Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-11-02

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey to send special forces to Afghanistan.

[02] Bulent Ecevit denies reports that he will resign.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[03] Columnist in KIBRIS stresses that the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is the main reason for the problems in the occupied areas.

[04] Commentary in AVRUPA criticizes Turkey and the pseudostate for their attitude towards the EU accession of Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey to send special forces to Afghanistan

A government statement issued from the Prime Ministry stated the following: ``Turkey extended full support to the operation ``Enduring Freedom`` started in Afghanistan by the U.S. following the terrorist attacks in that country on September 11, 2001, due to its well established attitude in fight with terrorism in the world and by taking into consideration its obligations within the scope of Article 5 of NATO Treaty. In this framework, Turkey opened its airspace and two military airports to the U.S. flights for humanitarian aid and military purposes and it extended intelligence and logistic support. Certain NATO ally countries together with non-NATO countries sent a team headed by a general to the U.S. Central Forces Command in Tampa. This time the U.S. asked for troops from some of the countries which support the operation in Afghanistan to get help in reconnaissance, fighting with terrorists, guiding the North Alliance forces, military support to the humanitarian aid operation, protecting innocent people and evacuating certain areas from civilian people. Some countries responded positively to this demand saying that they would allocate special forces. The government received the mentioned demand on October 26, 2001.``

``The government examined in detail this demand made by the U.S. together with certain allies and conveyed the issue to the President,`` it was noted.

The statement went on saying that the Operation Enduring Freedom's reaching success is to the benefit of all the humanity as the operation started by the U.S. is against terrorism.

``Those who try to show this operation as an act against Islam contradict with the lofty values of Islam, which is a religion of peace. The government decided to task a special forces unit of around 90 members for the mission in line with the authority given to the government by the parliament, in line with Turkey's NATO obligations and in line with the U.N. Security Council Resolutions No. 1368 and 1373 and as a requirement to continue Turkey's policy of fighting with terrorism. The government also aims to contribute to improvement of the training and preparation of the North Alliance, meeting the humanitarian needs of Afghan people, formation of a broad-based government, making this country stable and serving the prosperity of Afghan people,`` it was noted.

[02] Bulent Ecevit denies reports that he will resign

Addressing the deputies at the parliamentary group meeting, Ecevit said:

"We are experiencing a period in which certain scenarios are being staged against the government. We will foil these scenarios. Turkey will recover with the help of the coalition government at the helm. Turkey has rich resources in every field. We will exploit these resources in the coming months. We will lead the economy to recovery. Let no one or no sector doubt this".

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[03] Columnist in KIBRIS stresses that the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is the main reason for the problems in the occupied areas

The full text of the commentary is as follows:

"There are two basic factors behind the economic hardships encountered by the Turkish Cypriots. The first is that the economic structure in north Cyprus is completely a consumer-oriented economy that is capable of standing on its own feet only with the help of the money granted by Turkey. On the other hand, the non-solution of the Cyprus problem is the second of these factors. The present economic structure, which is based on consumption but is not backed with production, is maintaining its existence with the help of bipartisan policies.

Turkey, which is going through the most difficult times of its history, is sending money to our country by taking away the bread from the mouths of the Turkish people, who are already suffering great economic hardships. However, a number of bureaucrats here are using this money to live a luxurious life while the politicians are distributing this money in a bipartisan manner in order to stay in the `government/ . Moreover, these bureaucrats and politicians are exerting great efforts to maintain the present defective structure.

Meanwhile, those who are benefiting from the existing system are exerting their maximum efforts in order to maintain this system by sacrificing the future of the country. For this reason, chronic problems for which everyone and every sector is seeking a solution have remained unsolved for a long number of years, as a result of which the Turkish Cypriots are continuing to suffer greatly.

For example, despite the fact that all the political parties ranging between the Left to the Right have agreed on the introduction of a stable currency or the minting of new currencies, the unseen alliance between interest groups within the political parties and rentier groups whose existence depends on the preservation of the current system always comes out the victor with regard to every issue.

As a result, tens of thousands of workers are being crushed under the devaluation of the currency, which sometimes reaches 150 percent. Turkish Cypriots are also being dragged to the courts due to their inability to repay their debts in foreign currencies.

Meanwhile, the introduction of the single social security system is included in the programs of all the political parties. All the political parties talk about this system during the elections. However, interest groups that are exploiting the present system, thus endangering the future of the Turkish Cypriots, are continually obstructing the introduction of the single social security system.

Consequently, tens of thousands of workers in the private sector have remained without any social security in the future. Therefore, hordes of citizens are referring to the political parties to which they belong in order to secure jobs within the state. Many more similar examples can be listed. Those who claim that a solution will be found to the Cyprus problem under the present conditions are telling lies, to say the least. The present system serves only those who are benefiting from the system. This system is generating misery and not a solution.

The non-solution of the Cyprus problem is one of the main sources of the problems encountered in the country. What types of goods can be produced and exported when our country has been isolated from the world and has been crushed under embargos? How can our country be attractive to the European tourists when the distance to our country is double the distance to other places and the cost of travelling to north Cyprus is double that to other places?

The Package of Confidence Building Measures may become a serious step toward the solution of the Cyprus problem and may be an alternative for overcoming the economic crisis that the Turkish Cypriots are encountering. Meanwhile, millions of US dollars will flow into Cyprus when Varosha, which is a closed area, is reopened and thousands of workers will find employment opportunities when construction begins in this area.

On the other hand, the industrialists and businessmen will breathe a sigh of relief when the embargos are lifted on the Famagusta Port. Finally, the doors will be opened before the foreign tourists whom we have been anxiously waiting should the Nicosia Airport reopens for air traffic.

All these issues must be assessed. The issue of maintaining today's status quo is the only thing that must not be discussed. The problems that the Turkish Cypriots are encountering will multiply if this status quo is not changed into a contemporary structure"...

[04] Commentary in AVRUPA criticizes Turkey and the pseudostate for their attitude towards the EU accession of Cyprus

"All our political parties.both rightist and leftist.whatever they are called. They all try to prevent Cyprus' accession to the EU before a solution. To the EU delegations, which are going and coming, they say: "Retract from this road".they have a very hard time to convince them. In no way should the Greek Cypriots become members alone. if this happens, it will be really bad.things will get mixed up.the balance in the East Mediterranean will be messed up.the Turkish Cypriots will abandon the island. they have been tired of repeating these to them. Ecevit also is telling them.and Ismail Cem, and Mesut Yilmaz. and Denktas, and Eroglu.and the leaders of all our political parties.all of them have the same attitude. Of course those who say these and those who put forward the solution as a precondition for the accession do not know what kind of solution they want.

Actually, the right wing does not want any solution. Let things remain like this forever. let the current situation be consolidated.What a bitty. The opposition, which tries to be different, is not different at all.On the one hand they want a federal solution and on the other they defend the 'TRNC'! In the federal solution, is there a 'TRNC'? In the federal solution, it is said that only the Federal Cyprus Republic and not the North or the South exist.There can be nothing else! Especially, there can be no separate state!".

The commentary concludes: "We must get involved in this procedure with our people in the Cyprus Republic. Only the dreams of the Greek Cypriots about union will be buried with EU membership! We, of the present time, in this way will be liberated from the occupation 'deep state'."

KV/SK

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