Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-01-03

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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: 2000 Census Counts Population as 67.8 Million.

[02] Twenty one per cent of the Turkish public have no idea about the Cyprus problem.

[03] Eroglu insists on the so-called realities.

[04] KIBRIS says that the minimum wage is insufficient.

[05] FJP asks a “National Council” to be established in the occupied areas.

[06] More than 6 thousand visitors to the occupied areas for the New Year.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Birand sees major changes in 2002.

[08] Turkey: Optimism voiced over EU, Cyprus, Iraq and Central Asia.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey: 2000 Census Counts Population as 67.8 Million

Toskay held a news conference in State Statistics Institute and said that rate of increase of annual population in 1990-2000 was 0,183 percent.

According to the results of the census, the population of Istanbul in the year 2000 was 10,033,478, the population of Ankara was 4 million 7 thousand 860, and the population of Izmir was 3 million 387 thousand 908.

Turkey`s population is calculated as 2.2 million more than the expected.

The State Statistics Institute (DIE) had predicted Turkey`s population as 65 million 784 thousand as of the end of 2000 while the population was foreseen to be 65.5 million as of the date of census which was October 22, 2000.

However, the figures unveiled yesterday showed the population as 67 million 844 thousand 903.

The annual rate of population increase had been predicted as 1.48 percent for 2000 while the figures showed that it was 1.83 percent between 1990 and 2000.

In this case, not only demographic figures of Turkey between 1990 and 2000 and the values depending on these figures like the national per capita income will change but also the projections of future will be re-calculated.

For example, according to the predictions of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for 2001, Turkey`s population would reach stable period at 98.8 million. According to new figures, Turkey`s population would probably become stable at 100 million.

Turkey`s population had been calculated as 71 million 207 thousand 396 according to the provisional results of the census held on October 22, 2000.

[02] Twenty one per cent of the Turkish public have no idea about the Cyprus problem

The Turkish publics views on the Cyprus problem, as published in Turkish Daily News, is as follows:

Regarding the Cyprus problem, 45.2 percent approved the Cyprus policies of Turkey, while 33.5 percent disapproved and 21.3 percent did not have an idea on the issue.

66.5 percent, on the other hand, approved the latest initiative of Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and the resumption of the Cyprus talks process, while 14.9 percent expressed opposition and 18.6 percent said they had no idea.

Regarding how they believed the Cyprus problem could be solved, 46.4 percent said they believed the current two independent states situation ought to continue, while 30.4 percent expressed support for a federation which would be participated on equal footing by the two peoples of the island. A 7 percent marginal group expressed support for annexation of Northern Cyprus by Turkey and a 1.3 percent expressed support for some other settlement formulae. 15 percent had no idea.

[03] Eroglu insists on the so-called realities

Talking yesterday to illegal Bayrak television, Mr Eroglu noted that there is only a possibility for an agreement and alleged that in order this possibility to be turned into an agreement the United States of America and the European Union have to explain to the Greek Cypriots the realities on the island.

Furthermore, the so-called Prime Minister called on the Greek Cypriot side to come to the negotiating table with proposals in the light of the existing realities.

In addition, Mr Eroglu claimed that according to these realities there are two different states in Cyprus and added: The important thing are the realities, not to ignore the sovereignty of the Turkish side, its equality, its security and the guarantee rights of Turkey.

[04] KIBRIS says that the minimum wage is insufficient

The people who depend on the minimum wage had to cut the expenses, which are considered luxury, while they cannot even meet their needs for food expenses, writes the paper noting that a family needs about 400 million liras every month to live an average life. KIBRIS argues that covering the house ex penses with the minimum wage in the occupied areas must be considered a miracle.

[05] FJP asks a National Council to be established in the occupied areas

In a statement issued yesterday, Mr Kirdag argued that a National Council could strengthen the position and the appearance of the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

[06] More than 6 thousand visitors to the occupied areas for the New Year

Invoking officials of the illegal Turkish Cypriot Airlines the paper notes that within the period 28 31 December 2001 3 thousand and 10 people left the pseudostate via Tymbou.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Birand sees major changes in 2002

This will be a tough year. Economic reforms will hit initially but we will endure that. If we cannot succeed we will lose everything and will have to start from scratch. Cyprus and EU membership too will take shape this year or the boat will be missed.

2002 will be a quite different year.

We have to brace ourselves for it.

The economic crisis and the political developments will overlap one another. Every step to be taken, every statement to be made, will affect the countrys future. Over the next 12 years it will be seen what kind of life we will have in the 2000s.

The most important developments will be in the economic field.

We have a very difficult 12 months ahead.

As I tried to stress in yesterdays article, the policies to be conducted by the government in 2002 will either take Turkey to sounder ground or push the country to a level even worse than that of Argentina.

In the face of the pressure exerted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the coalition partners have introduced extremely courageous economic reforms. Now the time has come to implement these. If they withstand the political pressures and manage to go on without making any concessions until the end of the new year, the country will benefit a lot from that. In 2003, real economic growth will begin. Confidence will grow both in the domestic markets and the external markets.

Turkeys path will be cleared.

If, on the other hand, the government cannot withstand the pressure and starts making concessions, we will be plunged into a crisis that would last for at least a decade.

Everybody musts grit their teeth and persevere.

It is essential that we support the reforms.

There is no other way.

Cyprus will be taking the most important turn

The Cyprus problem tops the 2002s political menu.

Turkish and Greek Cypriot leaders Denktas and Clerides have initiated such a process that from now on they can hardly leave the negotiating table. There will definitely be quarrels and decisions will be taken to boycott the talks. However, it will not be possible to play the keeping the problem unsolved game.

For the first time the international public has seen light at the end of the Cyprus tunnel. The parties concerned will not be permitted to perform to their own followers alone, hiding behind the lack of solution excuse.

With a lot of pushing and pulling a solution will be found to the Cyprus problem.

In fact there is no big difference between the solution Denktas wants and the solution Clerides wants. But now, agreement has been received on a number of major issues on the basis of various kinds of data. And the task that remains involves only the details. Since no one would leave the negot iating table due to disputes on the details we can see 2002 as the year of Cyprus.

The solution the Turkish side has in mind is a realistic one.

The Greek Cypriots can hardly reject the formula envisaging a bizonal, bicommunal system where each entity would govern itself while having a single, joint representation abroad. Even though it may not be called a confederation, the result to be obtained in practice would be, in a way, two sovereign states living under one umbrella.

Such a solution would be in line with the long-term interests of both the TRNC and Turkey.

A Cyprus solution which the two sides would find satisfactory, would ease Turkeys foreign relations to a great extent. That would also have a beneficial effect on Turkeys economic relations.

A Turkey that has left the Cyprus problem behind and enjoys a climate of peace and quality cooperation with Greece, will be more creditworthy.

Relations with EU too will be affected

Resolution of the Cyprus problem would remove a major obstacle on Turkeys relations with the European Union.

2002 is a year of rendezvous in the context of these relations, a rendezvous which must not be missed. If, during the year, Turkey manages to have the accession talks initiated, or, at least, obtain a pledge to the effect that the talks would start on a specific date, this will clear the countrys path.

If, on the other hand, no firm timetable is set for the accession talks in 2002, Turkey will miss the EU enlargement boat in 2004. In that case, Turkish membership of the EU will be delayed for 10 to 15 years.

If the Cyprus obstacle can be overcome, Turkey will have to experience a process of making progress towards complying with the EUs Copenhagen Criteria.

For the time being, Turkey falls short of these criteria.

During the coming months the time will come for passing more constitutional amendments and for implementing those actually passed.

The disappearance of the Cyprus obstacle and Turkeys compliance with the Copenhagen criteria, will give Turkey an incredible impetus.

Thus the economic conditions will be eased and, most importantly, Turkey will become an interesting country for would-be investors. My greatest wish is to be able, at the end of 2002, to make an assessment of the year under the title, We have succeeded!.

[08] Turkey: Optimism voiced over EU, Cyprus, Iraq and Central Asia

I tried to find the questions I was asked the most this year, as we start our end of the year evaluations.

Which questions was I asked the most this year?

These questions were repeated nonstop and did not change format once.

I was met by the same questions on television programs I participated in, in the supermarket, while waiting in line, while discussing with my students in class, when speaking with my mother and reading my e-mails.

I want to share these questions with you too. Along with their short answers.

First let us start with the most popular question these days.

1. Will the United States invade Iraq?

Not immediately. Later on depends on circumstance too. First it will force Saddam to make decisions that will sign his own death warrant. The goal is an Iraq without Saddam. Therefore it will do whatever it needs to do.

2. Will Iraq be partitioned?

Iraq is in a divided state at the moment. Planes belonging to the Iraqi military are not allowed to fly over the northern and southern parts of the country. The division begins with the "Welcome to Kurdistan" sign after Habur. According to this, Iraq is split in three. Northern Iraq (which is divided into two within itself--regions belonging to Barzani and Talabani), Saddam's Iraq (between the 36th and 33rd parallels) and the Basra province in the South (in which the Shiites are dominant). (Saddam cannot send planes to this region but he controls the administration and severely oppresses the people there.) The question that must be asked should be, "When will Iraq be saved from this division?" The answer: When it rids its elf of Saddam and joins the international community as a democratic country.

3. Will Europe accept Turkey?

(This question is one usually directed by pessimists, with raised eyebrows and furrowed brows.)

Yes. Europe will accept Turkey once we have a strong economy and a democratic regime respectful of human rights and when this regime has strong and dependable institutions and a population with a high level of education.

4. Does not being a member of the EU mean surrendering our national sovereignty to Europe?

No. Europeans do not surrender their national sovereignties either. Some 89 percent of the participants in an opinion poll carried out in EU member countries said that their national identity came ahead of their EU identity.

5. Are we giving away Cyprus?

No we are not. First of all, we cannot give away what does not belong to us. Cyprus belongs to Cypriot Greeks and Turks. That is why we support negotiations looking for a solution that both communities will accept and that neither Turkey nor Greece will be doubtful of.

6. Will there be a solution to the Cyprus issue? Yes. That is because 1. Stability in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean gained importance after 11 September. 2. The fact that the EU will review its enlargement program at the end of 2002 now puts as much pressure on Turkey and Greece as it does on the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities.

7. Have we lost Central Asia?

No, because we have not yet won Central Asia. However, the new atmosphere created after 11 September gives Turkey the chance to win over Central Asia. The era of Turkish-US-Russian partnership has begun in the region. Turkey is influential in military training in particular. Turkey is winning over Central Asia as working committees replace national costumes and folkloric displays.

8. Is Baku-Ceyhan a pipe dream?

No. I believed that it would become a reality even at its most effusive times. It is even more real now.

9. Why am I so optimistic?

Because being optimistic gives one self-confidence and the power to struggle and win.

KV/SK

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