Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-01-23

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Circular in Kurdish language causes concern among diplomats

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader tries to blame the Greek Cypriot Press for his repeated statements despite the black out

[03] KIBRIS sees "green light" to the exports of the pseudostate to the EU

[04] The Turkish Cypriot Travel Agents to be represented in UFTAA 35th Congress

[05] New minimum wage is decided

[06] Turkey's THEC controls the Higher Education in the occupied area

[07] Denktas is angry because affected bank depositors accuse Turkey of being responsible for the banking crisis in the occupied area

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Circular in Kurdish language causes concern among EU diplomats

During the Turkish-European Union Association Committee meeting to be held in Brussels on Thursday, the European Union will voice concerns related with the detention of the students giving petitions for receiving education in Kurdish, senior EU officials said.

Speaking to the Turkish Daily News on Monday, EU sources stated that there were "undoubtedly" concerns over the "response" given by the Turkish authorities to the students giving petitions for receiving education in Kurdish.

Deputy Undersecretary Akin Alptuna and Director of the European Commission Michael Leigh will co-chair the association Committee talks.

The Turkish-EU Association Council meeting will be held in March. More than 10,000 students all around the country handed petitions to university administrations defending their rights to be given education in the Kurdish language. More than 50 students have been imprisoned on charges of having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

In Afyon Kocatepe University, 49 students were dismissed from the school.

In reference to the right of petition, the EU officials, who broadly debated the issue during the routine meetings of the EU ambassadors, criticized the arrest of the students.

In an earlier Turkey-EU meeting held in Madrid on Jan. 8, the EU side raised concerns over the prevention of the opening of an office for the international human rights organization, Amnesty International (AI).

The "petition" issue and the barrier put in front the AI office by the ministers from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), such as Health Minister Osman Durmus and Agriculture Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, caused uneasiness in the EU, as time passes for the completion of the period for the fulfillment of the short-term criteria.

Yucelen's circular puzzles

Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen's circular on the prevention of the violation of the Constitution "puzzled" the EU officials.

Senior EU diplomats told the TDN that, "Yucelen might get European visitors asking for clarification on the circular."

Last Thursday, Yucelen ordered the 81 governors and Gendarmerie Forces to take the necessary measures to prevent the violation of the Constitution.

Yucelen said in the circular that the PKK had a new strategy for giving priority to the Kurdish identity, Kurdish education and the use of the Kurdish language, defining these attempts as a part of the "Second Attempt for Peace."

Yucelen said in the circular that the petitions were started on Dec. 27, 2001.

The short-term criteria asked by the EU from Turkey includes the removal of legal prohibitions forbidding the use by Turkish citizens of their mother tongue in TV/radio broadcasting.

"We know that education in Kurdish is a medium-term priority, however it is seen that no step is being taken for the short-term expectation related with TV broadcasting," EU officials say.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader tries to blame the Greek Cypriot Press for his repeated statements despite the black out

Talking yesterday after a meeting with a delegation of the Nationalist Justice Party (NJP), Mr Denktas refuted claims made by the Greek Cypriot Press to the effect that the issues that will be placed on the table within the framework of the direct talks have been divided in accordance with the easiness and difficulty of these issues. Mr Denktas alleged that untrue reports that mislead the public appearing in the Greek Cypriot Press cannot help the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The Turkish Cypriot leader argued the following: "Until today we have been applying the black out to the Turkish Cypriot Press, while on behalf of the Greek Cypriot side information which will harm the Turkish Cypriot people and create the wrong impression, is being leaked".

Replying to some reports allegedly published in the Greek Cypriot Press, regarding the issue of the settlers brought illegally to Cyprus by Turkey since 1974 in an effort to change the demographic structure of the northern part of the island, Mr Denktas described as "wrong" the information that the settlers are to be given 5 thousand US dollars each in order to leave Cyprus.

"We have no 'settlers'. We have citizens of the TRNC and our citizens are not for sale. Our citizens are not people who will take money and abandon their land and their country", said Mr Denktas adding that they even expect those who left the occupied areas due to financial difficulties to return to Cyprus.

The Turkish Cypriot leader noted also that the Cyprus problem is an issue of good will and added: "If there is hope the talks are going to continue. If not, it means that the difference still exists. Everybody will explain the situation to his side, take its opinion and decide .As long as good will exists the difficulties can be settled. The good will passes through accepting the realities.".

Mr Denktas argued also that "no one has the right to ask" whether the Turkish Cypriots have abandoned their so-called state.

[03] KIBRIS sees "green light" to the exports of the pseudostate to the EU

The paper argues that this decision means the lifting of the so-called embargos applied to the occupation regime, as the PACE calls on the European Union to "create the mechanisms for facilitating the trade between the Turkish Cypriots and the EU".

"Halkin Sesi" refers to the issue under the banner front-page title "Warm message from Europe".

[04] The Turkish Cypriot Travel Agents to be represented in UFTAA 35th Congress

According to a written statement issued yesterday by KITSAB's president Mrs Ayse Bicenkardesler, the Turkish Cypriots have been participating in UFTAA congresses since 1989, having the status of an observer.

[05] New minimum wage is decided

One US dollar is sold today in the occupied areas for about one million and 326 thousand liras.

[06] Turkey's THEC controls the Higher Education in the occupied area

The report says that the THEC interferes in hiring or dismissing faculty staff. The paper says that recently there is the claim that a faculty member of a university has been dismissed according to the directives send from THEC, and another 60 faculty members were ordered by the THEC to be dismissed from their posts in various so- called universities in the occupied area.

Yeniduzen reports that the Higher Education Control And Accreditation Council (HECAC), which is the equivalent of the THEC in the occupied area, cannot function properly because it needs the approval of the THEC.

Yeniduzen further reports that Turkish universities have started building faculties in the occupied area among them the Middle East Technical University and Hacettepe University. In the face of this arrangement,adds the paper, the Universities in the occupied area which need THEC's approval have no chance of competing with the universities from Turkey which enjoy the THEC's approval.

[07] Denktas is angry because affected bank depositors accuse Turkey of being responsible for the banking crisis in the occupied area

Commenting on the depositors' accusations launched against Turkey the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas strongly criticized the depositors for their action and defended Turkey saying that Turkey does not have the resources to fulfil the demands of the depositors. He urged the depositors to act in a sensible manner. He added that people should launch their complaints here in the occupied area and not in Turkey.

Denktas claimed that necessary arrangements were made and the depositors will be paid in stages.

[08] New building of the representation of the US embassy in the occupied areas was inaugurated yesterday

Among the quests at the reception were the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, the so-called ambassador of Turkey to occupied Nicosia, Hayati Guven, the commander of the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus lieutenant general, Ahmet Ozteker, the commander of the so-called security forces brigadier general Galip Mendi, the so-called Foreign Affairs and Defense "Minister", Ertugrul Hasipoglu, the so-called Education and Culture "Minister", Ilkay Kamil, the "Ombudsman", Nail Atalay, the "mayor" of occupied Nicosia, Semi Bora and heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Cyprus.

IT/MY/YH

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