Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-04-26

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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. 78/01 -- 26.4.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Panicos Tsiakourmas/s ordeal comes to an end

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan

[03] Turkish Foreign Ministry Official Declares that Turkey will not comply with the Decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Titina Loizidou

[04] Blue Sea Hotel at Karpass Peninsula to be restored

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat criticizes the Turkish State Minister in Charge of Cyprus Affairs

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Panicos Tsiakourmas/s ordeal comes to an end Illegal BAYRAK TV (26.4.01, 1.00 p.m. local time) has announced that the

However, the so-called court took into consideration Tsiakourmas/s four months in custody, his good conduct while he was under arrest and his monther/s health as well as his family/s situation and decided to set him free.

The Greek Cypriot Panicos Tsiakourmas was abducted by agents of the Turkish occupation regime from the British Sovereign Base of Dhekelia last December when he went to bring Turkish Cypriots whom he employed in his construction works in the free areas.

He was since then held illegally under arrest in the occupied areas and was being tried by an illegal court in occupied Famagusta.

[02] Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan

complaining about the ``hostile speeches'' of the Greek Cypriot political, religious and military leadership. The paper writes that in Denktash`s letter, which has been circulated as a UN document, there are extracts of the above mentioned speeches published in the Greek Cypriot press.

In his letter Mr. Denktash claims that, with these speeches, Greek Cypriots try to make their young people hate the Turkish Cypriots. The Turkish Cypriot leader alleges that slogans like ``Turks, you are going to die before the blue and white flag'' and ``All Turks must be thrown into the sea'' are ``products of a sick mentality which sows the seeds of hatred in the heads of the Greek Cypriot youth''.

Mr. Denktash once again repeats his demands for the resumption of the talks procedure towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. He supports that the efforts to achieve an agreement are blocked because of the so- called embargoes and the fact that ``the Greek side is recognised as the government of the whole of Cyprus''. He asks the UN to intervene for an end to be put to the ``embargoes applied by the Greek Cypriot side'' to the so- called ``TRNC''.

In the letter Mr. Denktash claims that the real precondition for the resumption of the talks is the status of the Greek Cypriot side as a government of the whole island and adds that in case the situation does not change all efforts towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem will be blocked. Mr. Denktash puts once again his demand for ``equal status'' between the two sides. He also repeats that the application of Cyprus to become a member of the EU ``causes a big damage'' to the efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. Mr. Denktash warns the UN Secretary - General that the Turkish Cypriots will be greatly harmed ``if the Greek Cypriot side'' becomes a member of the EU and joins the European security and defence system. Finally, Mr. Denktash calls on Mr. Annan to re- evaluate the situation of the Cyprus problem in the light of the latest developments.

[03] Turkish Foreign Ministry Official Delcares that Turkey will not comply with the Decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of

According to Halkin Sesi (26.4.01), the Director of the Human Rights Department of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Mr Yunus Belet, yesterday delivered a speech on "Current Situation of Relations with the European Court of Human Rights" in the framework of the 40th Civil Administrative Chiefs/ Seminar organized by the Ministry of Interior in Ankara.

In his speech the Turkish Foreign Ministry Official openly declared that Turkey is not thinking of complying with the European Court of Human Rights decision in the case of Titina Loizidou against Turkey.

Mr Yunus Belet said:

"The ECHR took the decision on political grounds about the application of a Greek Cypriot citizen. Therefore, Turkey is not thinking of paying compensation. In fact, it is definitely a political decision in all its dimensions. There is an independent 'state' in Cyprus. This 'state' is responsible for what is going on there. Implementation of ECHR's decision will mean for Turkey to give up many policies. According to the ECHR/s decision, the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' does not exist in Cyprus, and Turkey has influence."

The Turkish Foreign Ministry Official also said that Turkey notified the ECHR that it would not pay the compensation regarding an incident which occurred outside its territories.

[04] Blue Sea Hotel at Karpass Peninsula to be restored

The building, which is near the hotel and is used as carop storehouse since 1900, will also be restored. Dindar stressed that even without support the project will be completed. It is expected that the restoration works will be completed by next summer.

He also added that the storehouse has been leased from the so-called Antiquities and Museums Department for six years at the first stage.

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat criticizes the Turkish State Minister in Charge of Cyprus Affairs

In a written statement yesterday Talat criticized the remarks made by Sukru Sina Gurel that the political and economic structure of the pseudostate must be reviewed. Mr Talat said: "Because of the policy of integration followed for years now both the will and the politics of the Turkish Cypriots have been eliminated."

Talat described the Turkish Minister of State/s remarks unacceptable unless the current political and economic structure formulated with Turkey are being re-examined.

Talat stressed that it is very wrong on the part of Mr Gurel to make statements to the effect that the occupied areas will be turned into a protectorate of Turkey at a time when Cyprus is on a fast course torwards EU membership.

Talat/s statement concludes by supporting a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem based on the principles of federation which will create a new and productive friendship between Turkey, Greece and Cyprus.

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

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