Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-05-24

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

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 97/00 -- 24.5.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Assembly speaker denies Cyprus under occupation.

[02] Hasipoglu calls for lifting of ``embargoes''.

[03] Turkish Ministers to visit pseudostate.

[04] Akinci and ``finance minister'' in Ankara to see Ecevit and Gurel.

[05] Journalists arrested.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Former Turkish Minister comments on pseudostate/s dire economic situation.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Assembly speaker denies Cyprus under occupation

Yildirim Akbulut, the Speaker of Turkish Parliament, reacted against Apostolos Kaklamanis , the Speaker of Greek Parliament, and Nicos Anastasiades, the Representative of the House of Representatives who said that Cyprus was occupied and became a scene of human rights violations.

Responding, Akbulut alleged, ``they are claiming that Cyprus was occupied by denying the facts on the island. Proximity talks are being held to solve the Cyprus question. No one can reach anywhere by distorting the facts''.

``Recognition of two separate states on the island is necessary to reach a lasting and fair solution. We can reach a lasting solution only by accepting that there are two separate and equal nations on the island having different languages, religious beliefs, and cultures. Cyprus is not under occupation. Turkey launched a Peace Operation by using its guarantorship right in order to prevent a massacre on the island. Turkey brought forth peace to the island. Everyone lives in peace on the island now,'' Akbulut outrageously claimed.

[02] Hasipoglu calls for lifting of ``embargoes''

[03] Turkish Ministers to visit pseudostate

According to illegal BRT, the Turkish State Minister Responsible for Cyprus Affairs, Sukru Sina Gurel, Turkish State Minister Responsible for Economic and Treasury Secretariat Affairs, Recep Onal, and Finance Minister Sumer Oral will be among those who will visit the pseudostate.

Gurel will come one 1st of June, Oral on the 3rd and Onal at the head of an economic technical committee on 6th of June.

The committee will be consist of two persons from the Finance Ministry, two from the Treasury, two from the Central Bank and two from the Cyprus Affairs Consultancy and State Planning Bureau.

[04] Akinci and ``finance minister'' in Ankara to see Ecevit and Gurel

ORTAM says that Akinci and Bayram will meet Turkish State Minister Responsible for Cyprus Affairs Sukru Sina Gurel and Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. At the meetings, reports the paper, the occupied area/s economic problems will be discussed. Akinci and Bayram will return to the occupied area tomorrow afternoon.

[05] Journalists arrested

While members of the Press Trade Union (Basin Sen) were raising money for the purchase of equipment for AVRUPA newspaper, they were arrested by the pseudo-police on account that they did not take permission from the occupation regime for the money-raising campaign.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Former Turkish Minister comments on pseudostate/s dire economic situation

``Since the TRNC/s economy is closely linked to that of Turkey, the economic and social problems in Turkey are unavoidably spreading to the TRNC.

Since the monetary unit used in the TRNC is the Turkish Lira we are exporting the inflation in Turkey directly to the TRNC.

In the past, there was hardly a crime in the TRNC, now there is an under- world. Mafia groups are settling their accounts among themselves. With difficulty a struggle is being waged against narcotics smuggling and white slave trade.

Following 1974, Turkey was able to secure the security and the de facto independence of the TRNC but failed to demonstrate the same success in the economic field.

Major mistakes have been committed. When attempts were made to apply the unproductive state planned economy in use in Turkey, they ended in failure.

Apart from some infrastructural work, Turkey did not seriously contributed to the development of the TRNC economy. The per capita income in north Cyprus is one fourth of the one in the south. The south has no problem at all, from the economic point of view, during its accession talks with the EU. Had a long-term and careful policy been followed, in 25 years the TRNC with a population of 200 thousand, would have achieved a much higher development level than the one it has today.

Nothing is being done today either.

Despite the colourful official statements that there will be integration between Turkey and the TRNC, the Cypriots from the north face numerous difficulties at the customs offices in Turkey while exporting goods to turkey.

The Banking crisis has speeded up the economic bottleneck. President Denktash himself openly and without hesitation stated that problems in all sectors of the economy are piling up, the rumours regarding banks and lack of trust in the banks continue. Bankruptcy and economic difficulties make people cry. In fact, it is understood that last week/s meeting between Denktash and Ecevit focused on economic issues.

The economic embargo imposed by the EU has an important share in the TRNC economic crisis. However, the EU Court of Justice/s ruling is binding on EU member countries. The ruling is not binding on countries outside the EU area. However, these countries as well have recently stopped imports from the TRNC, or are imposing strict controls. Under these conditions, the whole of north Cyprus/s exports amount to 60 million USD. Half of it goes to Turkey.

In the past, the income from tourism was around 400 million USD and this figure has dropped to 150-200 million USD today. It is this tourism income, as well as the casinos and the universities, whose majority of students come from Turkey, and the aid transferred from Turkey that still keep the TRNC economy from collapsing. One should not think that the TRNC is a great burden to Turkey. The total aid sent to the TRNC from Turkey is around 100 million USD. If one considers the TRNC population, it is an important market for Turkey. Our exports to the TRNC are around 300 million USD.

If what I have observed during my visit to Cyprus two weeks ago is correct, the economic difficulties lead the people to rest their hopes with EU membership. The northern Cypriots consider their future as being the integration with the EU. However, in the meantime they demand Turkey/s effective guarantorship. Some of them insist on confederation, others want federation with Turkey/s guarantees.

Today there is a difficult and artificial situation. There is not much time before Turkey and the TRNC to chart a policy that contains the settlement of the Cyprus problem within the EU membership perspective. They have a maximum of 2-3 years. One has to use this time properly.''

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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