Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-04-05

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] Turkey is reportedly behind the oppression of the columnist Serhat Incirli; Reactions against the actions of the breakaway regime.

[02] Statements by Ferdi Sabit Soyer. He claims that Greece and Cyprus are in an impasse.

[03] Serdar Denktas accuses the Greek side of wanting to annihilate the Turkish Cypriots from the Island.

[04] CUMHURIYET: Helsinki is optimistic regarding Cyprus.

[05] Michael Lee to meet the President of the TCCC.

[06] Ozgurgun meet the Spanish ambassador. UBP wants a lasting solution.

[07] Huseyin Ozgurgun admitted that Ankara exerted pressure on UBP as regards the partys lawsuit against the so-called property law.

[08] More on the opening of an EU office in the territories of Cyprus under Turkey´s military occupation.

[09] Durduran in favor of citrus exportation from Limassol port.

[10] Ozkan Murat visits Amsterdam.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Turkish Cypriot columnist reminds that the basic issue in Cyprus is the Turkish occupation.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey is reportedly behind the oppression of the columnist Serhat Incirli; Reactions against the actions of the breakaway regime

Under the title Serhat Incirli, the paper writes, inter alia, the following:

The people do definitely not accept such incidents. Therefore, even what the opinions of Serhat Incirli are is irrelevant. However, everybody knows that when such events happen in our country, the army commanders are more responsible for this than the political administration, because the police take orders not from the political administration but from the army. Anyway, we have recourse to everywhere in order to understand what had happened.

The conclusion of what we have found out is the following: The police have really called Serhats house and asked for his address. The reliable source who gave us this information alleged that this information had been asked from Turkey. When we asked why Turkey wants Serhats address, we received a strange answer, which was not at all expected: Serhat, they said, has insulted the Republic of Turkey and therefore an investigation is launched against him in Turkey. For this reason the attorney generals office asked Serhats address. There is an agreement for the extradition of the criminals with Turkey, they said. Within this framework, they are cooperating, they said.

Because the source who informed us knew nothing more we were not able to clear the issue fully. However, the information we acquired is enough to shock a person. While they talking about Europe and things like that, intellectuals are still rotting in prison in Turkey, because of their views and articles. As if this was not enough, these hands are extended to us as well. Where does Sehat Incirli live? In which of his articles he insulted Turkey? Is it possible a person who lives in Britain or Cyprus to be taken to court and be condemned in Turkey for something he wrote? What kind of an issue is this? If there is someone who understood let him come toward and tell us!

The crime of expression does not exist in northern Cyprus. Even if the police do some things in order to exert psychological pressure on these issues, when these matters go before the court, no result can be taken. However, the situation now takes a strange shape. There is absolutely no basis, but some persons believe that there is. Is Serhat Incirli a citizen of Turkey so that such a thing will be done? It cannot be understood! .

Furthermore, elsewhere KIBRISLI reports also that the General Secretary of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH), Mehmet Cakici issued a statement noting that the freedom of expression is violated in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

Mr Cakici accused the government of the TRNC of making no serious steps in the direction of the democratization and binding the police to the civilian authority. The most obvious example of this is the investigation regarding Serhat Incirli, said Mr Cakici and wondered: In which democratic country the family of a columnist is questioned because of his articles? Such a situation can only be a product of an anti-democratic regime, he concluded.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Statements by Ferdi Sabit Soyer. He claims that Greece and Cyprus are in an impasse

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer has said that the recent statement by the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyanni about the Annan Plan, is a sign that the Greek Cypriot side and Greece have begun feeling the adverse effects - on them - of the stable policies of the Turkish Cypriot side and Turkey.

The Prime Minister was referring to the remarks, reportedly made by the Greek Foreign Minister in which she claimed that the Annan Plan is now effectively `dead´.

Repeating his earlier criticism of the Greek Cypriot leader Mr Papadopoulos for having presented his Paris meeting with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as an `agreement´; the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ Prime Minister reminded that the UN has denied the Greek Cypriot claim that a new method would be sought to solve some aspects of the Cyprus problem in phases; `a chapter by chapter solution´ as it has come to be known.

Mr Soyer reminded that the UN Secretary-General had denied these reports through a letter, following initiatives by the `TRNC Foreign Ministry´.

He said that all these are a sign that Mrs. Bakoyanni is not telling the truth, and that her country and the Greek Cypriot administration are in an impasse.

As long as the Turkish side maintains its present stable position reflecting the 24th of April will, it is clear that the Greek Cypriot side will find itself more in a zigzagging position he said.

Mr Soyer expressed the hope that the Greek Foreign Ministers visit will pave the way for a new basis on which to launch fresh negotiations on the Cyprus problem that will bring together all the parties involved, as well as the European Union.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is Ankara´s subordinate regime set up by the Turkish Republic in the occupied northern part of Cyprus).

[03] Serdar Denktas accuses the Greek side of wanting to annihilate the Turkish Cypriots from the Island

In statements to KIBRISLI, Mr Denktas alleged that the other EU member-states have now understood that the real aim of Greece and the Greek Cypriots is to annihilate the Turkish Cypriots from the Island and not to reach an agreement on the Cyprus problem.

This is the reality under the rejection of the invitation I have made in an extremely sincere manner, argued Mr Denktas and alleged the following: What I wanted to show was the biased behaviour of an EU member state in Cyprus and she showed her real face on this issue.

(I/Ts.)

[04] CUMHURIYET: Helsinki is optimistic regarding Cyprus

Question: Do you expect during your term presidency a political crisis between Turkey and the EU regarding the Cyprus issue?

Answer: Regarding Cyprus the EU has taken certain decisions. We wait Turkey to approve the additional protocol. This is a necessary step on the path to membership. I do expect that there will be no crisis between the sides on this issue. One should not forget that Turkey or any other country which does not fully fulfill the EU membership criteria cannot be an EU member. Regarding the Cyprus issue we cannot progress with ifs . One of my basic characteristics is optimism. I do hope that all the interested sides will reach an agreement regarding Cyprus.

Question: Dont you think that the EU has any responsibility regarding the north Cyprus?

Answer: We are fully and totally supporting the political stance and the strategy of the EU Commission regarding Cyprus.

(MHY)

[05] Michael Lee to meet the President of the TCCC

Michael Lee the Representative of the European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn arrives in Cyprus tonight for a series of contacts on the Financial Aid promised to the `TRNC´ by the Union.

Mr Lees contacts will include a meeting with the President of the Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) Erdil Nami.

Speaking to the illegal BRT, Mr Nami said that tomorrows meeting was requested by the European Union, and that the Green Line Regulation and the details of the implementation of the financial aid allocated to the `TRNC´ by the EU, will be high on the agenda.

Stating that the Chamber will request that an EU office is set up in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mr Nami said that the problem concerning the location of the proposed office is a matter that has to be resolved by the EU Commission.

He stated that it will be difficult to implement the program and the execution of the financial aid envisaged for the Turkish Cypriot People if the EU office is situated in South Cyprus as the Greek Cypriot side has been trying to achieve.

The EU envoy Michael Lee is expected to meet also with government officials and businessmen.

[06] Ozgurgun meet the Spanish ambassador. UBP wants a lasting solution

The Leader of the main opposition National Unity Party Huseyin Ozgurgun received the Spanish Ambassador to Lefkosia Ter Vega today.

Speaking here, the UBP leader said he believes the Cyprus issue has entered a new and important phase after recent international developments.

The main opposition leader said his party will continue to follow very seriously, every single step to be made towards finding a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem.

He accused the `Prime Minister´ Ferdi Sabit Soyer and the `Deputy Prime Minister´ - Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas of not acting accordingly, but focusing, rather, on the affairs of their own political parties.

Expressing the need for more cooperation and solidarity on the Cyprus issue in order to promote Turkish Cypriots wider interests, Mr Ozgurgun said the UBP is ready to give a hand to achieving that goal.

Regarding the new Property Law, Mr Ozgurgun said his party is acting purely in the direction of the interests of the Turkish Cypriot `People´ and would not submit to any pressure.

[07] Huseyin Ozgurgun admitted that Ankara exerted pressure on UBP as regards the partys lawsuit against the so-called property law

The paper notes that Mr Ozgurgun made these statements after the Turkish Minister of State, Abdullatif Sener admitted that Ankara exerted pressure on the UBP as regards this issue.

Mr Ozgurgun said that Ankara exerted pressure on him and was insistent so that the UBP does not apply to the self-styled constitutional court against the so-called property law. The chairman of the UBP also said that his party took its decision to apply to the constitutional court, with a majority of votes at a partys meeting and that does not pay attention to any pressure exerted from abroad. He also added that the UBP, as a dynamic party, acted in favour of the benefits of the Turkish Cypriots.

(C/S)

[08] More on the opening of an EU office in the territories of Cyprus under Turkey´s military occupation

The Greek Cypriot Administration is claiming that there is no need for the opening of an EU Commission office in the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´.

The Greek Cypriot side is objecting to the plan envisaging the opening of an EU office in the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´, and the objection has led to disagreement between the Greek Cypriot administration and the EU Commission, reports said.

The AB News Agency said the failure to reach agreement between the EU Commission and the Greek Cypriot Administration means that the issue will now be taken up at the Committee of Permanent Representatives, COREPER.

The Greek Cypriot Administration claims that the relations between the European Union and North Cyprus can be maintained through the EU Representatives Office in South Cyprus.

Observers say that the EU Commission is not happy with the Greek Cypriot sides negative stance and that it wants the office to be opened as soon as possible.

The EU is now expected to work out a solution to the issue at political level.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the illegal regime set up by the Turkish Republic in occupied northern Cyprus where it has brought thousands of colonizers from the mainland in the properties of the evicted Greek Cypriots whose human rights are being flagrantly violated since 1974).

[09] Durduran in favor of citrus exportation from Limassol port

All the possibilities of both ports must be used in the most productive and secure way, so that the producers to be able to fully get the equivalent to their labor, he said.

Mr Durduran expressed also the view that it will be a win-case for the producers if they export citrus from Limassol port, because the exports from the occupied Famagusta port are more expensive.

(M/L)

[10] Ozkan Murat visits Amsterdam

Mr Murat will be accompanied by the police director, Erdem Demirbag and some members of the Traffic and Transportation Committee. Mr Murat and the Turkish Cypriot delegation will return to the occupied areas of Cyprus on 9 April.

(M/L)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Turkish Cypriot columnist reminds that the basic issue in Cyprus is the Turkish occupation

He goes on and writes:

In fact the tragedy of the Greek Cypriot community is graver than the tragedy of the Turkish Cypriots.

Just think about it

This country is under occupation for the last 32 yearsAnd unfortunately they (Greek Cypriots) were unable to explain this occupation to the world. They were unable to force neither the UN, nor the EU and nor the other International organizations to take strong and effective sanctions against the occupier.

On top of it after so many years of occupation the Greek Cypriot side was put on the accused and guilty chair.

The occupier was declared innocent and those who were under occupation guilty.

For this an Annan Plan and a referendum was enough

All of a sudden the occupier was declared Favoring peace and settlement and those who are under occupation against peace and solution

What kind of Justice is this?

Do you know the biggest opponents of the settlement in Cyprus?

The biggest opponents of the settlement in Cyprus are those who say that the obstacle for the solution is Tassos Papadopoulos.

This is an understanding that totally denies the political will of the Greek Cypriot community and it is a propaganda that for a long time now is being systematically injected to everybody. And unfortunately some Greek Cypriot intellectuals are being knowingly or unintentionally became an instrument to this propaganda. The peoples will expressed during the referendum totally are ignored and huge 76% no is attributed to Papadopoulos. It means that Papadopoulos `no´ had no effect. In fact it had harmed the Greek Cypriots. I wish he would have said `yes´ during the referendum. Because at that time peoples `no´ would have been better understood.

He then comments on a recent poll that 48% of the Greek Cypriots said no to living with the Turkish Cypriots. Sener Levent justifies the Geek Cypriot no and says that if he was a Greek Cypriot his answer was not going to be different when the Turkish Cypriots brand the 20 July invasion as liberation and keep silent when return of Varosha is in question or when they usurp immovable property that belong to the Greek Cypriots and sell them with illegal title deeds to foreigners in the north.

/SK

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