Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-12-11

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] AVRUPA says oppression against the Turkish Cypriots increased after the 4 December meeting.

[02] The British High Commissioner characterizes "hopeful" development the accession of Cyprus to the EU.

[03] Turkish Cypriot businessmen are emigrating; businesses are closing down.

[04] Talat and Angolemli criticize the pseudogovernment and the situation of the human rights in the occupied areas.

[05] Denktas demands "AVRUPA" to be silenced.

[06] The so-called police beats up trade unionists; threats yesterday during incidents at a lyceum.

[07] Denktas to visit Turkey.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Columnist in MILLIYET wants Turkey to start accession negotiations when Cyprus becomes an EU member.

[09] Turkish columnist says that the Turkish public is being prepared for concessions.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Avrupa says oppression against the Turkish Cypriots increased after the 4 December meeting

The paper writes that Nilgun Orhon, a lyceum teacher who was writing in "Avrupa", has been fired because of her articles. Furthermore, the National People/s Movement (NPM) expressed its support to the so-called "Ministry of Education" which began an inquiry against two more teachers, Ulus Irgad and Ahmet Barcin (chairman of the trade union of the Turkish Cypriot secondary school teachers - KTOEOS) to be fired as well.

The paper notes that NPM has declared a war against those teachers who do things, which are contrary to the official Turkish position on Cyprus. In a written statement issued yesterday NPM says: "We shall continue our struggle with determination, until all the state institutions, not only schools, are cleaned from the enemies of the state and Turkey".

Meanwhile, Kenan Tuncay and Osman Nalbantoglu, the two primary school teachers who tried to take some students to Greece last summer in order to participate in the Children's Olympic Games, are accused of "leaving the country illegally" and they are waiting for their punishment at the end of the inquiry launched against them by the occupation regime.

Commenting on the issue "Avrupa" says, among other things, the following:

"Bad days expect the Turkish Cypriot patriots. Until the procedure started on 4 December enters a new stage, the opposite voices will be unmercifully oppressed. Why? Because Ankara does not fear the world public opinion as before. . Who dares to frighten, to offend Ankara now? Everybody has to tolerate whatever Ankara and Denktas do, only for the sake of Denktas signing an agreement.

Even the European Union, which had cornered Ankara before the 4th of December regarding the violations of the human rights in Northern Cyprus, now is forced to lower its voice! During this period, the Turkish Cypriot patriots are not going to find the support they used to have before! The EU is going to ignore the fascistic practices and the violations of human rights, which take place here. .

The result of the talks is not known, but both Ankara and Denktas, because they are treated with great tolerance and their hands are untied, do not intend to spend their time in vain. .This is their real chance. .The operation against Nilgun Orhon is only a ring of the chain. The oppression will be intensified in the coming days..".

[02] The British High Commissioner characterizes "hopeful" development the accession of Cyprus to the EU

According to the paper, talking at the "Business relations with the European Union" conference organized in occupied Nicosia by the British High Commission and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (TCCC), Mr Parker referred to the economic relations among the EU-member countries and noted that a lot of progress has been made in this direction.

Meanwhile, addressing the conference Ali Erel, chairman of the TCCC, noted that the Turkish Cypriot businessmen are trying to build bridges between the two sides on the island and added that a lot of meetings are organized in this direction.

[03] Turkish Cypriot businessmen are emigrating; businesses are closing down According to KIBRIS (09.12.01), Salih Tunar, chairman of the Chamber of the Turkish Cypriot Industrialists (CTCI) has said that the Turkish Cypriot businessmen cannot bare the situation in the occupied areas and emigrate in order to solve their financial problems.

Meanwhile, under the banner front-page title "Hundreds of businesses have closed down" KIBRIS (10.12.01) reports that during the first eleven months of 2001, a total of 424 businesses closed down and hundreds of people remained unemployed. The paper writes that this is the most stagnant period in the history of the economy of the pseudostate and adds that the Morphou area is in the worst situation.

[04] Talat and Angolemli criticize the pseudogovernment and the situation of the human rights in the occupied areas

Referring to the inquiry against Nilgun Orhon, Mr Talat said that on the Human Rights Day a violation of the human rights was once again committed in the occupied areas and noted that Mrs Orhon was fired after the NPM issued a written statement.

Meanwhile, according to "Ortam" (11.12.01) talking at the same session of the "Assembly", Huseyin Angolemli, chairman of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP) argued that the situation of the human rights in the pseudostate is worst than during the period before 1948.

Mr Angolemli stressed also that there is no respect for the freedom of the thought in the pseudostate and added that the so-called "laws" are applied when those who are in power want.

[05] Denktas demands "Avrupa" to be silenced

Talking before a meeting with Salih Dayioglu, chairman of the so-called "Supreme Court", Mr Denktas claimed that it was not possible to permit the publication of articles, which denigrate "the Motherland". Referring to "Avrupa", even though he did not mention the name of the newspaper, Mr Denktas said, among other things, the following:

"Boundaries for the democratic rights and for the freedom of speech must be drawn, says our constitution. No laws were made. A long time ago we had to do whatever is necessary according to our constitution. .Today there was an article again of a known newspaper stressing that we live under occupation. I do not read this paper. I reject all it writes. .".

Noting that the pseudogovernment must make some laws regarding the issue, Mr Denktas added:

"Otherwise, if the Press is used as a gun and a bullet in the hands of the Greek Cypriots, the necessary laws must be made so that we are able to take the necessary measures. We expect from the government to make those laws. They have said that they would pass them from the Assembly within the next few months. .".

Meanwhile, the some papers (11.12.01) refer to the issue in their front pages as follows:

"Avrupa", above the logo of the newspaper writes: "Denktas, who wants a special law in order to close down Avrupa, calls us a 'Greek Cypriot bullet' . We wonder whether he found this bullet in the wine Clerides had offered him".

"Ortam", above its logo writes: "Denktas is annoyed with democracy".

"Yeniduzen", under the front page title writes: "Denktas has asked for 'measures' against the freedom of the thought!".

"Birlik" uses as a title the words of Mr Denktas that "If the press is used as a gun and as a bullet of the Greek Cypriots the necessary laws must be made so that the necessary measures can be taken".

[06] The so-called police beats up trade unionists; threats yesterday during incidents at a lyceum

The students, continues "Avrupa", got out of their classrooms and shouted slogans supporting Mrs Orhon. Meanwhile, the secondary education inspector, Cuma Arikbuka, threatened the reporters of the Press that he would break the bones of anyone who would take pictures from the scene.

Among other things, "Avrupa" reports that Mrs Orhon's father, Evcet Yusuf, was killed during the 20 July 1974 invasion of Turkey in Cyprus.

Meanwhile, the so-called "police" tried to arrest Izzet Izcan, General Secretary of the Patriotic Union Movement (PUM), who also visited the scene of the incident. The trade unionists and the teachers, however, prevented them from arresting Mr Izcan.

Furthermore, statements criticizing the behaviour of the occupation authorities were issued yesterday by PUM, Communal Liberation Party (CLP), the Federation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (Dev - Is), Turk - Sen etc.

Finally the Press today refers to the incidents in the school under the following front-page titles:

"Avrupa": "Wake up Evcet, wake up and see what has happened!"

"Yeniduzen": "Trade unionists were beaten!"

"Ortam": "Tension in the lyceum of applied sciences"

"Vatan": "Ideological tension in a school"

"Kibrisli": "Bullying behaviour!"

"Halkin Sesi": "Teachers and police face - to -face"

[07] Denktas to visit Turkey

In Istanbul Mr Denktas will address a conference organized by the Great Unity Party (GUP), while in Ankara he will participate in a panel organized by Ankara's Bar. He is expected to return to the occupied areas on Friday.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Columnist in MILLIYET wants Turkey to start accession negotiations when Cyprus becomes an EU member

"Turkey, which has got tired of crises, will enter the year 2002 with a foreign policy oriented solution package that aims at starting the EU accession negotiations.

Meanwhile, the positive developments that have emerged recently are very important for Turkey. For example, Rauf Denktas and Glafkos Clerides have met in Cyprus. Moreover, indicating that work will be conducted for drawing up a new strategy [regarding the EU], Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has said after meeting with Guenter Verheugen, EU commissioner in charge of EU enlargement, that the atmosphere has not been better than it is now for the development of relations between Turkey and the EU. Finally, US Secretary of State Colin Powell has been satisfied with his latest visit to Ankara following the reaching of consensus on the European army issue.

It is as if a "magic wand" is at work. Problems that have been accumulated over the past several months have finally begun to be raised on the agenda "simultaneously" with the expected US moves regarding Afghanistan and Iraq.

An extremely rational course has been taken in the field of foreign politics. The 11 September incidents in the United States have definitely become a "turning point" for the whole world. However, there is no doubt that the importance of this date is quite different for the United States from the rest of the nations, because Washington is concerned over the loss of the twin towers in the wake of its announcement that the United States is "the dominant power in the 21st century" after the end of the Cold War.

This is exactly why the United States has resorted to the use of guns and is bombing the poorest country in the world. However, the United States needs a new diplomacy instead of a military strategy. Washington has to take the necessary steps in order to eliminate its concerns as to why everyone has begun to hate the United States.

Turkey, which has a modern and secular identity among the rest of the Muslim world, for its part, is conveying the following message to the United States and Western Europe: "Since you are uneasy at the clash of civilizations, then open up the doors of the EU before Turkey."

The announcement of Turkey's EU candidacy during the Helsinki summit on the eve of 2000 was a bright "millennium photograph" for Turkey. The year 2002 constitutes the most critical timetable for Turkey's EU accession process, where we have not achieved much progress in the past two years. Turkey can attain EU membership in 2007-2010 if it starts the EU accession negotiations during the time when Cyprus gains EU membership in a manner that this membership encompasses the two communities on the island.

A great opportunity has now arisen before the government, which has in 2001 given rise to the most severe economic crisis in the history of the Turkish Republic. It is as if Turkey has now been granted the right to shoot a penalty in a football match.

Should this advantage that has been granted to us by the foreign political circumstances be utilized properly, Turkey will realize the targets set in the economic program devised by Kemal Dervis and will breathe a sigh of relief in 2002. An appropriate atmosphere and infrastructure can be attained even if the government opts for holding elections.

Everything is dependent on the government's performance. "Diplomacy" is the key factor for overcoming the economic crisis.

Meanwhile, 11 September is the beginning of a new era. While the world is being divided into groups, Turkey must take its place within Europe.

The strategic partnership with the United States must go beyond the calculations over a "few gallons of oil" in northern Iraq".

[09] Turkish columnist says that the Turkish public is being prepared for concessions

"Turkey is confronted with the situation of paying a new price for pleading at the door of the EU. The fact lying behind the efforts to show the TRNC as a hunch on Turkey's back is to prepare the Turkish people for the concessions that will be given. Our wealthy people are ready to give concessions on Cyprus. It is as though our wealthy people, who confuse the soil of the country with the land of a factory, have started to weigh in the same scale "selling factory land and selling the country"! On the one hand, while expressing "not to support Denktas" on behalf of the club for tycoons, on the other hand, the subject of "what a burden Northern Cyprus is on Turkey" is being debated by a crowd of authorized or unauthorized idle spectators. The purpose of this debate on a Turkish television channel is "to prepare the Turkish people to make concessions on Cyprus".

According to the plan prepared, the Turkish people oriented with media propaganda, will tell the government officials the following: "While we are suffering from hunger here, do not put the burden of Cyprus on us as well!"

This is the real purpose of the statements given and the television programs made. Do the minds that see Cyprus as a burden on the back of Turkey not know that "national issues cannot be considered as monetary issues"? Why do those narrow-minded people not take into consideration the reason for the sensitivity of the administrator who says, "We are ready to pay any price for Cyprus"? For the "TRNC to become a full member of the EU together with the Greek Cypriot Section" without solving the problems between Turkey and Greece, has the meaning of suicide for Turkey.

The goodwill shown "unilaterally" by Kenan Evren for Greece to return to the military wing of the NATO, is now confronting us as a major trump card. That is, Turkey, "with Kenan Evren's decision", has lost the NATO card it had in its hand against Greece.

Today, those who consider the TRNC as a hunch on Turkey's back, are repeating the same mistake. Another mistake is being made these days. Turkey's giving approval for the formation of the European Army is the harbinger of a new handicap, which Turkey will be confronted with in the future. Today, our European allies have made some "commitments", but who can guarantee that "an official who will suspend those guarantees" will not appear in the future? Who can guarantee that the European Army will not intervene in a border problem that could be experienced between Turkey and Greece?

Has anyone made the calculations of the results of abandoning Turkey's Western and Southern fronts completely to Greek control?

To evaluate the territories of the TRNC as the land of a factory losing money, means not to be aware of the geography in which the Republic of Turkey is located. In case they are aware of it, but there is no difference in their evaluations, then one should have doubts about their thinking processes!

Turkey should explain to whomever is concerned in Turkey and abroad that Turkey "will not give a concession of even one square millimeter of land from Cyprus". Turkey should also explain that the territories of the TRNC are not "lands of a factory losing money". Turkey has been undertaking a diplomatic war for years against the S-300 missiles. Those who are thinking of "lowering from our backs the territories of the TRNC like a packsaddle", as the Turkish islands, which were lost at Lausanne, must also explain what do they understand about the defense of the country. The accession of Cyprus as a whole into the EU as a full member before the Republic of Turkey does, means to be nailed onto the cross with its hands tied. We are going through too important a process, which cannot be understood by those "lacking consciousness", who would sacrifice tomorrow to save today. The Cyprus and EU negotiations should be evaluated with the sensitivity of taking the future of Turkey under guarantee. The issue is not so simple that it can be debated without thinking on television!"

KV/SK

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