Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-05-18

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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. 93/01 -- 18.5.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Media speculate on new NUP-DP so-called ``coalition''.

[02] The Turkish Foreign Minister repeats that there will be no limits to Turkey/s reactions if Cyprus joins the EU.

[03] Turk-Sen leader says reaction to ECHR is damaging to Turkey.

[04] Izcan comments on ECHR decision and critisizes Denktash and Turkey/s policy on Cyprus.

[05] Turkish Cypriots called to apply to the ECHR.

[06] So-called Foreign Minister describes the ECHR decision as entirely political.

[07] Sukru Sina Gurel: US Assessment on Cyprus more realistic than Europe/s.

[08] Old traditional arched style houses at Rizokarpasso under restoration.

[09] Abdulhaluk Cay and Aytug Plumer comment on the Cyprus problem and Nagorno Karabah.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Columnist in Turkish Daily News writes that as a result of the ECHR decision Turkey will either withdraw from the Council of Europe or solve the Cyprus problem.

[14] Turkish Cypriot columnist says that Rauf Denktash and Bulent Ecevit are loosing their power.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Media speculate on new NUP-DP so-called ``coalition'' According to KIBRIS (18.5.01) the uncertainty in the occupied areas with

Mustafa Akinci, CLP leader, has said that there have been no new developments with regard to the issue, and added: "We are waiting for the NUP."

Akinci called on his partner Dervis Eroglu, UBP leader and so-called prime minister, to explain the statement he made on Wednesday which created ambiguity with regard to the continuation of the so-called coalition.

The occupied area/s media have been reporting that the NUP-CLP ``coalition'' will be dissolved and that the NUP will form a new ``government'' with the Democratic Party.

[02] The Turkish Foreign Minister repeats that there will be no limits to Turkey/s reactions if Cyprus joins the EU

``Some circles should not fall into the error of expecting even a slight change in Turkey`s foreign policy on account of the money they lent. However, we have not seen even an indication so far,`` he said.

Addressing the Parliamentary General Assembly as a response to Oya Akgonenc, a deputy from the Virtue Party (FP), Cem said that Turkey cannot be just an onlooker toward a mistake like acceptance of Cyprus/s European Union (EU) membership. Cem said: ``In such a situation, we do what is necessary to protect the interests of Turkey and the ``TRNC''.Besides, what we will do does not have a limit.``

Cem said that there were hints that Turkey was late in democratization but it was trying to overcome those deficiencies on its own will.

Noting that the EU brought the issue of making use of NATO`s capabilities to the forefront regarding the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI), Cem said: ``If the NATO will give such an opportunity to the EU, it should protect the rights of non-EU allied countries like Turkey.``

``There has been a considerable development in our relations with the EU. Now, the ball is in our court. Two financial issues were solved as a result of our talks with the commission for enlargement. We were asking a 450 million U.S. dollars of project loan from the Special Action Fund and we obtained it. Turkey reached the point of receiving 450 million U.S. dollars. The European Investment Bank has a 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of source allocated to candidate countries. This is the cheapest loan in the world. Turkey`s private sector or state had the opportunity to get these funds by bringing their projects,`` he said.

[03] Turk-Sen Leader says Reaction to ECHR is Damaging to Turkey According to KIBRIS (18.5.01), Turk-Sen [Federation of Turkish Cypriot

Turk-Sen leader Onder Konuloglu yesterday issued a written statement saying that the statements made by ``officials'' that they do not recognize this decision, that it is invalid, and that it is not binding on Turkey are wrong. Charging that the decision does not include an article directly connected with the state of a non-solution or with the Cyprus negotiations as claimed by some, Konuloglu said that those who criticized the decision were unable to prove it wrong.

He noted that the irresponsible statements made by Turkish officials with regard to the issue have placed Turkey in a difficult position, adding that the ``TRNC officials'' have gone so far as to defy the entire world. He concluded by saying that this stand is dragging both the Turkish Cypriots and the Turks toward an impasse.

[04] Izcan comments on ECHR decision and critisizes Denktash and Turkey`s policy on Cyprus

According to Avrupa (18.5.01), Mr. Izcan noted that with this decision, the ECHR condemned the status quo in Cyprus and the false democracy, which exists in the northern occupied part of the island. Mr. Izcan expressed also the view that the decision is an official proof of the bankruptcy of Turkey`s partition policy in Cyprus.

``You cannot go anywhere by telling lies to the world looking it into the eyes, by calling democracy a military regime and by blatantly violating the most basic rights and freedoms of the people'', stressed Mr. Izcan reminding that more than half of the Turkish Cypriots have left Cyprus.

The Turkish Cypriot politician said, inter alia, the following:

``...As PUM we are calling on the administrators in Ankara and tell them: As it was shown in the last elections, the great majority of the people do not see Denktash as their representative and speaker. The public opinion polls show that the people support the federal solution and are against the union with Turkey. Furthermore, the public opinion polls show that the people want accession to the EU with a federal solution and do not want Cyprus` accession process to be delayed. The fact that the people who live in Northern Cyprus are trying to get passports of the Republic of Cyprus, proves that opinion polls are correct. The only way out is the federal solution which will be found through negotiations within the framework of the High Level Agreements. The interests of the peoples of Cyprus, Turkey and Greece dictate this''.

[05] Turkish Cypriots called to apply to the ECHR According to KIBRIS (18.5.01) the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Association,

In a statement Isik criticized the latest decision of the ECHR against Turkey and called on the Turkish Cypriots to open a case at the ECHR against the Greek Cypriots ``for what they have suffered since 1963''.

[06] So-called Foreign Minister describes the ECHR decision as entirely political

Ertugruloglu also said that so long as the current stand continues, then those who have adopted that stand will be responsible for the outcome that such a stand might produce. He concluded: ``Viewing the Turkish Cypriots as their hostage would be the gravest mistake they might commit. The Turkish Cypriots are not weak and without an alternative, the entire world should understand this. It is impossible for the Turkish Cypriots to renounce their justified cause just because the international community is on the wrong track. Taking into consideration every possibility, we will continue to defend our just cause. The ECHR decision is not based on a legal foundation, it is an entirely political one. They have disgraced themselves''.

[07] Sukru Sina Gurel: US Assessment on Cyprus More Realistic Than Europe/s According to HALKIN SESI (13.5.01) Sukru Sina Gurel, Turkish State Minister

Gurel said that during his contacts he conveyed the message that the decision adopted by the European Court of Human Rights [ECHR] is political and not a judicial one. He further alleged that the decision ignores various fundamental realities and that Turkey launched the 1974 invasion as one of the three guarantor countries. He noted that accusing Turkey of violating human rights by forgetting these fundamental realities is an extremely unjust assessment. Gurel continued: This is a decision that ignores a political organization, a state composed of some 200,000 persons. Claiming that the ``TRNC'' is a reality on the island even if it is not recognized, Gurel stressed that a decision to be reached without taking into consideration this reality will not be legal and realistic.

[08] Old traditional arched style houses at Rizokarpasso under restoration KIBRIS (18.5.01) reports that the works for the restoration of the old

The historical houses will be used as administrative buildings, writes the paper.

[09] Abdulhaluk Cay and Aytug Plumer comment on the Cyprus problem and Nagorno Karabah

At the same meeting, the so-called representative of the pseudostate in New York, Aytug Plumer noted that he did not expect a solution to the Cyprus problem soon. Mr. Plumer said also that they expected UN the Secretary - General to ``put new parameters on the table, accepting the existence of two peoples in Cyprus''. He also expressed the known Turkish view that Cyprus could not be accepted in the EU before Turkey`s accession to the Union.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[10] Columnist in Turkish Daily News writes that as a result of the ECHR decision Turkey will either withdraw from the Council of Europe or solve the

In a commentary in the column "OPINION" of Turkish Daily News (17/5/01), with the title: "Let's panic!" Gunduz Aktan writes:

"The case opened by Cyprus on May 10 has been concluded by the European Court of Human Rights.

The verdict comprises six parts. In the introduction, the Court refuses to recognise the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" as the respondent, as it is an illegitimate entity in the law of states. As Turkey has an effective control on northern Cyprus with its military presence, the country is being held responsible for the policies and actions of the "TRNC". It is being maintained that it is only Turkey's military presence that enables the "TRNC" to survive. In contrast to this, the Cyprus government is recognized as the only legitimate government on the island. Even though it did not attend the trial, Turkey is being stated as the respondent to Cyprus' accusations.

The second chapter concerns "missing persons". Claims that Greek Cypriots and Greek dead from the Turkish military intervention of 1974 are still in our hands are being left to one side. However, Turkey is being condemned for failing to adequately look into the fate of those missing (Article 2) and of keeping silent on the matter, thus treating the families and friends of the missing "inhumanely" (Article 3).

In the third chapter on the topic of the property left behind in the north of the island by displaced Greek Cypriots, it is stressed, just like in the Loizidou case, that Article 1 of the first Protocol was continuously violated. In contrast to this, allegations that Turkey is not giving permission for Turkish Cypriots to use their property in the south of the island are not adjudicated.

In the fourth chapter, the court comes to the conclusion that the Greek Cypriots living in Karpas in the north are being discriminated against on matters of religion and education.

Chapter five does not see the need to pass judgement on claims concerning the right of "displaced Greek Cypriots" to hold general elections. In chapter six, there is the Cyprus government's request, as the only recognized legitimate state on the island, to see an end to the violations of the rights of its Turkish and Gypsy citizens in the north of the island. The Court does not take into account allegations regarding the Gypsies. Turkey's putting of the Turkish Cypriot civilians on trial in military courts is found to be in violation of the concept of a fair trial (Article 6).

During the Loizidou case, the Court had been criticized for taking respondent not "TRNC" but Turkey and thus acting politically. The "TRNC" has fulfilled all the legal conditions in order to be considered a state. That the Turkish army has helped facilitate this makes no difference legally. Consequently, even if not recognized politically, the "TRNC's" legal responsibility needed to be recognized. The Court is trampling over these basic rules of law.

In this way, the Cyprus government finds itself recognized by the Court to defend the rights of the Turks in the north. Yet, the Cyprus government does not have sovereignty in the north. Furthermore, the Court while condemning the "TRNC" on fair trials, leaves aside the Greek Cypriot allegations that the Turkish Cypriots, who oppose the regime, have had their rights and freedoms of association, assembly, arbitrary arrest etc. violated, thus implicitly recognizing as democratic the regime of the "TRNC". All these contradictions can only be found in a politically based verdict.

The dissolution of the founding constitution of the treaty by the Greek Cypriots, the crimes against humanity committed against the Turks over 1963- 74 and Turkey's availing itself of its right to intervene as afforded by the Cyprus treaties, thus putting an end to all this, remains outside the Court's jurisdiction. But the court, which could not take into account the causes of today's situation, sees that it only has the authority to pass judgement on the outcome produced by these causes.

Those who think that a break by the Court from the law would not create problems in the future are more than likely thinking: "It is not as if there will be any more incidents like Cyprus among the members of the Council of Europe.

We would not be compelled to use such a jurisprudence of political nature." The court, which formed a theory based on the Loizidou case that the property rights of the Greek Cypriots who had moved south were continuously being violated, is making this practice more widespread through this verdict. Just as with the missing persons and the violation of the rights of the Greeks in Karpass, the matter of property also requires large amounts of compensation to be paid (Article 13). It is known that Turkey is not going to pay this. In which case, we can envisage us withdrawing from the Council of Europe. Or fixing the Cyprus problem...

Everything is being geared up towards the huge bargaining that will take place in 2002. You can start panicking as of now."

[103] Turkish Cypriot columnist says that Rauf Denktash and Bulent Ecevit are loosing their power

According to Turgut Afsaroglu of Avrupa (18.5.01), the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash and Turkey`s Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, are loosing their power and the influence they used to have on the people and the media. In his regular column ``Frankly'', under the title ``Where is the old Denktash?'', Mr. Afsaroglu writes, among other things, the following:

``...I would never imagine this. Where is the old Denktash who used to drag after him Turkey`s media, only with a single word? Where is Denktash today who even himself does not believe to what he says? The same disappointment is happening in Turkey with Ecevit. ... It is sad, but true. Denktash`s policy went bankrupt. His performance is getting lower. In the last elections two people in every three did not vote for him. Even his faithful supporters both in Cyprus and in Turkey have abandoned Denktash. Tens of thousands of our people are about to rebel. The slogans `Dervish resign` and `Denktash resign` are heard in the roads. Both in Cyprus and in Turkey all are considering Denktash responsible for the failure. And Denktash has lost. ...''

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

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