Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-04-29

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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 so-called council of Ministers met. Discussed crossing issues.

[02] The Turkish Foreign Ministry rushes to exploit politically the desire of the Greek Cypriots to see their occupied homes.

[03] Serdar Denktas stresses the positive effects on tourism from Greek Cypriots visiting their occupied homes.

[04] The Turkish Cypriot leader says there was no Turkish invasion because Greek Cypriots are visiting their occupied homes.

[05] The Turkish Cypriot leader is leaving for Turkey.

[06] The latest developments in Cyprus were discussed between Gul and the Turkish Chief of General Staff.

[07] Erdogan to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus in the coming days.

[08] The puppet regime is to establish court for asset disagreements.

[B] COMMENTRIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Columnist in Turkish Daily News says Denktas was forced by developments to open the doors.

[10] Revenge at NSC?

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The so-called council of Ministers met. Discussed crossing issues

Miroglu said that until last night 65 thousand Greek Cypriots crossed into the occupied area and 17 thousand Turkish Cypriots to the free areas, in the south. He added that because of the difficulties being experienced at the checkpoints they have wanted to consider the opening of additional crossing points.

Miroglu noted that after doing the necessary close scrutiny the opening of the "Kermia" checkpoint, for vehicles only, will be considered. He went on and said that he thinks that the necessary investigation would be completed today and then it would be possible to open the "Kermia" checkpoint. He said he could not say exactly the date of when the crossing would be opened.

Miroglu went on and said that they also considered the opening of the "Zodia" crossing point but he added that this needed more detailed study and this would take a few days to finish.

As regards the Greek Cypriots that cross into the occupied area, Miroglu said that the "Council of Ministers" decided that the Greek Cypriots could stay in the occupied area (over night) for maximum three days provided that they will make a reservation in a hotel and at the end of their stay they will get a paper from the hotel showing that they had stayed in that hotel and that they should present this paper upon returning to the free areas. The Greek Cypriots could only stay in hotels and in no other place. Miroglu further said that those who are "TRNC citizens" have the right to cross into the free areas and that they pay special attention to this fact, that it is an injustice for those people who are "TRNC" citizens and could not cross into the free areas. He urged that this issue should be solved as soon as possible.

As regards the Turkish Cypriots who want to cross into the free areas with their vehicles he said that this is a problem that should be solved by the authorities in the south. Miroglu went on and said that the fine imposed on those people who stay in the occupied area more hours (50 Million TL for every hour's delay) is illegal, but he said permission might not be given to those who violated this condition.

Miroglu said that today's "Council of Ministers" agenda did not include the opening of the crossing at the end of Ledra Street (Lokmadji crossing point).

Meanwhile, the so-called Prime Minister of the pseudostate Dervis Eroglu in a telephone interview to Turkish private TV station NTV (today 29.04.03) said that until now around 70 thousand Greek Cypriots crossed into the occupied area and they spent money, which was above their expectations. Eroglu said that with the crossings they have conveyed to the international community that the two communities on the island could live not mixed but side-by-side. "Our aim is to demonstrate to the world that there is a separate state in the north," Eroglu declared.

[02] The Turkish Foreign Ministry rushes to exploit politically the desire of the Greek Cypriots to see their occupied homes

Representatives from the Ankara embassies of the United States, Britain, Denmark, Belgium, Spain and Russia attended the briefing which was given by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cyprus Department Director General Ertugrul Apakan.

Apakan informed the representatives about the recent developments in Cyprus and the suggestions of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas, to President Tassos Papadopoulos and ``facilitating passages between the two sides and of modernization of commercial relations`` which were among those suggestions.

It was stated that the suggestions of Denktas could speed up a comprehensive solution in Cyprus and could help efforts which were exerted to overcome the confidence crisis between two "peoples" and to normalize relations and for a comprehensive solution.

[03] Serdar Denktas stresses the positive effects on tourism from Greek Cypriots visiting their occupied homes

"We had begun the season in the shadow of the Iraq war. It was not good. At the moment, as far as we can see, all of the auxiliary tourist installations are extremely pleased with the situation. Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot tour operators have made various requests for organized tours for both the Greek Cypriots and the foreign tourists," Serdar Denkta said.

Denktas concluded by saying that the occupation authorities are conducting work to enable the visitors to stay over two or three nights in the occupied areas.

[04] The Turkish Cypriot leader says there was no Turkish invasion because Greek Cypriots are visiting their occupied homes

Replying to a question of A.A correspondent, Denktas said: ``Now they celebrate Easter, they may want to go to Karpass. Now if we change the measures, they can accuse us for taking a step back. After Easter holiday, it will be useful to contact with the other side and re-organize the issue. There is too much crowd in both sides, we must be patient.``

When reminded about the crowd at ceasefire lines, Denktas said: ``If persons are patient, they wait and pass to the other side.`` Denktas noted that Greek Cypriots were very interested in visiting the occupied areas during the last two days. Denktas said : "Why do Greek Cypriots, who try to introduce `TRNC' as an`invaded region` in the whole world, come to `TRNC' running? Where is the invasion?``

[05] The Turkish Cypriot leader is leaving for Turkey

According to illegal Bayrak television, the so-called Tourism Minister, Mr Serdar Denktas, yesterday flew to Istanbul for a series of speeches.

[06] The latest developments in Cyprus were discussed between Gul and the Turkish Chief of General Staff

Foreign Ministry spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said that the meeting was the initiative of the day and explained that the latest developments in foreign politics, mainly Iraq and Cyprus, were assessed at the meeting. Dirioz further said that the meeting was not called because of a sudden development or a specific agenda.

[07] Erdogan to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus in the coming days

Erdogan responded to the questions of reporters following a consultation meeting of the Justice and Development Party (JDP).

Erdogan said they closely followed developments in Cyprus, stating that the steps taken there began to yield positive results.

Erdogan said: ``It will be better in time. I will pay a visit to `TRNC' within a few days and meet with `TRNC' President, government administrators and all political parties. Thus, we will show the sincerity to turn Cyprus an island of peace.``

[08] The puppet regime is to establish court for asset disagreements

The report is as follows:

"The "TRNC" is preparing to establish a specialized court for asset disagreements on the long-divided island, following the negotiations between the Council of Europe and Turkish officials aiming to take the Loizidou case off the agenda.

Turkey sent a delegation to Strasbourg to discuss the issue with the Council of Europe officials last week, and proposed the establishment of a court in the "TRNC". Negotiations on the scope of the court are still pending.

During Walter Schwimmer's, the secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Ankara visit two weeks ago efforts for a solution to the problems accelerated, the sides seek ways of taking the Loizidou case out of the agenda again. The issue also came to the agenda in 2000 but it couldn't reach a result.

The court will be in full compliance with international law and the EU's aquis communataire rules. The "TRNC Parliament" is expected to form the court after the completion of negotiations.

"TRNC" opened border gates and allowed day-trips as a "historical move" for a resolution to the Cyprus problem, last week.

The Greek Cypriot Administration, which will become an EU member along with nine other countries in May 2004, will join as a divided state without a settlement between its estranged Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities. Analysts say the Greek Cypriot administration may fear that applications from Greek Cypriots to this court may be understood that "TRNC" was being recognized as a state by the Greek Cypriots.

Turkey is deeming a settlement on the island as a turning point for its EU membership. Turkey will have its accession bid reassessed in December 2004, by which time the Greek Cypriot Administration will be a member.

A Cypriot national Mrs Titina Loizidou filed an application against Turkey in 1989 to the European Commission of Human Rights. Her application resulted in three judgments by the European Court (Strasbourg) which held Turkey responsible for human rights violations in the northern part of Cyprus, fining Turkey to two million euros compensation.

Turkey opposes the court's decision saying, it is a judgment rooted not on legal grounds, but built upon political considerations, and taken in the absence and without the participation or consent of one of two parties to the case, namely the Turkish Cypriots."

[B] COMMENTRIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Columnist in Turkish Daily News says Denktas was forced by developments to open the doors

"The Turkish side of Cyprus abruptly decided to open the doors between the Greek and Turkish side in Nicosia.

This is basically an attempt to be applauded for knocking down the last wall separating people in the world.

Now, both sides can visit each other on a daily basis. In fact, Turkish newspapers are full of nice stories of people embracing each other and enjoying the nice restaurants on the Turkish side.

The Turkish side estimates that they have collected from the Greeks around $150-200,000 in the first few days of this great enthusiasm.

In fact, Greeks with their $15,000 per capita, compared to the $2,000 per capita of the Turkish side, visit the Turkish side to spend money and the Turks are visiting the Greek side to see with their own eyes "the prosperity" and look for jobs if possible.

Why did suddenly the Cyprus-Turkish Parliament decide to open the doors?

Good Will: Perhaps! Do they now want to solve the "Cyprus problem?"

No way!

The simple and basic answer is: They had to do so!

Mr Rauf Denktas, the `President' with his hawkish allies in Turkey, such as Mumtaz Soysal, whose party can not collect even 0.05 percent of the votes but yet is an advisor to Denktas, he acts as the main barrier to peace in Cyprus, were pushed so much into the corner that they had to act in this way.

After April 16 when Cyprus signed the EU membership for next year under the name of "Cyprus Republic", the Turkish media calling people like myself "the lackey of Greeks" before, suddenly realized that Turkey is loosing her last hopes to become a member of the EU and took an open position against the hawks in Turkey.

In return the hawks sold out Rauf Denktas and said that he is solely responsible for the failure.

In his recent interview with the Turkish press, Denktas had to announce that he did not act alone in any stage of the negotiations with the Greek side and in fact he completely followed the decisions of the Turkish National Security Council (NSC) mainly under the control of the Army.

The hawks finally thought that they had to do something to breast the reaction of Turkish people both in Turkey and Cyprus.

They opened the doors!

Now, "the Turkish policy of Cyprus" is in shambles.

Mr Denktas, in refusing the so-called Annan Plan, was insisting that they could not accept "the Greeks to mingle with the Turks."

Now, they are only embracing each other.

He had said, "We need these 50,000 Turkish soldiers in order to secure the life of Turks."

How will he now justify the existence of Turkish soldiers on the Island?

He had said, "It is impossible for us to accept and recognize the Cyprus Republic."

Now the Greeks coming to the Turkish side are showing their Cyprus Republic passports to the Turkish authorities.

In brief Mr Denktas, in panic, is doing just the reverse of what he had said before in confronting the U.N. Annan Plan.

The hawks have no policy to control and keep the status quo in Turkey and Cyprus any more. They have pushed themselves into a corner. They have to give up at last.

The reason why Denktas and his men negate the Annan Plan is much simpler than is announced. The rulers in Cyprus and hawks in Turkey have confiscated many properties from the Greeks who had to run to the Greek side after the 1974 war.

The Annan Plan talks about individual solutions to property disputes i.e. each person gets his/her property individually.

Denktas and his friends are scared of the possibility of falling into a very disgraceful position.

He would rather go after "global exchange of property" that will disguise the confiscators.

The resistance against peace in Cyprus is not a matter of principles or nationalistic feelings; it is a matter of keeping "the illegal benefits".

[10] Revenge at NSC?

After the crisis between the government and the military, which broke out due to a reception at Parliament, all eyes have been focused on the National Security Council (NSC) meeting to be held on April 30. According to information, the military wing of the council will bring their sensitivities concerning "the term to watch the government having ended", fundamentalist activities and partisan appointments to the agenda of the meeting...

That is why it is expected that the military will clearly voice their sensitivities to the government regarding fundamentalist activities and partisan appointments at the meeting...

It is stated that this decision was taken at a meeting on April 22 when the Chief of Staff and forces commanders decided not to attend the reception at Parliament. At the mentioned meeting, the participants reached a compromise on their sensitivities as the term to watch the government since its formation came to an end. It is also declared that the council's military wing will submit the five-and-a-half-month watching report of the West Study Group at the NSC meeting...

No articles concerning fundamentalist activities were added to the routine agenda of the NSC meeting. However, it is anticipated that the military wing will take up the issue at the negotiating session, participated by the permanent members. The reports, prepared for the meeting, encompassed all personnel appointments of the government, uncertain regulations and law amendments. The report stressed that there have been 13,000 staff in the public sphere, around 1,300 foundations, 42 universities, around 1,000 Koran courses, 485 private schools, more than 500 clerical schools and 245 radio and television sectors, which are all under the control of fundamentalists...

The reports, dealing with the economic dimension of fundamentalism, put forth that five free of interest finance institutions, 18 holding companies and 750 large companies reached a volume of $45 billion in worth...

The reports, which will be on the agenda of the council, encompassed information concerning fundamentalists in Europe. The military, who are uneasy about the circular on the "National View" sent by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, will bring both the reports of the German Organization to Protect the Constitution concerning the National View and the reports of intelligence units to the agenda...

Stating that the Islamic Society National View Organization is the most widespread and active fundamentalist group in Europe, the reports underline the fact that they are all active with 62 regional representations, 177 institutions and 30 broadcasting organs throughout Europe. The reports will reveal that these groups have dealt with fundamentalist activities against Turkey, collected aid, converted Turkish citizens' savings to partisan commercial institutions, organized summer camps for students and provided shelter for those wanted by Turkey...

It will be stressed at the meeting that a package of measures consisting of 108 articles have been prepared within the framework of the strategy to struggle against fundamentalism, which was formed after 1997. Seven measures out of 31 which require law amendments have become law, while only 12 administrative measures out of 77 were put into practice. It will be noted that there has been a standstill in the practice to combat fundamentalism in recent months...

After this, we will see all together how political developments will progress... The weather in Ankara is getting hot...

/SK

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