Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-08-05

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mr Talat calls on the Greek Cypriots to turn against President Tassos Papadopoulos. Turkey in full control of the illegal universities.

[02] The occupation regime decides to permit the re-opening of a Greek Cypriot gymnasium in occupied Rizokarpaso after 30 years of bans.

[03] The illegal Turkish settlers threaten that they would re-establish the TMT organization.

[04] Ambassador van der Meer: "Solution Initiative Must Come From Cyprus".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] Columnist in AFRIKA stresses that the embargo on the Turkish Cypriots is imposed by Turkey.

[06] Ozker Ozgur:"The plundering regime".

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mr Talat calls on the Greek Cypriots to turn against President Tassos Papadopoulos. Turkey in full control of the illegal universities

Before the meeting Mr Talat replied to reporters´ questions. Replying to a question on the agenda of the meeting, Talat alleged that the telephone connection with the free areas of Cyprus via Turkey and Greece is strange, but the responsibility for it lies not with the Turkish side but with the Cyprus Government which has been refusing cooperation with the Turkish side. He called on the Cyprus government to act in a more reasonable manner to eliminate this strange situation.

Noting that it has come to his attention that the Greek Cypriots would carry out two demonstrations along the line created by the occupation forces dividing Cyprus into two, one on 7 August to demand solution and another on 11 August to demand reunification, Talat said that he has met the UN officials to issue the necessary warning. Alleging that it is the Cyprus government that prevents the reunification in Cyprus, Talat said that the Greek Cypriots should instead demonstrate against Papadopoulos. Mehmet Ali Talat also stressed that it is meaningless for the Greek Cypriots to demonstrate against the Turkish side, as the Turkish side is ready for a solution and reunification and at the referendum it said yes to the reunification plan.

"I call on the Greek Cypriots to act with common sense. Please let them see the realities starkly and clearly. No matter what their voting inclinations -- may be they voted for or against the solution plan --, they should see the reality. The Turkish side is not responsible for the continuation of the division. Hence, they should direct their action not against the Turkish side but against the Greek Cypriot administration and Papadopoulos. I wanted to note this availing myself of this opportunity," Mr Talat cynically stated.

Pointing out that the invitation [extended by Rauf Denktas] on civilians to gather on the confrontation line [on 11 August] to ward off the Greek Cypriots may cause the repetition of the 1996 events that disgraced the Turkish Cypriots in the eyes of the world, Mr Talat said that they definitely cannot accept such a thing.

And regarding a question on his meeting with the leader of the Democratic Rally Party, Mr Anastasiades, Talat said that various proposals were put forward and analyzed at the meeting but that they have not yet reached a point of adopting and implementing any of these proposals, adding that they have established a permanent inter-party committee and that their subsequent meetings will be held within that framework. Noting that there is no plan agreed upon during the meeting and that the meeting was held only between the two parties, Talat said that the responsibility for decision-making rests with the government. Talat also said that he will hold constant contacts with Anastasiades and other leaders.

Regarding a question on the decision of Turkey's Higher Education Council [YOK], Talat said that he does not find it appropriate to take any measure before talking with Turkey's national education minister. Noting that the ad-hoc committee members will meet with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in the afternoon as part of their Ankara contacts, Talat said a decision will be made as to what to do after he meets the Turkish education minister and the [ad-hoc] committee concludes its Ankara contacts.

Replying to a question on domestic policy, Talat said that there is no development as yet [on the early elections] as the committee [the parliamentary committee examining the bill on early elections] will continue working and examine our proposal for an early election. That will give us time to decide what to do when the "Republican Assembly" reconvenes [after summer recess].

Talat said that the early election is always on the agenda, but at the same time securing a majority for the "government" is also on their agenda, adding that they will launch an initiative to form a majority-based "government".

Asked if the DP [Democratic Party] will be involved in this effort, Talat said that not one party, all the parties will be involved. Talat added that though they are in constant contact with the parties, for now there is no such thing as negotiations and exchange of proposals.

Noting that they will go on trying out majority-based government formulas, Talat said: "There is no assurance that such a formula could be found, it may not. But at least we must know that we have done everything in our power."

Talat also said that work is continuing for the opening of the crossing point near occupied Zhodia.

[02] The occupation regime decides to permit the re-opening of a Greek Cypriot gymnasium in occupied Rizokarpaso after 30 years of bans

In statements after the meeting of the so-called council of ministers, Huseyin Celal, "minister of health and social aid", said that the "council" decided the re-opening of the gymnasium in Rizokaropasso in September, with the beginning of the new academic year.

Mr Celal noted that the gymnasium will operate under the control of the so-called ministry of foreign affairs. The so-called prime minister, Mehmet Ali Talat had repeatedly stated during the last few months that the school would be opened under the control of the "ministry of education", something that would be "more democratic", according to his allegations.

[03] The illegal Turkish settlers threaten that they would re-establish the TMT organization

The chairman of the Turkish settlers, Enver Dincoglu criticized yesterday those who criticized the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas because of his statement that if necessary they would re-establish TMT.

Mr Dincoglu alleged that the Turkish Cypriots came to the situation they are today because of the TMT and that if necessary this organization will be re-established. Mr Dincoglu claimed that the Greek Cypriots are still dreaming of the unification of Cyprus with Greece and that they do not want the Turkish Cypriots.

[04] Ambassador van der Meer: "Solution Initiative Must Come From Cyprus"

Ambassador van der Meer said that the initiatives which started by the EU and are aimed for the Turkish Cypriots will be completed in September.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] Columnist in AFRIKA stresses that the embargo on the Turkish Cypriots is imposed by Turkey

"Look Talat my dearest one ' Leave Greek Cypriot embargo aside. The real embargo is the Turk´s embargo. Without first breaking the Turk´s embargo it is impossible to overcome the Greek Cypriot embargo. And the Turk has no intention of lifting the embargo. Yesterday the embargo was on our raki, shampoo and coca-cola. Today came the turn of the universities.

The Higher Education Board (YOK) insists on its decision. It will insist of course. The YOK will administer the 82nd province in the same way that it administers the 81 provinces of Turkey. Besides, the `TRNC´ is not an independent state.

According to some persons the `TRNC´ is a military camp, according to others it is new territories acquired with blood and according to some others a province. Or, if you like, a small Turkey.

The strange thing is that we legalized this situation through provisional article 10 of the `constiitution´´ of the `TRNC´.

The commander of the Security Forces cannot be Cypriot. Did our `Prime Ministers´ react to this at all? No, not at all! The Chairman of the Central Bank cannot be Cypriot. Was there any reaction to this from any `Prime Minister´, including Talat?

There was not. The Chairman of the Civil Defence Organization cannot be Cypriot.

Was there any serious objection to this? There was not! The `Police´ and `Fire Service´ come under the army'Those who were protesting to these in the streets have they promoted their objections by sitting in their armchairs? They have not.

Did those who reacted strongly in the past against the population carried from Turkey continue their objection after they were tamed? They did not!

What right do they have now to go against YOK those who did not demonstrate their objection to all the above? What YOK is now doing is what the military-civilian is doing.

Because they consider Northern Cyprus to be their territory they apply in Cyprus whatever they implement in Turkey. They try not to make discriminations.

The real problem is not with YOK but in the relations with Turkey. Unless these relations are taken out from the mother-child relationship and placed on a sound basis, it is not possible to set these shameful conditions on a right course by begging and imploring.

Our "Assembly" has taken a unanimous decision. And in this framework it has sent a committee to Ankara. Despite the fact that our committee knocked on every door in Ankara YOK refused to change its decision.

The right thing, if your want to ask, would be for Talat to go to Ankara as `Prime Minister´ and not the `Assembly Committee´. And Talat should have put all the spectrum of our relations on the negotiating table with Ankara.

We know, Talat has neither this intention nor the courage to do it. If he had such intention and the courage he would have had respected the people´s will and defended the Turkish Cypriot state.

At that time it (the Turkish Cypriot state) would cease from being a province of Turkey and again become a part of Cyprus.

And at once it would get saved from embargoes and isolations. Not only from the Greek´s embargo but also from the Turk´s embargo."

[06] Ozker Ozgur:"The plundering regime"

Mr Ozgur writes, inter alia, the following:

"If we have to give a name to the regime established in the northern part of Cyprus after 1974, the name 'plundering regime´ will be appropriate. 'Because the Republic of Cyprus continued to exist even after 1974, the laws of the Republic remained valid in the southern part of Cyprus.

The private properties of the citizens were not touched. The immovable properties of the Turkish Cypriots were 'leased' to Greek Cypriots who had been forced to immigrate from the north to the south. Perhaps the cost of the leasing was symbolic, but the provisions of the law were fulfilled. Today the Turkish Cypriots, who own property in the southern part of Cyprus, have the opportunity to acquire their property according to the laws of the Republic of Cyprus. Undoubtedly there are Turkish Cypriot properties which have been expropriated for the public interest. As far as we know, the Greek Cypriot side is waiting for the solution of the Cyprus problem in order to be able to pay the money for the expropriation.

However, if we are going to apply the laws, we must apply them fully. The money for the expropriated properties must be paid to their owners. 'It could be said that in the southern part of Cyprus efforts have been exerted for being as much as possible committed to the laws of the Republic on the issue of the properties.

In the northern part of Cyprus, however, there has been a full plundering and pillage. The laws of the Republic have been put aside. A new law under the name of Law for Providing with House, Land and Equivalent Property was introduced. The properties of the Greek Cypriots, who had been forced to immigrate to the south, were given to the population transferred from Turkey. Some steps were made for giving the Turkish Cypriot property owners, who had been forced to immigrate from the south to the north, equivalent property in the north. While those who came from Turkey were given properties without anything in exchange. The great majority of the Turkish Cypriots who came from the south were unjustly treated. Those who were responsible for the housing affairs have created a mafia among them. The citizens have been abandoned to the mercy of the Housing Mafia. '

For some reasons the citizens who had been forced to come from the south to the north, were forced to settle in villages near the border line dividing the north from the south. ' The great majority of the population transferred from Turkey was forced to settle in villages far from the border and near the northern coast. At this stage, the people from Turkey, who are directly involved in the new plundering phenomenon which began in the areas close to the northern coasts, are selling the properties of the Greek Cypriots to the foreigners for hundreds of thousands sterling pounds. The foreigners are building on these properties day and night. Especially the area of Kyrenia has been turned into a building site. The building plots of the Greek Cypriots who had been forced to immigrate to the south, are being filled with constructions. The aim is obvious.

According to the Annan Plan, if a building is constructed in the plot of a Greek Cypriot, the owner of the construction will demand the ownership of the plot according to the value of the building. The Greek Cypriot owner of the plot could be compensated, but the ownership of the plot could pass to the owner of the building.

This is the logic of the constructions that have begun at a fast rate in the Greek Cypriot properties at the northern coast. This is the reason of giving 2.006 building permissions in the area of Kyrenia since November 2002, when the Annan Plan was submitted to the sides.

Mehmet Ali Talat said once at the Parliament that he has called a meeting of the Supreme Coordination Council. How could Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the RTP which struggled for years against the Supreme Coordination Council for being illegal, call the meeting of the Supreme Coordination Council as soon as he became Prime Minister?

Because the discussion at the Parliament focused on this issue. The reason for the invitation by Talat was not discussed. However, did Talat not say then that the Supreme Coordination Council met to discuss the increased demand by foreigners for Greek Cypriot properties? 'Are you not curious to know the decision of the Supreme Coordination Council on the issue? Has what is going on today any relation at all with the decision of the Supreme Coordination Council, which met then upon the invitation of Talat?"

/SK

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