Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-03-23

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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. 57/01 -- 23.3.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mustafa Akinci asks Turkey to reassess its policy on Cyprus.

[02] The Turkish Army Opposes Privatization of Turkish Airlines and Turkish Telecommunications Company.

[03] Letter to Solana by so-called Foreign Minister on Cyprus/ participation in the European Army.

[04] Denktash firm on his intransigence.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] The reality after 1974 is nothing but occupation.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mustafa Akinci asks Turkey to reassess its policy on Cyprus According to ORTAM (23.3.01) Mustafa Akinci, so-called State Minister and

Responding to the criticism leveled against him by Tahsin Ertugruloglu, so- called Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense, because of his views regarding the Cyprus issue, Akinci said: "The approaching danger is so great that my intention is to make my voice heard in Turkey. I believe that Turkey should conduct a very serious and sound reassessment concerning the Cyprus talks."

In a statement to journalists, Akinci noted: "Mr. Ertugruloglu seems to have made it a habit of responding to my statements on the Cyprus problem. As the leader of one of the two parties in the existing ``coalition government'', my interlocutor is undoubtedly ``Prime Minister'' Dervis Eroglu, and not Mr. Ertugruloglu."

In a written statement Ertugruloglu had noted that Akinci's remarks incorporating his personal and partisan views on the Cyprus issue "imply that Turkey is responsible for the impasse in the negotiating process, thus damaging the Cyprus policy which the ``TRNC'' and Turkey conduct together in a spirit of unity and solidarity."

Akinci declared that his statements on the Cyprus issue reflect the views of his party, and not the ``government''.

Akinci explained that the United Nations and the EU regard the Turkish Cypriots as the side that is holding back and failing to contribute to any progress concerning the negotiating process. He expressed the view that the United Nations and the EU are beginning to adopt a stand that also holds Turkey responsible in this regard.

Akinci declared: "I see this danger, and I ask myself where this danger can lead us to in the next two years. It can lead to the unilateral accession of the Greek Cypriots to the EU, and I consider this a historical duty to issue this warning."

Such a development will lead the ``TRNC'' and Turkey to forget about EU membership, Akinci concluded.

[02] The Turkish Army Opposes Privatization of Turkish Airlines and Turkish Telecommunications Company

The paper writes that the Urgent Actions Package made public by the Minister of State Kemal Dervish on 14.3.01 envisages privatization of Turkish Telecom through a block sale of 51% of its shares and amendment of the Civil Aviation Law in order to clear the way for the immediate sale of Turkish Airlines.

The paper publishes a letter sent in April 1998 by the then Chief of Staff General Ismail Hakki Karadayi to the government which explains the problems to be faced as a result of the privatization of the Turkish Airlines among which will be the isolation of occupied Cyprus.

On Cyprus the letter, which was made public by AYDINLIK for the first time, writes the following:

An eventual privatization of the THY would mean isolation of Cyprus, one of the cornerstones of Turkish foreign policy, from the international community. The THY is the sole airline which flies to the ``TRNC'', because of an international embargo imposed by the West on the ``TRNC''. The THY/s flights to the ``TRNC'' are subsidized by the government and flights to Cyprus are priced under the tariff applied to domestic flights.

The THY/s privatization would mean termination of these flights to the ``TRNC''. Apart from the THY/s flights, the only means of transportation between Turkey and the ``TRNC'' is the ferry service between Mersin and Cyprus. The THY/s privatization would leave the ferry service as the sole alternative for transportation between Turkey and the ``TRNC''.

[03] Letter to Solana by so-called Foreign Minister on Cyprus/ participation in the European Army

In his letter the pseudo-minister repeats the known Turkish allegations that Cyprus cannot participate in the European army and defence system and threatens that the solution of the Cyprus problem will become more difficult if Cyprus is accepted in the EU project ``Headline Goal''.

[04] Denktash firm on his intransigence The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr. Rauf Denktash, in an exclusive interview to

He insists that his pseudostate should be recongized before EU membership:

``The first condition for EU membership is to become a state'' Denktash declared.

Denktash also accused, without giving any specific names, some Turkish Cypriots of serving Greek, EU, USA and British interests.

He repeated his known excuses for opposing Cyprus/s EU accession.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] The reality after 1974 is nothing but occupation In a commentary with the title ``Now...'', in the column ``From time to time''

``The meaning of Cem`s statements is the diplomatic way of supporting the non - solution'', stresses Mr. Osman adding that he wanted to reply to Mr. Cem as a Cypriot.

Answering to Mr. Cem, the columnist of Avrupa says, among other things, the following:

``This land is the place I and other Cypriots like me were born and grew up. In every span of this land there is the sweat of our brow. We were here before the occupation of this land and we are still here. ...Those who have occupied this land before you as well have caused a lot of pain to the Cypriots. The Ottomans have given authority to fellows like Baki Aga to come here and collect the taxes....The behaviour of the English was not any different. ...The reality which came up after 1974 is nothing but occupation. The occupation has brought with it assimilation and demographic changes, as well as the annihilation of the Turkish Cypriots. If the behaviour of people like Ismail Cem or Ecevit who challenge the world does not mean ignoring the Turkish Cypriots` will, then what else could it mean? ...Achieving peace is in the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples` hands. They should be more careful in approaching each other and they must save themselves from the situation created after 1974. Then no-one would dare to decide anything for us which is opposite to our will. It is time to raise our voice. Saving our island from the occupation depends on our struggle....''

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

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