Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-04-30

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

[B] TOYÑÊÉÊA ÊAÉ TÏÕÑÊÏÊÕÐÑÉAÊA Ì.Ì.Å. TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER

No. 80/01 -- 28-29-30

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister referred to Cyprus and Turkey/s Foreign Relations during his party/s Congress.

[02] Mesut Yilmaz: EU decision on Cyprus/ membership will affect ties with Turkey.

[03] Political party headed by Turkish businessman to participate in the elections in England.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] We are moving between the cells and death.

[03] Turkish columnist criticizes Cem/s policy on Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Prime Minister referred to Cyprus and Turkey/s Foreign Relations during his party/s Congress

Referring to Turkey/s foreign relations, Ecevit said: ``The most important step on the path to EU full membership was taken during the 57th government/s period. Three officials came to Ankara on December 11,1999, and invited Turkey to the Helsinki Summit for candidacy. We have taken all necessary steps with a great determination on the path to the EU full membership. We have prepared the National Programme which proved Turkey/s determination for a more sound economy and for better human rights and democracy. The National Programme also includes the most sensitive issues. Its approval is a sign of harmonious work among the three political parties forming the coalition government.

Ecevit expressed the view that Turkey could become a full member of the EU earlier than expected.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, the Turkish Prime Minister said: ``Before the Peace Operation in Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots were living under the threat of genocide. Their rights stemming from international agreements and Cyprus Constitution were taken away from them. Now, there is a free and prosperous Turkish state in Northern Cyprus. And this state is under Turkey/s guarantee. Turkey will continue to assist the TRNC in overcoming its problems''.

[02] Mesut Yilmaz: EU decision on Cyprus/ membership will affect ties with Turkey

In response to a motion submitted to the parliament by Veysel Candan, a deputy of the Virtue Party from Konya, Yilmaz said: ``The Greek Cypriot side and Turkey are in the same position in regard to the EU full membership. Although Turkey has not started full membership negotiations with the EU yet, the Greek Cypriot side is about to finalize the negotiations. Therefore, the Greek Cypriot side is in a more advanced position in the EU candidacy process than Turkey. On numerous occasions, Turkey told its interlocutors that the Greek Cypriot side/s membership to the EU was contrary to the agreement signed in 1960. Turkey stressed that the Greek Cypriot side/s membership to the EU would not make any contribution to peace and stability both in Cyprus and in the region. We will continue to make efforts to this end.''

Yilmaz also said that Turkey urged the EU about possible consequences of wrong steps taken on the issue of Cyprus.

Noting that they did not consider the National Programme a frame in which Turkey/s attitude about Cyprus issue was discussed, Yilmaz said:

``Earlier, we explained our views about the Cyprus issue to the whole world. In the Accession Partnership Accord, the EU said that it expected Turkey to support United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan/s good will mission. We responded to the EU/s expectation in our National Programme within this framework''.

[03] Political party headed by Turkish businessman to participate in the elections in England

The name of the political party is ``Reform 2000'' and it is going to have candidates in three regions of London. However, Mr. Basarik has stated that the number of the party`s candidates would increase.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[01] We are moving between the cells and death In its main editorial ``Letter From AVRUPA'' with the title ``From the Cell to

``We have never doubted that Panicos Tsiakourmas is one of the most kind hearted people in the world. At last he has been set free and regained his freedom after four and a half months of terrible nightmare. With tears in his eyes he crossed to the other side from the Ledra Palace and with mixed feelings he has embraced his loved ones.

These emotional moments, all these which were seen on the Greek Cypriot TV, broke the hearts of every Turkish Cypriot. Some of our compatriots telephoned and shared these moments with us.

We are sure that all those whose hearts are full of love for humanity experienced the same joy that caused Tsiakourmas/s freedom.

Tsiakourmas was set free, but he was unable to enjoy his freedom and be happy.

His mother died yesterday morning. His mother/s death coincided with the court/s decision. Eleni Tsiakkourmas/s heart was unable to hold further. She was seriously sick and was being treated at the Larnaca Hospital.

She died while the court/s verdict was being read. Without seeing her son for the last time. Thus the last curtain fell and the tragedy ended..

A compatriot telephoned and with tears in his eyes said: `Let her rest in peace/.

Of course Tsiakourmas is one of the kind hearted and nice people of this world and the island. Had he not been so he would not have been struggling for the happiness and goodness of other people.

He is also one of the members of the Committee in the south that wages struggle against the use of narcotics.

He is a man who gained the trust and the love of the Turkish Cypriot workers that he employs. On top of these, he has qualities that are difficult to find in every Cypriot. He is a man that can differentiate the good from the bad.

Despite the sufferings he experienced as an innocent person, he stressed the need as soon as he was set free, that all the Turkish Cypriots should not be considered bad.

He is not turning personal wickedness and evil against the Turkish Cypriots. How man of us have this quality? Tsiakkourmas is out of the cell. He was able to be present at his mother/s funeral.

From the claws of a nightmare to the dead mother/s coffin. Here it is:

This is our tragedy in Cyprus.

We are moving between the cells and death.

The heavy price of the dirty political interests is paid by everybody alone.

If as Cypriots, we do not free ourselves of our fears and stupid ideals and wage the struggle for a humane living on this island, then tragedies like the one experienced by Tsiakourmas, will never end.

We have written Tsiakourmas/s tragedy in the annals of our history which is full of sorrow.

You too write it''.

[70] Turkish columnist criticizes Cem/s policy on Cyprus In a commentary in YENI SAFAK (27.4.01) with the title ``DLP Congress: Damage

The text of the commentary is as follows:

``Is anyone curious about the ``General Assembly'' of the Democratic Left Party (DLP) ? The DLP is prime minister/s party. However, it is not Turkey/s leading party. It does not have a future. This is evident by the fact that the prime minister, who will be 76 years old this year and whose participation in another election is quite unlikely, is ``reluctant to hand over'' the party to anyone.

The peculiar point is that nobody is singled out as ``DLP/s number two''. Husamettin Ozkan cannot be regarded as DSP/s ``number two''. He is ``DLP/s Rasputin'' and ``Ecevit/s shadow''. If Ecevit is not there, he is not there either. It is said that he controls one-third of the ``DLP grassroots''. What importance does it have? At the moment, the DLP is so distant from reaching the ``barrage'' in any public opinion poll that, in case of an election, it is impossible for the DLP to enter the parliament. What is the significance of being in control or not being in control of one- third of the grassroots whatever DLP/s grassroots mean of a party that was reduced in size to this extent and that is detached from the public.

Despite the fact that the DLP has no ``future in being in power'' and that it has no ``organizational future'' after Bulent Ecevit, there are some who are getting ready to replace Ecevit. The first person and it is believed that he will be able to get a ``visa'' from Rahsan Ecevit to this purpose is State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel. Another person, who does not have the same chance but who regarding the ``Cypriot falcon'' state minister as his rival adopts a policy of ``acting like a falcon'' with regard to the Cyprus issue, and who is after the immature dream of being the ``DLP leader'', is Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

Sharp observers linked the unbelievable statement he made in Cyprus last week to the DLP General Assembly, more accurately to calculations regarding the ``post-Ecevit'' period and to his ``secret rivalry'' with Sukru Sina Gurel. Ismail Cem shows that he plans to move ahead with the ``support of the media'', since he does not have the chance to play around with Rahsan Ecevit. Therefore, what he did last week in Cyprus, which was in a manner incompatible with the seriousness of a foreign minister, caused a grave ``political damage''.

Perhaps, the public failed to notice the damage Cem caused because of Turkey/s incredible chaotic agenda. However, this was carefully noted in many capitals of the world. ``Damage'' regarding Cyprus in Turkish foreign policy was noted down in the outside world, since the world takes the title of ``Turkish Foreign Minister'' seriously, in spite of the person that holds this title and despite the fact that the Foreign Minister/s political ambitions go beyond the seriousness of the office he holds.

At the press conference he convened in Nicosia together with Rauf Denktash Ismail Cem made threats that were directed at the European Union. He stated that should the Greek Cypriot Administration be accepted to EU membership representing Cyprus ``this would be a victory for the Greeks, that Turkey/s reaction would not be limited, that all sides would be damaged and that both Turks and Greeks would suffer''.

Why?

Was his purpose taking into account the DLP General Assembly to act like a ``falcon''? If this was the case, utilizing foreign policy for party- related calculations is an inexcusable irresponsibility. It is necessary to see that this is not different from the principle of ``not using the economy for political purposes'' that Kemal Dervis pointed out.

If his statement is Turkey/s ``Cyprus policy'' there is no other stance that can harm Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots more.

When Turkey was accepted as a candidate for EU membership in Helsinki, in 1999, it consequentially accepted the Helsinki decisions. With reference to the Aegean issue it was pointed out in these decisions that ``maximum effort should be exerted to resolving the issues regarding the borders within the framework of UN principles. It was also suggested, if the issue cannot be resolved within this framework, the ``disputed parties submit an application to the International Court of Justice'' and it was stated that ``a settlement be reached until the end of 2004''. The year 2004 is the date when the EU plans to realize its ``expansion'' and it is almost certain that Cyprus will join the EU on this date.

What if it is not resolved?

Non-solution will not be an obstacle to EU membership. Paragraph 9 (b) in the Helsinki decisions states as follows to this effect: ``The Council underlines the fact that reaching a political solution will facilitate the accession of Cyprus to the European Union. If a solution is not reached until the talks regarding the accession are completed, the Council/s decision regarding the accession will be made without considering it as a precondition. In reaching a decision, the Council will take into consideration all the relevant factors''.

Denktash stopped exerting efforts toward a political solution. He walked out of the discussion table. Abandoning the idea of a ``federal Cyprus with two sections and two communities'', which Turkey supported for years and which the international world eventually began to view as a ``parameter for the solution'', Denktash insists on with Ismail Cem/s support the unrealistic and impossible idea of a ``confederated Cyprus composed of two independent states''. With this conduct, he is step-by-step drawing the Greek Administration near to the EU while he is drawing the Turkish Cypriot people away from himself and nearing them to the Greek Cypriot Administration. The young generation of Turkish Cypriots is leaving the island. According to figures given by the `TRNC Education Ministry/ , while the rate of ``brain transfer'' was 20 percent in 1998, this number increased to 25 percent in 1999 and to 30 percent in 2000. Who knows what figure it will reach following Turkey/s ``export of crisis'' to the `TRNC/.

The farthest point this policy can reach would be Ismail Cem/s telling off the EU. Particularly, when Turkey is trying to find money in the West in order to surmount the ``economic crisis''.

The sole comfort in this policy, which is harmful to this extent to the national interests, is the fact that it along with the DLP as well as Ismail Cem does not have a political future in Turkey''

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

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