Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-05-02

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader before leaving for Turkey.

[02] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader in Bursa and at occupied Tymbou airport.

[03] Mesut Yilmaz cites the obstacles before Turkey's EU course.

[04] Ismail Cem says the Cyprus problem is a tough issue but there is hope.

[05] The Turkish occupation army claims responsibility for search and rescue in Cyprus.

[06] Ecevit/s and Bahceli/s parties have equal seats in the TGNA.

[07] Konuloglu says that the Turkish Cypriots are hostages in the occupied areas.

[08] The Turkish Energy Minister signed the document for the project of transporting water to the occupied areas through pipelines.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader before leaving for Turkey

Denktas will also address a conference at the university.

In statements at occupied Tymbou Airport, Denktas pointed out that very big speculations were made regarding the document, which he presented to President Glafcos Clerides.

He said: ``Solution of the Cyprus problem depends on the acceptance of equal sovereign status of the two sides." Alleging that the Turkish side took every necessary step, Denktas said: ``All we want is the recognition of our rights and acceptance of our existence. `` Denktas wanted the Turkish Cypriot people to be patient, and that he trusted his people, and stressed that Turkish Cypriots are people who know their rights.

Denktas also alleged that the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriots would continue as long as the foreign world tells the Greek Cypriots that ``you are the legal Cyprus government.`` He said those who want to help the solution of the Cyprus question should act equally towards the two sides in Cyprus.

[02] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader in Bursa and at occupied Tymbou airport

In a statement upon his return from Bursa Denktas said: "There is no application to the EU by Cyprus; there is an application by the Greek Cypriots; and the Greek Cypriots do not constitute Cyprus".

Denktas alleged that if Cyprus is admitted into the EU without Turkey, the Government of Cyprus will achieve through EU membership what it failed to achieve through the use of force, malice, and terrorism, and added:

"There are attempts to portray Cyprus as the biggest obstacle in front of Turkey, which is in the process of joining the EU. It is meaningless that those who failed to place the Ireland issue before Britain and the terrorism issue before Germany, and those who failed to demand that Greece resolves the problem that it created are now asking Turkey to solve this problem first."

Denktas called on the European Parliament, the EU, and the UN Security Council officials to find a scientific and realistic answer to the question of what the Cyprus problem consists of. He said: "The Greek Cypriot administration of south Cyprus is not and cannot be the government of the whole of Cyprus. It does not have the right to be the government of the whole of Cyprus, and what is being done here is a political exercise, not a constitutional one. The political exercise should consist of establishing a new partnership between two equal sides. The road will open when this partnership is accepted."

Noting that Turkey will not cease to exert efforts for the solution of the Cyprus problem and support the Turkish Cypriots to this end, Denktas declared that if the EU admits south Cyprus as a member, Turkey will exercise its legal rights, and this will lead to a crisis. A wrong move will shake the EU and the Turkish-Greek balance, Denktas noted, expressing the belief that the problem can be peacefully resolved if a correct diagnosis is made and the Greek Cypriots are told that they do not represent the Turkish Cypriots.

There are those who wish to separate the Turkish Cypriots from Turkey, Denktas said, adding that there are efforts to portray the few people who say Turkey should not interfere in our affairs as the Turkish Cypriot youth, but the Turkish Cypriots are deeply attached to motherland Turkey.

[03] Mesut Yilmaz cites the obstacles before Turkey's EU course

Addressing the ANAP parliamentary group today, Yilmaz stated that there exist certain obstacles before Turkey's membership in the EU. These obstacles cannot be eliminated by enacting a few laws or by solving the Cyprus problem, he said, and if you think this is the case, you are wrong.

The Turkish Deputy Prime Minister went on: "Yes, these obstacles do exist, but I believe that there are certain deliberately created obstacles that are more important. The first obstacle is the atmosphere of indecision created by certain circles in the public. We must lift this atmosphere as soon as possible. If we want to become members of the EU, we must show the necessary determination and the necessary political will for that.

The second obstacle is the nonsense that the EU will not accept us no matter what we do.

The third obstacle is the indifference that is reigning in the public as a result of the first two obstacles, an indifference that has replaced the excitement and enthusiasm that reigned in the beginning. We must leave this behind.

We must prevent the feelings of resignation and despondency from spreading.

The fifth obstacle is this: If we want to join the EU, we must stop being so hypersensitive and touchy. We must be more self-confident. We must leave hypersensitivity to others.

The sixth obstacle is this: Considering that we do not have much time, we must prevent those circles that are disturbed by the strides we take toward EU membership from exerting heavy pressure on the public."

[04] Ismail Cem says the Cyprus problem is a tough issue but there is hope

Cem stressed that membership negotiations between Turkey and the EU have to start soon in order to maintain stable relations.

``Turkey-EU relations should not move between the feeling of isolation at the EU Council meeting in Luxembourg and the integration spirit of the Helsinki Summit,`` he said.

``If the definition of being a European requires common history and geography, Turkey has been a European powder for seven centuries,`` he continued. ``If this definition is based on values such as democracy, human rights, state of law or secularism, we have been contributing to this culture for the last 75 years, although we still need progress in certain areas.

Turkey's EU membership and its key role in the centre of Eurasia do not contradict with each other. Our cultural and historical background which covers Europe, Mediterranean, Balkans, Caucasian and the Middle East allow us to serve both of these regions, `` he said.

Commenting on the recent developments in the European political field Cem said that the growing strength of rightist movements in EU countries could cause problems in the EU fulfilling its obligations towards Turkey.

Responding to a question on Cyprus, Cem said that the Cyprus problem was a tough issue although there was hope. He alleged that the EU should encourage the Greek Cypriot side to make more efforts for the solution of the problem.

[05] The Turkish occupation army claims responsibility for search and rescue in Cyprus

The occupation forces Commander Gen. Galip Mendi, speaking at the briefing, said that "the allegation of the Greek Cypriot side that it has the responsibility of search and rescue in Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean was not right."

Gen. Mendi recalled that assignment of air search and rescue was given to the British Bases by the Republic of Cyprus, which had been set up with the 1959-1960 agreements and which did not have the organization that would give this service. He said the British Bases still have this right in Search Rescue Coordination Center in Episkopi which is near the Akrotiri Base and the Flight Information Region (FIR) in Nicosia.

Pointing out that the Republic of Cyprus had set up its own Search and Rescue Coordination Centre in 1996 near Larnaca Airport, and that it was ready to operate, Gen. Mendi said Greek Cypriot press from time to time mentioned the issue of the Greek Cypriot side's undertaking search and rescue services provided by British Military Base on Cyprus.

Mendi said the Turkish Republic implemented ``Search and Rescue in Sea``, signed in 1996, and ``Cooperation Protocol In Improvement of Maritime``, signed in 2000 and took steps to increase cooperation with the pseudostate in search and rescue.

Mendi said: ``At the point where we reached, the Greek Cypriot side issued a notam and by using the advantages of being recognized as the Cyprus Republic, announced that it would undertake the responsibility of search and rescue starting as of March 1, 2002. Britain has not denied the issue of handing over this responsibility to the Greek Cypriot side.`` He said the Turkish Republic and the pseudostate issued two separate notams and announced that they would not accept this change.

Gen. Galip Mendi said two Search and Rescue in Sea teams were established in the occupation Security Forces Command in 2001 aiming to make the team gain the ability of search and rescue in every kind of natural disasters that may occur in sea and land.

Mendi said the teams were equipped with the latest contemporary technologies and equipment under international standards, and became ready to perform every kind of assignment that will be given to them.

Mendi said: ``In light of those developments, performance of search and rescue manoeuvres, and the participation by civilian and military elements from Turkey and `TRNC/ in the northern part of Cyprus, gained importance. `` Mendi said the aim of the manoeuvres was to prove that the allegations of the Greek Cypriot side were unacceptable.

The manoeuvres will be open to press and foreign observers.

[06] Ecevit's and Bahceli's parties have equal seats in the TGNA

When the coalition government was formed after the 1999 elections, the DLP had 136 deputies in Parliament, while the NAP had 126 seats. Junior coalition partner, the Motherland Party (MP), had 84 members in the 550-seat Turkish Grand National Assembly.

Some political sources have claimed that the NAP may ask for the Prime Ministry mandate as it has an equal number of seats as the DLP. However, NAP leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli noted that an article of the coalition protocol says that the Prime Ministry would not be handed to another member of the coalition, even if the number of seats changed over time.

In an earlier statement, Bahceli said that he was ready to take on the duty of running a government as prime minister. He added that he would be ready to serve the country when the conditions have matured.

Answering a recent question on whether or not the conditions had matured, Bahceli simply said, "no."

Bahceli stated that he could not think of becoming prime minister as Turkey currently has one.

Bahceli, in response to another question, said there would be no changes in the government protocol.

On the other hand, political circles have been saying that the arithmetic has changed and that this would be reflected in the actions of the three-way coalition.

[07] Konuloglu says that the Turkish Cypriots are hostages in the occupied areas

Addressing yesterday the 1st May workers day meeting in occupied Nicosia, Mr Konuloglu noted, among other things: "... We all know that the Turkish Cypriots have become hostages and they cannot express their will. Unfortunately, the Turkish Cypriots are being accused by President Denktas himself because they want work and food to live and because they want peace in the island. .". Meanwhile, according to KIBRIS (02.05.02) the participants in the "1st May peace and democracy meeting" organized by the "Platform This Country is Ours", chanted slogans such as "We say no to integration", "We want peace now", "This country is ours and we are going to rule it", "Do not be silent, because your turn will also come" and "Peace, Democracy and Federation".

[08] The Turkish Energy Minister signed the document for the project of transporting water to the occupied areas through pipelines

Eroglu expressed pleasure over the actual launching of the $9.5-million project following the signature held at the office of Mesut Yilmaz, Turkish state minister and deputy prime minister. The prime minister also thanked Energy Minister Cakan for his special attention. Eroglu explained that transporting water and energy under water was also discussed during his meeting with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan. He remarked that the deputy prime minister stated that water and energy projects are two strategic issues, and they will definitely be realized.

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