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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-09-03Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA No.167/01 1-2-3-9.01[A] NEWS ITEMS
[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Motherland Party Deputy Chairman admits that the occupied areas are a province of TurkeyAccording to HALKIN SESI (2.9.01) Motherland Party, (MP) Deputy Chairman and member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), Foreign Relations Committee Mr Bulent Akarcali, speaking on TRT 2 TV programme «CYPRUS SPECIAL» prepared by Fevzi Tanpinar strongly criticized Turkey's indifference towards national problems, among them the Cyprus problem. Referring to the European Parliament's debate on Cyprus today regarding Jacques Poos report, Akarcali said that «Turks only talk, and they don/t do anything permanent, continuous and effective regarding national issues». He went on and said: «We are forced to face our helplessness and laziness with great reactions. As in the case of the Armenian issue. And now we will say: `If the EU unilaterally admits the Greek Cypriot side we will do this, we will do that/. No one should misunderstand me we will not do anything but we will brag about. Today the `TRNC/ is a republic on the paper. Everything, even its TRNC money goes from Turkey. The Turkish ambassador, if I am wrong please deny it, nothing could be done there without the permission of the Turkish Ambassador to North Cyprus, and the Military Commander there/. All the contracts of major investments are awarded directly from Ankara. Actually that part is already being administered like a province. It is stupid on our part and wrong to think that the Greeks, the Greek Cypriots and other European countries are idiots and they don/t know all these. They know these very well.Let me also tell you what we will face. Until yesterday certain countries, like Germany, instead of openly taking position against Turkey, they were rallying behind Greece and they were making Greece talk against Turkey and used to say to us: `You see what can we do, there is Greece/s veto/. As soon as Simitis came to power, Greece made a serious and major policy change. That is, it is not the earthquake issue that Greeks felt sorry for us and approached us, nor is it Papandreou/s one-sided work. Simitis followed a policy that made Greece instead of naughty and spoiled country a serious and trustworthy country. With this policy Greece gained the trust of all the Balkans. Now the interested countries of Europe realized that they cannot use Greece against Turkey. Greece stopped being their tool to be played with for their interests. Now they need another tool, and this tool could be the Greek Cypriot side. In case the Greek Cypriot side enters the EU, it will be used against Turkey in the European Parliament and in the EU/s other organs. In fact the Greek Cypriot side headed by Clerides already uses this. Openly they say that `we can be your tool and your slave/. Against this only a handful of Turkish diplomats and persons are working to do something, to succeed something. And this cannot be considered to be a success». [02] The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly criticizes Jacques PoosAccording to KIBRIS (2.9.01) the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement criticizing the report prepared by the European Union's rapporteur, Jacques Poos on Cyprus` EU accession, claiming that the views expressed in the report prevent the efforts exerted by the UN towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and make them void and meaningless.The paper writes that the statement characterizes «irresponsible» the approach of Mr Poos, alleging that «he is a person known for his special ties» with the Greek Cypriots and an opponent of Turkey. «Mr Poos is the person who at the 1997 EU Summit in Luxembourg, as Luxembourg`s Minister of Foreign Affairs, undertook and skilfully carried out the duty of straining relations between Turkey and the EU», claims the Turkish Foreign Ministry, which concludes as follows: «The use of threats by Mr Poos on the issue of Cyprus and his criticizing Turkey`s EU National Programme, is an irresponsible approach which makes invalid the mission of good offices of the UN Secretary - General for Cyprus which is intensifying this period, constitutes an obstacle to the efforts exerted within the framework of this mission and makes them meaningless». [03] Additional Aid for the pseudostate from Turkey approvedIllegal Bayrak Radio (31.8.01) reported that Turkey will extend supplementary funds of $140 million to the occupied areas with the aim of covering budget deficits and funding ongoing investments. According to information received by BRT's Ankara correspondent from the Turkish Prime Minister's Office, the additional $140 million is included in the supplementary budget approved by the Turkish Grand National Assembly over the past few months. While the work on the subject continues, an additional «protocol» is expected to be signed between Turkey and the pseudostate in the coming days. After the signing of the «protocol», $140 million will be transferred to the occupied areas in stages.[04] A Turkish Cypriot was tried by a "military court" for possessing a Cyprus passportAvrupa (2/9/01) in its front page under the banner headlines "Poor exile" writes that the Turkish Cypriot Erdogan Fahri emigrated to London 26 years ago and when he tried to see his relatives, there was nothing left that did not happen to him.The paper writes the following: "Erdogan Fahri emigrated to London in 1976 and he has not returned since that day. ..He did not have a TRNC passport or an identity card.He only had a Cyprus passport.He set out on his journey carrying also his discharge papers of the army. It happened in Istanbul. When the customs police of Turkey saw his Cyprus passport said to Erdogan Fahri "With this passport you cannot go to Ercan (Tymbou) airport". For this reason Erdogan went from Turkey to Greece and from there he arrived at Larnaca.From the plane he went straight to Ledra Palace checkpoint, but he did not pass to the North due to our police. Erdogan, who was determined to see his relatives at any cost, chose this time the road of Pyla.He "infiltrated" to the Turkish Cypriot side with the help of some friends.After he visited his relatives in Nicosia, he went to the police, he surrendered and explained to them what he went through from the beginning. Erdogan was under custody for two days and then he was brought before a military court." The so-called military court confiscated his Cyprus passport and prevented him from leaving the occupied areas, the paper writes. [05] American soldiers of Incirlik bases in the occupied areas for holidaysKIBRIS (02.09.01) reports that 112 American soldiers, who serve in the American military bases in Incirlik in Turkey, came on Friday night with their families to the occupied areas of Cyprus in order to spend their holidays.The American soldiers are staying at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel in occupied Kyrenia and according to KIBRIS they came to the occupied areas through the Talay Tourism Operations Travel Agency. [B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS[06] The Turkish Cypriots expect an answer to what «deeper integration» and «annexation» means for themIn a commentary in Istanbul STAR (Ankara Edition) (1.9.01) under the title: «Turkish Cypriots Expect a Serious Answer», Semih Idiz, writes the following:«Considering the talks TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] President Rauf Denktas had with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Gunther Verheugen, who is responsible for the expansion of the EU, it can be said that the resumption of the talks on the Cyprus problem is on the agenda again. Denktas maintained his view that the Turkish side has to be treated equally if the talks are to be resumed and if progress is to be made. He outlined that as the main condition for the resumption of the talks. His stand is definitely justified because the UN Secretary-General's approach will even deprive the Turkish Cypriots of the status they had as the co-founder partner of the Cyprus Republic in 1960. That is definitely unacceptable. However, I still believe that the Turkish side's withdrawal from the talks was wrong, regardless of the fact that not only Denktas but also many of my friends, who are diplomats, opposed Kofi Annan's policy. I believe that the withdrawal left the arena to the Greek Cypriots and created a golden opportunity for them to achieve their objectives. In fact, Greek Cypriot Leader Glafcos Clerides disclosed after he met UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy Alvaro de Soto two days ago that the conditions he will agree to are those which forced Denktas to withdraw from the talks. The Greek Cypriot side maintains an intransigent approach because it has nothing to lose from the present situation. In fact, it stands to significantly gain from it because it has received the final signals from the EU. It is aware that it will join the organization when the expansion process begins. It is also aware that its cooperation with Greece in the EU will create an important advantage for it against Turkey. So, it is not worried. Whether or not the talks on the Cyprus problem are resumed is not very important for it. It believes that Denktas being blamed for the failure of he effort made to have the talks resumed will be in its favour. Of course, the EU should be seriously blamed for that state of affairs. It complicated the Cyprus problem by creating an opportunity for the Greek Cypriot side to join the organization. But, that is a different issue. We have to discuss the existing situation. Denktas' decision to withdraw from the talks was wrong. Nevertheless, the Turkish officials disagree with me, insisting that he had no other alternative. I agree that some of their views are right. But, I believe that there is no end to the argument. It is a fact that the Turkish side is confronted with a serious problem. The Greek Cypriot side will be allowed to join the EU as the representative of Cyprus as a whole. However, the way the Turkish side will react to that is still unclear. That is why many of our Turkish Cypriot brethren are worried. Ankara disclosed that it "will deepen the integration between Turkey and the TRNC," stressing that the process should not be seen as "annexation." It has to underline that because the Turkish Cypriots are not in favour of being annexed to Turkey. What "deeper integration" means is unclear. Even my diplomat friends, who completely disagree with me, prefer to remain silent when I ask them to explain what it means. They only lament the negligence of the Turkish Government for many years. In short, the way the "deeper integration" will contribute toward the solution of the worsening economic problems in the TRNC is unknown. Turkey suffers from an economic crisis. So, what kind of an economic package can it draw up for north Cyprus? That is an enigma. The Turkish Cypriot community is a very cosmopolitan society. How will Turkey contribute to the effort the Turkish Cypriots make to open to the world? I believe that the Cyprus talks under UN auspices are of an "academic" nature at this stage. They may or may not be resumed. Nothing will change because the EU has the initiative now. So, the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials should seriously consider what they should do. We have observed that the Greek Cypriot side has not been seriously worried by Minister of State Sukru Sina Gurel's warning that "The EU will confirm the division in Cyprus if it admits the Greek Cypriot side into the organization." Considering all that, the answer to the question "what might happen in the future?" has to be quite clear for the sake of the Turkish Cypriots, who are worried by the developments, if not for anyone else». [07] Turkish columnist foresees a «very big trouble» in the relations between Turkey and the EUProfessor Erol Manisali writing in Turkish mainland «Cumhuriyet» (03.9.01) expresses the view that Turkey`s hands are tied before the European Union (EU) and adds that «if you still insist on not seeing this, tomorrow there will be `very big trouble` and let no one doubt about that».Under the title «The European Parliament, Cyprus and the Chain of Concessions», Mr Manisali refers to the discussion of the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU which is to take place in the European Parliament (EP). The EP is expected to approve the report prepared by EU`s rapporteur for Cyprus, Jacques Poos who criticizes Turkey`s policy on the Cyprus problem. Mr Manisali says, among other things, the following: «...Despite the fact that the international agreements and law are on our side, the governments and the bureaucracy in Ankara have made concessions `being under the control of the big capital`. Instead of protecting her national interests before the EU, Turkey has deceived even her own public opinion saying that `the internal and external power centres have not given permission`. Now an effort is being exerted for a plot, saying `choose either Cyprus or the EU`. The new report of the European parliament is an open violation of the international agreements. .... Let us not deceive ourselves. Turkey`s relations with the EU and her accession to the Union, have nothing to do with Cyprus, the Aegean, the Patriarchate etc. With the `membership bluff`, the EU is trying to get some concessions from Turkey, which it is trying to bind unilaterally and will not accept her as member tomorrow. ... The National Security Council (NSC) has been able to stop only the process on the European Security and Defence Programme, exhibiting a `complete rejection`. In other fields, Turkey has been constantly retreating before the EU. The decision which is being taken now by the European Parliament is the result of the retreat made during the last seven years. Slowly Turkey`s hands are being tied before the EU. If you still insist on not seeing this, tomorrow there will be a `very big trouble`, and let no one doubt about this». [08] Turkish columnist on the EU`s role in CyprusYasemin Congar of Turkish mainland «Milliyet» (03.09.01) expresses the view that the USA could remain a «spectator» on the Cyprus problem and leave the initiative to the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN). In her article under the title «The agenda in September», Mrs Congar writes that the Cyprus problem will not be in the priorities of the Bush administration. The Turkish columnist says, among other things, the following:«...Let the Greek Cypriot administration make progress towards the full accession to the EU. It would not be wrong to say that Cyprus will continuously be the focal point of Turkey this autumn. However, there is no much place in the agenda of the USA for Cyprus this autumn. Indications show that the Bush administration has no intention of placing the issue of Cyprus among its priorities, as the Clinton administration had once done, and that it could leave to a great extend space on the matter to the EU and the UN. Do not be surprised if Washington remains a spectator to Cyprus becoming a `European issue`». KV/SK Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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