Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-01-10

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Sukru Sina Gurel admits that the pseudostate is run with money from Turkey. He tries to dictate to Europe how to handle Cyprus.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[02] AFRIKA characterizes Turkey's State Minister Gurel/s statements as preparation for the non-solution.

[03] Umit Inatci answers to VOLKAN.

[04] Columnist in YENIDUZEN blames Denktas for the so-called embargo

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Sukru Sina Gurel admits that the pseudostate is run with money from Turkey. He tries to dictate to Europe how to handle Cyprus

Gurel said that Turkey donated 40-50 million dollars to the pseudostate for infrastructure projects and personnel needs since 1974, adding that it also provided a credit worth of 250 million dollars.

The economic and political relations between Turkey and the pseudostate gained a new dimension by the agreement signed in 1997 on formation of Partnership Council, he said.

The agreement foresees determination of measures directed at financial and economic integration, and partial integration in security, defense and foreign policy, he noted.

State Minister Gurel said that the support of Turkey started to increase and diversify after 1997, adding that the economy of the pseudostate started to improve after 1998.

Gurel pointed out that the economic balances started to be disturbed in occupied Cyprus as a result of deviations from the economic programme, adding that a new crisis period started with the negative developments in financial and banking sector. Gurel added that an Economic Stability Programme started to be implemented in October 2000.

Stressing that Turkey is committed to give a credit worth of 350 million dollars to be used in three years, Gurel said that the budget deficit of the pseudostate that is foreseen as 14 trillion liras, has become 75 trillion liras in 2001 and Turkey met this deficit.

``Upon the National Security Council`s recommendatory decision, our government has put an action plan into practice to support the 'TRNC' in every field. With this plan, Turkey strongly supports the 'TRNC'`s political and socio-economic efforts. This plan has been the most clear expression of importance attributed to relations between the two countries,`` he said.

Noting that the pseudostate was hopeful about 2002, Gurel said that the occupation regime had targeted a 5 percent growth rate in 2002 and foreseen a 513 trillion 625 billion TL budget expenditures and a 440 trillion 835 billion budget revenues.

Gurel said that it would be possible to close the 72 trillion 778 billion TL budget deficit through measures mentioned in transition programme when Turkey`s total contribution of 375 trillion TL was taken into consideration.

Stressing that 100 million U.S. dollars of payment would be made to depositors in 2002, Gurel said: ``State banks should be strengthened this year in order to settle the finance sector on a sound basis. With this respect, some part of receivables of state banks from the state economic enterprises was planned to be paid in 2002. With this objective, a 25-30 trillion TL of source has been allocated. ``

Gurel said that they would try to get a definite result in 2002 in order to remove obstacles in front of commercial relations between Turkey and the pseudostate.

Noting that a special encouragement model had been put into practice for the occupied areas, Gurel said that tourism, agricultural industry, manufacturing, industry, health, education, shipyard repair and high technology projects would be encouraged with this model.

Gurel said: ``It has been calculated that nearly four thousand people will be employed with twenty projects developed for the sectors to be encouraged and there will be almost twelve percent supplementary contribution to the 'TRNC'`s gross national product with the investments to be made. ``

``This model which will be financed by the Development Bank of Turkey, foresees extension of a 160 million U.S. dollars of loan in the next five years. The targeted total investment amount during this process is 265 million U.S. dollars. The Treasury Under secretariat is preparing a notification on this matter. Under this notification, those incentives in question will be implemented this year, `` he added.

``Turkey does not consider the 'TRNC' a separate place. Turkey will continue to support the 'TRNC' in the future. Turkish Cypriots should rely on Turkey. At the same time, they should maintain their struggle by protecting their national identity. I am quite sure that the 'TRNC' will reach its desired place in the international platform, `` he said.

Describing the Turkish Industrialists` and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) as a sound organization, Gurel added: ``The Turkish government develops Turkey's foreign policy under control of the parliament. No one should make irresponsible statements that can jeopardize our national interests. The Cyprus question is an issue of vital importance in Turkey's foreign policy. ``

Replying to a question on Cyprus, Gurel said that the words of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen confirmed the things told by the Turkish side to date.

Gurel alleged that the EU took very wrong steps in the Cyprus issue to date, adding: ``If they continue to take these wrong steps, the division on the island will become final, they will cause a serious problem in the East Mediterranean and they will disturb the Turkish-Greek balance. Even if the EU talks in such a threatening manner, it started to realize the reality. If they continue taking wrong steps, they will admit the Greek Cypriot side as an EU member, but they will divide Cyprus. ``

Responding to another question, Gurel said that the new process started on Cyprus had removed some negative factors that had existed so far, adding that: ``Some papers prepared by others`` had been presented during the proximity talks held under the supervision of the U.N. Secretary General.

Alleging that Rauf Denktas had withdrawn from those talks due to this reason, Gurel said that the United Nations was participating in the new process as observer.

Noting that the sides on the island could come together from time to time, Gurel said: ``What gives hope to us is that these talks are now being held in the right place between the sides in the most appropriate way. ``

When asked whether the information he had given on the pseudostate's economic situation were linked to the new process, Gurel said that it was possible to set up such a connection with the positive result of the talks, but those two issues were far away from each other for now.

Stressing that a solution could be reached through the good intentions of both sides, Gurel said that they were hopeful about the new process.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[02] "Afrika" characterizes Turkey's State Minister Gurel's statements as preparation for the non-solution

"Are we heading towards a solution in Cyprus or towards a more deep integration with Turkey? If you look at Sukru Sina Gurel/s statements it seems that we are on the second track. Gurel is making plans, long-term plans. At least five years long plans. You are expecting solution the latest within June of this year, but Gurel has other plans. You have adjusted your life according to the solution, whereas Gurel has adjusted your life according to the non-solution.

Your plans are for six months. Gurel's plans are for five years, that is until 2007. What is the Minister of the Republic of Turkey responsible for our affairs saying? It is provided that within the period of the next five years Turkey would grant the TRNC a credit of 160 million dollars. What does this mean? Beware; do not let yourself fantasize about the solution. There is no such thing. We shall be living like before.

This is the message of Gurel. And his dreams are wide. In his hands, he says, there are twenty projects related to us. He says that as soon as these plans are developed, job opportunities for four thousand people will be created in the TRNC. As you see this is a long-term calculation. Gurel has not been prepared for the solution and the accession to the European Union. He says absolutely nothing about them. He behaves as if there are no such things. While everybody dreams of a Cyprus which will join the EU together with the solution of the Cyprus problem, he dreams of a Cyprus without the EU and without a solution.

For some reason or other, everybody today 'is very optimistic and hopes for a solution'. Our people are so fed up with this situation that with their eyes closed are approving even an unknown change. If there were a referendum without interference what would everybody be voting for? Accession to the EU, with or without a solution. No one wants compromises from the calendar designated by the EU to be made.

Ankara has been trying a lot to scare the EU. If Cyprus is accepted without a solution to the Cyprus problem, the area will be disordered, it said. It even surpassed itself saying she would annex the Northern Iraq. We do not think that these threats have been taken seriously in Europe. Who cares about the threats made by a poor state the economy of which has collapsed? If these threats were made by Russia or China, then they would be taken seriously. .".

[03] Umit Inatci answers to "Volkan"

".You wish us to have the fate of the donkeys which have been killed in our country because they loved their nature. Choosing a cheap title like the 'Cheap hero' you have continued to call us, as you always do, 'traitors' and 'the enemy which is among us'. This, in fact, is the mission of 'Volkan'. .

We struggle for peace, democracy, the human rights and freedom. We have no enemies. The important thing for us is being humanistic, not hostile. And for us, wanting to live the way we are is not cheapness, it is dangerous, because you are people of darkness. It is obvious what your threats smell.

You have used expressions like 'it is found out that some people enemies of the Motherland and the State have established themselves in some of our universities and make propaganda in this direction under the label of a teacher' and 'of course the efforts of this person to inject his sick ideas to the young minds in the university'. It is understood from these expressions that you have begun a 'clean out' operation. It is very clear from where the pressure on the university came. .

You said that the students complained that 'Why did Inatci come to the north if the TRNC is under occupation? He should have stayed in the south where he lived for seven years'. Leave the students alone. Do not make their ignorance on these matters instrument of your racist policy. .As far as the substance of the issue is concerned, yesterday and the day before some students of mine called me and told me that they wanted to gather signatures for my return to the university. I only told them 'do not interfere in these matters, continue your lessons, I do not want anything to happen to you, do not place the university in a difficult situation, because this is not something between me and the university'. . As far as the Ihsan Ali Foundation and my staying in the south are concerned, do you think I am trying to hide these things? All the names you have mentioned are civilized, peace-loving people. Do you want me to feel ashamed of this foundation we have established in order to organize actions to facilitate the rapprochement between the communities and peace?

Are there not in Turkey associations, which try to build bridges of peace between Turkey and Greece? If they are not traitors, are we the only traitors? You are making the mistake to call Dr Ihsan Ali 'Greek Cypriot nationalist'. Everybody knows that he was a supporter of Ataturk, a peace-loving person, patriot, philanthropist and man of the people. People like you, however, have always been like this. You have always been trying to destroy the pluralistic structure of the society by using this kind of fascist pressures. .

I do understand your anger when you hear the word 'occupation', but this word has been used by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to describe the situation in the northern part of Cyprus. It is obvious what I want to say by the expression 'occupation regime'. Even in Turkey there is an occupation regime. .You say 'our way is the way of Turkey'. Very well, on the way of which Turkey? Are you on the way of the Turkey, which struggles for the human rights and democracy or the Turkey about which the people who gather their food from the garbage in order to fill up their belly are dreaming off?

You are not really on the way of Turkey! You are trying to destroy out all the human values on which Turkey will adhere to on its way for democratization and becoming civilized.

All the values we support are in the declaration of human rights. Turkey too has signed them and unfortunately you are putting Turkey into a difficult position. Especially with the article you published yesterday you give me all the material I need to appeal to the ECHR. I thank you for this. My only grief is that Turkey will go there to make the defense in your place. .".

[04] Columnist in YENIDUZEN blames Denktas for the so-called embargo

Eraslan writes that although too many delegations have been going and coming from Turkey to the occupied areas and too many protocols have been signed since 1974, the economy of the pseudostate has reached the rock of the bottom.

He stresses that every time Denktas meets these delegations he is complaining that they couldn't overcome their economic problems and that the major source of their problem is the 'embargoes'.

Eraslan points out that Denktas must remember that he was the one who prohibited the export of the Turkish Cypriot products with the stamp of the Cyprus Republic in 1983, declaring it as illegal. It was also Denktas who restricted the freedom of movement to his people by forbidding them to use the passports of the Cyprus Republic, concludes the commentator of Yeniduzen.

KV/SK

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