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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-04-05Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 65/01 -- 5.4.01[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Sezer: Cyprus entry in EU a block to solution HALKIN SESI (5.4.01) reports on the Turkish President/s visit to Amsterdamwhere he also referred to Cyprus. Saying that Turkey supports the good-will mission under which the UN Secretary-General started to find a fair and long-lasting solution to the Cyprus question, Sezer said that these efforts will continue.He said that ``it is a reality that the efforts of the Greek Cypriot side to become a member of the European Union (EU) without finding a solution to the problem will make difficult the solution process and it will negatively affect the balances in the East Mediterranean. In this respect I want the EU to take this point into consideration in the membership negotiations of the EU with the Greek Cypriot side''. [02] Ecevit on Papandreou/s ideas According to Istanbul/s NTV (4.4.01), assessing Greek Foreign MinisterPapandreou/s proposals, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said: ``Certain circles in Turkey and, at times, certain media immediately become hopeful.Whereas, these proposals should be studied carefully. For one thing, there are no changes, no positive developments concerning the Cyprus issue at the moment. It is however, evident that our relations with Greece are developing positively. We are happy that we have established a dialogue.'' [03] Turkish Diplomatic Sources on Possible ``Greek Cypriot'' Accession to EU Anatolia News Agency, citing diplomatic sources, reported on 4.4.01 that thepossible membership of the ``Greek Cypriot'' side to the European Union (EU) is seen as the most important mine that stands in front of the Turkey- European Union (EU) relations.Diplomatic sources said that the possible membership of the Greek Cypriot side is a problem, as Turkey had determined its target is to start full membershp negotiations. Saying that the Greek Cypriot side is in the first wave in the enlargement process of the EU, the same sources pointed to the danger of the Greek Cypriot side/s becoming one of the full members of the EU towards the end of 2003. Officials said that if Turkey can/t catch up within the period of 2006-2008 when the other candidate countries will join the EU as full members, Turkey can lose its importance. ``This membership can cause a chaos in Turkey-EU relations or can create an opportunity. The most important mine in the relations is this issue. The mine will either explode on someone, or we will render it ineffective. If it explodes, the relations of Turkey with the West and the EU will be affected by that'', officials said. The same sources said that the possibility of the Greek Cypriot side/s not joining the EU as a full member is a very weak possibility, adding that if this membership comes true, Turkey can integrate with the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Greece can veto the enlargement of the EU if the Greek Cypriot side is not accepted in the EU. [04] Turkish Foreign Ministry Defence Expenditure KIBRIS (5.4.01) reports that Huseyin Dirioz, the spokesman of theTurkish Foreign Ministry, said (4.4.01), that the main reason for Turkey`s defence expenditures is not Greece, but its regional position.When a reporter reminded him about the statement of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou about the mutual reduction in purchase of weapons, Dirioz said, ``Papandreou/s words were uttered in a good way. These are declarations which reflect the new threat perceptions of Greece which we consider positive. Turkey/s geographical position and that of Greece are not similar. The main reason for Turkey/s defence expenditures is not Greece, but its regional position. Besides, this is an issue which should be evaluated by our military authorities.'' When asked about how they evaluate Papandreou`s proposals on the demilitarisation of Cyprus, Dirioz said that they consider the security and guarantee system on the island, including the number of soldiers deployed on the island, as one of the elements of a final solution. Dirioz noted that it is early to talk about this issue at a period when a comprehensive solution on Cyprus is not close. ``We are against the EU membership negotiations of the Greek Cypriot administration from the very beginning,`` Dirioz said. Reminding reporters that Turkey has announced its stand on every opportunity since 1990, Dirioz said, ``the application of the Greek Cypriot administration on behalf of the whole Cyprus does not have any legal base. Also, a negotiation process which ignores the equal and sovereign ``TRNC'' will cause problems. Good relations between Turkey and Greece can have a positive effect on the Cyprus question. But, it should be known that the Cyprus question is not an issue which is taken up in the bilateral level between Turkey and Greece.'' He noted that the negotiations related with the dialogue process will be reviewed during Papandreou`s visit to Ankara. Dirioz added that the issues which the inter-parliamentary delegations are discussing are the initiatives related with the EU process and the level that the confidence-building measures have reached. [05] Turkish Housing Minister in Cyprus.According to KIBRIS (5.4.01) Turkish State Minister Responsible for HousingFARUK BAL is to arrive in the occupied area this afternoon for contacts. KIBRIS reports that Bal, is going to meet Turkish Cypriots and inspect housing projects. He will visit occupied Varosha as well. A high level delegation from the Housing Administration is going to accompany Bal. Faruk Bal will leave the occupied area on Saturday. [06] Ergun Olgun, said the European Countries refuse to adopt confederation proposalAccording to KIBRIS (5.4.01) the so-called presidential undersecretary of the pseudostate, Ergun Olgun, has said that because the European Countries refuse to adopt the confederation proposal, the chance of establishing a confederation in Cyprus is being lost.Olgun made this statement in Berlin during a meeting with Ozcan Mutlu, a deputy of German/s Green Party at the Berlin State Assembly. Olgun said that he was returning from a conference in Canada on Cyprus, that Canadian experts said that there is a lack of trust , solidarity and mutual cooperation between the sides in Cyprus. [07] Turkish Cypriot fisherman/s economic woes ``The Turks can go fishing, but it is forbidden for us.The fish that comes from Turkey, goes to southern Cyprus''.The devaluation hit also Turkish Cypriot fishermen. Fisherman Zekeriya Bozdag talked to newspaper (AVRUPA, 4.4.01) about his problems: ``I have been a fisherman for years. Three years ago I bought a trawler, , mortgaging my house. Then the ``government'' put a stop to fishing with trawlers'' so I put aside my boat. I couldn/t sell it, because nobody would buy it. I could not pay my debts. The bank sold my house. I remained without a house. I was left with my shop and my car. Now I have to rent a house. Because of the devaluation, new fishermen appeared on the scene. Some fishermen from Pyla are buying fish which is being caught either in Turkey or in the occupied areas and sell it in the free areas. Last week the price of a kilo of fish was 6 million TL but now it is 8,5 million TL. The fishermen from Pyla buy first and second quality fish, transfer it to Pyla, and from there they sell it to the free areas. They make a good profit from this job because they take money in Cypriot pounds. We have to pay ``taxes'' and ``VAT'' to the ``state''. We have to pay ``electricity, water and professional taxes''. But those who take the fish and sell it in Pyla, do not pay taxes, or VAT. They do not even pay ``custom taxes''. On top of all this, there is also the problem of fishermen from Turkey. It is forbidden for us to trawl but not for the Turkish fishermen. These fishermen come from Turkey and for them there is no punishment or restriction. Due to this situation, I am confused about what to do. What shall I do? Emigrate, steal, or commit a crime?'' [08] Rise in price index KIBRIS (5.4.01) reports that according to an announcement of the so-calledState Planning Bureau, the Consumer Price Index for March 2001 increased to 13.3% compared to 5.9% in February 2001.This is mainly due to increases in the price of basic goods and services. [09] 3,500 Turkish Cypriots are about to emigrate to AustraliaAccording to ``Halkin Sesi'' (5.5.01), in the next few days 3,500 Turkish Cypriots are going to emigrate to Australia. Invoking reliable sources, the paper says that the 3,500 Turkish Cypriots have already taken their visas and are ready to leave.``Halkin Sesi'' reports that within the past week 10,711 Turkish Cypriots appealed for visa to the Australian authorities, which replied positively to 3,500 people. The Australian authorities will secure jobs and houses to the emigrants, writes ``Halkin Sesi'', adding that some of the families which are about to emigrate are waiting for the school vacation so that their children could go with them. [10] Erkmen: ``The time will come, when Azerbaijan will recognise the TRNC''According to ``Birlik'' (5.4.01), the so called representative of the pseudostate to Azerbaijan, Ayfer Said Erkmen, has said that he was sure that some day Azerbaijan would recognise the ``TRNC''. Speaking to the ``Express'' newspaper of Azerbaijan, Mr. Erkmen noted that Azerbaycan could at least send a representative to the pseudostate.Mr. Erkmen said that there are 65 students from Azerbaijan in the so called universities in the occupied areas. There are also about 400 Azeri workers in tourism and construction, he added, stressing that the relations between ``the two countries'' must be co-ordinated. [11] Turkish Cypriots continue their protestAccording to ``Yeniduzen'' (5.4.01), yesterday the Administrative Council of the PEYAK bank Depositors placed a black wreath in front of the office of the so called Prime Minister, Dervish Eroglu, protesting for the pseudogovernment`s not keeping its promises to the depositors.The president of the Council Suleyman Guclu said that the pseudogovernment was not sensitive about the problems of the depositors, adding that if this insensitiveness goes on the depositors will organise a massive protest on April the 13th. According to ``KIBRIS'', yesterday another protest was organised by the Turkish Cypriot ``Public Servants`'' Union (KTAMS). Eleven members of the Union, who were wearing black robes, protested about the financial situation in the occupied areas, in front of the offices of the so called prime minister. 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 |
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