Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-08-02

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mehmet Ali Talat : The EU lacks the potential to undertake initiative on the Cyprus problem.

[02] Flanked by the command of the occupation army Rauf Denktas threatens to re-activate the TMT which he established in 1963 to promote the partition of Cyprus.

[03] Turkish Cypriot newspaper supports that the occupied areas have been turned into construction site.

[04] Ali Erel says the measures recently announced by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus towards the Turkish Cypriots are "positive but insufficient".

[05] The Nationalist Action Party urges the Turkish Generals to Intervene.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Columnist in AFRIKA accuses the British and the Europeans of being receivers of stolen Cypriot properties and the EU of promoting theft in Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mehmet Ali Talat : The EU lacks the potential to undertake initiative on the Cyprus problem

Since the Republic of Cyprus acceded to the EU the government of Cyprus has been taking measures so that the Turkish Cypriots may enjoy all the benefits of the accession.

Following is a report by illegal Bayrak television on July 31, 2004, on the reaction to the measures by the so-called Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic in occupied Cyprus, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, during a visit to the mixed village of Pyla, in the buffer zone, where Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been living harmoniously all the time:

"Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat declared that the measures for the Turkish Cypriots announced yesterday by the Greek Cypriot administration were the ones that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus has been demanding from the Greek Cypriots since the opening of the gates. Talat also said that there is no question of them [the Turkish side] rejecting the package, despite its shortcomings.

Replying to reporters' question in Pyla, Prime Minister Talat reiterated that the Turkish Cypriots have no problem of creating confidence, only the Greek Cypriot leader, Tassos Papadopoulos, is in need of confidence.

When reminded by a journalist about his previous statement that he does not believe the EU would launch a new initiative over the Cyprus problem, Talat said the claims by certain politicians that the Netherlands, the EU term chairman, will ask for the re-negotiation of the Annan plan are mere figments of the imagination. These fabricated reports make into the agenda and create excitement, generating sometimes anxiety and sometimes joy. None of them are true, said Prime Minister Talat, adding that the EU lacks the potential to undertake initiative on the Cyprus problem, and the EU knows this. This is why, Talat added, the EU is undertaking no initiative for the solution of the Cyprus problem, it has no such endeavor. Noting that even France -- which is one of the leading EU countries and which asks the EU to conduct a more independent policy from the United States and the UN -- is of the view that the solution will be found by the UN, Talat said that such rumors do nothing but generate vain excitement.

When reminded that the Greek Cypriots have submitted to the UN their amendments to improve the Annan plan and asked if the mediatory role to be assumed by the UN would be in keeping with the Annan plan, Talat said that at present he does not know how this would be done. Talat continued: `The problem does not arise from us. We said yes to the Annan plan with 65 percent majority. As such, we do not now have the right to say the Annan plan is bad. We have no such luxury´.

Noting that the problem is arising from the Greek Cypriot side, Talat said that the Greek Cypriots should decide what they want; they should say if they want to vote on the Annan plan again or make changes to some of its articles, adding: `Let us first see this. If they have a position, let it be first submitted to us as proposals. Only then we will decide what to do. But, at present it would be wrong for us to assume a position in favor of re-negotiating the Annan plan, for I cannot say I am going to re-negotiate a plan endorsed by the 65 percent of the population´.

Noting that the ball is in the Greek Cypriot court, Talat said that the ball can pass to the Turkish side only when the Greek Cypriots submit proposals.

Touching on the confidence-building measures put forward by the Greek Cypriots, Talat said that the Turkish Cypriots have no problem of creating confidence. Pointing out that through various campaigns the Greek Cypriot people were deceived and that Papadopoulos headed those who deceived the Greek Cypriots, Talat said: `I think it is Papadopoulos who needs confidence, not the peoples. We said yes with 65 percent, and the plan provided for far more than the measures announced [by the Greek Cypriots]. He is now asking us to implement some of them [the measures found in the Annan plan] to create confidence. I do not need that. It is him that needs it. The Turkish Cypriots have no such need, for they said yes to far more´.

Asked about his reaction to the measures announced yesterday by the Greek Cypriot administration, Talat said that he does not have the full text of the measures and knows about them from the press. Noting that issues like the Turkish vehicles carrying goods to the south were ones demanded from the Greek Cypriots since the opening of the gates, Talat said that there is no question of rejecting them. Talat stated: `My impression is that the proposals fall far short than what we have been demanding. For instance, there is no mention of the Z-plated cars crossing to the south, there is no provision for a Turkish Cypriot tour operator to take its own group of tourists from the Larnaca Airport to its hotels with its own vehicles. This is very wrong and insufficient. A journey should not necessarily start from the north´.

Noting that the Greek Cypriot proposals have many such shortcomings, Talat said that the announced measures were already the demands of the Turkish side and as such there is no question of rejecting them."

[02] Flanked by the command of the occupation army Rauf Denktas threatens to re-activate the TMT which he established in 1963 to promote the partition of Cyprus

As part of ceremonies marking the 1st August Holiday [the "Communal Resistance Day," which brings together the 28th anniversary of the foundation of the Security Forces, 46th anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Resistance Organization, (TMT), and the 433th anniversary of the Turkish conquest of Cyprus], Necmettin Baykul paid visits today to the so-called President Rauf Denktas, "President of the Republican Assembly" Fatma Ekenoglu, and "Prime Minister" Mehmet Ali Talat.

Noting that an important anniversary is being marked, the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas, said that the youth should be aware of this and should be enlightened about it.

Recalling that they all went through a referendum process and are now facing a new situation, Denktas said: "The referendum result was the one I hoped would be. What I hoped was that the Annan plan would drop from the agenda."

Noting that his advice to the people to cast a "no" vote did not produce the expected result and that he, nevertheless, respects those who cast a "yes" vote, Mr Rauf Denktas declared that, unlike what is being said by Weston, de Soto, and Annan, he does not believe that those who cast a "yes" vote turned their back on the statehood, agreed to an agreement without statehood, renounced sovereignty, accepted the Greek Cypriot views, desired nothing more than reunification with the Greek Cypriots, and desperately sought EU membership.

Stressing that as someone who knows his own people he rejects such an interpretation [of the referendum result], Mr Denktas said: "I am saying that the Turkish Cypriots were deceived, at least some of those who cast a yes vote. The people were told that in case of a yes vote their state would be recognized, that the Annan plan provides for sovereignty, and that in case of Greek Cypriot rejection, recognition will be secured for us."

Alleging that the TMT was established to prevent the Turkish Cypriots from living under Greek administration, Cyprus from becoming a base against Turkey, and the Turkish Cypriots from becoming the slaves of the Greek Cypriots, from becoming a second class citizens, and to defend their honor and dignity, Denktas said that they went through a successful ordeal under very difficult conditions.

Denktas pointed out that any attempt to impose an artificial agreement on the Turkish Cypriots detrimental to their sovereignty and statehood would reactivate the right to establish a new TMT and that the youth are up to that task.

The Turkish Cypriot leader warned the Greek Cypriots -- who are preparing a march to Dherynia region on 11 August - to come to their senses.

In reply to a question regarding reports on the Greek Cypriot preparations to visit Dherinya region on 11 August, Mr Rauf Denktas said:

"Undesirable incidents took place at the time. I think that the Turkish people that I know will not leave the Dherinya region untended on that day. If need be, we too will converge there.

Such an action is unacceptable. Such a pressure, impertinence, and infamy is unacceptable. The Cyprus problem could only be resolved through agreement between the sides under equal conditions. The Greek Cypriots can achieve nothing through such pressure and deception of the world and by belittling the Turkish Cypriots and infringing on their rights. It is time for the Greek Cypriots to come to their senses", Mr Denktas said.

Local AFRIKA newspaper (02.08.04) publishes statements by the leader of the Peace and Democracy Movement, Mr Mustafa Akinci, who accuses the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas, of inciting the youth to commit crimes in the presence of Mr Talat.

Said inter alia Mr Akinci: "The past years caused pain to both communities of this island. They both shed blood and tears. In the end the issue of taking their position in the EU as joint owners came on the agenda. The formula for this was the Annan plan.

According to Mr Denktas, this plan which has not yet been accepted by the Greek Cypriot community, is an artificial plan and if accepted the youth might establish another TMT and start underground activities. With these words Denktas is openly inciting the youth to shed blood by engaging in illegal activities and joining underground organizations. The person doing this is carrying the title of `President´ while Mr Talat who carries the title of `Prime Minister´ is a mere spectator. This anachronistic approach should not be allowed to be realized by remaining silent".

[03] Turkish Cypriot newspaper supports that the occupied areas have been turned into construction site

The paper writes that the most preferred area for constructions is the occupied city of Kyrenia and its villages. Since November 2002, 2.006 building permissions were given in the occupied Kyrenia district, while only 485 were given in Famagusta and 469 in the occupied part of Nicosia. The demand in the building sector caused significant increase in the prices of the immovable property, notes KIBRIS.

Furthermore, the properties bought by foreign citizens have increased by 276 % during the last four years. In 2000 114 foreigners bought immovable property in the occupied areas of Cyprus, while this number increased to 231 in 2001 and to 429 in 2003. In 2000, 228 foreigners applied to the "ministry of interior" for buying immovable property, while this number increased to 309 in 2001, 591 in 2002, 955 in 2003 and 1.157 in 2004.

The expansion in the building sector caused an increase in the imports of the products which are related to it, which mainly come from Turkey.

[04] Ali Erel says the measures recently announced by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus towards the Turkish Cypriots are "positive but insufficient"

Mr Erel supported that the part of the measures which provides for the Turkish Cypriots exporting their goods from the legal ports of the Republic of Cyprus, is insufficient because the Turkish Cypriots who want to do this would be paying VAT twice.

[05] The Nationalist Action Party urges the Turkish Generals to Intervene

The separate letters sent to 313 generals were written on 13 June 2004, that is four days after a Turkish Court set free four DEP deputies who were jailed for allegedly carrying out separatist activities in Turkey.

The letter was addressed by the NAP deputy leader and responsible for propaganda Mehmet Sandir.

A 17-page assessment of the political situation in Turkey, carried out by the leader of the NAP Devlet Bahceli, was attached to the said letter.

The letter strongly criticizes the ruling JDP and the prime minister for being subservient to the EU.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Columnist in AFRIKA accuses the British and the Europeans of being receivers of stolen Cypriot properties and the EU of promoting theft in Cyprus

The commentary is as follows:

"It is not possible to understand the silence by the EU, the UN and the European countries as regards what is going on regarding the private property in Cyprus.

If there is nothing, at least there is something known as human rights. And the private property is considered a human right. They say that the human rights are universal and they are inalienable and can not be transferred but when it comes to Cyprus this fact is no more applicable.

This right neither in the north nor in the south Cyprus is valid. The violation of the right to property had started not in 1974 but immediately after the armed struggle that started on 23 December 1963.

And from that day it is going on in one way or the other. However neither the International Law nor the institutions and the Countries that champion the International law have ever seriously approached and handled this case. It would be more correct if we say they never showed interest in it. Almost half of Cyprus in the second half of the 20th century and in the beginning of the 21st century was plundered. Some villages were burned down, centuries - old trees were uprooted and cut down. Omorfita neighborhood, next to Nicosia, was burned down and destroyed before the very eyes of the civilized world. The civilized world is also watching now. Furthermore, this civilized world is participating in this plundering in Cyprus. In spite of the fact that Cyprus became a member of the EU, citizens of the European countries are officially plundering the properties of the Cypriots, without recognizing any law or any order. They are plundering by buying these properties knowing that they are stolen properties. Could you buy a stolen car knowing that it is stolen? You could not. If you do buy it you will be committing a crime. Even if you buy it without knowing that it was stolen, it will be difficult for you to avoid punishment and you will have to give it back.

Is it only the car? Everything is like this. If for example, a car is stolen from England and brought to Cyprus, will the British police not follow it and come to Cyprus? Could you buy a stolen watch? Could you buy a stolen camera etc, without being punished? You could not buy it.

How come the British and the other European citizens buy a house, a plot of vacant land and a field knowing that it is stolen and belongs to another person according to the international law and the human rights? Do these Europeans not understand that with this behaviour they are becoming a part of a plundering, a wrongful seizure and a theft? Is it possible that they do not understand this? Then what? Could a person get involved in such issues without at least asking his own state? Let us say that they have not asked. Why is the state not interfering in this open theft? Especially Britain which knows everything that happens on this island.

Let us come to our own, to Mr Talat and his government. Mr Talat says that 'the world understands us because we are speaking the language that the world speaks'. Is this the language that the world understands? Is selling stolen property the language that the world understands? The situation of our Parliament is known. We called it 'Our Theater'. We said it, but have they accepted it as well? Let them show to us that we are wrong. There is only one thing that could be done on this issue. The annulment of all the seizures made on Greek Cypriot properties. In any case they are contrary to our constitution as well. And to the constitution of the Federated State. Annul them and put an end to the plundering of the properties of the Cypriots. Say that 'everything that was valid before 1963 is valid now'. Do you not think that the attitude of the EU is also strange on this issue? Why does it remain silent?"

/SK

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