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Friday, 19 April 2024
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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-07-19Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. .136/00 19.07.00[A] NEWS ITEMS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Outcome of Verheugen's visit seen.[02] Turkish columnist criticizes Ecevit and Turkey's Cyprus policies.[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Ecevit on Cyprus, EUIstanbul NTV (10:34 hours, 18/7/00) carries a report that during a press conference Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, referring to Cyprus, said:``During his meeting with me, Mr. Verheugen brought up the issues of Cyprus and Greece. I replied in detail to his questions on these issues. I told him that so long as the EU attaches importance to Turkish-Greek relations and the Cyprus issue, it will be very difficult to reach agreements between Turkey and Greece or between the Turks and the Greeks in Cyprus because so long as Greece and the Greek Cypriots see that they are supported by the EU they will not want to reach a conciliation with Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots. I explained to him in detail that if we are left alone then the Aegean problem can be solved and a solution satisfactory to both communities can be achieved in Cyprus.'' [02] Dutch envoy says Cyprus issue should be resolved before EU Anatolia Agency (11:37 hours, 18/7/00) reports that Dutch Ambassador toTurkey Sjoerd Isaak Hendrik Gosses claimed the Cyprus issue should definitely be resolved before membership to the EU because the EU does not want to carry this problem to the Union.Speaking at a meeting organized by Ankara Young Businessmen's Association (ANGIAD), Gosses responded to reporters' questions. Gosses also noted that he doesn't have the clues necessary to solve the conflict. However, he said the EU has some past experiences regarding the solution of this problem as it was founded towards the end of the cold war between Germany and France and it stopped the war and brought two countries together. ``Integration cut downs the extreme nationalism and brings together two nations which were previously fighting with each other'', he noted and said he believes the Cyprus problem would be solved this way. Pointing out that the Netherlands will work to propose a solution to the problem on the island, Gosses said the UN might also intervene. Dwelling on Turkey's democratization and harmonization efforts to be a full member to the EU, Gosses stated that Turkey is entering a critical period. The EU Commission listed the criteria for Turkey's full membership, Grosses said and added that the two sides will come together in November to discuss these criteria. The report is like a road map for Turkey on its way to full membership and includes the possible scenerios in the period leading to its membership. [03] Denktash says solution to be submitted to referendum According to illegal Bayrak Radio (10:30 hours, 18/7/00), Turkish Cypriotleader Rauf Denktash has said that if a comprehensive agreement is reached, then that agreement will be submitted to a referendum.Denktash stressed that, in the same manner, a separate referendum will be held in the Greek Cypriot side. He added that, therefore, the final decision will be made with the approval and free will of the Turkish Cypriots. Denktash stated that the Turkish Cypriot side is seeking an agreement that will prevent the recurrence of past bitter experiences, that will provide maximum security to both sides, that will prevent the sovereignty of one side over the other, and that is based on sovereign equality. He stressed that, within this framework, he believes it is necessary to preserve the guarantee system as well as the special relations with Turkey. Denktash said: ``If the Greek Cypriot side is seeking a joint future with us, then the path to such a solution passes through the establishment of a new partnership between the two states. If this is not what they have in mind, then the establishment of an arrangement whereby the two states will be able to solve specified problems and live side by side in peace will become inevitable.'' [04] Morphou ``twinned'' with FYROM town KIBRIS (18/7/00) report that the ``mayor'' of occupied Morphou and the mayorof Karkandelen town of FYROM have announced their towns' ``twinning''. The relevant ``protocol'' was signed yesterday. The aim of the ``protocol'' is for the two towns to cooperate in the fields of culture, sports and economy.[05] Protest rally asks Denktash to resign All the local papers (19.7.00) except VATAN, YENI DEMOKRAT (pro Denktash)and BIRLIK (mouthpiece of ruling NUP) report about the protest rally organized by 35 organizations in the occupied area last night.HURRIYET KIBRIS reports under banner headlines ``Big Rally - around 10 thousand people participated''. ORTAM - ``Denktash Resign'', ``Thousands of people gathered at the rally''. KIBRIS - ``This Country is ours'' Rally took place. HALKIN SESI - ``Rally at the Kyrenia gate'' AVRUPA - ``Denktash Resign'' YENI DUZEN - ``This Country is Ours'' All the said papers report that it was a successful rally where Turkish Cypriots of all walks of life and political inclinations participated and expressed their wish to rule themselves. [06] Sener Levent freedAll the local papers (19/7/00) report that an illegal court in the areas of Cyprus yesterday freed the Editor-in-Chief of ``Avrupa'' daily newspaper as well as army officer Vasfi Tutuncu and his wife Pembe, pending further investigations into illegal charges against them for ``espionage''. The release took place only a day after an International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) officer described the allegations against Levent as ``completely unfounded''.The three should have their passports confiscated and be banned from leaving the ``TRNC'' while the investigation proceeds. At a press conference yesterday after completing a three-day fact-finding mission in the occupied area at the invitation of the Union of Cyprus Journalists, International Federation of Journalists human rights officer Sarah de Jong expressed the opinion that ``we are looking at a clear breach of their human rights and freedom of expression.'' [B] Comments and Editorials[07] Outcome of Verheugen's visit seen A report in daily Milliyet (16/7/00) says that Gunter Verheugen, who is amember of the EU Commission for Expansion, created a tense atmosphere during his two-day visit to Turkey. ``The emphasis he put on sensitive issues in his talks with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, and representatives of human rights associations signaled an era of difficulty in Turkey's effort to join the EU as a full member. The developments related to his talks can be summed up as follows:[18] You are not ready: Verheugen said when he met the representatives of the human rights associations that they have not seen any progress on humanrights since the EU summit in Helsinki and warned that 'the approval of the Association Partnership Document will be difficult.' Referring to torture, he said: 'You say that torture does not exist. Then, how can the reports that have been drawn up by the commission be explained?'[25] A deadline to Ecevit: In his talks with Ecevit, Verheugen said that the Government adopting the Supreme Human Rights Coordination Council's packageof reforms and submitting it to the Turkish Grand National Assembly will be 'enough' for the EU. He stressed that the steps that might be taken during the next two or three months will determine the fate of the accession process.[32] Promise by Yilmaz: Verheugen informed Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz that 'the Government should adopt a determined approach and draw up abinding political document.' Yilmaz responded: 'Certain issues have been neglected thus far. Steps will be taken to obstruct that.'[37] Strong reaction by Ecevit: Verheugen's visit indicated that the Cyprus problem and Turkey's disputes with Greece will have a bearing on theAssociation Partnership Document. He asked Ecevit to see to it that Turkey does not obstruct the Greek Cypriot side's accession to the EU. That created tension. Ecevit reacted: 'The Cyprus problem can be solved and the relations between Turkey and Greece can be improved if the EU does not interfere.'[45] Bahceli refuses to meet Verhueugen: The strongest reaction to Verheugen came from Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Leader and Deputy Prime MinisterDevlet Bahceli. The reports that he refused to agree to meet him have not been denied by the MHP. It has been reported that Bahceli was unable to meet him because of his heavy work schedule. Bahceli was absent from the Prime Ministry when Verheugen held talks in the capital. He participated in the 'apricot festival' in Malatya late in the afternoon on the same day.''[53] Turkish columnist criticizes Ecevit and Turkey's Cyprus policies Cengiz Candar writing in SABAH (18/7/00) under the title ``Our Difficult Task...'' refers to the press reports about the draft Accession Partnership Text submitted to Turkey by Guenter Verheugen, the EU commissioner for enlargement.Turkish press reports that in his draft proposal Mr. Verheugen does not refer to the ``TRNC'' and considers the ``TRNC'' as non-existent. He talks about the Republic of Cyprus. Answering to some Turkish journalists' criticism leveled against Verheugen regarding the Cyprus problem, Candar says: ``Where are you living? Are you on this planet or on another planet? The Greek Cypriot administration is using the name Republic of Cyprus since 1964, and it is representing the island in all international fora. And it is this Republic of Cyprus that is one of the candidate countries to the EU. Does Turkey hear about this for the first time? Did a similar case not existed in Helsinki? Did anybody in Helsinki said that the TRNC will be recognized by the EU? Is there any country other than Turkey that recognizes the TRNC? In fact, does the TRNC really exists? Its police force is under the Security Forces Command, which is headed by a general sent from Turkey. No Turkish Cypriot can be promoted above the rank of Colonel. The management of the Cyprus Turkish Airlines consists of three mainland Turks and two TRNC citizens. The TRNC Central Bank is under Turkey's control. Turkish Lira is used in the TRNC. And people who object to this situation are accused of 'spying' and put to jail. All the parties in the coalition government are opposed to these developments but nothing changes. It is Turkey that gives this image to the TRNC which she alone recognizes, so can Turkey come and ask the EU to account for not mentioning the TRNC? If you do not respect the TRNC, can you have the right to demand from others to respect the TRNC? See the unfortunate statement that is attributed to Ecevit (Tr. Note: See Item 1 in today's bulletin) regarding the EU involvement in the Cyprus problem. Isn't it true that we hear these sentences for the last 25 years? What good did these sentences do for the Turkish Cypriots in the last quarter of a century? All the youth of the TRNC look for a chance to abandon the island. The coalition partner, Communal liberation Party leader Mustafa Akinci himself said: 'Soon we will be a country of grey-haired people'.'' From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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