Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-06-21

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Dirioz: Ankara content with Kofi Annan/s initiative.

[02] Denktash on Koffi Annan/s effort to bring sides together.

[03] Denktash: Complaints against UNFICYP.

[04] Yilmaz tells European Parliament Commission: No concessions on Cyprus.

[05] Akinci in favour of rapprochement.

[06] Egyptian Editor visits the pseudostate.

[07] 2000 brochures distributed by KAMU - SEN at ILO`s Conference.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Dirioz: Ankara content with Kofi Annan/s initiative

[02] Denktash on Koffi Annan/s effort to bring sides together.

[03] Denktash: Complaints against UNFICYP

The Turkish Cypriot leader noted that officials of the Austrian and Slovak contingent, had asked permission from the occupying «authorities» for the helicopters of the UNFICYP to fly over the occupied areas in order to participate in an activity. The permission was not given because they do not treat equally the two sides, alleged Mr. Denktash, claiming that the Slovak government officials have asked the permission of the pseudostate before theirs soldiers` arrival in Cyprus.

«We gave them permission and told them to write this in their report. However they did not mention it because they are afraid of the Greek Cypriots», added Mr. Denktash and concluded by saying that the Turkish side will not accept the behaviour of the Austrian and Slovak state officials «who treat the Greek Cypriot Administration as the legal Government of Cyprus for 38 years».

[04] Yilmaz Tells European Parliament Commission: No Concessions on Cyprus

Yilmaz delivered a speech at the European Parliament Foreign Relations Commission. (20.6.01)

When some parliamentarians said: ``Turkey is blackmailing by using Cyprus, has taken Cyprus hostage, and occupied the island``, and claimed, ``there is only one Cypriot state,`` Yilmaz reacted, ``there is a state in Northern Cyprus whether it is recognized or not. When Galileo Galile said that the world was turning around the sun, nobody believed him.`` ``We want a fair and lasting solution in Cyprus. However, I understand here that we do not agree with each other even on the origin of the problem,`` he said.

Giving information about what Greek Cypriots had done in the past and their responsibility for the current situation on the island, Yilmaz said, ``our Greek friends should give up their desire to make the Turkish Cypriot community a minority. We will never accept it. We will never accept Cyprus` European Union (EU) full membership under these conditions.``

``Putting pressure on Turkey is not a good method. Such pressures will not be effective. Turkey`s attitude on the Cyprus issue is clear. Ankara wants a fair and lasting solution on the island. The Greek Cypriot side`s efforts to join the EU will not facilitate the solution of the problem. On the contrary, the Greek Cypriot side`s membership will pave the way to extremely negative developments. In accordance with the agreements, Cyprus cannot join an international institution to which both Turkey and Greece, the guarantor countries, are members,`` he stressed.

Yilmaz added that a solution could only be reached on the island by providing equal rights to the two communities.

Yilmaz said, ``Turkey has been experiencing the most serious and complicated crisis of its history. During such a period, Turkey approved the National Programme. Also, it has been making important reforms.``

``We have prioritized works to improve the economic situation in Turkey. We have started implementing a new economic programme approved by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Important changes will occur by the end of the year,`` he said.

Responding to criticisms about partial and conditional lifting of the capital punishment, Yilmaz said, «I am personally opposed to the death sentence. There are opinions in the coalition government which are in favour of keeping the capital punishment in the penal code in cases of warfare and terrorism».

European parliamentarians criticized the situation in prisons in Turkey. They wanted Turkish officials to set up a dialogue with prisoners. European MPs also expressed their concerns about the closure of the Virtue Party (FP).

Enneko Landabrou speaking at the meeting on behalf of the EU Commission, said that Turkey`s EU accession process was continuing under the same conditions as the other candidate states.

Noting that they had been monitoring the economic situation and developments in Turkey, Landabrou said the Turkish government was determined, and that measures taken by the Turkish government would be beneficial for relations between Turkey and the EU.

Claiming that the general situation on human rights was causing concerns, Landabrou said that Turkey should expend intense efforts to improve the situation.

Saying that there were differences between the National Programme submitted by Ankara and the Accession Partnership Accord prepared by the EU, Landabrou said that there were some deficiencies in Turkey`s National Programme, and added that the document was welcomed in general.

Tight security measures have been taken in and around the European Parliament building. Supporters of the terrorist Revolutionary People`s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) had earlier entered the hall and staged a protest during a meeting at the European Parliament Foreign Relations Commission in which Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem was in attendance.

Yilmaz was scheduled to meet with Guenter Verheugen, the EU Commissioner for enlargement, later in the day.

[05] Akinci in favour of rapprochement

After the meeting, which was organised by the Slovak Embassy in Cyprus, the Slovak Ambassador Mr. Dusan Rosbora, read a brief communique which said that Greek and Turkish political party leaders or officials met and discussed the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and exchanged views on various issues. It further said that during the meeting the leaders and the representatives discussed the necessity of the practical measures that are aimed at securing rapprochement between the two communities.

Mr. Rozbora announced that the next meeting is going to be held on 5 September 2001 at 10:30 a.m.

After the meeting, Communal Liberation Party leader Mustafa Akinci, who took part in the meeting made a statement to the journalists. Akinci said that the aim of these meetings was not to take the place of the negotiations carried out by the leaders of the two communities. However, he added, whatever the name of a settlement, the two communitie, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, will have to live on the island and at this point the political parties, coming from the people, will have a very important role to play. «For this reason even from now, the parties should get to know each other, should know each others/ views, should exchange views on various issues. To this effect these contacts are not harmful, but beneficial. With this understanding the work being carried out now it is very useful». Akinci said that at the meeting the EU issue was discussed. He said that they have explained in detail the problems which might be created and what should be done to overcome it «if the Greek Cypriots join alone the EU. Akinci went on to say that, in the coming days practical measures regarding the rapprochement of the two sides will be on the agenda. However, he did not elaborate on what these measures will be. Akinci noted that Cyprus has two owners and that these meetings were very useful.

[06] Egyptian Editor visits the pseudostate

During his visit to the offices of KIBRISLI, the Egyptian journalist said that he supports a solution of the Cyprus problem based on the principals of equality and general moral principles.

[07] 2000 brochures distributed by KAMU - SEN at ILO`s Conference

Mr. Kozok, who participated in the conference as a member of the Turkish delegation, yesterday returned to the occupied areas.

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