Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-05-30

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas alleges that by wanting to return to their houses and properties the Greek Cypriots do not want peace.

[02] The illegal occupation regime extends the territorial waters of the occupied areas to 12 miles.

[03] Denktas accuses the Government Spokesman of being "ignorant" and having "inferiority complex".

[04] Denktas: "Turkey will not make the sacrifice that the Greek Cypriots expect".

[05] Turkey/s refusal to abide by the European Court of Human Rights decisions is endangering its position regarding the Council of Europe.

[06] Father who gave his daughter a Kurdish name will be tried by a State Security Court.

[07] Islamic Party leader calls on Ecevit to resign.

[08] The occupation regime destroyed a Greek cemetery in Lapithos.

[09] Foundation of Azerbaijan to honour Rauf Denktas.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas alleges that by wanting to return to their houses and properties the Greek Cypriots do not want peace

In statements during the programme the Turkish Cypriot leader stated that the majority of the Greek Cypriots, who were forced by the Turkish occupation army to abandon their ancestral homes and properties, wanted peace by which they can exercise their fundamental right of returning to their places and alleged that this meant that they did not want peace.

Disclosing the Greek Cypriot side/s views on the issue of the guarantees during the direct talks, Denktas said that the Greek Cypriot side proposed the United Nations as a guarantor force equipped with super powers, above Turkey, Greece, and Britain, the current guarantors. This is unacceptable, added Denktas. He noted that they wanted the guarantee agreement and system to be transformed into a new partnership, the UN soldiers to be given a new authority and be given observer status between the two sides, and the UN soldiers to inform the guarantors and the UN Secretary-General about those who violate the agreement. Recounting that, at first, he was hopeful with regard to President Clerides/ opening on the issue of guarantees, Denktas added that he was later disappointed, however.

Reiterating his views on the EU, Denktas said that the rights of the Turkish Cypriots should also be taken into consideration before Cyprus becomes EU member. Explaining that they seek the issue to be resolved and not waste time, Denktas added: "We are not delaying anybody and we are openly saying that we want a partnership based on the sovereignty of the two sides"

In reply to a question on the schedule of the negotiations, Denktas said that they will patiently continue with the talks.

[02] The illegal occupation regime extends the territorial waters of the occupied areas to 12 miles

Salih Miroglu, so-called Council of Ministers spokesman said in a statement after the meeting in occupied Nicosia that the Republic of Cyprus recently increased its territorial waters to 12 miles, and that the pseudostate has the right to do the same.

[03] Denktas accuses the Government Spokesman of being "ignorant" and having "inferiority complex"

Commenting yesterday on a statement made by Mr Papapetrou who has said that Turkey's Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit has "a serious lack of historical and cultural knowledge", Mr Denktas expressed the view that this statement is contrary to every kind of good conduct and protocol.

"He only exhibited his own ignorance and inferiority complex", continued the Turkish Cypriot leader accusing the Greek Cypriot side of playing the game of "being super European" within the framework of its "policy to get under control the whole of Cyprus". Mr Denktas claimed that Mr Papapetrou "changes colours motivated by political expediencies".

Mr Denktas claimed also that some European academicians do not accept the allegations of the Greek Cypriots that Cyprus is a European country and support that it is closer to the Middle East than the European Union from the point of view of geography and especially the human geography. They support that the food and cultural habits of the Cypriots are much closer to Middle East than Europe, he added.

"Wanting to accede to the EU and saying that we are Europeans and we have the right to accede are different things. Here is the mistake of Papapetrou", concluded Mr Denktas.

[04] Denktas: "Turkey will not make the sacrifice that the Greek Cypriots expect"

Speaking yesterday during a meeting with the 1950 graduates of the Infantry War Academy, Mr Denktas claimed that the Greek Cypriots and Greece are used to losing in the wars but gain land. "I hope this time we shall change this habit", he added.

Talking about Turkey's EU accession course in relation to the Cyprus problem, Mr Denktas said:

"Greece has a great duty, a great responsibility. It is a guarantor state responsible for the lost of so many lives and so many wars. It has not fulfilled its duty as a guarantor. That is why I wish Greece will understand something. Turkey will not make the sacrifice they expect in the Cyprus issue, neither for the European Union nor for any other thing. Turkey has made sacrifices until today and it will continue to do. It is making the necessary sacrifice by encouraging us for the talks and supporting us, but it could not say 'come, take Cyprus, make it a Greek island and unify it with you through the EU'. .".

[05] Turkey/s refusal to abide by the European Court of Human Rights decisions is endangering its position regarding the Council of Europe

According to the information given by Turkish officials, the hesitation to sign the Protocol 6, two framework conventions on the minority rights and the rejection to implement the ECHR decisions will create serious results for Turkey.

It is being stated that Turkey's cooperation with the Council of Europe might even get into a dilemma.

If Turkey does not accelerate the reforms process until the end of the year, it is seen that not only the Turkish-EU relations but also Turkey - Council of Europe cooperation will be in a problematic situation.

Turkey is the only founding member of the Council of Europe, which is being monitored whether the obligations of being the member of the Council are being implemented, or not.

One of the critical decisions taken by the ECHR against Turkey are related with the trial against the Democracy Party (DP) deputies Selim Sadak, Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle and Orhan Dogan, who are imprisoned at Ankara Prison.

Another interim resolution related with the violations of freedom of expression in Turkey urged Turkey, without any delay, to take measures allowing the consequences of the convictions contrary to the Convention to be rapidly and fully erased.

Among the applicants for that resolution was Fikret Baskaya, who is still being kept in Kalecik prison.

The right for a retrial, which is being offered by the Foreign Ministry and Nejat Arseven's State Ministry, is strongly being opposed by high judicial officials.

Leading prosecutors evaluate the offer as a way for letting foreign interference in the Turkish legal system.

"The right of retrial" is the starting of a new judiciary process, for a case which the ECHR decided against Turkey.

[06] Father who gave his daughter a Kurdish name will be tried by a State Security Court

A Turkish court, earlier, rejected charges brought against seven families who gave their children traditional Kurdish names.

Prosecutors in the town of Dicle in the largely Kurdish southeast had brought a case against the families in March for giving 23 children names such as Serhat, Baran, Rodja and Zelal.

But judge Sirvan Erteken threw the case out Tuesday, saying that some of these Kurdish names were common names in Turkey, the daily Radikal reported Wednesday. Erteken told the families they did not have to rename their children.

Prosecutors argued that the rebel Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, used these names as code names for its members, and demanded that the families rename their children.

Firat Anli, a lawyer for the families, said that the names did not harm Turkey's national customs and traditions.

Sub-title: Berivan is a name of a popular TV series and a song

Father Akcan said on Wednesday that he named his daughter after the heroine of a popular television series, "Berivan" because they love Sibel Can, the leading actress of the series and also a singer who sang the song, "Berivan."

Berivan, the title of a popular television series was among the banned names.

The government has drawn up a list of banned Kurdish names, and has ordered local officials to curb the use of Kurdish place names. Kurds often complain that Turkish authorities in the southeast change Kurdish names for Turkish ones when issuing birth certificates for Kurdish babies.

Turkey fought a 15-year war against the autonomy-seeking PKK. The fighting has slowed since the terrorists declared a unilateral cease-fire in 1999, but sporadic clashes continue. The conflict has left 37,000 dead since 1984.

Turkey, which is seeking membership in the European Union, is under increasing pressure from the group to grant cultural rights to Kurds. The government is apparently considering relaxing bans on broadcasting and education in Kurdish, in an effort to advance its membership bid.

Turkey has argued that granting special rights to its estimated 12 million Kurds could arouse ethnic tension and even lead to the division of the country, reports Turkish Daily News.

[07] Islamic Party leader calls on Ecevit to resign

Speaking at his AKP's group meeting in parliament on Wednesday, Erdogan asked the government to go for snap polls.

Noting that 25 years ago Ecevit had strongly criticized Ismet Inonu, who at the time was the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), Erdogan said that the same criticism can be made to Ecevit recently.

Ecevit addressing Inonu 25 years ago, said that, "If a politician has built up of a world based only on political life, this person cannot serve the political life, this is what I believe. Every politician should have another world. From time to time, he has to pass the other world and take a look at political life from a distance. If a politician has only one world, he believes that the world would collapse if he has to quit from political life. In an effort to keep himself from this position, this person sticks to political life at any cost. He claims the good of the society and humanity because of his personal political ambitions."

Stating that men of politics should known when to quit, Erdogan said that, "Ecevit believes that if he quits from political life, the world and Turkey would collapse in line with his own world and that's why he does not want to leave."

Erdogan said that the criticism that Ecevit made 25 years ago, is now valid for himself.

"Due to his health problems, Ecevit should resign from his post as the prime minister. But as far as it seems, when people get older, they have difficulties to see the realities and personal ambitions increase," he said.

Erdogan added that the people of the country do not want this government to stay in power. "That's why the three-way coalition is avoiding elections," Erdogan said.

[08] The occupation regime destroyed a Greek cemetery in Lapithos

Under the banner front-page title "Disrespect", YENIDUZEN writes that the cemetery "has been leveled to the ground".

AFRIKA refers to the issue both in its front page and in its inside pages and publishes also four pictures where the broken crosses, the stones of the cemetery and a ruined church are seen.

The paper writes that the person, who is responsible for the ruin says that he did this with the permission of the so-called "Ministry of Foreign Affairs". The above-mentioned person is Turgay Cager who sometime ago bought land next to the cemetery and began to build a house. With time he saw that the cemetery "was not a good view", writes AFRIKA and on 28 November 2001 he made an application to the so-called "Ministry" to permit him to "clean" the cemetery and the church, which is inside it. The "Ministry" gave him a positive answer on 2 January 2002.

[09] Foundation of Azerbaijan to honour Rauf Denktas

According to the information taken from the Turkish Unity Culture Center (Turk-Bir) the award will be presented to Denktas on June 24, which is the birth date of Ebulfeyz Elcibey.

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article