Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-05-31

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish National Security Council reviewed developments in the Cyprus problem.

[02] Statements by Mesut Yilmaz on the meeting of the Turkish National Security Council.

[03] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader before meeting President Clerides.

[04] Tansu Ciller: The issue that should be resolved without delay is the Cyprus problem.

[05] Turkish political party leaders to meet on June 7. The Cyprus problem might also be discussed.

[06] SABAH: "Isn/t it a shame Mr. Rauf?"

[07] Denktas discussed the Belgian model with Belgium/s Deputy Minister for European Affairs.

[08] KIBRIS: The ecological disaster in CMC is getting even greater dimensions.

[09] The General Director and the Financial Director of the "Turkish Cypriot Airlines" were fired.

[10] Cem is going to the occupied areas today.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish National Security Council reviewed developments in the Cyprus problem

"1. The National Security Council [NSC] held its monthly routine meeting on 30 May 2002. Prof. Dr Sukru Sina Gurel, state minister, attended the pertinent session of the meeting.

2. At the meeting,

a) security and public order throughout the country and domestic and foreign developments that affect them were reviewed. Within this framework, the NSC decided to recommend to the Council of Ministers to end the state of emergency in Hakkari and Tunceli, to include these two provinces within the framework of the neighbouring provinces, and to extend for the last time for another four months the state of emergency in Diyarbakir and Sirnak as of 30 July 2002, thus enabling the Council of Ministers to make preparations for the measures to be taken in the aftermath of the state emergency rule.

b) Within the framework of foreign political developments, the NSC assessed the latest situation in Turkish-EU relations, reviewed the arrangements made so far in these relations, and dwelt on the importance and necessity of the EU determining by the end of the year a negotiation timetable concerning our country. The NSC also assessed from our country's viewpoint the developments in the international conjuncture and arrived at the conclusion that it would be appropriate to speed up the activities directed toward our other obligations envisaged in the National Program.

3. The NSC also reviewed in detail the recent developments on the Cyprus issue and made the following observations: a) We support the constructive efforts exerted by Mr Denktas, the `president of the TRNC/, within the framework of the direct talks process that is aimed at achieving a realistic and viable solution.

b) Turkey will continue to take the necessary steps to achieve prosperity and economic development in the `TRNC/ and to further develop bilateral cooperation."

[02] Statements by Mesut Yilmaz on the meeting of the Turkish National Security Council

Yilmaz said: Generally, it was a good meeting. In any case, the decisions adopted at the meeting were announced to the public. I am extremely pleased.

Question: The NSC convened without the prime minister for the first time. There is some criticism in this regard. What is your opinion?

Answer: The prime minister would very much have liked to attend, but the doctors did not allow him. Therefore, he could not attend. Rather than a meeting without a prime minister for the first time, I think we had a meeting with three absentees for the first time. Mr. Bahceli and the interior minister were also abroad. However, despite these shortcomings, it was a very good meeting.

Yilmaz added that the Cyprus issue was also assessed at the NSC in all its aspects. Asked who will attend the EU summit to be held in Spain on 21 June if the prime minister is still ailing, Yilmaz said: We have not yet discussed the details. I hope the prime minister will be well enough to attend the meeting by then.

According to our information, reports NTV, relations with the EU as well as the political criteria in this regard and the Cyprus issue were discussed both separately and together. It was stressed during the meeting that efforts will continue to develop the relations with the EU, fulfill the political criteria in this connection, and reach a solution in Cyprus. It was also noted, however, that in doing this Turkey should not become agitated or hasty, and in particular it should not abide by others' timetables. In this connection, Sezer asked that the relevant sides reach a conciliation as soon as possible with regard to the death penalty, and education and broadcasts in the mother tongue. This demand was then incorporated into the NSC final communique.

One of the members raised the question of new moves in Cyprus. In response, another member asked if a new overture in Cyprus will guarantee a date for launching EU accession negotiations. Finally, agreement was reached over the view that new concessions in Cyprus are not sufficient for the launching of accession negotiations.

Ankara Anatolia News Agency (30.05.02) also reported that State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz on Thursday responded to the questions of reporters and evaluated the NSC meeting.

Yilmaz said: ``The most important result of the NSC meeting today is the lifting of Emergency Rule in Turkey. Emergency Rule, currently under implementation in four provinces, will expire on July 30. NSC decided to propose to the government to end the Emergency Rule in two provinces on July 30. NSC also decided to propose to extend it for another four months, for the last time, in two provinces. They proposed to the government to take the necessary measures within these four months. The NSC meeting noted a very big progress within the harmonization process to EU. We evaluated the Cyprus question as a separate issue in the NSC.``

When a journalist recalled the statement of True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller who said `` the Cyprus question will open the way to the EU`` and asked about his views, Yilmaz said: ``As the government, we have been defending that the Cyprus issue is independent from the EU relations. We oppose considering the Cyprus question as an element which will effect Turkey-EU relations. Of course, this does not mean that Turkey will not contribute to the Cyprus question. Turkey will continue its contributions to find a just and lasting solution. However, we will be careful to carry out the relations with the EU and the Cyprus question independent from each other.``

[03] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader before meeting President Clerides

Responding to questions of reporters prior to the meeting, Denktas said that they would continue to discuss the security issue at their meeting.

Denktas pointed out that security was an important issue and said: ``Some issues concern also the guarantor countries. To this end, it will be necessary to consult on some issues with the guarantor countries after discussing them between ourselves.``

Upon a question about the decision of the National Security Council (NSC) related with Cyprus, Denktas said: ``It is a very appropriate and good decision. I thank the members of NSC. We are conducting our national case altogether. We gain power as we are supported by the high-level authorities and this stresses our rightfulness.``

[04] Tansu Ciller: The issue that should be resolved without delay is the Cyprus problem

Ciller held a news conference and reiterated her call for early elections. She later assessed the fact that the prime minister is unable to attend the NSC meeting.

"This issue has ceased to be an issue that concerns Ecevit. This issue has become one that directly concerns Mr Yilmaz and Mr Bahceli because they are glued to the administrative chairs while hiding behind an image. They are doing this for the sole purpose of extending their term in office", she said.

Criticizing the fact that the file on Ocalan is being kept at the Prime Ministry, Ciller said that the MHP [Nationalist Action Party] and ANAP [Motherland Party] are exploiting the death penalty issue in a bid to cross the 10 percent election threshold. She continued: "If they dare, let them bring the file to the Assembly. We will extend our support. This issue, however, is not as easy as it seemed in the past." Ciller stressed that the issue that has priority is not the death penalty but the Cyprus problem.

"South Cyprus has taken giant strides toward acceding to the EU as an entity representing the entire island. This is almost concluded. This government said that it is going to annex Cyprus. For EU this will mean the occupation of the `TRNC/. What will you do then? The death penalty issue can be resolved. That is easy. This is an issue that will be resolved among ourselves in the Assembly. The first issue which we want to see resolved is the Cyprus issue," stressed Mrs Ciller.

Ciller also said that faced with the issue of the execution of Ocalan versus the EU, the DYP will stand by the side of the EU. Ciller was asked about her views on the abolition of the death penalty and the banning of an amnesty for those who have committed crimes of terrorism. She replied:

"This is not an issue that can be entrusted in this government. We will come to power and resolve this issue because on the issue of amnesty the record of this government is evident."

[05] Turkish political party leaders to meet on June 7. The Cyprus problem might also be discussed

In the assessments they have made to their close circles, the leaders have said that they do not expect a concrete decision to emerge from the summit and believe that it will be only a meeting of consultations.

Ciller will raise the amendment of the political parties and election law. She will ask that this law definitely be discussed to achieve harmonization with the EU. Ciller, who will express the view that the government has been sluggish and inadequate in endorsing bills concerning the EU, is expected to reiterate her call for early elections at the summit meeting as well. On the issue of Kurdish broadcasts and the total abolition of the death penalty, Ciller will express the following view which she has been expressing for some time: If EU accession will not be possible with the execution of terrorist Ocalan, then let him not be executed.

Kutan will express his views on restrictions to the freedom of thought at the summit to be held at the Mansion. Kutan, who will charge that membership in the EU will become impossible if all the obstacles on the path to the freedom of expression are not removed, will also demand that the government clarify its stand on the death penalty and Kurdish broadcasts.

AKP [Justice and Development Party] leader Tayyip Erdogan will place on the agenda the bills that are necessary for EU membership. The obstacles in front of the freedom of thought will be raised by Erdogan as well. Erdogan, just like Kutan, will ask that the government clarify its stand on the death penalty.

ANAP [Motherland Party] leader Mesut Yilmaz will underline that Turkey has reached a critical crossroads with regards to the EU and will ask the political parties to clarify their stand on the issue. Yilmaz, who will convey the message that ANAP is ready to every change in the name of EU membership, is expected to say: We are doing all we can.

MHP [Nationalist Action Party] leader Devlet Bahceli will convey the views he has been defending so far with regard to the death penalty and Kurdish broadcasts and education. Bahceli will note that the MHP stands by the views it has advocated so far and that the EU is imposing conditions on Turkey that have not been imposed on any other country. Bahceli is expected to say that membership in the EU should be based on various principles.

[06] SABAH: "Isn/t it a shame Mr Rauf?"

Teoman Turan, in his report explains in detail the so-called amended law and says that according to this law Denktas has received 174 billion TL

In his report, subtitled "Rauf Bey/s Farm" Teoman Turan gives the list of people who benefited from this "law" and mentions how much each person in the list received.

He says that only former Communal Liberation Party (CLP) leader Mustafa Akinci, refused to get the "bonus" allocated to him.

Teoman Turan then notes that the majority of people in the occupied area, even pro-Denktas organizations, criticized the "law" and demanded that this money be returned. The pro-Denktas Fighters/ Association in a statement demanded that this money should be donated to hospitals.

[07] Denktas discussed the Belgian model with Belgium's Deputy Minister for European Affairs

The paper writes that Mr Denktas argued that until today the Greek Cypriot side does not approach with a positive eye the Belgium model, because of the fact that the decisions there are taken with consensus.

Noting that during their meeting they discussed with Mrs Neyts - Uytterbroeck the Belgian model, Mr Denktas said: "You know the Belgian model. We too have a formula on how we could solve the problems, which Belgium solves during the contacts with the EU. We discussed this issue too".

Furthermore, Mr Denktas noted that the Belgian Minister could inform the sides on some practical issues regarding the Belgian formula and added that he suggested to Mrs Neyts - Uytterbroeck the organization of seminars in the pseudostate to explain how Belgium functions with the EU.

Meanwhile, Mrs Neyts-Uytterbroeck said that they discussed the Belgian model with Mr Denktas and explained with examples how Belgium works with the EU and how the powers are distributed. The Belgian Minister added: "However, I do not want to be misunderstood. We do not support that this model is the best in the world and that it should be implemented in Cyprus exactly as it is. .".

[08] KIBRIS: The ecological disaster in CMC is getting even greater dimensions

The paper writes that after the two explosions two days ago, a third explosion took place yesterday as a result of reaction in the reservoirs with chemicals, which are in the installations.

Turkish scientists, who recently visited the installations of CMC, told KIBRIS that the area looks like a "death valley" ready to explode any moment and described it as "an open museum of ecological disaster".

According to the paper, the director of the so-called Environment Department, Ertan Ozpek visited yesterday the area and said that they would immediately begin work on the issue. Mr Ozpek noted that the works would be coordinated by the American expert, Mr Harpy Kohe, who has prepared a report on CMC. Mr Ozpek said that Mr Kohe is expected in the occupied areas within the next few days.

Meanwhile, Hakan Oran, General Secretary of the Association for the Environment and Advertising of Lefka, warned that they would get into action in case the "authorities" of the pseudostate do not take the necessary measures.

[09] The General Director and the Financial Director of the "Turkish Cypriot Airlines" were fired

Speaking to KIBRIS after a meeting of the Administrative Council of KTHY, its chairman, Ilker Tuncay said that the decision was taken because they established that Mr Ziya and Mr Basoglu signed agreements which are contrary to the regulations. He added that they were not authorized to sign these agreements which cause damages to the company.

[10] Cem is going to the occupied areas today

The Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas will host tonight a dinner in honour of the Turkish Minister. The Turkish Foreign Minister will depart from the occupied areas on Sunday at 19.00.

KV/SK

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