Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-03-29

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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

[A] NEWS ITEMS B.

[01] Denktash nervous about Greece/s position on Cyprus/ EU accession course

[02] Alan Makovsky: Cyprus/ EU accession will soon be a problem between Turkey and the EU

[03] Ilter Turknincen: If Cyprus become EU member the Turkish Cypriots will want to get Cyprus passports

[04] Talat: Illegal Bayrak and TAK censor the ``opposition''

[05] Vice President of TPP: ``Cyprus` accession to the EU will harm the Turkish national interests''

[06] Turkish National Security Council to discuss Cyprus tomorrow

[07] So-Called Turkish Cypriot Airlines start flights to Manchester A NEWS ITEMS

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash nervous about Greece/s position on Cyprus/ EU accession course

Referring to Cyprus/ EU accession course, Denktash claimed that he is not opposed to the EU but he feels nervous ``because the EU has surrendered to Greece/s blackmail''.

As regards the Cyprus problem, Denktash said it may be activated again after the elections of 27 May in this free areas of Cyprus and alleged that Turkey has done more than its share for a solution but not the international organizations that claim they want to contribute. ``That is why the problem is still unresolved'', he said.

The Turkish Cypriot Leader repeated his known views about the illegal regime he set up and maintains through the force of arms after the illegal Turkish invasion of the 1974, and the flagrant violation, of all the human rights of the citizens of northern Cyprus.

Commenting on the current economic crisis and the crisis in the so-called government Denktash said he invited the Turkish Minister of State Responsible for Cyprus Affairs, Sukru Sina Gurel, to visit the occupied areas for a reassessment of the economic package after the devaluation of the Turkish Lira, and added: ``The customs barriers between Turkey and ``TRNC'' must be lifted. There is no other way''.

On the crisis in the so-called government, Dentkash said that the ``coalition partners'' meet every day, he is following them with regret on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots and the one is waiting for the other to withdraw from the ``coalition '', while the ``country'' is waiting for work to be done.

[02] Alan Makovsky: Cyprus/ EU accession will soon be a problem between Turkey and the EU

Alleging that the American interests will be greatly threatened if the U.S.A. opts to support acceptance of Cyprus to the EU, Makovsky reminded that Turkey is NATO/s southern flank .

Mr Makovsky assessed that the U.S.A. will be forced to decide whether to lobby in favour of Turkey/s accession course to the EU or not.

[03] Ilter Turknmen: If Cyprus become EU member the Turkish Cypriots will want to get Cyprus passports

Turkmen said that in the Declaration at Helsinki Summit regarding Cyprus, the European Council underlines that a political settlement will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the EU. However, decision on accession will be made without the above being a precordition `` has forced Turkey to produce a settlement plan on this issue.

According to the Anatolia Agency A.A. Turkmen said: ``If Cyprus becomes EU member, then the TRNC citizens will struggle to get Cyprus passports because they will be able to enter freely to member countries and work there. Their horizon will be opened. Under this condition, Turkey either will keep silent or will take the annexation decision.

The best thing that should be done is for the two nations to have sovereign equality. If this is realized the Greek Cypriots will need the Turkish Cypriots/votes when they cast their votes otherwise there will be two Hellenic States in the EU''.

Turkmen gave a conference at the Sabanci Cultural Center of the Erciyes University in Kayseri on ``Greco-Turkish Relations''. Turkmen said that Turkey is following a quite positive foreign policy and that the opening the EU gate will provide major benefits. Turkmen went on and said that Turkey has the chance, through the EU membership process, to realize the reforms that since 1950 is unable to realize ``If we enter the EU we shall secure advantages three times more than Greece. The largest assistance will come to Turkey. At the European Parliament Turkey will have the largest member group and the problem of unemployment will be solved''.

VAROSHA ISSUE Claiming that in case of an agreement the region of Varosha which is within the ``TRNC'' is the first territory that is envisaged to be given, Turkmen said : On the Varosha issue agreement has been reached with the UN. If you open this area for settlement you will undermine the ``TRNC'' tourism and there will be reaction. You have to forget Varosha, it will go''. When a student intervened by saying `` How could you say we have to forget Varosha when blood was shed for it?'', Turkmen replied: ``First of all blood was not shed for Varosha. We had entered there as though we were going for a picnic. Also the world has changed and we have to develop the vision of peace and culture''.

When another student pointed out that Greece has an eye on Turkish territory, Ilter Turkmen said: If you proposed to Greece to give her Instanbul she will not take it because Instanbul/s population is more than that of Greece. What will she do, to have trouble?

Turkmen further said that tension over the Aegean issue is being reduced step by step and that Greece is not insisting on extending her territorial waters in the Aegean from 6 to 12 miles, she gives the signals that she is content with six miles''.

[04] Talat: Illegal Bayrak and TAK censor the ``opposition'' According to Yeniduzen (28-3-01), Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican

Speaking yesterday at the congress of his party's Karavas organisation, Mr. Talat noted that he and RTP had repeatedly criticised the fact that censorship is being applied against the opposition parties.

He also criticised the leader of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP), Mustafa Akinci, because ``he found out'' about this only when he had been a victim of censorship.

Mr. Talat expressed the opinion that CLP had started to discuss leaving the so-called coalition government only when things went bad. This is not convincing, Talat added.

[05] Vice President of TPP: ``Cyprus` accession to the EU will harm the Turkish national interests''

Talking to the paper's reporter Mehmet Remzi Gokhan, Mr. Saglam alleged that the future of Turkey is in the EU. However, he added that Turkey's accession to the Union could not be bound on conditions relevant to the country's interests and especially to issues like the Cyprus problem and the Aegean. Mr. Saglam claimed that the solution of the Cyprus issue could be found on the basis of the current status quo and the so-called two states which, as he supported, exist today on the island. The Turkish politician expressed his full support to the proposal for confederation in Cyprus, which is the common policy of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

Referring to the rapprochement between Greece and Turkey, Mr. Saglam alleged that it is naive to believe that Greece is sincere and constructive in these relations and added that these relations could not be improved ``by drinking raki in Bosphorous or by dancing syrtaki in Athens''.

[06] Turkish National Security Council to discuss Cyprus tomorrow According to Cumhuriyet (Ankara Edition 28/3/01) the Turkish National

The officials will submit a report to the Council that will outline the international support given to PKK. It will be recalled that the organization has been trying to become politicized for some time now. Furthermore, the NSC will discuss the Cyprus problem and the relations between Turkey and Greece.

[07] So-Called Turkish Cypriot Airlines start flights to Manchester According to KIBRIS (29/3/01) the so-called Turkish Cypriot Airlines (TCA)

The ``Director of Press and Public Relations of TCA'' Inanci Karagozlu said that the flights will be via Antalia in both ways.

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

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