Cyprus PIO: Turkish News and Other Media, 01-07-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Belgium EU Presidency insists on Denktash/s return to the negotiating table.

[02] So-called Finance Minister returns to the pseudostate from Crans-Montana.

[03] The occupation authorities prevented the Turkish Cypriot journalists from attending a UN reception.

[04] Illegal visit of IMA students to the occupied areas.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Columnist of AVRUPA criticizes the so-called «Speaker» of the pseudoparliament.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Belgium EU Presidency insists on Denktash/s return to the negotiating table

Belgium is the current president of the EU/s rotating presidency and Mr. Louis Michel said he paid his first visit in that capacity to Turkey indicating the importance attributed to relations between Turkey and the EU.

Responding to questions of reporters following his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Michel said that they had discussed the Cyprus problem during his meetings in Ankara.

«I have told my colleagues that finding a solution to this question is very important and we insist on the return of Mr. Denktash to the proximity talks under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. This is the best way for the solution of the problem», he said.

Diplomatic sources told A.A correspondent that the Cyprus issue was discussed in interdelegational talks, and the Turkish side conveyed the confederation thesis in a detailed way.

Upon the message of Michel that talks should start in Cyprus, Ankara recalled that it supported the good will mission of the U.N. Secretary-General, adding that the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side in this respect was known, and that the attitude of the EU gained importance at this stage.

European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI) issue was brought on the agenda during the lunch that was hosted in honour of the guest minister. The Turkish side pointed out that its attitude regarding the issue was clear, and stressed that NATO countries should make a decision to this end.

Foreign Minister Cem told the guest minister that Turkish-EU trade relations should be balanced as they developed against Turkey.

Foreign Ministry sources evaluated Michel's visit as a pleasing gesture. Michel paid his first visit to Turkey immediately after Belgium took on term presidency of the EU.

Michel gave the message that the Cyprus problem should be solved before membership of the Greek Cypriot administration to the EU, A.A. reports.

[02] So-called Finance Minister returns to the pseudostate from Crans-Montana

According to the paper, Mr. Bayram met, among others, the Syrian Transport Minister with whom he discussed matters which concern fishing, the «violations» of the so-called «territorial waters» of the pseudostate by fishermen and the problem of the illegal immigrants abandoned at the coasts of occupied Cyprus.

In Crans-Montana, Mr. Bayram met also the Turkish Economy Minister, Kemal Dervish, whom he invited to the pseudostate in order to see the situation of its economy.

[03] The occupation authorities prevented the Turkish Cypriot journalists from attending a UN reception

The newly appointed UN Peace Forces Spokesman Mr. Brian Kelly organized a reception in order to meet with the Turkish and Greek Cypriot journalists.

The newspapers, except Yeniduzen, Ortam and Avrupa, publish the same article writing that at the reception Turkish and Greek Cypriot journalists were present. Ortam, under banner headlines "One more insult"writes that their journalists were prevented from participating in the reception.

Yeniduzen, in its front page under headlines: «Journalists ill-treated at the checkpoint", writes that the Turkish Cypriot Press was invited to UN's reception. When they informed the so-called Foreign Affairs Ministry and the so-called Information Office about the reception, they got the following answer from the "Director of Information Office" Sabahattin Egeli: "The permission is O.K, just show your press card". When the journalists went to the checkpoint, the occupation policemen treated them in a humiliating manner. The "policemen" kept asking them: "Where are you going? What is the purpose? Why is this reception being given? Who gives this reception?"

The reception began at 12.30 p.m. and most of the journalists left from the checkpoint at 1.00 p.m. because it was too late. At 1.15 p.m. the permission came. So, very few journalists attended the reception after all.

Avrupa writes that the purpose of the reception could not be achieved because some Turkish Cypriot journalists were forced to wait for 45 minutes by the occupation regime's so-called police.

[04] Illegal visit of IMA students to the occupied areas

The group, which consists of 117 students and is accompanied by major Yavuz Yilmazoglu, will remain in occupied Cyprus for four weeks.

The future officers were welcomed during a ceremony in occupied Kyrenia. Among the participants in the ceremony were the Commander of the occupation army, Sukru Sariisik and the so-called «mayor» of the town, Erdinc Gurcag.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Columnist of Avrupa criticizes the so-called «Speaker» of the pseudoparliament

«If these fellows (Tr. note: Mr. Hasipoglu and those who think like him) had a problem with their intestine, we would find a medicine to suggest to them. However, the strange thing is that they are weak in the head. Hasipoglu has been very hard with the president of the Council of Europe's Migration, Demography and Refugees Committee: `If you use the expression occupied areas I will not allow you to enter the TRNC`, he said. Very well. What about us, who have been saying for years the following: `The Northern Cyprus is under occupation! The TRNC is nothing but a shadow game of an occupation regime! The Turkish Cypriots are ruled by the hawks of Turkey with all its administrative mechanism being under a military authority! `

What are you going to do to us? Banish us from these lands. After all, isn't there a voluntary migration phenomenon going on as a result of the pan Turkism policies? At least make this openly! Instead of saying to us `if you don't like it, go`, you could put us in a plane and send us away. Our suitcases are ready and we are waiting for you. ...

As a result of the isolation policy, today the Turkish Cypriots are worth nothing in the world. They could go nowhere without a visa. When they want to go, even the calmest people get furious because of the humiliating behaviour they face. While the world has closed its doors to us and does no regard us as human beings, Hasipoglu tells them `I will not let you in the TRNC`. Hey, what difference does it make whether or not he will come to your place of ruins? But truly, the attitude of a politician like Hasipoglu, who always says that the Turks have no other friend except from themselves, could not be different. ...»

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