Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-12-01

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul alleges that responsibility for Cyprus problem cannot be placed on Turks alone

[02] Yasar Yakis argues that Turkey will work for a solution with the winners of the 'elections' in occupied Cyprus

[03] A number of Turkish Cypriot papers published public opinion polls regarding the forthcoming December 'elections'

[04] SEUP says the polls aimed at deceiving and influence the 'voters'

[05] The workers of the Mail Department of the pseudostate had to work over time during the Ramazan holidays in order to distribute election brochures of the NUP

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Turkish columnist says that only 70 thousand Turkish Cypriots are left in occupied Cyprus

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul alleges that responsibility for Cyprus problem cannot be placed on Turks alone

Responding to questions of journalists in the news conference he held in Naples where he attended the Intergovernmental Conference, G¨¹l claimed that Turkey supported finding a solution in Cyprus.

When a reporter made the evaluation that it would be difficult to give a negotiation date to Turkey for EU at the end of 2004, if the Cyprus problem was not solved, G¨¹l said that they were in favor of a solution.

G¨¹l said that he discussed the Cyprus problem with all his colleagues including Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou during his bilateral meetings in Naples.

G¨¹l said that Turkey's statements were very clear about this issue, adding that there were 'elections' in Cyprus, the 'elections' would be democratic and the Turkish side would sincerely work for a solution after the 'elections'. He said that he reminded all of this to his European colleagues and also told them that a solution would not be unilateral.

He added that the Greek Cypriot side was trying to play for time, as it would enter EU in any case, adding that the Greek Cypriot side should show the same realistic reconciliation as well. G¨¹l said that he hoped that a solution would be reached and the problem would be solved, but all responsibility could not be put on the shoulders of the Turkish side.

G¨¹l argued that Turkey's EU membership could not be linked to the Cyprus issue, adding that ''we will do our best to solve the issue and everybody will see that. But a solution can't be one sided. We favour a solution of the issue. Our Prime Minister says from the beginning that non-solution is not a solution.''

Upon a question, G¨¹l said that they were spending significant efforts to reach a compromise in the Loizidou case, adding that ''we could not reach a compromise yet, but we launch great efforts to this end. I hope a positive development will take place about the Loizidou case next week.''

G¨¹l noted that it was an important case, adding that ''but there are certain issues which should be taken into consideration. There is no full compromise on the issue. I hope we can reach a compromise in line with our proposal, because we launched great efforts for that.''

[02] Yasar Yakis argues that Turkey will work for a solution with the winners of the 'elections' in occupied Cyprus

Addressing the monthly meeting of the Turkish Forum organization in London, Mr Yakis said on Saturday that they would get into action after the 'elections' with the new so-called government.

Asked to comment on a statement he had made regarding the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus in case a solution is not reached until 1 May 2004, Mr Yakis said: 'I did not say that the Turkish army would be turned into an occupation force. There are a lot of western diplomats who think that. I said that they would call Turkey an occupier. I am still afraid that some countries and some diplomats will present Turkey as an occupier if a solution is not found' If a solution is not found until 1 May nothing is going to happen. The Greek Cypriot side will join the EU, but it will not have the whole of Cyprus under its sovereignty. Even if the two sides take their decision on 30 April, the negotiations will continue after 1 May''.

[03] A number of Turkish Cypriot papers published public opinion polls regarding the forthcoming December 'elections'

BIRLIK and VOLKAN newspapers published an opinion poll which was conducted by ART News Agency, between the 16-20 of November with a sample of 1516 persons with the face to face meetings method. The results were the following: Party Percentage % 'Parliament Seats' National Unity Party 32,9 24 Republican Turkish Party 17,4 13 Democratic Party 11,6 8 Peace and Democracy ¦¬ovement 8,5 5 Solution and EU Party 2,3 0 Nationalist Peace Party 2,1 0 Cyprus Justice Party 0,30 0 Undecided 14,3 Split ticket 9,6

HALKIN SESI published an opinion poll conducted by the paper. No
information is given regarding the date, the sample or the methodology
used. The results are the following:

Party                     Percentage %
National Unity Party          34
Republican Turkish Party      26
Democratic Party              14
Peace and Democracy ¦¬ovement  7
Nationalist Peace Party        6
Solution and EU Party          3
Cyprus Justice Party           2
Undecided and Split ticket     8

Yeni Duzen published a survey which had been published by the Turkish mainland YENI SAFAK newspaper. The survey conducted by the Cyprus Communal Research and Consultation Education Center (KADEM), between the 8-17 of November with a sample of 2,107 persons.

Party                        Percentage %
Republican Turkish Party       27,5
National Unity Party           18,4
Peace and Democracy ¦¬ovement  11,1
Democratic Party                6,3
Undecided                      10
Split ticket                   27

Furthermore, KIBRISLI newspaper writes that according to an unpublished opinion poll, the Republican Turkish Party and the Peace and Democracy Movement get 25% each and the Solution and EU gets 17%. At the same opinion poll the National Unity Party gets less than 20%. The paper writes that according to this poll, the parties of the opposition have a total of 70% while the pro-status quo parties have a total of 30%. The paper also writes that the Democratic Party and the persons who are close to Rauf Denktas decided not to publish the opinion poll because its results were against the status quo.

[04] SEUP says the polls aimed at deceiving and influence the 'voters'

In a written statement issued on Sunday, Mr Damdelen notes that every newspaper published an opinion poll showing high percentages for the political party it supports.

Mr Damdelen supported that there are some scenarios prepared by the opponents of the solution in Cyprus and the forces, which do not want to see Turkey in the EU. According to these scenarios, the SEUP will not get the 5 % threshold and the other two opposition parties will not get more than 50 % of the 'votes'.

[05] The workers of the Mail Department of the pseudostate had to work over time during the Ramazan holidays in order to distribute election brochures of the NUP

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Turkish columnist says that only 70 thousand Turkish Cypriots are left in occupied Cyprus

'In 1974 the population of TRNC was 120 thousand. Now this number is about 210 thousand! 40 thousand are the army, 100 thousand the mainland Turks and 70 thousand the Turkish Cypriots! Within the framework of these numbers note also the following: 'According to information, which MILLIYET acquired from the Greek Cypriot passport department, 100 thousand and 73 persons out of the approximately 200 thousand living in TRNC applied for identity card, passport and birth certificate. 23.500 of the applicators have taken an identity card, 8.253 a Greek Cypriot passport and 68.594 a birth certificate. '' (MILLIYET-28.11.2003)

This means that even if we suppose that all 70 thousand Turkish Cypriots have applied for a passport, at least 30 thousand of the Denktas supporters imported from Turkey, are on the one hand shouting that 'Cyprus is and will remain Turkish' and 'damn you EU' and on the other hand they are standing at the queue in order to take the EU citizenship!

EG/

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