Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-11-26

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erginel announces that the number of the 'voters' is 141,471; The number increased by four thousands only within September ' November 2003.

[02] The Mass Media in occupied Cyprus and the forthcoming December 'elections'.

[03] The preaches of Gonyeli imam divide the Turkish Cypriots.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erginel announces that the number of the 'voters' is 141,471; The number increased by four thousands only within September ' November 2003

Speaking yesterday at a press conference, Mr Erginel said that those who are registered in the 'electoral lists', and they do not live in occupied Cyprus, would not have the right to 'vote'.

According to the information given by Mr Erginel the number of the persons who will be 'voting' by district is the following:

Nicosia: 44.190
Famagusta: 37.246
Kyrenia: 26.066
Morphou: 19.381
Trikomo: 14.588

Mr Erginel noted that the number of the 'voters' was 140,833 on 30 September 2003 adding that objections and applications increased the number by 639 to the total of 141,471.

Recalling the objections made regarding some 'voters', Mr Erginel said that objections were raised about 638 persons in Nicosia, 108 in Famagusta, 391 in Kyrenia, 70 in Morphou and 25 in Trikomo. He said that the objections about 446 'voters' in Nicosia, 84 in Famagusta, 257 in Kyrenia, 54 in Morphou, and 21 in Trikomo were accepted.

Noting that 22 'voters' in Nicosia, 22 in Kyrenia, 12 in Famagusta, 2 in Morphou, and one in Trikomo were removed from the 'electoral rolls' in accordance with the so-called Supreme Administrative Court's injunction, Mr Erginel asserted that 468 'voters' in Nicosia, 96 in Famagusta, 279 in Kyrenia, 56 in Morphou, and 22 in Trikomo were removed from the 'electoral rolls' at the end of the work that was carried out to that effect.

Mr Erginel noted that 921 'voters' were removed from the electoral rolls throughout the occupied areas of Cyprus because of the objections and the 'court injunction'. Asserting that the applications made by those who wanted to 'vote' to be included on the 'electoral rolls' were assessed, he disclosed that 3,779 applications were made to that effect throughout occupied Cyprus. Stressing that the applications were due to the district records and transfers, Mr Erginel said that the applications made by 1,419 'voters' in Nicosia, 708 in Famagusta, 821 in Kyrenia, 288 in Morphou, and 288 voters in Trikomo were accepted.

Referring to the complaints by the Peace and Democracy Movement (PDM) regarding interferences by the Turkish occupation army in the 'elections', Mr Erginel claimed that the Turkish army did not interfere and that the incident about which PDM had complained was 'an isolated incident'. 'If such a thing happens again or if something more serious occurs', then the issue could be brought onto the agenda and be discussed. However, my impression is that the army has no intention to influence (anybody)'.

Commenting on the issue Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (26.11.03) notes that the number of the 'voters' increased by about four thousand persons within the last three months (September ' November 2003). In September 2003 the number of the 'voters' was 137.500, in October 2003 it increased to 140.832 and in November 2003 it reached 141.471. The paper notes that the number of the 'voters' within the above-mentioned period increased by 17.15 %.

The paper publishes a table showing the increase of the 'voters' in the occupied areas of Cyprus from 1976. The table is the following:

Year     'Voters'  Increase    Percentage (%)
1976       75.824
1981       84.721    8.897        11.73
1985       95.124   10.403        12.28
1990      103.218    8.094         8.51
1991      106.303    3.085         2.29
1993      108.622    2.319         2.18
1998      120.758   12.136        11.17
2003
Month
September 137.500   16.742
October   140.832    3.332
November  141.471      639        17.15

Commenting on the issue Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (26.11.03) notes, inter alia, the following: 'No one knows how many are the Turkish Cypriots out of this number (Translator's Note: the number of the 'voters' announced by Mr Erginel). No one dares to make such a statistical study. Some people say (we are) 50 thousands and some others 60 thousands. However, it could not be more, because even in international reports it is said that the number of the Turkish Cypriots is around 80 thousands. If we accept this number, it is very natural that the number of the Turkish Cypriot 'voters' is about 50 thousand persons'.

[02] The Mass Media in occupied Cyprus and the forthcoming December 'elections'

The paper goes on giving details about each media organ and their stand during the 'elections' campaign and their appeal to the public.

BRT: The paper writes that the illegal BAYRAK Radio and Television is strongly criticized and accused by the parties of the opposition of not giving to their members enough time to express their views. The Democratic Party (DP) of Serdar Denktas made similar accusations against BRT. The opposition parties also accused BRT of employing a lot of persons. According to them, the BRT employs 1200, while the BRT's administration alleges that it employs around 750 persons. BRT follows a policy against the UN Plan.

TAK: The so-called 'state' news agency of the pseudostate also faced a lot of criticism by the opposition parties. It is the main source of information for all the papers published in occupied Cyprus, as well as for the radio and television stations. It is among the 'state' organisations that has the biggest number of 'state' employees. HABERCI alleges that despite the fact that TAK is a 'state' organ it is neutral and claims that it faces a lot of criticism just for the fact that it is the 'state' news agency.

KIBRIS Media Group: This group belongs to the well known businessman Asil Nadir. HABERCI writes that KIBRIS newspaper, which is published by the Group, is the most influential paper since it has the higher circulation with eight thousand papers per day. In the past KIBRIS used to support the National Unity Party (NUP) of Dervis Eroglu and to criticize the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) of Mehmet Ali Talat. However, after the UN Plan was submitted, the paper went through a very big change, and it now supports the UN Plan and the opposition parties which support the Annan Plan. According to HABERCI, KIBRIS faced criticisms from the parties that are now in power because it does not write extensively about them. HABERCI also writes that circles close to Mr Nadir's allege that KIBRIS changed its line because Mr Nadir and the pseudogovernment were not able to come to an understanding 'at the bargaining table'.

In addition, KIBRIS FM Radio, which also belongs to the KIBRIS Media Group, is the Radio with the higher ratings. However, HABERCI claims that it lost its neutrality and does not support those who are against the UN Plan.

KIBRIS TV started to broadcast recently and it is not very popular for the time being. Politically it follows a policy in favour of the UN Plan.

HALKIN SESI: The paper, which was established by Dr Fazil Kucuk, is the oldest newspaper in circulation in occupied Cyprus. It sells 1000 papers per day. The paper was against the UN Plan since the first days that the Plan was submitted. The paper's owner is now Mr Mehmet Kucuk who was a candidate with DP in the previous 'elections' but who is a 'candidate' with the Nationalist Peace Party (NPP) for the forthcoming 'elections'. Therefore the paper covers a lot of NPP's activities. Despite that, as HABERCI claims, HALKIN SESI is the most objective paper among the public media of the pseudostate.

YENI DUZEN: The newspaper is the mouthpiece of the RTP. It sells 1000 papers per day. Because it is connected with RTP, it covers all its activities and brings out the Party's success. Its main source of information is the RTP's officials. The paper supports fully the UN Plan. According to HABERCI, one of the main reasons for the paper´s success is its chief editor, Mr Cenk Mutluyakali.

BIRLIK: It is the mouthpiece of the NUP of Dervis Eroglu. It sells 400 papers per day. It follows the NUP political line and covers the Party's activities. The director of BIRLIK is the NUP deputy Mr Savas Atakan.

ORTAM: The paper is published for 20 years now. It sells 400 papers per day. It used to be the mouthpiece of the Communal Liberation Party but now it is the mouhtpiece of the Peace and Democracy Movement. The paper supports fully the UN Plan.

VATAN: Published for twelve years now, VATAN supports the policy of Rauf Denktas. It sells 600 papers per day. It is against the Annan Plan and supports this position with first page headlines and commentaries.

KIBRISLI: It is published for 4 years now. It sells 700 papers per day. Till last year the paper fully supported Rauf Denktas. However, since last year the paper made a 'U turn' and now fully supports the Annan Plan. In addition, the paper's owner, Mr Dogan Harman is a 'candidate' of the Peace and EU Party of Ali Erel.

AFRIKA: The paper, which was named AVRUPA before, is, according to HABERCI, against Turkey. It sells 1000 papers per day. According to HABERCI, AFRIKA presents Mr Talat to be closer to Turkey and fully supports the chairman of PDM, Mr Mustafa Akinci. AFRIKA publishes every day a lot of commentaries and supports that Turkey and the Turkish Army are occupation forces in Cyprus. AFRIKA fully supports the UN Plan.

VOLKAN: It was first published two years ago. It sells 700 papers per day. It is the paper of the National PeopleÎ^Äs Movement and fully supports Rauf Denktas. It is against the UN Plan.

CUMHURIYET: It is the most recently published daily paper in occupied Cyprus. It succeded YENI DEMOCRAT and YENI CIZGI newspapers which ceased publication. It sells 300 papers per day. It is the paper of DP and it is published by the sociologist Kudret Akay. It is against the UN Plan.

BIRINCI Media Group: GENC TV and FIRST FM belong to this group. They have also changed their line after the Annan Plan was submitted. Previously they supported Rauf Denktas and the pseudogovernment. In the previous months BIRINCI Media Group cooperated with ART and for some time it changed its political line. However, after this cooperation was ended, it returned to the Annan Plan line. According to HABERCI, GENC TV supports openly the opposition parties.

KANAL T: It belongs to the businessman Ersin Talat who is a candidate of NUP. It supports Rauf Denktas and NUP.

AKDENIZ TV-Radio: It belongs to the businessman Macit Yusuf. AKDENIZ TV strongly supports the positions of Rauf Denktas and NUP for the December 'elections'. AKDENIZ Radio follows a similar line, however, it has the lowest rating in occupied Cyprus. It is mostly a music radio.

ART: AVRASYA TV belongs to the Metal-Sen Trade Union Chairman Mustafa Ozbek. Although it has started to broadcast recently it became very popular in occupied Cyprus. A large number of professionals who worked in Television in Turkey work now at the station. ART supports the 'national policy' and Rauf Denktas.

[03] The preaches of Gonyeli imam divide the Turkish Cypriots

/SK

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