Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-10-23

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] The Turkish Cypriot leader/s health is good.

[02] Mesut Yilmaz compared the situation in Northern Iraq to that of Cyprus in 1974.

[03] Mesut Yilmaz is not hopeful for Cyprus.

[04] Bulent Ecevit: An operation against Iraq appears to be definite.

[05] Different views on the establishment of the committees regarding the Cyprus problem.

[06] The budget of the pseudostate for 2003.

[07] Drug smuggling in occupied Kyrenia from Diyarbakir and Antalya.

[08] The Foreign Press Association invited the Spanish Journalists to pay another visit to the pseudostate.

[09] AFRIKA columnist Sener Levent will be tried at the military "court".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Commentary in AFRIKA about Denktas/ successor.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader/s health is good

In statements from New York, his personal doctor, Dervis Oral, said that he went to New York to get a personal view of Denktas/ health.

"His health condition is very very good and he feels much at ease. For the first time our face smiled and it is the first time that I saw him in such a relaxed condition", Dr Oral said.

Mr Rauf Denktas/ doctor also said that the Turkish Cypriot leader/s pulse and respiration are very good and that yesterday morning he walked 30-40 metres witout oxygen support.

"His vital organs function completely normally. This was the reason why the operation on his lungs was carried out the day before yesterday and it was very successful," concluded Mr Denktas/ personal doctor.

KIBRIS newspaper (23.10.02) publishes statements by Denktas/ adviser, Mr. Ergun Olgun, regarding Denktas/ health.

Mr Olgun stated that Mr Denktas/ doctors held an assessment meeting and concluded that his health is stable.

"If this situation goes on, in the beginning of next week Mr. Denktas might be discharged", Mr Olgun said.

[02] Mesut Yilmaz compared the situation in Northern Iraq to that of Cyprus in 1974

Speaking on the NTV program Political Arena, Yilmaz compared the situation in Northern Iraq to that of Cyprus in 1974.

""In case of establishment of a state in Northern Iraq, since there are doubts over the city of Kirkuk and the Turkomans, we may have to go to war, just as it was in Cyprus," Yilmaz said.

The issues of the European Union and Iraq would be discussed in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Tuesday, he said.

The leader of the Motherland Party (MP) also claimed that the fall in voter support for his party over the last 15 years was due to the trends and circumstances in politics and that no political parties were able to retain their voter base.

The Deputy Prime Minister accused other parties of not supporting MP's call to issue a joint declaration in favour of joining the EU, instead choosing to defer the decision for the next government. With the elections coming before the EU's December summit in Copenhagen, Yilmaz said that Ankara had played into the hands of the EU and given it the opportunity to say 'let's wait and see what government will come to power in Turkey'.

[03] Mesut Yilmaz is not hopeful for Cyprus

Talking to NTV television, Mr Yilmaz said that the European Union seems determined to make the Republic of Cyprus a full member of the Union and it is thinking to give Turkey a date to begin its accession talks. By doing this, he added, the EU is trying to find a formula to satisfy everybody.

[04] Bulent Ecevit: An operation against Iraq appears to be definite

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, speaking in a phone interview with NTV on Monday, said that it appeared that the US would definitely lead a military operation against Iraq at some time.

However, Ankara had made no agreement with the United States over an operation, Ecevit said, rejecting reports that Turkey would either take part in any such attack or provide bases from which it could be launched.

He denied claims that the US had put together a package of military aid for Turkey to compensate for any losses in the event of an operation, saying that no such negotiations had been conducted between Washington and Ankara on the subject.

[05] Different views on the establishment of the committees regarding the Cyprus problem

".It cannot be understood why the committees are not established even though there is such a decision. The fact that the government of Turkey did not allow the establishment of the committees despite the fact that it is known that in the Helsinki decision it had promised to contribute towards finding a solution in Cyprus and despite the reality that the decision for Turkey's EU accession will be taken and noted in its progress report, is thought-provoking. .It seems that Turkey, which is not even saying `yes/ to the establishment of the committees, does not want to make a step to help to the beginning of its accession process. .The committees must be established as soon as possible and the negotiations must begin. .".

In another report YENIDUZEN writes that asked on the same issue, Mr Ergun Olgun, advisor of Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktas at the face-to-face talks, said yesterday to illegal Bayrak television that the function of the technical committees "will not be fully independent from the political will" . "Even if the technical committees are established now they must work having continuous contact with the decision maker in order to be able to work carefully and productively", argued Mr Olgun and added that Mr Denktas has the most important role in this.

"I do not think that the committees could be established before the health of our `president/ is improved and we are able to consult with him on the issue of the policy to be followed", added Mr Olgun, who also noted that they had made some preparations for the committees, the work of which, he repeated, is political despite the fact that they are technical committees. Mr Olgun said also that after Mr Denktas recovers a bit they would get his approval for the establishment of the committees, which could start working within this week after Mr Denktas gets out from the intensive care unit and they are able to take his views.

[06] The budget of the pseudostate for 2003

                          2003 budget        2002 budget
Increase
Personnel expenses    269.8 trillion TL     208 trillion TL     29.7 %
Other running expenses 48.3 trillion TL    31.7 trillion TL     52 %
Transferred expenses    590 trillion TL   260.3 trillion TL    126 %
Investments           130.4 trillion TL    88.6 trillion TL     47 %
Defense expenses       67.5 trillion TL      50 trillion TL     35 %

[07] Drug smuggling in occupied Kyrenia from Diyarbakir and Antalya

Five persons were arrested in connection with the incident, continues KIBRIS, noting that after the interrogations the "police" established that the drugs had been produced in Diyarbakir between March and June 2002 and they were brought to occupied Kyrenia via the Turkish port of Antalya on 11 October.

[08] The Foreign Press Association invited the Spanish Journalists to pay another visit to the pseudostate

Mr Catan said that he hopes that his invitation will be accepted in order for a common ground to be found between the two parties, after the unpleasant events which took place during the visit of the journalists. Mr Catan noted that the Foreign Press Association would cover the expenses of the Spanish journalists/ visit.

Meanwhile, the issue that occurred after the journalists' visit to the pseudostate was discussed in the meeting of the so-called assembly yesterday during which the opposition parties criticized strongly the occupation regime. According to KIBRIS, the General Secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP), Ferdi Sabit Soyer, criticized the so-called Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tahsin Ertugruloglu, accusing him that the fact that the Spanish journalists participated in a meeting without permission, is not a good excuses for their "deportation". He also added that the event would have a bad effect on the efforts made by the pseudogovernment towards the European Union.

On his part, the leader of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP), Huseyin Angolemli, strongly criticized the pseudogoverment/s actions towards the journalists. Mr Angolemli also called the so-called Minister of Foreign Affairs to resign.

Mr Angolemli stressed that the Turkish Cypirots believe that the order to deport the journalists was given by the security forces.

[09] AFRIKA columnist Sener Levent will be tried at the military "court"

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Commentary in AFRIKA about Denktas/ successor

What would happen now? Who will shoulder the mission Denktas was carrying out? And the most important thing, who would carry on the talks with the Greek Cypriots in the following two critical months? What is claimed is this: Ankara is looking for a successor in Cyprus to succeed Denktas.

The south Cyprus press as well referred to this issue under banner headlines . It even made certain predictions.. For example Tahsin Ertugruloglu, Dervis Eroglu, Mustafa Akinci. Even they speak about Denktas/s grandchild.

It seems that the Greek Cypriots are more anxious than we. It seems that they are not very successful in their predictions.First of all it is not possible to appoint Akinci to this post since/ he had said that the General has overstepped his limits/. As for Dervis Eroglu he would not sit on Denktas/ chair as long as Denktas is alive. And Denktas/ grandchild this too is not possible.

Tahsin Ertugruloglu? He could have been if he acquired a little bit more experience. Turkish military circles like Tahsin Ertugruloglu and now they treat him as the heir to the throne. They are trying to train him.

A friend of us called from south Cyprus and mentioned the name of the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ali Erel. Is this possible?...

It seems that the Greek Cypriots are unaware of what is going on in the Turkish side. They are unaware of how the circles who act as the army's spokesmen bombarded Ali Erel. Had they known this would they have thought that Ali Erel could sit on the interlocutor/s seat?

They say.The EU wants Ali Erel.Is EU/s desire important? Here, what Ankara says and not what the EU says is being realized. In that case who would be the successor?

As far as we are concerned Ergun Olgun is the strongest candidate However, again it is Ankara that would give the final verdict. And, not we.

Ergun Olgun could carry on the job from where Denktas left it.Thus neither Denktas/ policy would be changed nor Ankara would have a headache. However, at the last moment Ankara with another maneuvering could appoint to this task Mehmet Ali Talat.Why not if Talat would defend what Denktas was defending?

In this way Ankara would kill two birds with one stone. Ankara would show to the world that the opposition as well is not different from Denktas! This way Ankara would be able to secure a single voice in north Cyprus! Is it not possible?"

/SK

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