Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-08-27

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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 Cypriot leader admits that he wants to split the Republic of Cyprus.

[02] Turkey/s population nearly 68 million.

[03] Investment drive in the occupied area.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[04] Is Turkey preparing to annex Cyprus?

[A] NEW ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader admits that he wants to split the Republic of Cyprus

The Turkish Cypriot leader said that the Greek Cypriots cannot reach anywhere by calling themselves the ``Cyprus Republic`` and by trying to possess the whole island with this name. ``What they call the Cyprus Republic has its borders at Ledra Palace and it doesn`t go any further. We are not in this republic and we haven`t been in this republic for 39 years. Turkish Cypriots had to found their own state,`` he explained.

Denktas alleged that there were two republics, two sovereign states and two separate administrations and two democracies in Cyprus. He added that Kasoulides was trying to drag the Turkish Cypriots behind himself by saying ``it is us who are recognized by the EU`` and then sentence them to an unhappy fate. He said the Turkish Cypriots would not be deceived by this.

``Our priority is an agreement and the basis of this agreement should be the existence of two sovereign administrations,`` Denktas said. ``The EU should admit this fact and contact us directly. It should cooperate with us and help us to elevate our economy to the level of the Greek Cypriots` economy, and it should not make us subject to Greek Cypriot republic`` he commented.

Denktas further alleged that Mr Kasoulides made this remark to influence the meeting he will have with U.N. Secretary-General in Paris on September 6. He added that he believed the U.N. Secretary-General would not fall into this trap.

Replying to questions regarding the news that appeared in the Greek Cypriot press that Belgian and Swiss experts headed by Lord David Hannay, Britain`s special envoy to Cyprus, were working on a new constitution, Denktas said what is important is whether any work on a constitution for Cyprus acknowledges the sovereignty right of Turkish Cypriots or not. ``If it does not, we can reach nowhere.This community does not make an agreement on a new paper and put its future on a thin ice. This should be known by everybody,`` he concluded.

[02] Turkey's population nearly 68 million

Out of a total population of over 67,5 million people, Istanbul rated the most populated city with a population of 10,018,735 people.

The population of the Turkish Republic has increased five times since the first census was held in 1927. Speaking at the State Statistics Institute Mr Toskay said that the population increase was highest in the north-western Marmara region, with a rise of 27.6 percent.

The top three most populated cities had not changed, with Istanbul first, followed by the capital Ankara with 4, 007,860 and Izmir 3,370,866.

Toskay said that results were sent to the Higher Board of Elections for the coming election.

The results showed that the population of Turkey grew by an annual average rate of 1.83 percent from 1990 to 2002, an average of 1.1 million people annually, Toskay said.

[03] Investment drive in the occupied area

The paper says that 125 businessmen have applied for investment in various fields, mainly in tourism. CUMHURIYET says that the aim is to establish at least ten hotels in the occupied area and create employment opportunities for 3-4 thousand people. It adds that there are investment incentives for those who want to do business in the occupied area. With a view to encouraging investment in the occupied area Turkey's, Turkish Investment Bank will provide 140 million USD credit to the investors. In order to use this credit the investors should make comprehensive, advanced technology and with high turn-over investments.

The Chairman of the NIBA Kemal Ozden said that 125 businessmen have applied for investments mainly on tourism.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[04] Is Turkey preparing to annex Cyprus?

According to an Ankara based news report which is not confirmed officially, the Foreign Ministry has prepared a secret plan. It can be put into function if needed. It is claimed that the "Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry" would be affiliated to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

I could not get the confirmation.

I did not see the document. But I heard it from a reliable source who closely monitors the developments. To be frank, I got goose bumps. I asked Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc. "I never heard such a thing," he said.

So, I am writing this column due to a suspicion I feel after I heard this rumour. I hope my source who gave me this information was wrong and I felt concern for nothing.

According to the information I receive from my source, Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and his close aides are, currently, preparing a secret plan. We are all aware of our foreign minister's hawkish approach on the Cyprus issue. But I didn't know that his approach reached such a dimension that it puts Turkey into a hard position and threatens the country's future.

I have been told that the Foreign Ministry would review the results of Cyprus talks that would be staged in Paris on September 6 and if expected developments won't take place or efforts yield negative results, the precaution package will be put into function.

It is known that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is preparing to present a series of solution proposals prepared by Britain's Special Envoy to Cyprus, Lord David Hannay at the September 6 Paris meeting. The Turkish side does not want to receive this series of proposals.

The majority of Hannay's proposals meet the Turkish side's expectations but Turkish approach which is "Forming a new Cyprus partnership state of two sovereign states," is not fulfilled. In view of this, the Turkish side tries to block such a document presented by Annan.

It is stated that the document that I mentioned before, may be put into implementation within this framework. It is rumoured that Turkey may get closer to the "TRNC" and start implementing a series of decisions if it observes a negative development on September 6 or in the aftermath.

The most striking information I received from my source was the project that foresees the possibility of abolishing the "Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry" and handing its mission to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

With the scenario, the Turkish foreign ministry aims at giving a strong message to the world and showing Turkey's adamant manner on Cyprus. According to the information leaked, all the related units of the ministry as well as the undersecretary have discussed this project which was reportedly approved by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Abolishing the "Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministry" and affiliating it to the Turkish Foreign Ministry would be a dramatic step that would harm Turkey's basic interests at this stage. Moreover, possible developments that may occur on September 6 or other developments that might emerge in the short term, cannot justify such a reaction. This reaction is equal to stabbing a person several times just because he had insulted you.

Such a step would mean that Turkey had lost its hopes from the negotiations and it is ready to leave the negotiation table, creating a golden opportunity to the Greeks. This step would result in the Greek Cypriot's membership to the European Union and labelling the Turkish side for being the supporter of conflict.

This would also mark the end of Turkey's EU adventure.

If these preparations are really underway and if the Foreign Ministry really considers to implement them, we can only name it as a "Cyprus coup." I cannot believe that the Foreign ministry is willing to take such a step that would block Turkey's EU path. But, I still have suspicions. This suspicion will go on until I hear the Foreign Ministry denying these rumours.

But if the information I received from my source is correct, then, we should all react. Turkey's EU path must not be blocked with such games.

/SK

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