Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-04-23

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. 75/01 -- 21-22-23

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish journalist criticises Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, noting that 90% of the Turkish Cypriots support the accession of Cyprus to the EU.

[02] Ertugruloglu says he had ``useful contacts'' in Israel and Palestine.

[03] YENIDUZEN says that the Cyprus problem is the only condition for some of the G-7 and EU member states to give financial aid to Turkey.

[04] One thousand five hundred and four persons carry guns in the occupied areas.

[05] Tourism to the occupied areas down by 11.5% during January-February 2001.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Mehmet Ali Birand: The most important political decision to be taken by Turkey by 2002 will involve the Cyprus problem.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish journalist criticises Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, noting that 90% of the Turkish Cypriots support the accession of Cyprus to the EU

Guven notes that Mr. Cem`s statements were not exactly what the public opinion both in Turkey and the occupied Cyprus wanted to hear.

Noting that Mr. Cem`s threats for annexing the pseudostate to Turkey were supported only by the 7 % of the Turkish Cypriots, ``Radikal`s'' writer stresses that 70 % of the inhabitants of occupied Cyprus are against the non-solution.

``Reaction, reaction, reaction. Is this the vision of Turkey regarding Cyprus?'', he wonders, underlining that Cem`s visit to the occupied areas was a reaction to the visit by the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou to Cyprus last month.

According to Mr. Guven, the USA, the EU and the international community are at least expecting from the sides in Cyprus the resumption of the talks, the process for a solution to begin and after that accession of the island as a whole to the EU.

``The most important is that approximately 90 % of the Turkish Cypriot community wishes the accession to the EU, with or without Turkey'' adds Mr. Guven admitting that Turkey is not on the island for the sake of the Turkish Cypriots but to protect her own economic, political and military interests.

``However'', he adds, ``Cyprus is on the top of the problems which Ankara has to solve on her way towards the EU, in addition to solving her economic problems and normalising relations with Greece''.

``However, the Foreign Minister, who is above all responsible for solving this problem, is still talking about reactions and especially reactions which most of all will harm Turkey'', he concludes.

[02] Ertugruloglu says he had ``useful contacts'' in Israel and Palestine According to ``KIBRIS'' (22.04.01), the so-called Foreign Affairs and Defence

In statements at illegal Tymbou airport, Mr. Ertugruloglu said that the ties he had built during his stay there ``would have a lot of benefits'' for the pseudostate.

Mr. Ertugruloglu noted that he had talked about the Cyprus problem at two Israeli and two Palestinian universities, making known the views of the Turkish side.

[03] Yeniduzen says that the Cyprus problem is the only condition for some of the G-7 and EU member states to give financial aid to Turkey

It is reported that especially Germany, England and Canada do not look positively on the matter of helping Turkey.

According to ``Yeniduzen'' the above mentioned edition of ``Cumhuriyet'' was not given for distribution in the occupied part of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot newspaper says that in a relevant article in the paper ``Financial Times Deutschland'' it is noted that Germany stressed to the Turkish Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, that she is ready to grant financial aid in case Turkey takes some political decisions.

[04] One thousand five hundred and four persons carry guns in the occupied areas

YENIDUZEN (21.4.01) refers to an article published by KIBRIS newspaper on 26.12.97 according to which permission for carrying guns was given to 502 persons that year. YENIDUZEN writes that the majority of the persons with permission to carry guns are from the National Unity Party and the Democratic Party. During the NUP-DP ``coalition government'' 502 persons got permission to carry and possess guns. Meanwhile, during the NUP-CLP ``coalition government'' Akinci granted permission for carrying guns to 104 persons.

[05] Tourism to the occupied areas down by 11.5% during January-February 2001 KIBRIS (22.4.01), under banner headlines ``A misfortune in tourism'', writes

During the period January-February 2001, 24,431 tourists visited the occupied areas as compared to 27,235 tourists in the same period in 2000, scoring a decrease of 11.5%.

According to the so-called under-secretary responsible for tourism Bulent Kanol, tourism from the Turkish market was hit since November 2000 because of the devaluation of the Turkish Lira. Kanol suggested certain measures such as the reduction of air fares, the organization of conferences and seminars or even advertisements in the press in order to attract tourists and overcome the economic crisis.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIAS

[06] Mehmet Ali Birand: The most important political decision to be taken by Turkey by 2002 will involve the Cyprus problem

If, during the next few months Turkey draws the necessary lessons from the road accident it has suffered and starts implementing the reforms which have become inevitable, the country can declare itself to be ``a lucky country being governed by competent people''.

Today, everything depends on the people governing the country. The latest economic crisis has been a costly experience. But it has given extremely important messages to everybody. These messages must be received and digested and whatever is required must be done.

Birand stresses that despite the problems it is facing the current coalition Turkish government is very lucky because a significant part of the media continues to support the coalition. And there is no substantial, effective opposition in Parliament or outside it.

It seems that - provided that it does not create a fresh crisis or become entangled in unwarranted quarrels - the government is being ``doomed'' to ``remain upright'' whether it wants to or not. It seems that it has been ``assigned'' the task of governing the country until 2004.

The steps to be taken by a government in such an advantageous situation will ensure that Turkey will ascend to the First League, clearing the country/s path and making it the rising star of the region in the 2000s.

If only those governing the country would not render difficult the problems which could easily be solved. If only they would trust themselves and the people.

The moment it manages to solve the few basic problems it has, Turkey will achieve the long-awaited ``take-off''. And the top priority issue is the relations with the European Union.

The steps to be taken until 2004 will either change the country/s future entirely or cause the country/s entire accumulated experience and potential to be wasted.

During the period between now and 2002 the most important political decision to be taken by Turkey will involve the Cyprus issue.

Cyprus must not be an obstacle for Turkey in the international arena. Especially, it must not block the road leading to Europe.

The level reached in relations with Greece indicate quite clearly that the Aegean has been turned into a ``calm sea'' and that there will be no return to the tense periods of the past. This is the best time to benefit from this climate by taking steps forward on the Cyprus issue. But in this area not only the Turkish side but the Greek side too must be stirred into action.

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