Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-01-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas will brief the Turkish Cypriot political parties every ten days.

[02] The pseudostate could attend the EU-Islamic countries meeting in Istanbul.

[03] HURRIYET: "Ankara has Chosen Yiorghos".

[04] New troubles between Turkey and European Court expected.

[05] Turkish general to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[06] Piskinsut/s CDP becomes the 44th party of Turkey.

[07] The Cyprus problem will be discussed at the National Security Council meeting.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Threats against AFRIKA, Sener Levent holds responsible the Turkish generals for anything, which could happen to the journalists of his newspaper.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas will brief the Turkish Cypriot political parties every ten days

Speaking before the meeting, Denktas said he would outline the weekly meetings without dealing with details.

Denktas called on the party leaders not to disclose to the press what has been told to them, noting that all the party leaders would be informed periodically once in 10 days.

``All the target is to find a lasting peace on Cyprus,`` said Denktas, adding that, ``mutual respect is necessary and indispensable for this. Respect to rights, personality, identity, and history.. The question is whether we can establish a new order within this framework. This should be an order which will consolidate peace on Cyprus, and at the same time make Cyprus a bridge of peace, not a reason of dispute between Turkey and Greece. We are exerting efforts in this respect and will continue to do so,`` he noted.

Expressing thanks for the interest of the press, Denktas said there were those who feel uneasy of the news black-out on media, noting that they may be right.

Denktas alleged that the news blackout to the press in the previous talks had worked against the Turkish Cypriot side, adding that the Greek Cypriots had wanted to get the results they wanted giving the impression that, ``everything goes well`` or ``Turkish Cypriots do this or that``.

Denktas said: ``I hope this will not be done this time, and the sides will continue their duties with good will till a result is obtained.``

Meanwhile illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (28.1.02) broadcast that in a statement after the meeting Dervis Eroglu, so-called prime minister and leader of the National Unity Party, said that he cannot talk to the press about the content of the meeting with Denktas because of the black-out on the subject. Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriot side is sitting at the negotiating table with a spirit of goodwill and that Denktas is pursuing this goodwill on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots Eroglu remarked that the question of whether the negotiations process will follow a positive course will become apparent in time. Eroglu explained that the weekly routine meeting with Denktas was not held because of this briefing, adding that he conferred with him for a short time before the meeting.

In a brief statement after the meeting, the so-called Republican Assembly Speaker Vehpi Zeki Serter declared that he will support Denktas until the end in the negotiations.

Salih Cosar, Democratic Party leader, and so-called state minister, and deputy prime minister, in his statement, said that his party is extremely pleased with the briefing. Cosar noted that this will not be the only briefing about the talks process, adding that his party's confidence in and support for Denktas will continue.

In turn, Communal Liberation Party leader Huseyin Angolemli stated that they were briefed by Denktas about the talks, and conveyed the views of the party and of the people to him. Noting that he cannot comment on the content of the meeting because of the news black-out, Angolemli added that his party is in favour of the continuation and successful conclusion of the talks.

Also speaking after the meeting, Republican Turkish Party leader Mehmet Ali Talat stated that the direct talks on the island diverted the attention of the whole world to Cyprus and caused the voice of the Turkish Cypriots to be heard on various platforms. He stressed that his party will strongly support the process until the end. Talat remarked: "The sides are talking face-to-face. The Cyprus issue is being discussed in all its aspects. However, given that the Cyprus problem is an ongoing international issue, the efforts exerted in international platforms should continue in a coordinated way". Talat also called on everyone to support the process.

The Nationalist Justice Party, which was unable to attend the meeting because of certain reasons, issued a statement in connection with the talks process. Erhan Arikli, making a statement on behalf of the party leader, said that the party supports the peace process and it has full confidence in Denktas. Arikli declared: "As in all platforms, `President/ Denktas will defend in the best way the just cause of the Turkish Cypriots in this platform as well". Arikli noted that the party does not adhere to the view that a solution is desired at all costs, and favours a solution that will safeguard the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. Arikli said that the new process is very hopeful and the Turkish Cypriots are rapidly progressing towards an honourable end to their struggle.

[02] The pseudostate could attend the EU-Islamic countries meeting in Istanbul

After a one hour meeting, Denktas told reporters that they would have an extra meeting on Thursday at 4 p.m. this week. When asked why they feel a need to meet also on Thursday, Denktas said they need to work more and that they would discuss the functions of the new partnership.

Denktas said that the pseudostate could attend the EU-Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting in Istanbul as an observer and this would not constitute a problem for them. When asked if the "TRNC" would be invited to the meeting as the Muslim community, Denktas said ``We aren`t the Muslim community in the Greek Cyprus. We`re one of the partners who established a government.``

[03] HURRIYET:'' Ankara has Chosen Yiorghos''

Turkey has decided to give, at the summit, to the occupied area, which Ankara officially recognizes, observer status as the ''Muslim Turkish Community of the Island''. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou will attend the summit.

The summit, which is going to be held between12-13/2/02 in Istanbul, will be organised in a manner similar to the ESCO summit of 1999.

Hurriyet reports that if the ''Greek Cypriot side decides to take part in the summit it will attend as country''.

Forty-two countries will attend the summit, 26 of them with their foreign ministers.

[04] New troubles between Turkey and European Court expected

"Turkey's refusal to implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights may lead to a second Loizidou case, blocking the relations between Ankara and the Council of Europe, legal experts say.

Speaking to the Turkish Daily News on the towering cases against Turkey, a Turkish official said that more than 150 cases in front of the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe may put an additional strain on the already-damaged ties with, not only the court itself, but also with the Council of Europe.

Theoretically, Turkish membership of the Council can be halted, experts say, adding that such a development was unprecedented.

Legally, the European Court controls the judicial decisions, while political control is carried out by the Ministerial Committee of the Council of Europe.

The European Court made 3,142 legal decisions against Turkey, 1,000 of which were made last year, according to recent information released by the court.

Over 240 of them were related to violations of rights, while more than 150 cases are in front of the Committee of Ministers, the political mechanism.

Turkey has paid out more than $11 million in compensation since 1995 following court decisions.

The Loizidou case was opened by a Greek Cypriot against Turkey. Ankara argues that the `TRNC/ is responsible for the case, and not Turkey itself, and refuses either to pay compensation or take the necessary steps related to the case".

[05] Turkish general to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus

General Ozkok will meet tomorrow with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas, the so-called "Speaker" of the pseudoassembly, Vehbi Zeki Serter, the so-called "Prime Minister", Dervish Eroglu and the illegal ambassador of Turkey to occupied Nicosia, Hayati Guven.

The Turkish general is planned to leave occupied Cyprus on Friday.

[06] Piskinsut's CDP becomes the 44th party of Turkey

CDP is Turkey's 44th political party and has three members in the 550-seat Parliament.

Apart from its leader Piskinsut, former DLP deputies Nezire Karakus and Mehmet Ozcan are the founding members of the new party.

In the light of this new development, the number of independent lawmakers in Parliament has decreased to 14.

The main coalition partner, the Democratic Left Party (DLP), has 129 seats, while its partners, the Nationalist Action Party (NAP) has 127 and the Motherland Party (MP) has 79 members.

The main opposition True Path Party (TPP), led by Tansu Ciller, has 85 lawmakers in Parliament.

The two parties which were formed from the ashes of the now defunct Virtue Party (FP) after its closure by the Constitutional Court, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) has 53 seats and the Saadet (happiness or contentment) Party (SP) has 48 members.

Piskinsut's CDP becomes the seventh party with seats in Parliament.

Piskinsut resigned from the DLP last year and accused her chairman, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, of mismanaging the economy and "sentencing the people to unemployment and poverty."

Piskinsut is one of the few women in Turkey's Parliament, and is a respected human rights advocate.

Before her resignation, she unsuccessfully challenged Ecevit for the leadership at a party congress, but was booed by delegates and not allowed to address the meeting.

Ecevit, 76, has led the DLP, for more than a decade, and tolerates little dissent within the party.

Piskinsut in her first press conference as leader of the newly-founded CDP said that there will be no leader dictatorship in her party.

"The CDP will be a party administrated by a collective mind," Piskinsut pledged.

Piskinsut added that her party symbolized the new "hope" of Turkey, which is going through a very difficult period.

Turkey has been suffering the effects of the biggest economic crisis of its history, and public opinion polls reveal that the majority of Turkish people do not believe that the current three-way coalition is capable of curing the crisis.

Recent public opinion polls also show that the majority of the Turkish electorate are seeking new parties.

In this light, the Turkish political scene has been witnessing new formations, both in the center-left and the center-right, since last year.

[07] The Cyprus problem will be discussed at the National Security Council meeting

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the United States and his talks will be among the issues of the meeting. Another hot topic of the meeting will be a possible U.S. offensive against Iraq within this framework.

Developments in Afghanistan will be among the issues of the meeting. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem won't participate in the meeting due to his official visit to Bosnia.

Talks between the two leaders in Cyprus, Rauf Denktas and Glafcos Clerides will be another important main topic of the meeting.

Education in Kurdish language issue will also be debated as a part of security issues.

Adaptations and relations with the European Union (EU) will also be among the issues that will be discussed during the meeting.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Threats against "AFRIKA"; Sener Levent holds responsible the Turkish generals for anything, which could happen to the journalists of his newspaper

"The terror through the telephone against the journalists of our newspaper has acquired unbelievable dimensions. There is a variety of threats. - We shall hang you! We shall butcher you! We shall cut you into pieces!

The threats are not made only against our writers, but also against their families, their aunts and uncles. .

One could feel like asking: - Hey you, where do we live? We could say in Africa, but it is understood that we have passed Africa too.

For all these I hold responsible the security authorities of our country. Let me mention them one by one: The army corps, the Command of the Security Forces, the Civilian Defense, the Presidency of Civilian Affairs. In the head of all these are Turkish generals and colonels. They are responsible for the security affairs of this country.

Who am I to hold responsible for the fearless threats and everything, which happens to us, if not them?

If my colleagues and I do not feel secure in this divided country, it is because of the people who are in these posts. We have experienced here the state terrorism with all its oppressions. We have seen what could be done to us with the slanders and the conspiracy by the security authorities, which are responsible for our safety. They did not remain inactive after the espionage conspiracy as well. What could be more wrong from their not giving back to me my passport even though they did not file any charges against me for espionage and not giving any explanation at all for this?

By whom are these fearless telephone threats being made? Why the police, whom we have informed, are unable to discover this? Is colonel Namik Koc, Head of the Civilian Affairs, which are responsible for the internal and external intelligence service of our country, not responsible for these phone calls? If these threats were made against them, would they not find immediately the perpetrators?

We understand that our intelligence cannot arrest the terrorists and the bombers. They also cannot arrest those who shot dead Kutlu Adali. But can they not arrest the telephone terrorists?

We have written many times in these columns that our life is in danger and who we are afraid of. However, it is not very difficult to understand what else could happen in a country where even the mystery of the bomb, which had exploded in front of the residence of the Prime Minister, was not solved. All those who made a surprise attack on my house were not policemen. A Turkish lieutenant colonel, who works in the Civilian Affairs, was also among them. He was the one who had his finger on the trigger of his pistol being ready to pull it.

Furthermore, we have also been interrogated by a captain of the Civilian Affairs. He was the one who during the interrogation called the Prime Minister 'son of a bitch'.

As you have seen, these 'civilian affairs' are capable of many things. Do not think that they are 'civilian'. It is the centre of colonels, lieutenant colonels and captains. Colonel Namik Koc, who during our first meeting introduced himself as 'Baytar Murat', is now Head of the Civilian Affairs. Colonel Arif Karaduman had been at the same post before him. We have to know these well in order to understand a lot of 'mysterious' events we have lived!".

KV/SK

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