Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-08-16

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash: 'Turkey Will Not Leave Cyprus'

[02] Work Under Way To Increase Exports To Turkey, Third Countries

[03] UHH Explains Principles, Aims; Denies Being Opposed to EU

[04] Denktash continues his intransigent stance

[05] Left-Wing Weekly on National Security, Says Region-Centered Policy Approved

[06] Cyprus: Salih Cosar Proposes New Economic Growth, Prosperity Program

[07] Turkey: Justice and Development Party Founded, Erdogan Among Founding Members

[08] Fazil Plumer, one of the first Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus, has died

[09] Pseudostate`s debt to Turkish heath institutions increases

[10] Businessman warned by the so-called «police» that he will be murdered

[A] News Items

[01] Denktash: 'Turkey Will Not Leave Cyprus'

Denktash was meeting with Turkish occupation generals Necdet Ozel and General Abdullah Atay, whose mission the occupied area has ended.

Denktash said that the Cyprus question is not only an issue limited to saving Turkish Cypriots but also it is an issue which has security and geopolitical dimensions.

Denktash alleged that the ``Turkish Cypriots were aware that they would be in mass graves now if Turkish soldiers had not come to the island. Today he claimed, "The Greek Cypriots are trying to force Turkish soldiers who prevented massacres to depart from the island. Our nation is aware of what will happen if you leave the island like they are aware what would have happened to them if you had not come to the island. ``

Turkish Cypriot people need the guarantee and security ensured by Turkish soldiers, Denktash noted.

Denktash claimed that the Greek Cypriots who are more than 500 thousand people. were a threat against them

[02] Work Under Way To Increase Exports To Turkey, Third Countries

Pointing out that a "decree", dated August 7, 2001, which was prepared according to the "Trade Agreement" signed between Turkey and the occupied area in 1998, was a milestone in the struggle of the occupied area's economy, Cosar said difficulties in exporting of TRNC goods to Turkey and the third countries would be overcome with the decree.

Cosar said the "decree" would also help the solution of marketing, adding that, ``we will extend every kind of support to producers according to incentive regulations. `` Cosar said the details of the decree would be completed in September, noting that he would brief about the decree on August 17.

[03] UHH Explains Principles, Aims; Denies Being Opposed to EU

In a speech at the meeting, Taner Etkin claimed that the NPM holds national awareness based on democratic union and solidarity above everything else. He noted that the NPM disclosed its principles and aims the day its foundation declaration was issued. "Our aim is to protect our unity and solidarity and to bring prosperity to the Turkish Cypriot people", he added. Claiming that the Turkish Cypriots waged a great struggle until they achieved what they have today, Etkin said: "Today, we observe that there are differing views. Our aim is to make our youths aware of these views." Etkin explained that the approach of certain known circles and persons who wanted to exploit the economic difficulties, created the need for the establishment of the NPM.

Etkin asserted that the NPM is not opposed to the EU's principles, adding: "We are opposed to the stand of the EU officials who consider the Greek Cypriot Administration to be the owners of the whole of Cyprus. At the end of a political agreement, Cyprus can become a member of the EU at the same time as motherland Turkey."

Taner Etkin announced that the NPM will hold its first congress on 9 September with the participation of Rauf Denktash

[04] Denktash continues his intransigent stance

Speaking in the occupied Vouno village on the occasion to mark the 27th anniversary of the second phase of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus which continued on Wednesday, Denktash claimed that the current economic problems in the occupied area should not be a pretext for taking some wrong steps. He claimed ``I do not give in to their demands at the negotiation table. My duty is to resist until they see the reasons, and to speak the truth. I don't deceive my people. We don't surrender this state to anybody at the negotiation table just because there are economic problems".

[05] Left-Wing Weekly on National Security, Says Region-Centered Policy Approved

"The target of the controversy Motherland Party Leader Mesut Yilmaz created over national security has come to light. Turkey's relations with its neighbors were the main reason for the dispute. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit informed the representatives of the newspapers in Ankara on Monday, 6 August, that Turkey's concept of national security was updated during the latest National Security Council meeting. The new concept called for the improvement of Turkey's relations with its neighbors. In other words, it called for the adoption of a region-centered foreign policy. That is why Mesut Yilmaz said, "We will either decide to follow Saddam Hussein's direction or move on the EU path."

According to the policy that was established by the NSC, Turkey decided to improve its relations with the foreign countries, particularly with its neighbours, as a reaction to the pressure that was put on it by Europe and the United States. The assessments that were made by the NSC and the General Staff underlined the importance of Turkey's decision.

"A New World Will Be Established"

The departments affiliated to the NSC discussed the approach Turkey should adopt if Europe and the United States maintained their pressure on Cyprus and the Kurdish problem. The assessments that were made recalled former Prime Minister Ismet Inonu's reaction to former President Johnson's letter to Turkey on Cyprus. They quoted Inonu as saying, "A new world will be established and Turkey will take its place in it." The adoption of a region-centered foreign policy was included within the concept of national security as a result of their assessments.

The concept of a region-centered foreign policy was first included in the Government program shortly after 28 February 1997. As the first step, Turkey's relations with Iraq were improved. Similar steps were taken to improve Turkey's relations with Syria and Iran later. The NSC discussed Turkey's relations with its neighbours during its latest meeting.

Turkey promoted its diplomatic relations with Iraq to ambassadorial level, regardless of Washington's objections. Furthermore, it disclosed that it will view the declaration of a pro-US puppet state in northern Iraq as casus belli and decided to open a second border gate between the two countries. Ankara played a leading role in the disruption of the US embargo on Iraq. Turkey took significant steps to have flights to Iraq, which were suspended since 1991, resumed. Furthermore, it concluded agreements with that country worth millions of dollars. Meanwhile, the train services also were resumed between the two sides. They were suspended for 20 years. Turkey and Iraq reached an agreement in principle on the sale of natural gas. Similar steps were taken to improve Turkey's relations with Iran. Turkey cooperated with that country to improve security between them. The two countries closed down the camps that operated against each other in their territory. Former Minister of Interior Sadettin Tantan visited Tehran to hold talks on regional security. Meanwhile, the joint committee the two countries established on security, resumed its work. The Deputy Interior Ministers of the two sides now meet in Tehran and Ankara every six months. The pertinent Interior Ministry directors and military officials convene every three months. The two countries continue to cooperate on natural gas. The Turkish and Iranian officials disclosed that the two countries want to increase the volume of trade between them.

Turkey and Syria achieved significant progress in improving their relations. It will be recalled that their relations suffered because of the problems that existed between them since 1980. The water problem is about to be solved. First, a GAP [Southeastern Anatolia Project] delegation visited Syria. The Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister visited Turkey later. The Syrian Minister of Irrigation is expected to arrive in Turkey during the next few days. Meanwhile, President Bashir al-Asad is expected to visit Ankara.

Turkey took significant steps to improve its relations with Russia and the PRC in 2000. Although it is a NATO country, it joined a different military alliance for the first time to establish the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Force. Russia is one of the members of the alliance. In addition to establishing trade relations with that country, not to mention the agreements it concluded with it to improve security, Turkey concluded agreements with the Central Asian Republics in the struggle against fundamentalism, terrorism, and drug trafficking in accordance with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's basic principles.

The concept on national security, on which Mesut Yilmaz created a controversy, was revised during the latest NSC meeting in accordance with the requirements of the region-centered foreign policy. The Council decided on 25 July that Turkey's relations with its neighbours should be improved. The decision meant that the principle of region-centered foreign policy should be included in the concept of national security. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit disclosed to the journalists when he met them that the concept of national security was broadened and updated. That is why Mesut Yilmaz said, "We will either decide to follow Saddam Hussein or move toward the EU."

The document on national security is said to be made up of 100 pages. The decision to improve Turkey's economic and political relations with the Middle East countries was added to it.

The NSC meeting focused on Turkey's joint projects with Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. It drew attention to the importance of projects that will enable Turkey to buy natural gas from Egypt, transport and use Syria's natural gas, buy natural gas from Iran, and open a second border gate on its border with Iraq. The meeting underlined the importance of the promotion of Turkey's trade and improvement of its economic and political relations with the neighbouring countries.

The report that was published in Hurriyet on the meeting failed to disclose all the decisions that were added to the NSC document on Turkey's policy and security. The newspaper only said that the NSC decided that "the assessments Turkey made in connection with its neighbours in the past should be maintained."

[06] Cyprus: Salih Cosar Proposes New Economic Growth, Prosperity Program

The so-called Council of Ministers convened under Dervis Eroglu yesterday and assessed the issue of the economic measures to be taken in the light of the report submitted by the Technical Committee.

In a statement before the meeting, Salih Cosar said that they would discuss whether or not to implement the economic stability program, and whether or not such a program exists. He then distributed a statement to the press containing his stand and views on the matter.

Asked if this indicates a problem in the pseudo government, Cosar replied that there is no problem, that it is the press that is asking whether or not there is a stability program, and that this is why he was issuing a statement explaining his views. He stressed that the pseudo government pursues a transparent policy and consequently he was expressing his views clearly on how he is thinking of solving the problems.

A reporter recalled that Salih Cosar would explain his views on restructuring the economy to the so-called ministers and asked so-called Prime Minister Eroglu to comment. Eroglu said that he earlier announced that in the wake of the devaluation, certain changes would be made in the economic package. He said that efforts are being made to revise the economic program in light of the banking crisis and the devaluation and that the so-called Council of Ministers would assess these efforts. Since part of the economic package was implemented in the past, he said, it is not right to say that the program does not exist at all.

A reporter recalled that the rate of the US dollar has been rising and asked if there would be price hikes on goods imported with foreign currency, particularly fuel oil. Eroglu said that the price of fuel was now automatically indexed but that price hikes were not on the agenda. He affirmed that the rising price of the dollar was hurting the economy, but that he would not comment on that seeing how certain press reports and comments in Turkey caused a speculative rise in the price of the dollar there.

Cosar's economic proposal aims at placing the regressing economy back on track and increasing the prosperity level of the Turkish Cypriots. The statement distributed by Cosar to the press says that the occupied area is going through its most major economic crisis and that the first aims are to solve the problem of the bank depositors, to support the farmers by means of loans, and to open the Turkish market to Turkish Cypriot exporters. Cosar says in the statement that progress has been made in opening the Turkish market to the exporters and that positive developments are being expected soon for the solution of the depositors' problem. He notes that some of the economic measures announced earlier could not be implemented after the February crisis. For example, he adds, the development tax cannot be levied, the price per cubic meter of municipal water cannot be raised to one million Turkish Lira, the student scholarships cannot be cancelled, public borrowing cannot be stopped, and the agricultural insurance fund cannot be liquidated in six months.

In his statement, Cosar asserts that for the economy to gain a more rational structure, economic growth is needed, and for that, production must grow and exports must be encouraged.

Cosar says: "I am sure that the observations of the Turkish technical team that was here at the beginning of the month are in line with what I have been saying. We have always been united with Turkey in our ideals. We are united in our ideals now and we will be united in our ideals in the future."

The so-called Council of Ministers met for about 90 minutes. No statement was made after the meeting.

[07] Turkey: Justice and Development Party Founded, Erdogan Among Founding Members

The reformist movement headed by Recep Tayyip Erdogan became an official party today. The petition concerning the founding of the party and the founders list was officially submitted to the Interior Ministry. Retired Ambassador Yasar Yakis headed the delegation, which submitted the petition. The name of the party is Justice and Development Party.

There are 73 members in the founders council. Erdogan's name is among the founding members as well.

In a short statement after the petition was submitted, Yakis said that this party should not be compared to past and present parties. It will be a party unique to itself and open to a wide range of sectors, Yakis added. Interior Ministry secretary general Huseyin Aksoy, in turn, said that the Interior Ministry officially approved the Justice and Development Party the emblem of the new party is a "light bulb".

[08] Fazil Plumer, one of the first Ministers of the Republic of Cyprus, has died

The 87 year-old Fazil Plumer became the first Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources after the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960. He was also member of the first Cypriot Parliament.

He was born in 1914 in Nicosia and graduated from the English School and the Turkish High School. He studied Law in Turkey and in England. He has two children. His son Aytug Plumer is the so-called representative of the pseudostate in New York and his daughter, Gulden Plumer Kucuk is the president of the Undergraduate Women's Association.

According to KIBRIS, the memoirs of the late Plumer are going to be published in about one month. He wrote the book with the assistance of Ahmet Gazioglu, writer.

[09] Pseudostate`s debt to Turkish heath institutions increases

Under the title «We have been disgraced», the paper reports that representatives of the above mentioned institutions have contacted the so-called «Embassy» of the pseudostate to Ankara and demanded their money.

Zeki Bulunc, the so-called «Ambassador» is in a difficult position, adds KIBRIS, as the health institutions warn that they will appeal to justice in order to get their money.

It is noted that during 1998 the pseudostate`s debt to health institutions in Turkey was only 2 billion 450 million 689 thousand and 942 TL, while in 1999 it became 40 billion 601 million 997 thousand and 661 TL. Within the year 2000, the debt increased to 912 billion 147 million 390 thousand and 97 TL, while in the first six months of 2001 it became one trillion 375 billion 287 million 353 thousand and 973 TL.

[10] Businessman warned by the so-called «police» that he will be murdered

Invoking an interview of Mr Ecesoy to the Turkish mainland Sabah newspaper, Avrupa writes that on 29 May 2001, two so-called «policemen» visited the above-mentioned businessman and told him that he was going to be assassinated.

Mr Ecesoy told Sabah that someone threatened him in 1995 as well. Then he gave a cheque to a friend who afterwards told him that he had lost it. After some time the above mentioned friend was found murdered and no one found the murderers.

«I too have been threatened. I have told the police, but there was no result. Since then I began to have some doubts», Mr Ecesoy told Sabah.

Avrupa writes that after the announcement that Mr Ecesoy gave recently to the papers, he received a call from the so-called «police director», who told him to go to the «police» and give his deposition. However, Mr Ecesoy did not go, as he does not seem to trust the «police», concludes Avrupa.

Meanwhile, Halkin Sesi (15.8.01) reports that the Dome Casino has been closed for a period of time. The paper writes that on the Casino`s entrance there is a notice saying that «the Casino will be closed for a while due to reasons which are out of our control...»

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