Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-06-24

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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 occupation regime files charges against the former "government" of NUP.

[02] Denktas: "Unless water is brought from Turkey Mesaoria plain will not be green".

[03] The Council of Europe ends monitoring Turkey for its human rights performance within Turkey but its troops continue to violate the human rights of EU citizens in Cyprus.

[04] Turkey´s NSC is discussing the issues to be raised during President Bush's visit to Istanbul. They expect gesture from President Bush to continue the occupation of an EU member country.

[05] The occupation regime prevented a Turkish academician and journalist to cross from the free areas to the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] The Turkish occupation army controls everything at the illegal Tymbou airport as well.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The occupation regime files charges against the former "government" of NUP

According to Mr Uzun, charges were also filed regarding the applications of the former so-called government in the case of the El-Nar firm and other firms which belonged to the businessman Elmas Guzelyurtlu and were confiscated because Mr Guzelyurtlu was not able to pay his taxes to the occupation regime.

Some Turkish Cypriot newspapers (24.06.04) refer to the issue under the following headlines:

HALKIN SESI: "What a disgrace is this?"

YENI DUZEN: "Partisan flight. It has been revealed that the NUP rented aircraft from the Turkish Cypriot airlines during two election periods in order to bring voters to the country"

VOLKAN: "Who is the minister from the Republican Turkish Party who is an associate of embezzler Elmas who owes to the state 42 million dollars?"

[02] Denktas: "Unless water is brought from Turkey Mesaoria plain will not be green"

During the meeting Denktas referred to Turkey's assistance extended to the occupied area and pointed out that unless water is supplied from Turkey through under-water pipes the Mesaoria Plain will not be green.

After the meeting Sener told reporters that he is very happy to be in the occupied area again and added that after 24 April this is his second visit to the occupied area, the first being for the opening of the occupied Tymbou airport. He praised the new Tymbou airport and said that it is one of the important airports of the Middle East. Sener further promised that Turkey will do all it could to increase the standard of living of the Turkish Cypriots.

In his turn Denktas thanked for the help Turkey is extending to the occupied area. He added that their hope is Turkey. Referring to foreign promises to help the occupied area, Denktas said that they welcome the foreign aid. Referring to the water shortages facing the occupied area Denktas asked Sener to give priority to this issue and said unless water is delivered through pipeline from Turkey the occupied Mesaoria plain will not be green.

[03] The Council of Europe ends monitoring Turkey for its human rights performance within Turkey but its troops continue to violate the human rights of EU citizens in Cyprus

"Turkey said the Council of Europe's decision to end monitoring Turkey's human rights performance was a sign that Turkey has fulfilled the required criteria to enter the European Union.

"The Council of Europe decided to end monitoring Turkey since Turkey has progressed successfully in meeting the Copenhagen criteria. This is a positive result due to Turkey's efforts on the issue," said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday.

The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly endorsed a proposal on Tuesday to end monitoring in the wake of recent democratic reforms, including the release from prison of four former Kurdish deputies.

The Foreign Ministry noted in a statement that the decision meant that Turkey "has met the standards of the Council of Europe in the areas of democracy, human rights and supremacy of law."

The statement emphasized that with the decision one obstacle in Turkey's way to start accession talks with the EU has been eliminated and expressed the government's determination to continue the reform efforts.

EU aspirant Turkey has been monitored by the Council of Europe since 1996, seriously undermining prospects of joining the EU. Having done its homework, Turkey eagerly expects to get the go-ahead in a December EU summit to start entry talks with the EU.

Turkey has passed in recent months a series of democratic reforms, including limiting the powers of the military, abolition of the death penalty and granting greater rights to its Kurdish citizens.

In fall, the EU Commission will release a progress report on Turkey's human rights and democracy performance which will have a serious effect on EU leaders' decision to start talks."

[04] Turkey´s NSC is discussing the issues to be raised during President Bush's visit to Istanbul. They expect gesture from President Bush to continue the occupation of an EU member country

Turkey is expected to press the United States to do more to eliminate the presence of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq when U.S. President George W. Bush visits Ankara this weekend, and would be pleased if Washington comes up with a "gesture" to help Turkish Cypriots out of their international isolation, Turkish officials said.

"Such a thing would be very welcome," a Turkish diplomat was quoted as saying by the Anatolia news agency on Wednesday, referring to Ankara's expectations for a gesture regarding Cyprus.

On the PKK presence in northern Iraq, Ankara is concerned by "inconsistencies" between Washington's pledge of zero tolerance to the terrorist presence in Iraqi territory, and the lack of steps on behalf of U.S. forces in Iraq to eliminate the PKK bases there.

Bush is set to meet President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday in Ankara before moving on to Istanbul to attend a two-day summit by NATO starting on Monday.

The U.S. administration is expected to announce a package of measures to help end the international isolation of Turkish Cypriots after they voted in support of a U.N. plan for reunification of the island, a move which failed due to Greek Cypriot objection.

Last week, U.S. Ambassador in Ankara, Eric Edelman, said he did not expect the package to be announced during Bush's visit, citing persistent difficulties in getting the legal and technical requirements completed.

Some of the proposed measures, such as direct economic aid to `Turkish Cyprus´, require approval from the U.S. Congress, while others need coordination and endorsement from international bodies.

Edelman said Turkey and the United States recently discussed introducing direct flights to the `TRNC´ Ercan Airport, but progress on the issue required coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Washington also wants to synchronize Turkey's steps with the European Union.

As part of U.S. efforts to end the international isolation of Turkish Cypriots, American diplomatic representatives in Cyprus and Washington have visited Turkish Cypriot officials.

Turkish sources praised U.S. steps, saying Washington has provided the biggest support so far in the ending of the Turkish Cypriot isolation. The new U.S. steps are expected to be in the field of trade, said the sources.

Getting more demanding of PKK

Another issue expected to be raised during Bush's visit is the presence of an estimated 4,500 to 5,000 militants of the PKK, which also goes by names of KADEK and Kongra-Gel, holed up in the mountains of northern Iraq.

The United States has made it clear several times that there would be no place for the PKK in Iraq, but have avoided any military action against the group, saying U.S. forces are already overstretched in other parts of the country.

"It is for sure that we will ask for better consistency between the rhetoric on the one hand and actions on the other," said Turkish officials.

Presidential Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said last week that Turkey would press Bush to take firm action on the PKK when President Sezer meets him on Sunday.

Ankara is especially concerned over the constant PKK presence in northern Iraq after the group announced an end to its five-year cease-fire with Turkish security forces at the beginning of the month.

Turkish officials said there has been a visible increase in PKK activities recently, and added that the link between escalating violence and the PKK presence in northern Iraq could not be ignored.

"Partly due to the increased terror activity, Turkey has become more demanding of the PKK," the officials said.

In addition to Cyprus and the PKK, Bush and Turkish leaders are expected to take up the situation in Iraq, Turkey's bid to join the EU, Afghanistan and a U.S.-backed project to encourage democratization in the Broader Middle East and North Africa.

NSC to discuss issues at Bush visit

Two days before U.S. President George W. Bush arrives in Ankara, Turkey's powerful National Security Council (NSC) will convene to discuss, together with a number of other topics, issues that the Turkish leadership is to raise in the upcoming talks with Bush.

Issues including the situation in neighboring Iraq in the run-up to the transfer of authority to an Iraqi government on June 30, increased Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist activity in Turkey's southeast and the release of four former parliamentarians -- including Nobel prize nominee Leyla Zana -- are expected to be taken up at the meeting. Another moot point is expected to be the steps that Turkey is planning to take in extending its customs union agreement with the EU to new member `Greek Cyprus´, a process complicated by Turkey not recognizing the `Greek Cypriot administration´."

[05] The occupation regime prevented a Turkish academician and journalist to cross from the free areas to the occupied areas of Cyprus

Mr Duran came to the Cyprus Republic from Larnaca airport in order to participate in a seminar in Cyprus, organized by the European Journalism Center. After the seminar he tried to cross to the occupied areas from Ledra Palace checkpoint, as guest of the Turkish Cypriot Journalists` Association (BASIN-SEN). However, the occupation regime denied him `permission` to cross because he did not come to the island from a point of entry controlled by the pseudostate. As the paper writes this behavior against a Turkish citizen created distress since all the other foreigners who come to Cyprus from the areas controlled by the Cyprus Republic are allowed to cross to the pseudostate. In addition, BASIN-SEN stated that this behavior against its guest was unacceptable and caused condemnation.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] The Turkish occupation army controls everything at the illegal Tymbou airport as well

"Two days ago the trade unions, the members of which work at the Tymbou airport, organized a meeting at KTAMS headquarters and complained about the situation of their members. They said that if necessary they would try all the ways including the strike. The citizens were informed the next day about this, but not in all details. The substance of the story was hidden, it was kept secret. What was the priming coat of the substance of this issue? Is the fact that RTP, which had taken the votes of the people talking about civilian authority, says nothing about the behavior against the workers at a place which comes under one of its own ministries, not thought - provoking? Because Tymbou airport is not under civilian control. It is under the army.

The army has ordered that the workers at the airport should pass under the same control as the passengers do. If someone thinks he can oppose to this, let him do it. The army calls this 'security'. Is the Turkish army not responsible for the security of this country? Is the security, the control of the (state) departments, the workers and the civil servant and the imports and exports, not depended on the army? Has Prime Minister Talat, by saying 'it is a consultative body', not approved the Higher Coordination Council which is above the parliament? 'Why should the army, which controls everything, not control the Tymbou airport? Has it not the right to undress the workers and control them and if it wishes take them to their working place crawling? Has this right not been given to the army because of the governments which have surrendered? '

If you want call it `TRNC´ or Turkish Cypriot State. There is no difference. The status quo is still there and is trying to make thicker the curtain in front of the community by bringing RTP to the government. The status quo here is the domination of the army.

The army and the families of the army officers are for years using the special entrances and exits made for them. On the other hand, the workers at Tymbou airport can go to their work after they are forced to be undressed and pass under control because they are not reliable. They are forced to pass through a security mechanism even if they want to go from one room to the other. How many status quo is there in this place? Which status quo wanted to demolish those eighty thousand persons who had gathered at the square? Before, the status quo was 'plain'. Now we have it 'varnished' before us!"

/SK

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