Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-05-22

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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. 95/01 -- 22.5.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ismail Cem: Turkey will have to react if Greek Cypriots accede to EU without solution.

[02] Talat calls for action against Nationalist People/s Movement.

[03] So-called Assembly speaker says that accession to EU will destroy the basis for solution.

[04] UN officials briefed journalists about the Tekogul case at Pyla village.

[05] The pseudostate a heavy burden for Turkey.

[06] Turkish Cypriot wants to return to the free areas with his goats.

[07] Physically Handicapped Basketball tournament to be held in the occupied areas.

[08] Mesut Yilmaz will visit the occupied areas.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Ilter Turkmen Advises Turkey to Find a Realistic Solution to the Cyprus Problem.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ismail Cem: Turkey Will Have To React If Greek Cypriots Accede to EU Without Solution

Cem, who addressed the Political Affairs Committee Meeting, which was held in Istanbul within the framework of theCouncil of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA) Spring Term meetings, referred to the Cyprus problem as follows:

``The Greek Cypriot side is waiting to enter the EU to take an action because it will be more powerful and it thinks that it would easily deal with the situation once it is in the EU. Therefore the Greek Cypriot side has no intention to take a step at the moment.'' He remarked that Turkey will have to give a strong reaction if the Greek Cypriot side enters the EU. ``This is not a threat but a worry. Turkey`s reaction would be very strong and that would not be good for anyone. I support a solution which would be acceptable for both sides. I support the confederation.`` When asked why the Turkish Cypriot side withdrew from the proximity talks, Cem said this was a reaction and that the Turkish Cypriot side thought it would not gain anything from the talks. All Cypriots are now waiting for new parameters for the continuation of the talks and the United Nations is now trying to form a frame to achieve this result, he said.

[02] Talat Calls for Action Against Nationalist People/s Movement According to YENIDUZEN (22.5.01) Republican Turkish Party [RTP] leader

In a written statement he issued yesterday, Talat said that plots based on the so-called Turkish identity and the love of Turkey are being hatched one after the other. He noted that policies based on the national cause are unsuccessful. Noting that those who pursue these policies have been emerging under different names since the 90/s and have openly been threatening the RTP officials with death, Talat also accused Rauf Denktash. Pointing out that the NPM is illegally printing and hanging posters and distributing communiques, Talat accused the police of remaining indifferent to the situation. Criticizing the fact that the leaders of the movement are not disclosed, Talat asked the ``judicial institutions'' to take action on the issue.

[03] So-called Assembly speaker says that accession to EU will destroy the basis for solution

When asked of his opinion on rumours about an increase in the number of incidents in Cyprus in case Cyprus enter the EU, Hasipoglu said, ``Yes, it is true. If the Greek Cypriot side enters the EU unilaterally, this forms the most important factor for destruction of agreement ground in Cyprus, agreement is absolutely removed and two separate states are formed.``

``The reasonable act is to reach an agreement on the basis of two states in Cyprus. There is peace in Cyprus now. However, this is expressed in a very wrong way like `settlement of peace in Cyprus`. What is the meaning of peace? It means that there is no war. The level of prosperity in both communities has increased. This means that there is peace in Cyprus. Several bridges should be set up on the basis of two states in order to reach an agreement. When these are achieved, the real peace comes to Cyprus. Otherwise, even a little flare causes big fire''.

Hasipoglu alleged that the Greek Cypriots have reached the EU as a result of their current level of prosperity and reached the point of entering the EU.

``The Greek Cypriots should give up their desire to own the whole of Cyprus. It is impossible for them to make this desire real while there are Turkish soldiers in the island and we are supported by 70 million Turkish people. Thus, the reality of life is to make the true thing concrete with an agreement. Otherwise, it will be dangerous for both sides, Turkey, Greece and whole world,`` he said.

[04] UN officials briefed journalists about the Tekogul case at Pyla village According to KIBRIS (22.5.01) commander of the UN Police Force Jack Behan

KIBRIS reports that people who are responsible for the security and control of the mixed village of Pyla, held a meeting yesterday with journalists, during which they briefed and answered questions.

The UN officials stressed that the investigations they have carried out to fix the exact place where Tekogul was arrested, remain inconclusive, because some witnesses said Tekogul was arrested within the boundaries of the Pyla village while others claimed that he was arrested outside of the village.

Concluding the meeting a senior advisor to the UN Peace Force Wloden Cibor called ``on both sides/ police force to cooperate with them on all issues''.

[05] The pseudostate a heavy burden for Turkey BIRLIK (22.3.01) reports that during the presentation of the report of the

``Turkey carries a huge burden with the ``TRNC'' not only politically but also economically. Unfortunately, they are used to taking money easily from the Treasury and they continue to do so. They are also in the process of bringing about large scale constructive reforms, with or without the Turks of Turkey''.

[06] Turkish Cypriot wants to return to the free areas with his goats According to AVRUPA (22.5.01) Ramadan Saadetoglu of occupied Myrtou village,

Despite several attempts and applications Saadetoglu made to get his goat herd back, Denktash/s regime refused to even give an answer to him although he is in a very difficult situation.

As a result of this indifference Saadetoglu made an ``application'' to the so-called Foreign and Defence Ministry of the pseudostate and asked for permission and assistance to leave the occupied area with his wife and herd and go and live in his village in the free areas in Androlikou in Akamas, Paphos.

AVRUPA publishes the full text of the letter/application.

[07] Physically Handicapped Basketball tournament to be held in the occupied areas

Teams from Turkey, Israel, Germany (Haidelberg Kircheim), Britain, Poland and the occupation regime will take part in the tournament.

[08] Mesut Yilmaz will visit the occupied areas HALKIN SESI (22.5.01) reports that the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Mesut

During his illegal visit Yilmaz will meet with so-called government and state officials.

He will also be honoured with a doctorate degree by ``Kyrenia American University''. During that ceremony, Yilmaz will deliver a speech on Turkey/s views about Cyprus.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Ilter Turkmen Advises Turkey To Find a Realistic Solution to the Cyprus Problem

``It has been claimed in an article published in Le Figaro on 10 May 2001 that Francois Mitterand, who served as President of France for 14 years, was devoid of any vision. According to the article, Mitterand made serious mistakes with regard to a number of developments such as the unification of Germany, the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the fragmentation of Yugoslavia.

Truly, Mitterand has for a while attempted to move into action together with the Soviet Union in order to prevent the unification of Germany. Mitterand has also tolerated the coup staged against Gorbachov in August 1991 in the same way that a number of farsighted Turkish enlightened intellectuals have done, has engaged in a behaviour that has offended Yeltsin when the latter has visited France, and has had the illusion that he can preclude the fragmentation of Yugoslavia. However, France was not harmed by any of these serious mistakes, because it had a very strong position within the EU and because Mitterand was extremely skilful in making a U-turn from his position.

Truly, the leaders of large countries, particularly the leader of the United States, have the luxury of committing mistakes. Small countries pay the highest prices for the mistakes committed by their leaders. While assessing the article published in Le Figaro from this perspective, I recalled a conversation I held with late Ismet Inonu in 1972. I had then paid him a visit before leaving for Moscow to assume my newly assigned position.

After reprimanding me for my failure to read a newly published book on the Soviet Union, Inonu directed the subject to Cyprus, saying: "You know, I am proud of one thing: I did not send the Turkish army to Cyprus."

At first this statement surprised me, because I found it unusual. However, after a while I made the following analysis: Inonu was doubtful that the Turkish army was capable of carrying out a successful operation. This concern would not have been considered as unjust in 1964 when he was Prime Minister. At the same time, even if the army were to carry out a successful operation in Cyprus, Inonu was concerned about the failure of the political administration to deal with this operation. Inonu was looking at the issue from the perspective of political strategy as an experienced statesman and not from the perspective of tactics.

Do not misunderstand me. This does not mean that Inonu would have opposed the 1974 operation had he been alive then. The Greek government had openly tried in the summer of that year to annex Cyprus. There was no choice other than military intervention. The Turkish army was more prepared compared to 10 years earlier and had gained a major political advantage from the existence of a dictatorship in Greece.

Bulent Ecevit made an appropriate decision that he had rarely had the opportunity to do in his long political life. However, the long-term political results of the military intervention were not properly assessed. While changing the status quo in Cyprus in favour of Turkey, the Peace Operation had paved the way before the return of democracy in Greece.

Meanwhile, Karamanlis, who was perceived as a hero of democracy, prepared the ground for Greece's entry into the EU by benefiting from his own prestige. In other words, while gaining an advantage in Cyprus, Turkey was turning the Turkish-Greek political balance in favour of Greece.

There was a way to prevent this from taking place: Consolidating the military success in Cyprus with a realistic solution without losing any time and applying for EU membership in parallel with Greece's application in this respect. Political vision required that this be done. However, neither Bulent Ecevit nor Suleyman Demirel could perceive this requirement. The important thing for Ecevit and Demirel was domestic politics. Therefore, these two individuals lost a great opportunity.

There is no benefit in lamenting over past mistakes. However, the same mistakes must not be repeated. We have now before us decisions that may decide the fate of Turkish Cypriots as much as they may decide the fate of Turkey. Should there be a failure to find a solution within a short period of time, thus prompting the EU countries to openly express the belief that Turkey is responsible for the situation in Cyprus, you can be sure that south Cyprus will be accepted as an EU member.

At that time, Turkey will have lost a historic opportunity and will pay a deer price for losing this opportunity. Everyone knows that Turkey will not sacrifice the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus for gaining EU membership. In return, we must be aware that we cannot bring about any solution that may be better than a solution that we would have been able to bring about in 1974.

A balanced and realistic solution is needed in Cyprus. Statesmanship and political courage are the two indispensable conditions to bring about this solution''.

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

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