Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-08-30

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Pakistan is waiting for Ankara´s request to recognize as a separate state EU territories under the occupation of Turkish troops.

[02] Turkish Cypriots to demonstrate against the religious ceremony to be held in occupied Morphou.

[03] With the support of thousands of fully equipped Turkish troops Rauf Denktas insists on a sovereign state.

[04] Mr Talat now says the West did not make concrete promises.

[05] Reactions for the bomb attack against church in occupied Morphou.

[06] Contractors react because they are excluded from a tender.

[07] Turkish Cypriot Union against the Greek Cypriot public transport vehicles crossing over to the occupied areas.

[08] Travel Agent will pay for the legal expenses of the Greek Cypriot who applied to the ECHR against the Republic of Cyprus.

[09] The Turkish Minister of Public Works and Housing is visiting the pseudostate today. The issue of title deeds on his agenda.

[10] Talat sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General on the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] No statements on Cyprus and the Theological School of Halki until after the EU progress report on Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Pakistan is waiting for Ankara´s request to recognize as a separate state EU territories under the occupation of Turkish troops

Recalling their support to Turkey for accepting the occupied areas as ''Turkish Cypriot State'' in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Khan said that as member of the U.N. Security Council, Pakistan also exerted great effort to end the so-called economic isolation of Cyprus´ territories under military occupation.

Replying to a question on Turkey's European Union (EU) membership, Khan said that if Turkey joined the EU, it would be a bridge between the Islam world and the EU.

Underlining the importance that the west and Islam world should understand each other better, Khan said that the negative image towards Muslims in western countries should be changed.

Stating that they supported the dialogue between civilizations, Khan noted that if Turkey, a secular country, joined the EU, western people would see that their point of view towards Muslims was wrong.

[02] Turkish Cypriots to demonstrate against the religious ceremony to be held in occupied Morphou 30-years after the Turkish troops forced Greek Cypriots at gun point to abandon their ancestral homes

The full text of the press release is as follows:

"Call to the Turkish Cypriot People

Reaction meeting against the religious service to be held at the St. Mamas Museum

Why are we reacting?

- Because we are confronted with another one of the intrigues, which have been made for hundreds of years, by the Greek Cypriot and Greek Orthodox Church, and by its mentality, which has not changed and which said "No" in the referendum;

- Because this is a civilian occupation beyond an innocent religious service, at which how many people would attend is unknown;

- Because we do not want to wake up in an environment, in which the sounds of church bells are dominant, as the result of a fait accompli;

- In order to ask the government if such a religious service is the most urgent need of the people living in Morphou.

- In order to ask by saying, "why did you make your first deed for the people of Morphou", after getting votes from the people of Morphou with the promises made in order to come to power; and

- In order to show that we will not be a scrap of the Greek Cypriots in case we are in unity and solidarity. We are inviting all of our people from 7 to 77 years of age.

Morphou District, Nongovernmental Organizations, Joint Action Committee

Location: Morphou, Inonu Square

Date: Monday, 30 August 2004

Time: 8:00 pm."

[03] With the support of thousands of fully equipped Turkish troops Rauf Denktas insists on declaring part of EU territory as sovereign state

When asked whether he will run for so-called presidency in April 2005, a post he holds since Turkey declared UDI in occupied Cyprus, Mr Denktas said: ''I will not run for presidency and this is my definite decision.''

''Change is beneficial. However, the person should protect the state. It should not be forgotten that president is the person who takes oath to protect the state and its sovereignty. A person, who cannot take this oath or will act differently afterwards, should not be brought to the office. Thus, a person who does not fulfill these requirements should not run for presidency''.

Mr Denktas added: ''Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat told the Turkish Cypriots before the referendum (in April 2004) that if they voted 'yes', then `TRNC´ will be recognized (by the international community). Today, Talat experiences extreme difficulty. Those who made promises to Talat deceived him.''

Denktas said he wanted people not to mislead the Turkish Cypriots by saying ''accepting the Annan Plan is advantageous for us'', and added: ''The Annan Plan is not in Turkey's national interests. Turkey's national cause should be decided at the Turkish Parliament and should include our sovereignty.

The Turkish Cypriots were promised to be recognized if they voted 'yes' but those, who gave promises, put some conditions to keep their promises after the referendum. People said they will not keep their promises if the Turkish Cypriots insist on sovereignty and statehood issues.

Also the international community did not put any pressure on the Greek Cypriot side and they won't do this in the future. The Greek Cypriots cannot be our government. We insist on our sovereignty and recognition. Holding two separate referenda in Cyprus proved that the Greek Cypriots alone cannot determine the future of Cyprus.''

When asked whether he is expecting a new initiative (to solve the Cyprus problem) or a pressure, Denktas said: ''They will start exerting real pressure just before December''.

Furthermore, illegal Bayrak television broadcast more statements made by Rauf Denktas during meetings in occupied Nicosia.

Commenting on the bomb planted at Saint Mammas church, Mr Denktas said: "Now, we cannot reach an immediate conclusion as regards the identity of the perpetrators. The police are continuing their investigation. Naturally, the possibility of it having been perpetrated by some pro-Greek persons -- the Greek Cypriots do not have to come over here to commit the act, they could ask others to do it -- also comes to mind. That is why, we are concentrating on this possibility."

In statements during another of his meetings in occupied Nicosia, Mr Rauf Denktas said: "The issue assumes a different dimension if based on the permission granted to this particular mass the Greek Cypriots also try to go to the Asha or St.Barnabas churches. In the south, we have the Hala Sultan [mosque] which we could visit. In return, we granted the Greek Cypriots a complete freedom of worship at Rizokarpasso. The states act on the principle of reciprocity. That is, if you are giving something you should obtain something of equal value in return. As soon as this permission was granted to the Greek Cypriots in goodwill, you can see that they started talking about returning to Morphou and other places. We must be careful on these issues."

[04] Mr Talat now says the West did not promise recognition of the occupation regime

Before diplomatic initiatives to be speeded up in September, Talat told A.A correspondent that the west had said that those who were with the international community would win, while the other would lose before the April 24th simultaneous referenda.

Talat said: ''The Greek Cypriot side was against, but the Turkish Cypriot side was in favour. The Turkish Cypriot side had to gain while the Greek Cypriot side had to lose. But, the legal framework is obvious. I don't know what we can gain within this framework.''

Referring to the negotiations held before the talks in Buergenstock, Switzerland, Talat said: ''If we had been able to negotiate, we would have won. The referendum question in the Annan plan before the Copenhagen summit was different. It asked if we accepted the foundation agreement, the Treaty of Guarantee and the Treaty of Alliance, and Cyprus' EU (European Union) membership. And, we are asked to vote 'yes' or 'no'. If said no, the Greek Cypriots wouldn't have joined the EU. But, this question was changed after heads of state and government admitted Cyprus to the EU.''

When asked whether or not he was hopeful about the Free Trade and the financial regulation which would be debated in the EU to be approved, Talat said: ''It seems that the financial regulation will be approved, but we are not sure about the Free Trade Regulation. But we passionately want it since this regulation is very important for us.''

[05] Reactions for the bomb attack against Saint Mamas church in occupied Morphou

The General Secretary of the Democratic Party (DP), Mr Mustafa Arabacioglu argued that the attack aimed at sabotaging the positive climate created for the Turkish Cypriots after the 24 April referendums.

The leader of the Peace and Democracy Movement (PDM), Mustafa Akinci noted that the attack has been conducted by those who do not want the two communities in Cyprus to come together and pointed out that all the bomb attacks conducted in the occupied areas, including the attack against Saint Mamas church, were organized crimes. Mr Akinci referred to the bomb attacks against AVRUPA and KIBRIS newspapers, against the residence of Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, the residence of Mr Dervis Eroglu and the headquarters of PDM.

The chairman of the Communal Liberation party (CLP) Huseyin Angolemli accused the pseudogovernment of not taking the necessary measures and called on it to resign. Mr Angolemli noted that for days "the known circles" in the occupied areas "have been provoking, threatening and saying that they would do everything they could to prevent the ceremony from taking place". Mr Angolemli decribed as "unimaginable" the fact that a bomb attack was carried out against a place which is 200 meters from the Morphou "police" station and pointed out that "the perpetrators of this incident are not unknown".

The Secretary General of CLP, Mehmet Davulcu expressed the opinion that the bomb attack was a result of the "increasing provocations" by Rauf Denktas and the National Unity Party (NUP) during the past week. The provocations aimed at protecting the status quo which is collapsing, argued Mr Davulcu noting that such provocations caused great pain to the Cypriots during the past 50 years.

The General Secretary of the United Cyprus Party (UCP) Izzet Izcan said that the aim of the attack was to terrify and silence the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots and prevent peace. Mr izcan described as "provocations" the statements made last week on the issue by NUP, Rauf Denktas and the so-called mayor of occupied Morphou, Mahmut Ozcinar. The wish of those who conducted this attack is to take Cyprus back in the 1950's, he pointed out.

The chairman of NUP, Dervis Eroglu said that they do not approve of the bomb attack against Saint Mamas church, but the so-called government should have taken into consideration some views of the "people". "When you insist on such sensitive issues you increase the tension yourself", he argued.

Meanwhile the "This Country is Ours Platform" has announced that it will organize in Morphou the rally for peace planned to take place in the occupied part of Nicosia on 1 September.

In addition Resat Akar, columnist in Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper (29.08.04) refers to statements by NUP so-called MP Turkay Tokel who said that in case the ceremony at St. Mammas Church is not annulled the Turkish Cypriots will block all entrances and exists of the town and prevent those who want to participate in the ceremony from going to the Church.

[06] Turkish Cypriot contractors react because they are excluded from a tender for building a road in occupied Kyrenia region

The paper notes that the Turkish Cypriot Union of Building Contractors reacted against the decision of the regime to put the tender in Turkey and announced that its members will boycott all the tenders for roads in the occupied areas in case the above-mentioned tender is given to a company from Turkey. The chairman of the Union, Sevket Abohorlu said that they have the capacity to build the bypass road in Kyrenia and stressed that they will not stop struggling on the issue. Meanwhile, the so-called minister of transport and works of the occupation regime, Omer Kalyoncu said that Ankara wanted the tender to be put in Turkey so that the road may be finished on time. Mr Kalyoncu noted that the pseudogovernment was in favour of the tender to be given to Turkish Cypriot contractors, but the latter have enough work to do.

[07] Turkish Cypriot Union of Public Transport Vehicles wants the Greek Cypriot public transport vehicles not to be allowed to cross over to the occupied areas

The chairman of the Union Aziz Gece argued, in statements after a meeting with the so-called prime minister of the occupation regime, Mehmet Ali Talat, that the regime should demand from the Greek Cypriot public transport vehicles everything that the government of the Republic of Cyprus demands from the Turkish Cypriot drivers of public transport vehicles.

[08] The owner of the travel agency who organises trips from the illegal Tympou airport said that he will pay for the legal expenses of the Greek

Commenting on the issue of the Greek Cypriot who was brought to court because he travelled from the illegal Tympou airport and went to Istanbul, Mr Polatkan said that this person was a client of his travel agency. He alleged that the Greek Cypriot applied to the European Court of Human Rights and that his agency will pay for the legal expenses. "We are obliged to win this case", he said alleging that the attitude of the Greek Cypriots cannot change.

Mr Polatkan also alleged that the demand of the Greek Cypriots for travelling from the illegal Tympou airport has increased after this case and said that he expects direct flights from Larnaca to Istanbul and vice verca to begin after December. He also said that his travel agency made an agreement with the Helios airlines and they are planning on how to send to Istanbul the Greek Cypriots who wish to visit the city, regardless of whether they want to travel through the illegal Tympou airport or not.

[09] The Turkish Minister of Public Works and Housing is visiting the pseudostate today. The issue of title deeds on his agenda

[10] Talat sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General on the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics

In the letter Mr Talat writes that the Turkish Cypriots want to participate in an active and influencial manner in the administration as well as the scientific and medical activities of the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics. He also said that they Turkish Cypriots proposed that it is essential for the Institute "to be a bicommunal Institute" as initially planned.

Stressing that the Turkish side is ready and committed to participate in the Institute's works under these terms, Mr Talat stated that if the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics "is again formed into a bicommunal Institute", then later it will become possible to carry out the activities regarding the Committee on the Missing Persons.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] The military-dominated NSC agreed not to make statements on Cyprus and the Theological School of Halki until after the EU progress report on Turkey

"Will the embargoes on the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)´ be lifted? Will Turkey officially recognize southern Cyprus? What do the highest echelons of the state think about the requests of the Patriarchy and the Heybeliada Seminary School? There was nothing about these two critical issues in the National Security Council (NSC) statement issued last week.

In a single sentence, it was noted that the discussion during the meeting centered on Iraq and security. If that was all, nothing would have happened, but the statement also included denials on any discussions taking place on the Orthodox Christian Seminary School.

The truth behind the statements is this. Both the military and the civilian members of the council are aware that Turkey is faced with two important issues.

First is Cyprus. Turkey is not against a single state on Cyprus, but wants the unification to include an often repeated "just and permanent solution." Everyone expects the Cyprus matter to rise again at this critical juncture in Turkish-European Union relations.

The NSC has noted the following points.

Turkey is faced with the possibility of officially recognizing the Greek Cypriot administration as part of the Customs Union and the relations with the EU.

The Greek Cypriot state holds a veto card on Turkey's negotiations with the EU.

Greek Cypriots, with EU support, may try to force a solution that includes more than the Annan plan offered to them before December 2004. The Greek Cypriots may call for the withdrawal of Turkish troops, the lifting of the guarantorship of Turkey and the inclusion of the `TRNC´ into the Cyprus state as a minority. If such a thing happens, all efforts should be directed at the lifting of all embargoes on the `TRNC´, and nothing should be done to encourage the other side before this objective is realized.

Despite all the rejection, the other important issue discussed was the requests of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchy.

The requests made by the Patriarchy is for a special status, while the Lausanne Treaty set out equal, not special, status for the minorities. This also violates the Constitution's equality principle.

While these requests are made by a constitutionally recognized minority, it will mean tacit support for the Patriarchy's efforts for world leadership. Such a request is both impossible and a crime in the secular Turkish Republic.

The Constitution says that religious education can only take place under state supervision. The Constitution also allows the establishment of non-profit foundation universities. However, the Patriarchy is not a foundation and its request for a seminary is both a crime and unconstitutional.

Law stipulates that foreign students at private schools cannot be more than 20 percent. The number of Greek citizens in Turkey has decreased considerably to around 2,000, and almost all of them are elderly. The number of students coming from this community will not justify the opening of the seminary.

According to Turkish law, the tertiary part of the seminary school in Heybeliada can only be opened under a university and with the Higher Education Board (HEB) as the supreme authority. According to the principle of equality between the Greek minority living in Turkey and Turks living in Western Thrace outlined in the Lausanne Treaty, such measures can only be applied if the Turkish minority enjoys the same rights.

In short, Turkey cannot do anything about either of these issues until after the release of the Progress report. That's why the officers and civilians agreed not to release any public comment about neither of them."

/SK

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article