Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-09-27

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas and NPM strongly react against an article of «The Guardian» newspaper.

[02] European Parliament Chairman reprimands Turkish Foreign Minister.

[03] Turkish deputies react to call made to President of House of Representatives of Cyprus to address PACE Session.

[04] The so-called Foreign Ministry stands against the bi-communal contacts and Rapprochement.

[05] The new economic package announced; step towards economic integration.

[06] Turkish Cypriots offer vows to Apostolos Andreas Monastery.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas and NPM strongly react against an article of «The Guardian» newspaper

The journalist Helena Smith talked with Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP), Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP), Alpay Durduran, member of the Patriotic Union Movement (PUM) and Ahmet Barcin, president of the Union of the Secondary School Teachers (KTOEOS).

Among other things, Mr Barcin said to Mrs Smith the following: «Please tell the world that the TRNC is an open prison. ...It's one big, militarised zone and all gates are locked. Our only key to freedom is a quick peace settlement (with the Greek Cypriots), entry to the EU and reintegration with the rest of the world».

Mr Akinci said: «This is not a democracy. How can it be when Ankara intervenes so much in the running of our affairs? Turkey decides everything...The army is in control here...».

Mr Durduran said: «...Please tell the world that we want to free ourselves from the people who freed us. We grew under British colonial rule, not under the Turks and we have a very different sense of democracy. There is no freedom here. ...Entire families have got death threats...».

Mr Talat said: «...You might say that while Turkey liberated us, it has overstayed its welcome. Denktas has been in power for nearly 30 years, but he is not defending the Turkish Cypriots: he is defending Turkey's strategic interests here...».

Mrs Smith also refers to the platform «This country is ours» and to the NPM which «created in response to the Group of 41» and «its declared aim is to stamp out any criticism of Turkey by the `ungrateful traitors and spies`...», adding that diplomats are «particularly worried» about Mr Denktas` «open sponsorship of the NPM» .

The British journalist mentions also the issue of the Anatolian settlers «who are the majority» in the occupied Cyprus and refers to the bomb attack against «Avrupa».

Furthermore, she notes a statement of Mr Denktas, who alleged that «Those who are against Turkey are wrong. There is no Cypriot culture, apart from our national custom of drinking brandy...».

Commenting on the article of Mrs Smith, Mr Denktas claimed that those Turkish Cypriots who talked to her «have disgraced the country, the state and Turkey». He alleged that the paper gave a lot of importance to what Mr Durduran said about the European Union because «the government to which this newspaper belongs exerts pressure on the Turkish Cypriots and wants them to hurry up to join the EU without defining their status against the Greek Cypriots and without protecting their rights».

Mr Denktas also claimed that no Turkish Cypriot would have remained on the island if they have not defended Turkey's strategic interests. He repeated his allegations that «Avrupa» is the «megaphone of the Greek Cypriots» and that the bomb attacks against the paper have been committed by persons who work in it.

Furthermore, Mr Denktas said that he had not established the NPM and that he had only given «moral support» to its founders, «because it (the NPM) was necessary». «Thank God, the silent people have started to raise their voice», added the Turkish Cypriot leader referring to the NPM.

Finally, Mr Denktas criticized Mrs Smith because she did not publish all he had said to her.

On the other hand, in a written statement issued yesterday the NPM, argued that the statements of the Turkish Cypriot political party leaders to «The Guardian» were a «stab from behind to the national case» and called on the so - called «Public Prosecutor's Office» to take «legal» action against the «traitors».

NPM called on the Mr Akinci and Talat to resign from so- called MP`s because their salary comes from Turkey and from the taxes taken by the inhabitants of the occupied areas.

[02] European Parliament Chairman reprimands Turkish Foreign Minister

In her reply, Mrs Fontaine, drew Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem/s «attention to the unbecoming manner of the accusation» launched against Mr Poos and expressed the hope that it was a misunderstanding and that such incidents would not be repeated in the future.

Mrs Fontaine said that «questioning the rapporteurs/s goodwill is an unacceptable behaviour». She branded «personal attacks» the accusations launched against Mr Poos by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

MILLIYET reports that Turkish Foreign Ministry accusations have created resentment and reaction among the European Parliamentarians as well.

[03] Turkish deputies react to call made to President of House of

Mehmet Saglam, the True Path Party (TPP) parliamentarian, who spoke on behalf of the Turkish parliamentary delegation, harshly criticized Russel Johnson, the COEPA Chairman, who invited Mr Christofias to Strasbourg as Speaker of the Parliament.

Claiming that the President of the House of Representative of Cyprus «did not represent whole of Cyprus», Saglam said that the COEPA with this attitude caused damage to the efforts exerted for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Saglam claimed Mr Christofias in his speech «distorted the Cyprus question, and made unfounded claims» against Turkey and the pseudostate.

Mr. Christofias, in a speech he delivered late on Tuesday, said that Council of Europe should exert pressure on Turkey and the pseudostate regarding solution of Cyprus question.

[04] The so-called Foreign Ministry stands against the bicommunal contacts and rapprochement

The written statement issued yesterday alleged that those who continue such activities are damaging the «national policy the TRNC has formulated together with Turkey, the motherland, with a view to eliminating the political dispute on the island».

The statement added that a series of bicommunal activities were organized in September despite the fact that it is common knowledge that the «Ministry» is against such activities, which are held without taking into consideration the existing conditions on the island. Claiming that efforts to create an artificial peace cannot contribute to ameliorating the relations between the two communities, the statement concluded by saying that such «mock» activities that are causes damage to the TRNC and its people will, in no way, be endorsed».

[05] The new economic package announced; step towards economic integration

Among the measures included in the new package, which could be characterized a step towards economic integration, is the creation of a «common economic zone» between Turkey and the pseudostate.

KIBRIS writes that «the necessary work for the free movement of goods, services and capital which are the most important elements of the common economic zone, will be finished within 2001».

The package provides, among other things, for increasing the rate of the VAT applied to some goods and the price of telephone calls. There will be no more over time work for the so-called «public servants» and the summer working period will be shortened from five to three months.

Meanwhile, Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) criticized the new package arguing that it is the same as the old package which had caused the reaction of the Turkish Cypriot community and did not solve any problems. Furthermore, Mr Talat accused the pseudogovernment of deceiving the «people».

Commenting on the «protocol» signed recently between Turkey and the pseudostate Mr Talat said that this is the «approval of the taxes which will dissolve the people».

Furthermore, the majority of the Turkish Cypriot newspapers refer to the package on their front pages.

«Ortam» refers to the package under the banner front-page title «No one can bear this load».

«Avrupa» writes that «The new programme is like an imperial decree condemning to death».

«Yeni Demokrat» writes in its front page that «Economy will grow». In the inside pages notes that «The goal is 5 % economic growth».

[06] Turkish Cypriots offer vows to Apostolos Andreas Monastery

The paper writes that a lot of Turkish Cypriots visit the Monastery and offer vows to the Christian saint.

Talking to a reporter of «Avrupa» Turkish Cypriot visitors of the Monastery have expressed the view that no religious differences must exist and added that «both mosques and churches are houses of God». «The important thing for man is to find peace within him», they concluded.

/SK

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