Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-04-04

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 64/01 -- 4.4.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Hasipoglu: Cyprus more important due to oil pipeline.

[02] Reactions to Papandreou/s idea for demilitarisation of Cyprus.

[03] Ankara said to find Greek proposals on military spending, Cyprus `Not Serious/.

[04] No money-No trip to Cuba for ITU.

[05] Talat on peace festival.

[06] Occupation regime does not allow Turkish Cypriot cartoonists to come to the free areas.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Cem/s talks in Washington analysed: US said looking for new leaders in Turkey.

[10] Shener Levent criticizes the pseudostate/s and Turkey/s policy about the illegal workers.

[13] Avrupa says that northern Cyprus is under occupation.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Hasipoglu: Cyprus More Important Due to oil pipeline According to BIRLIK (4.4.01) the so-called Parliament Speaker Ertugrul

Speaking at a conference (3.4.01) Hasipoglu said the Turkish Cypriot side should be strong both politically and economically.

Drawing attention to Cyprus` geostrategic location, he said there was no nation called ``Cypriot`` that lived on this island throughout history.

He said that Cyprus became more important due to the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and this is the reason why Britain still keeps military bases on the island and has assurances that the bases will remain there if the island joins the EU. However, Britain does not accept the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots which is an important indicator of the balance of interests in the world.

So-called ``prime minister'' Dervis Eroglu said that for 37 years the Turkish Cypriots were denied international human rights and the right to determine their future.

Eroglu indicated that isolation and sanctions have been used to pressure people to make concessions and claimed that there were two separate nations in Cyprus.

The agreements are violated by the Greek Cypriot side which wants to destroy the Turkish Cypriots, Eroglu said. He indicated that the U.N. Security Council on March 4, 1964 declared the Greek Cypriot government legal and thus approved an illegal act.

The ``Turkish Cypriot people continue to live a sovereign existence under the guarantee of Turkey but they also fight against the illegality which lasted 37 years,`` he said.

Eroglu alleged that the Greek Cypriots were trying to obtain, what they couldn`t obtain through arms, through EU membership today. Eroglu explained the reasons that led to the Turkish Cypriot withdrawal from the talks.

He said the so-called ``TRNC Cabinet'' decided on Nov. 20, 2000 that the U.N. Secretary-General`s views could not form grounds for negotiations and announced its decision to withdraw from the talks after the Turkish president and Mr. Denktash had a meeting in Ankara. Turkey is determined to protect the Turkish Cypriots national interests, Eroglu said.

[02] Reactions to Papandreou/s idea for demilitarisation of Cyprus According to MILLIYET (4.4.01) former ministers, diplomats, politicians and

MURAT KARAYALCIN (Former Turkish Foreign Minister). At first sight the disarmament proposals appear to be attractive. This issue, should be evaluated within the settlement parameters and settlement equilibrium. If we take into consideration what happened in the past, I am unable to answer positively. They have time and again asked Turkey to make gestures, and this is interpreted as partial troop withdrawal from the island.

I had opposed this, why should Turkey make the gesture? Why the goodwill gesture will be realised through troop withdrawal?

MEHMET ALI TALAT (Leader of the Republican Turkish Party in Cyprus). I wish Papandreou/s proposal were towards the settlement of the Cyprus problem. If the problem is solved Cyprus will be demilitarised. To say ``let us demilitarise and then find a settlement'' is tantamount to putting the cart before the horse. The demilitarisation proposal was put forward earlier by Clerides. It is an impractical proposal. It does not augur well with Cyprus/s realities.

ILTER TURKMEN (Former Foreign Minister and retired Ambassador) There are certain parameters, which have surfaced during the negotiations. One of them is disarming the island. The new state which will be established will not have its own army. We have no objection to that disarming. But the picture that appeared until now, the Treat of Guarantee and the Treaty of Alliance are still valid. There will be a certain number of Turkish troops in the north and a certain number of Greek troops in the south.

Also the state of Cyprus will have its own army, I do not think that we will object to this. Demilitarisation will be part of the settlement, that is, under the new status that will be established, Cyprus could be demilitarised. Papandreou in his proposal did not mention the content of the demilitarisation. I have understood he is speaking about demilitarisation at the settlement stage. At the settlement stage this could be done, it would be very good.

Prof. Dr.Resat Ozkan (retired under Secretary) Presenting the issue under this title is a very shrewd method. One has to think why the troops are in Cyprus. They want to say: ``Withdraw your troops from there''. What will happen if we demilitarise? How would you defend your rights there? First a bicommunal, two-state settlement should be realised. This proposal is full of traps. Greece ``is trying to corner Turkey, by creating the impression ``I favour a settlement in Cyprus''.

Prof. Er. Eser Karakash (Bahcesehir University) We welcome all kinds of proposals towards a settlement. Saying ``this is a Greek position, this is a Turkish one'' is another thing. However, the status quo, is harming both Turkey and Cyprus. Let us expand those proposals that are directed towards a settlement. It is necessary to lend support to all kind of efforts except the existing status quo - towards a settlement. Whether these efforts reach a settlement or not, we have to move. Turkey needs this. We have to respond to Papandreou/s views. One should not say ``This is the Turkish thesis, that/s it and reject other ideas''.

[03] Ankara Said To Find Greek Proposals on Military Spending, Cyprus 'Not Serious'

Papandreou's remarks to Turkish journalists in Athens triggered a broad response in Ankara. His statement included two interesting proposals:

the reduction of military expenditure and Cyprus' demilitarisation. Although Papandreou's statement was described as positive in general, these two proposals were deemed not serious.

A high-level Turkish Foreign Ministry official, in a statement to NTV, recalled that on the question of reducing military expenditure, Turkey does not have only a Greek front. The same officials pointed out that Greece is a neighbour of European countries, while Turkey has neighbours such as Iraq, Iran, and Armenia. Diplomatic sources, in turn, noted that the Greek Foreign Minister's proposal pertaining to Cyprus cannot be taken seriously and is unacceptable as far as Turkey is concerned.

Meanwhile, preparations are continuing for Papandreou's impending visit to Ankara on 6 April. The Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers will review the developments in bilateral relations. It is reported that some time ago Turkey submitted a proposal to Greece on the issue of the prevention of double taxation, on which a agreerment has not been reached yet.

Papandreou is expected to respond to this proposal during his meeting with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

[04] No money - No trip to Cuba for ITU KIBRIS (4.4.01) reports that the so- called Assembly decided yesterday at a

[05] Talat on peace festival KIBRIS (4.4.01) reports that the leader of the Repubilcan Turkish Party

In a written statement, Talat wrote that the presentations in the festival were very meaningful and that the Turkish Cypriots were not lacking in anything from the cultural point of view.

[06] Occupation regime does not allow Turkish Cypriot cartoonists to come to the free areas

The paper writes that when the Turkish Cypriot cartoonists had applied to the so called authorities for permission, the answer they received orally was that this ``was not favourable''.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS Column by Mehmet Ali Birand in ``Istanbul Posta'' and ``Turkish Daily News'' (3.4.01).

[09] Cem/s talks in Washington analysed: US said looking for new leaders in Turkey

In what is considered an exceptional reception, Dervis and Cem were provided with an opportunity to meet with the most influential figures in the Bush administration (Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Chief National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Treasury Paul O'neill) within a very short period. Political observers in Washington say that this unusual treatment has stemmed only from the extraordinary situation in Turkey. Commenting on the level of appointments and contents of the meetings, experienced observers stress that Washington wanted to demonstrate the importance it was attaching to Turkey, and to underscore the need for a reform in the Turkish political system, and to launch a search for finding new names to lead political parties, particularly the DSP [Democratic Left Party]. It is frequently stressed in Washington that the United States believes Ecevit era has ended.

Washington has clearly demonstrated that it is backing Dervis, but it has no trust in the coalition parties and their cadres.

Cem's meeting with Vice President Cheney, who is described as the "de facto president", was a very significant event, the observers point out.

The United States last week reiterated once again that it was still seeing Turkey as its "strategic partner", and that it was desirous to maintain strategic ties with it, according to the same observers. The Bush administration, the observers said, also listed its expectations from Turkey.

Turkey's economic situation

- Turkey should no longer sustain its economy by borrowing. It must complete its reforms, and build the government on leaner lines, and withdraw from the economy.

- Turkey should repay at least a part of its debts from its own resources. Foreign aid should be expected only after these steps have been taken.

Political system

- Turkey must carry out its political reforms without further delay, and break open its paralyzed political system (this actually means a reformation of the whole system, particularly through enactment of a new political parties law), and observe commonly-shared values of 2000s (human rights, democracy), and solve its internal problems, especially the South- east Anatolia question, which are blocking its path.

Turkish and American observers, whom I spoke with in Washington, said the White House, by using its unique ceremonial and communication language, has displayed that credibility of Dervis and Cem was much higher than that of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit or other leaders.

"Washington is searching for a new leader just like the Turkish society. Of course, the final decision will be made by the Turkish people, but the Bush administration feels that there is a significant urge for a transformation in the country. At present, Dervis and Cem are highly favored in Washington. The Bush administration is clearly anxious because Ankara has taken no steps regarding the Kurdish issue. It was the United States which has ensured that PKK [Workers' Party of Kurdistan] leader Abdullah Ocalan could find no shelter in Russia and Europe, and that he was caught and extradited to Turkey. In return for this gesture, it is expecting Turkey to take steps that would alleviate this problem. The US administration is deeply concerned because there has been no progress in neither the Kurdish question nor the Cyprus issue or in any other outstanding problem," said an expert, who closely follows US-Turkish relations.

Foreign policy Contrary to expectations, it seems that Washington has made no surprising foreign policy overtures to Ankara during Cem's visit.

My conversations with well-informed American and Turkish officials indicate that the talks centered on the following topics:

European Army NATO's contribution to the proposed European army dominated Cem's talks in Washington. Although the US administration finds Turkey's concerns justifiable, it describes the Turkish general staff's persistence on joining decision-making mechanisms as an "exaggerated demand." It sees the possibility of a Turkish veto in the NATO as "a step that could undermine US-European Defence Cooperation." What is suggested is that the Turkish General Staff should soften its stance and the issue should be solved before the NATO's forthcoming summit meeting in Budapest.

It seems that Turkey will either adapt a more flexible approach or maintain its veto at the cost of challenging the United States as well.

Cyprus: The United States shares the same opinion with the EU on this issue, which was mainly discussed between the two delegations, rather than between the ministers. It believes that Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktas must return to the negotiating table. Otherwise, Washington warns, the Turkish side would not have a just cause to defend, and the EU would be obliged to admit the southern part of Cyprus as a member. According to Washington, this might inflict an irreparable damage on Turkish-EU relations, and cause Turkey to be seen as a country keeping a part of EU territory under occupation. Denktas should resume the talks even if he dislikes the ideas presented to him, and maintain his struggle in the negotiating table. The United States does not favor an agreement that would envisage cessation of the Turkish Cypriot government, and will lend necessary support.

AEGEAN DISPUTE: It was not taken up in the talks.

Iraq: Turkey's suspicions have been dispelled. Cem was clearly told that the United States would not formulate a policy on Iraq excluding Turkey. Washington believes that the Iraqi opposition will not be able to put up a strong resistance to Saddam. Therefore, it has no expectation from Turkey. The Turkish delegation welcomed this assurance.

Azeri-Armenian summit: Washington is aware of the fact that there is no easy solution to this dispute. The Turkish delegation outlined problems that the US administration could encounter. The United States asked Turkey to persuade Azeri President Heydar Aliyev.

Middle East - Balkans: The United States expressed its satisfaction that Turkey's general role in the Middle East is aimed at facilitating resolution of the problem. It particularly urged Ankara to use its influence on Yasir Arafat.

Ismail Cem did not raise Turkey's expectations for foreign aid, leaving it to Dervis. However, he emphasized that Turkey could lose its influence in the region unless it found fresh funds it badly needed.

In short, a series of meetings, which served as a forum for exchanging a variety of messages, have taken place.

[141] Shener Levent criticizes the pseudostate`s and Turkey's policy about the illegal workers

The editor of Avrupa (4.4.01), Shener Levent, criticizes the policy of Turkey and the pseudogovernment on the issue of the illegal workers. In his regular column ``Angle'' under the title ``Shadows'', Mr. Levent refers to a letter which the so- called assistant consul of Turkey has sent to the director of the ``Fergun Navigation Company'', in order to take without payment some Turkish citizens from the occupied Kyrenia harbour to Turkey. Mr. Levent says, among other things, the following:

``...This is the way these things happen. They come from Turkey. At the customs some of them are given permission to stay for five days, others for three days and some of them for ten days. However, no one stays here only for the period they are allowed to. They move around and perhaps they find a job and work illegally. They go around for months and years in the paradise of the illegals. When the time for their return comes, they do not even have a cent in their pockets. They do not even have the money for their tickets. Furthermore, no one asks them how they lived for such a long period of time. The Turkish Embassy puts a paper in their hands and sends them to the harbour. In the harbour registers one could find at least the names of five - ten people who travel like this, without paying. In this way the State does not even take the 7 million tax which is always charged on every ticket. ...''

The Turkish Cypriot journalist refers also to the Turkish businessmen Ali Avni Balkaner, Murat Demirel and Dinch Bilgin who have been arrested in Turkey for conducting illegal businesses. Levent writes about this matter:

``How did they manage to do so much business in our country? As it has been confirmed in Turkey, the three of them have been using `Northern Cyprus` as their base. A lot of money belonging to the three of them has come to their off-shore companies here and left again. Have the security authorities here not noticed this at all? I wonder if the poor Tsakourmas is the only one we could arrest ...''

[177] ``Avrupa'' says that northern Cyprus is under occupation According to ``Avrupa'' (04.04.01) the northern part of Cyprus is under

occupation and 3/4 of it is a military zone surrounded by wires. The journalist of ``Avrupa'', Kazim Denizci, in his column ``From the inside of life'', under the title ``Tortures and Occupation'' refers to the tortures a few days ago that some Turkish Cypriots were submitted to at the Morfou so called ``police station'' by officers who come from Turkey. Mr. Denizci says, inter alia, the following:

``...The torturer, they say, is captain Kazim. I do not know form which part of Anatolia he and others who torture the people of that area came from. Today he is captain. As police promotions here are not given according to someone's success, but according to his place of birth, soon he will be a major and after a while he will become the police commander in Nicosia, Kyrenia, Morphou, Karpasia etc. After that he will be the General Director. We shout loudly to the world that this country is ours. Who believes us? On the other hand the 3/4 of our country are a military zone surrounded by wires....''

Mr. Denizci refers also to an incident which happened on the night of 24th of March when Turkish soldiers turned their rifles towards a Turkish Cypriot who had to get off his car to fix it when it broke down on a road in Kermia area of occupied Nicosia.

``...There is a road called Kermia - Dereboyu. ...There no safety for someone 's life on this road, because if someone`s car brakes down or has a flat tire he may be shot dead. This is the reason for which we say that every part of our country is under occupation. Our economy, our culture, our lands, our roads, our streets, all parts of our country are under occupation. ...Our army is not ours, our police is not ours, our banks are not ours, our radios and televisions are not ours. They have taken everything we had. ...''

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

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article