Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-01-08

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ismail Cem: We are following closely developments regarding Cyprus.

[02] Three death sentences at Hope case.

[03] Denktas criticizes Christofias and Verheugen.

[04] Turkish Cypriot political parties on the Cyprus problem.

[05] Demirel will illegally visit the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[06] Umit Inatci dismissed from the so-called Near East University for writing in AVRUPA and AFRIKA.

[07] "Suspicious" donkey deaths.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ismail Cem: We are following closely developments regarding Cyprus

Responding to a question with notice presented to him by AK Party deputy Ramazan Toprak, Cem said that Turkey is taking every initiatives to protect the rights and interests of the pseudostate and Turkey.

Cem said that his ministry closely monitored the preparations about the report titled "Cyprus' Membership Application to EU and The Process of Negotiations`` which was adopted in the European Parliament General Assembly on September 5. Cem alleged that Jacques Poos, who prepared the report, was known as being against Turkey and being sympathetic towards the Greek Cypriot side. The report was published in such a negative stance in spite of all the warnings and initiatives of Turkey, Cem said.

The Foreign Ministry fulfilled regularly the mission of informing the public opinion about all foreign policy issues including the Cyprus issue, said Cem.

[02] Three death sentences at Hope case

The court acquitted four defendants, postponed the trial of one, while sentencing to prison terms ranging from three years nine months to 18 years nine months behind bars.

The court ruled for the death penalty against defendants Ferhan Ozmen, Necdet Yuksel and Rustu Aytufan on convictions that they were members of an illegal organization aimed at toppling the constitutional order of the country with a religious order like the Iranian system and that they were directly involved in the murder of prominent journalist Ugur Mumcu and a series of other secular intellectuals.

The court, which has the right to convert death penalty sentences to life imprisonment, also ruled that in view of the severity and density of the crimes the three involved, they did not deserve a reduction in their sentences.

The court, however, used its power and applied reduction in the sentences it levied on other defendants of the case.

The court ruled that Abdullah Argun Cetin was not directly involved in the Mumcu murder but was a member of a clandestine gang and therefore he should be tried for being a member of a gang established with the aim of committing crimes. His case was sent to the Heavy Felonies Court.

Two of the defendants were sentenced to three years nine months each, while 11 defendants were each sentenced to 12 years nine months behind bars. One defendant was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment while one defendant was sentenced to 18 years nine months.

Presiding Judge Huseyin Eken, in his ruling did not disclose specifically whether the three sentenced to death were responsible of only the murder of Mumcu or whether they were involved in the murder of Ahmet Taner Kislali, Bahriye Ucok and other secular intellectuals, but stressed in ruling out reduction in their sentences that they did not deserve reduction -- conversion to life imprisonment -- in their sentences because of the severity and density of the crimes they committed.

[03] Denktas criticizes Christofias and Verheugen

Talking during a meeting with representatives of the Association of the Families of the "Victims and the Ghazis", Mr Denktas said that his wish was not to add any more pictures in the Museum of the victims and to achieve a lasting and sound solution based on the equality of the two sides and the guarantees of the "Motherland".

Answering to Mr Christofias, who is alleged to have stated that he had not demanded the return of all the refugees to their homes and that he only asked the Greek Cypriots who want to live in the Turkish Cypriot controlled area to be allowed to do so, Mr Denktas said the following: "Then where shall our people who live in the homes and the fields of the Greek Cypriots go? Shall we throw them into the sea?.Discussions must be conducted within the framework of the realities and the climate should not be confused now with statements.".

Furthermore, commenting on the statements of Mr Verheugen, who has allegedly said that the EU will accept Cyprus with or without a solution, Mr Denktas claimed that these statements are messages, which encourage the intransigence and say to the Greek Cypriots that there is no need for you to reach an agreement.

"We, however, instead of getting mad at Verheugen, must deal with those who have given the wrong impression to the man", he supported adding that these statements constitute an answer to those Turkish Cypriot organizations which declare that they are ready to enter the EU at any price.

[04] Turkish Cypriot political parties on the Cyprus problem

Talking during a meeting with the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Young Businessmen Association (GIAD), Mr Talat noted that if there is no dialogue the Turkish Cypriots would not be able to accept a solution in the most "determined, sensitive and moderate way".

The RTP leader noted that there are some circles which have gotten into action in order to prevent the peace procedure, adding that these people are a small minority in the Turkish Cypriot community the vast majority of which wants peace.

Meanwhile, Izzet Izcan, General Secretary of the Patriotic Union Movement (PUM), has argued that the supporters of peace must concentrate on finding a solution. In a written statement issued yesterday Mr Izcan pointed out that those who are against peace are exerting efforts to take the Turkish Cypriots away from the procedure towards finding a solution.

Furthermore, Arif Salih Kirdag, leader of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), has supported that those who want peace in Cyprus must lift the political and economic embargoes applied against the Turkish Cypriots.

[05] Demirel will illegally visit the occupied areas of Cyprus

Mr Demirel, who has been invited by the Foreign Press Association, will also meet the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, the so-called ambassador of Turkey to occupied Nicosia Hayati Guven, the commander of the Turkish occupation forces lieutenant general, Ahmet Ozteker, the so-called Prime Minister Dervish Eroglu and the "Speaker" of the "Assembly", Vehbi Zeki Serter.

Hikmet Cetin, former Foreign Minister and Vefa Tanir, former Defense Minister will be accompanying Mr Demirel, who is planned to remain in the pseudostate only for eight hours.

[06] Umit Inatci dismissed from the so-called NEUr East University for writing in AVRUPA and AFRIKA

According to the article the regime of Ankara and Denktas continue to terrorize "Avrupa" and its columnists. After they dismissed Nilgun Orhon from her duties at the Fen Lyceum, they dismissed yesterday Umit Inatci from the "NEU".

Inatci has been a professor at "NEU" at the School of Architecture for three years. He was called yesterday to the Dean's office, where he was informed about the decision. The reason for his dismissal was that he was writing articles in the newspapers "Avrupa" and "Afrika". The Dean of the University Suat Gunsel has not given yet any written notification to Inatci. Confidential sources said that Gunsel was forced to take this decision after intense pressure from the "top", writes "Afrika".

Guncel did not make any statement. However, "NEU" students were up in arms when they learned about the decision. The students stressed that this decision does not befit a modern university and they protested about it. "These applications remind the methods of Hitler", said the students.

Commenting on the issue Umit Inatci said that he tried to contribute to the struggle for democracy and peace while being fully aware of the possibility that he might remain unemployed. "My attitude is above all an intellectual's stand. It is a matter of personality and way of behaving. I do not want to create a past for myself for which I will be ashamed. I will continue to defend my values and perhaps I will pay a heavy price for this. However, it is outside my power to live like a sheep," noted Mr Inatci.

[07] "Suspicious" donkey deaths

The paper notes that during the autopsy conducted on the bodies of the dead donkeys no sign of shots or abuse was found.

An investigation has been conducted on the issue by Hasan Inan, responsible for the Production of Hunting Services Emir Emirzadeogullari, chairman of the Famagusta Hunting and Shooting Union and the veterinarian Savas Hosgor.

The paper writes that there is a possibility that the donkeys have been murdered massively.

KV/SK

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