stone. No repairs were made inside or outside the house. The sun could not illuminate the inside of the house at all. He covered the house with nylon pressed with stones.

In the garden there were chicken and two goats. The old man had a hat on his head, he was bearded and the signs of time were marked on his face. In his hands he carried a stick made of a wild olive tree. We started talking.

- Uncle what will you do after you sell the house?

I will go to Turkey son, near my children.

And will this money be enough?

I had two pieces of land, I sold them too, and the tractor.

How much did you sell them for?

I sold them.

Is it a secret how much you sold them?

No, my son, I sold the one for 15 billion. And the other was an olive grove with a well in it and so I sold it for 18 billion.

You did not leave anything for the children?

Of course I left, they too sold them, except for my daughter who has an olive grove.

Why did you sell so much property?.

Is there any future left in this country? Once these formalities regarding the house are completed I will leave as well.

I did not say anything else to the old man. This old man, apart from the things he had given to his children, he had received 50 billion TL last year from the rest of the things he had sold.

If we sum up what his children also received, we are talking easily about 150 thousand Pounds Sterling.

His children who are living here have their own houses. The ones who are living in Turkey have built a multi-storey building and live there. They are employed in various jobs.

Why did I tell this story? It is a fact that immigrants came here from the Republic of Turkey to increase our population. Another fact is that these people are potential votes. Here it is, unfortunately this country has been sold for these votes.

Title-deeds were given to more than 33 thousand immigrants who came from the Republic of Turkey.

And unfortunately the Turkish Cypriots who really experienced the Cyprus realities emigrated from the island. I ask you: Who is the guilty, is it this old man or our administrators who portioned out the property that does not belong to them and gave it away as a gift?

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

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