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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-06-14

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/>

TURKISH PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA No.111/01 14.6.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

  • [01] The so-called Prime Minister presented the «government program» to the pseudo-assembly.
  • [02] The Turks are threatening again for crisis.
  • [03] Mustafa Akinci accuses Denktash, Eroglu and circles in Turkey of not wanting Turkey to accede to the EU.
  • [04] Denktash continues to accuse his opponents of treason and spying.
  • [05] Rauf Denktash defends the establishment of NPM.
  • [06] Merve Kavakci has applied to the ECHR against Turkey for violation of her Human Rights.
  • [07] Study on the economic prospects for Cyprus after a settlement was presented to the Turkish Cypriots.
  • [08] So-called Assembly speaker approaches the Cyprus problem with an Ottoman Empire mentality.
  • [B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

  • [09] Turkish Cypriot writer says property main issue in Cyprus.
  • [10] Turkey urged to review its stand on the European Army.
  • [11] The real motives of the Youth Organization of the National People/s Movement. NEWS ITEMS

  • [01] The so-called Prime Minister presented the «government program» to the pseudo-assembly All the Turkish Cypriot papers today (13.6.01) report that the so-called Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu read out the 26-page program of the National Unity Party [NUP]-Democratic Party [DP] coalition «government» at the «Republican Assembly» yesterday. At the beginning of the «Assembly» session, Mustafa Akinci, leader of the main opposition Communal Liberation Party, criticized the fact that illegal Bayrak Radio and Television were not relaying the reading of the program live." Eroglu explained that this was due to a live relay of an important conference on the Cyprus issue at the «Near East University». He then proceeded to read the «program». Eroglu said that "in full cooperation with motherland Turkey," the new «government» will pursue policies to overcome the current economic and social problems, to increase prosperity, and to make the «TRNC» gain a respectable place in the world. He stressed that in its performance, the «government» will uphold the principles of democracy, human rights, justice, and equality, as well as the «TRNC's» political, economic, and social realities. According to the program, "the NUP-DP coalition government will pursue its foreign policy in full cooperation and solidarity with motherland Turkey. A special place, importance, and priority will be given to the ties with motherland Turkey. Efforts will be made to increase the cooperation and solidarity between the TRNC and Turkey in every field." "The program then says: «In the search for an agreement in Cyprus, the following are principles that cannot be relinquished: equal sovereignty, the continuation of Turkey's active and effective guarantees for security, and the solution of the property issue by means of an exchange of property or through compensation. The starting point for the quest for a lasting peace on the island is the acceptance of the existing realities. "It is stressed in the coalition program that the Greek Cypriot Administration cannot represent the Turkish Cypriot people or the whole of Cyprus in any way. The fact that the Greek Cypriot side views the island as a Greek island and that it does not give up its title of the so-called Cyprus government -- a title it usurped by armed force -- or the world's failure to make the Greek Cypriot side give that title up, is the reason why the Cyprus problem has not been solved for 38 years. If an agreement is to be reached in Cyprus, it can only happen on the basis of two separate, equal, and sovereign states. An acceptance of the realities must be the starting point for the efforts to seek a solution. "The program warns that if the Greek Cypriot Administration is accepted as a full EU member, Cyprus will be irrevocably divided. It stresses that if the Greek Cypriot Administration is accepted in the EU unilaterally, then the «TRNC» will move toward an integration with motherland Turkey. "On the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights [ECHR] on Cyprus, the program says that the Greek Cypriot Administration is using the ECHR to eliminate the parameters formed during the UN process that has been going on for years, and to impose its own conditions for an agreement. "The program states that it will be one of the government's priority objectives to develop the political, financial, economic, technical, and defense cooperation relations with motherland Turkey. It says that every effort will be exerted, together with motherland Turkey, to overcome the inhuman embargoes being implemented against the Turkish Cypriot people and state." According to the program "the TRNC will speed up the activities of its representations abroad until the TRNC can make its voice heard independently. Until that time, it will also further expand the implementation of a functional and structural cooperation protocol signed between the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the TRNC Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defense. In this way, every effort will be made to make the voice of the TRNC heard on every platform discussing the Cyprus issue." In its program, the «government» vows to try to develop the relations between the Turkish Cypriots living abroad and the «TRNC». On the economy, the «coalition government» affirms that it will pursue a liberal economic policy in line with free market conditions but will keep in mind the social structure in the country. Therefore, it says, "the state will not intervene but regulate the market." The government also promises to speed up privatization projects, to minimize the state's economic activities, and to try to integrate the «TRNC's» economy with that of Turkey and the world. It says it will speed up the efforts to establish a joint economic zone with Turkey and to ensure the free entry of the «TRNC's» products into Turkey with a view to exporting them to the world. The «government» also promises to review the customs levied on imports from countries outside the EU, to minimize bureaucratic procedures in exports, and to restructure the economy. The «government» says it will review the incentives system, encourage foreign investments, transfer the power to supervise the banks from the «ministries to the Central Bank», to back up the public banks in line with current conditions, to study the state of the insolvent banks, to encourage the merger of banks, and to increase the credit possibilities of the «Development Bank». The «coalition government» promises in its program to encourage the small and medium-scale enterprises, and to take steps that will increase exports, employment, and industrial production. "Under the program, cooperation will be conducted to formulate monetary policies jointly between the Central Banks of the TRNC and Turkey. Domestic loan-taking mechanisms will be set up to meet the state's short-term liquidity needs. The budget's expense structure will be changed and the tax laws will be made more practical and fair." The «government» vows to carry out a comprehensive judicial reform in cooperation with Turkey, to improve the index-linked salary raise system concerning public sector employees, to solve the infrastructure problems of «Bayrak Radio and Television», "to attach more importance to having the voice of the TRNC heard over the Internet, and to support the current website by means of documentaries on the TRNC as well as written and visual material explaining the national cause." Under the «program», the «government» affirms it will improve the educational, sports, and municipal systems. It promises to solve the housing problems, raise the prosperity level of the farmers, develop land and maritime transportation, raise the standard of the health services, develop tourism, and try to be part of international agreements on environmental issues. The «Assembly» debates on the coalition program will be conducted on 15 June. A vote of confidence will be held one full day after the debates are completed.
  • [02] The Turks are threatening again for crisis The Turkish threat that a major crisis could come up in the Eastern Mediterranean if the Republic of Cyprus enters the European Union before the solution of the Cyprus problem, was once again repeated yesterday by professor of Ankara Gazi University, Osman Metin Ozturk, who was speaking at the three-day «Cyprus` past and present and vision for the future» symposium organised in occupied Nicosia by the illegal Near East University (NEU). According to KIBRIS (14.06.01), professor Ozturk said that the crisis which could occur in Cyprus may be «much more different and comprehensive» than the regional crisis which broke up in the Balkans after 1990, in the Caucasus and in the Middle East. Mr. Ozturk claimed that Greece has now a «wide freedom of movement» in the Eastern Mediterranean because of the S-300 missiles which are deployed in Crete, but the distance between Greece and Cyprus «does not provide permanent guarantee to this freedom». Meanwhile, speaking at the same symposium, retired general Kemal Yavuz claimed that according to its population the defence budget of the Republic of Cyprus is 13 times bigger than the same budget of Turkey. KIBRIS reports that general Yavuz spoke in detail about the armaments of the Republic of Cyprus and the capacity and capabilities of the National Guard. Referring to the S-300 missiles which the Republic of Cyprus bought from Russia and «after Turkey`s pressure», as he said, deployed on the island of Crete, Mr. Yavuz noted, among other things, the following: «...These missiles were not brought today (to Cyprus). However, tomorrow, and especially after the accession to the EU, the situation will change and then there will be a preventing power». On the other hand, the American professor of International Law in the University of Fordham, Patrick Hugg, noted that the two communities of Cyprus «should take their place in the EU» defining their status and co-operating. «The future of Cyprus is within the EU», stressed Mr. Hugg, who supported that new approaches are necessary in Cyprus and that the «traditional and old» policies, including those which are based on the International Law, should be re-examined and changed. KIBRIS reports that in his speech Mr. Hugg described a model by which the two communities of Cyprus could take together their place in the EU and underlined that the negotiation procedure aiming at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem should continue. Mr. Hugg said also that the division of the island is a disadvantage for Cyprus` EU accession process when it is compared with the other candidate states. «There are boundaries in Cyprus, this could clearly be seen», claimed Mr. Hugg expressing the view that a better and a safe future would be ensured for the island if all the «key parties» saw that «Cyprus consists of two communities which have equal rights». Meanwhile, professor Adel Safty of illegal Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) said that in spide of the existing similarities between the Turkish Cypriots and the Palestinians, they could not understand the «common interests in the same way», because the Arabs consider the Turkish Cypriots «as a small group». Mr. Safty claimed that in 1974 Turkey «came to the island to prevent a genocide» and added that it was not possible for Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to come closer to the Arabs because of Turkey`s friendship with Israel. Furthermore, Hasan Unal, professor of International Relations in Bilkent University, said that the latest developments in the Balkans are similar to the process in Cyprus. He alleged that the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia was the same as the «crimes» committed in Cyprus by the Greeks against the Turks. On his part, the retired general Cevik Bir alleged that Cyprus` EU accession would be tantamount to «Enosis» (unification with Greece) and expressed the view that the Republic of Cyprus wants to join the EU for political reasons. By joining the EU, said Mr. Bir, the Greek Cypriots want to show that Turkey is an occupation power in Cyprus. General Bir expressed also the view that the creation of a European Army within the framework of the European common defence policy is not possible, adding that even if this army is created it would not be able to serve the purposes of its creation. Meanwhile, in his speech the English lawyer, Michael Stephen claimed that the pseudostate has «the constitutional ground» to be recognised , but «the international forces which do not want peace in the island isolate the Turkish Cypriots from the world». Mr. Stephen alleged that the UN decisions prevent the sides in Cyprus to reach an acceptable agreement and expressed the opinion that Security Council Resolutions 186 and 541 should be abrogated. On the other hand, professor of International Law, Nanette Neuwahl claimed that the accession of Cyprus to the EU must be after the solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the confederation proposal. Otherwise, alleged professor Neuwahl, instability and dangers will be caused for the region. He argued that federation is not applicable in Cyprus, alleging that now there are two «states» on the island. Addressing the symposium, the retired so-called Attorney General, Zaim Necatigil said that the recent conviction of Turkey by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and especially the sections concerning the right of property, destroys the principle of bizonality agreed between the two sides. Mr. Necatigil argued that the decision should be taken seriously under consideration, because it closely concerns the relations of Turkey with the Council of Europe and the EU.
  • [03] Mustafa Akinci accuses Denktash, Eroglu and circles in Turkey of not wanting Turkey to accede to the EU.. In an exclusive interview to Leyla Tavsanoglu in CUMHURIYET (14.6.01) Communal Liberation Party (CLP) leader Mustafa Akinci, has accused those who were against introducing changes in the occupied area, of forcing the so-called National Unity Party NUP-CLP «coalition government» to break. Akinci accused Denktash, Eroglu and people in Turkey of preferring to see Turkey outside the EU. Akinci said that he never stopped expressing his views which he thought were in the interest of Turkey and the occupied area and that this made some people feel uneasy. Akinci went on and said: «Yes, this stance of mine made some people feel so uneasy that they forced the foreign minister in my cabinet to speak against me. I have always been in favour of strengthening the independent identity of the TRNC. On the one hand you talk to the outside world about a settlement on two states basis and on the other you see that the civil authorities of the TRNC are unable to even have a say on the fire fighting department. The police force is not under you. You will not be able to appoint a TRNC citizen as the governor of the TRNC Central Bank. And after all these you will come up and tell the world/ I am a state, recognize my sovereignty/. I cannot accept this double-faced hyppocritic policy. Of course I wanted to strengthen the independent identity of the «TRNC». I also wanted democratization and more civilian role. Because of these two issues some people reached the conclusion that the government has completed its tenure of office. And this was whispered to Mr. Eroglu/s ears». Akinci also accused Eroglu of not telling the truth to the people. When asked what the way out of this situation is, Akinci said: The solution passes through Turkey/s making a turn and re-considering the Cyprus problem. One has to listen to what the leader of the main opposition party leader says. Our messages have just now slowly slowly started reaching the Turkish Public Opinion».
  • [04] Denktash continues to accuse his opponents of treason and spying According to KIBRIS (14.6.01) the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash has again accused his opponents, mainly «AVRUPA» daily and its writers, of treason, spying and getting money from foreign envoys in Cyprus. He said that a foreign diplomat promised him to supply the names of those Turkish Cypriots who get money from foreign envoys. However, Denktash added, the diplomat failed to supply these names. Denktash further said that he has the names of these people and when the time comes he will disclose them. As regards the spying case of AVRUPA Denktash said that the Greek Cypriot agent who has the evidence refused to present it to the court «because at the last moment he has asked for a payment 20 times more than the payment they have originally agreed upon.» He further claimed that he has seen the evidence himself and that it was people from inside AVRUPA who bombed their printing office. Reacting to Denktash/s accusations AVRUPA (14.6.01) under banner headlines «Everything is a Lie» challenges Denktash to disclose everything at his disposal. AVRUPA accuses Denktash of acting in an unbecoming manner.
  • [05] Rauf Denktash defends the establishment of NPM According to KIBRIS (14.6.01) the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash, once more came forward and defended the establishment of the National People/s Movement (NPM) saying that it is the voice of the silent people who are attached to Turkey. Denktash said that the NPM is an answer to the opposition group known as «41 organizations», which demand a solution to the Cyprus problem, rapprochement with the Greek Cypriots and accession to the EU. Denktash denied the accusation that NPM is a fascist organization.
  • [06] Merve Kavakci has applied to the ECHR against Turkey for violation of her Human Rights According to Turkish Daily News (13.6.01), Merve Kavakci, who lost her Turkish citizenship rights by ministerial verdict, has filed an application against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights. Merve Kavakci was elected member of Parliament with the islamist Virtue Party during the last parliamentary elections in Turkey, but was never allowed to take a seat in the Grand National Assembly because she was wearing a headscarf. The paper reports that Kavakci held a press conference at the Hilton Hotel in Strasbourg yesterday concerning her application to the ECHR.
  • [07] Study on the economic prospects for Cyprus after a settlement was presented to the Turkish Cypriots According to KIBRIS (14.6.01) the USA Development Agency has asked Nathan Associates to prepare a study on «The Economic Future of Cyprus: post-settlement prospects». The study was presented to the Turkish Cypriots in occupied Nicosia yesterday by Mr. Walter Douglas chief of the Press and Public Relations of the US Embassy. Twenty Greek and Turkish Cypriot experts took part in the preparation of the study.
  • [08] So-called Assembly speaker approaches the Cyprus problem with an Ottoman Empire mentality KIBRIS (14.06.01) reports that the so-called Assembly speaker, Ertugrul Hasipoglu has said that the Turkish soldiers who participated in the 1974 invation were given land and the right to settle in the island, just like it had happened in 1571 with the Ottoman soldiers who conquered Cyprus. Yesterday, during a meeting with the new administration of the Black Sea Cultural Association, which consist of settlers who came to occupied Cyprus from the region of Black Sea in Turkey, Mr. Hasipoglu expressed the view that there is no «Cypriot nation» and that such a nation never existed. Mr. Hasipoglu claimed that the Turkish Cypriots are an «inseparable part» of the Turkish nation and that the Turkish Cypriot «people», as he characterised the Turkish Cypriot community, consist of people who come to Cyprus from different parts of Turkey since 1571.
  • [B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

  • [09] Turkish Cypriot writer says property main issue in Cyprus AVRUPA newspaper (8.6.01) publishes a commentary by Mustafa Onurer with the title: «Denktash Caused Trouble to the Turks in Turkey». The full text of the commentary is as follows: « Cahit, one of Avrupa newspaper's columnists, constantly writes about the issue of the exchange of property in Cyprus. Cahit argues that properties have not been granted in north Cyprus to Turkish Cypriots who have left their own properties in south Cyprus. However, the seized properties of Greek Cypriots in north Cyprus have already been sort of distributed with the help of the mafia. Moreover, these properties have by now changed many hands. A significant part of the properties in north Cyprus are now in the possession of those who have purchased these properties. A number of people have earned substantial amounts of money from the trade in these properties. A wealthy sector that earns its living out of the trade in properties has come into beings thanks to the trade in the properties left by the Greek Cypriots in north Cyprus. Thus, these properties have already been taken care of. At the same time, a large sector made up of citizens claiming that these properties belong to them has come into being. These citizens have all the right to claim these properties. Meanwhile, the European Court for Human Rights has decided that the Greek Cypriot refugees must return to their properties in north Cyprus. However, Rauf Denktash and the mafia dealing with these properties are saying that the Greek Cypriot refugees must forget returning to their properties in north Cyprus. Denktash and the mafia argue that these properties have now become completely Turkish Cypriots properties. Did not Denktash make huge sums of profits by dealing with these properties? If you examine Denktash' remarks to the effect that "the Cyprus problem cannot be solved unless the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is recognized," you will see that the issue of properties lies beneath these remarks. When you resolve the issue of properties, you will see that there is not the slightest difference between Rauf Denktash and Glafcos Clerides. The talk about federation or confederation is nothing but idle talk. The issue of property is the main issue. Denktash is stressing that this issue must be resolved through the exchange of property method. Therefore, the issue of properties is the main reason why Denktash is stressing that the Greek Cypriots may not return to north Cyprus. Otherwise, why should the return of Greek Cypriots to north Cyprus bother Denktash? Did not Greek Cypriots exist in north Cyprus before? Let them send 50,000-100,000 Greek Cypriots to north Cyprus. What harm can these people do if they return to north Cyprus? Nothing. So many Kurds have arrived in north Cyprus. Was there any harm in the arrival of these Kurds? No, of course not. Therefore, the problem does not lie in the return of the Greek Cypriots to north Cyprus. The problem lies in the fact that the Greek Cypriots want to return to their own properties. However, are there any remaining properties in north Cyprus that can be handed over to the Greek Cypriots? These properties have already been sold. On the other hand, the properties that remained unsold are in the hands of the soldiers. Therefore, there are no more properties that can be handed over to the Greek Cypriots. Yet, Cahit wants the handing over of properties to Turkish Cypriots in north Cyprus in return for the properties that these Turkish Cypriots abandoned in south Cyprus? Has Cahit lost his mind? I refer to exactly this issue when I say that Denktas drew the Turks of Turkey into trouble. Is not Denktash aware of the fact that Sabanci Holding, Koc Holding, and other firms in Turkey have to make serious concessions in north Cyprus in order for Turkey to gain EU membership? Well, these firms are in trouble now. A sector including Turkish Cypriots, Turks from Turkey, and soldiers that has gained huge amounts of money from the trade in these properties has come into being in north Cyprus. The interest of this sector hangs on these properties now. What will happen to the gambling houses now? On what property were these gambling houses built? I ask these questions to Asil Nadir, who exerted huge efforts in order to keep his hotels running, only to lose them in the end. What will happen now to those that are still in his possession? While politicians in Turkey were engaged in political wrangling and corruption scandals, thereby sentencing politicians to jail terms, Rauf Denktas was standing firm in his position, because he had his foundation laid very firmly. Let them adhere to the ECHR decisions if they can. Look at how Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem is calling for the recognition of TRNC. Well, there is no other way of solving the problem, because solving the Cyprus problem through other means would cost billions of US dollars. Naturally, Denktash and the mafia dealing with these properties would have no objection if the EU and the Untied States spend the required money in order to solve the problem, because Denktash and the mafia would once again make additional profits in this way. That is, the Cyprus problem can be solved by either through the recognition of TRNC and the resolving the issue of properties through the exchange of properties method, or the EU and the United States must pay compensation to those who lost their properties [in north and south Cyprus]. Can the problem be solved through other means? No, it cannot, because Turkey would not and cannot pay any compensation. Well, you, Mr. Denktas, who were never elected as President, are a strange man. This issue reminded me of Hitler's endeavor to send the Jews to the gas chambers. A number of people used to believe that Hitler did this based on his fascist ideology. We, for our part, could not comprehend this, because while the Germans needed trains to transport weapons, they used to transport Jews on these trains to take them to the gas chambers. This is unbelievable. However, the question is simple. All the high-ranking Nazi officials had expressed their approval to the whole issue and each one of these officials was somehow involved in the matter. Everyone knows the nature of the crime, which is a crime against humanity. Given that each of these Nazi officials were involved in the whole affair, each one of them is a partner in the crime committed against the Jews. These officials had vowed to die with Hitler. Well, this is the main reason behind the endeavour of the Nazis to send Jews to the gas chambers. Rauf Denktash, for his part, succeeded in adopting a similar method. Thus, Denktash set up a team that seized properties and thereafter traded in these properties. All the members of this team are partners in Denktash' crime. The members of this team will encounter troubles when Denktash and TRNC fall. Turkey, for its part, has also been drawn into this affair. Thus, Turkey will also encounter troubles when Denktash and TRNC fall. Therefore, only the United States and the EU can save Denktash. The United States and the EU can resolve the issue by reaching an agreement with the government of the Republic of Cyprus and paying smaller amounts of compensations after turning a deaf ear to the demands of the owners of these properties and persuading the government of the Republic of Cyprus to also turn a deaf ear to these demands. Turkey alone cannot solve the issue. Therefore, let us pray that God facilitates the job of Turkey, the United States, and the EU. Let us wait and see the manner in which they will solve the Cyprus problem. In conclusion, Denktas caused trouble for everyone».
  • [10] Turkey Urged To Review its stand on the European Army In a commentary in Istanbul Posta (14.6.01) with the title: Turkey has concerns About European Army», Mehmet Ali Birand writes: «The Turkish public could not fully perceive the reasons for Ankara's persistent objections to the ESDC (European Security and Defense Concept), its demands about this matter and its threat to use its veto in the NATO. In order to simplify the whole picture let us name the ESDC as the European Army, a 60,000-strong rapid deployment force which the European Union intends to create with its members. This force will be used if the NATO (or the United States) refuses to intervene in a crisis in Europe (like the one we are witnessing in the Balkans) and the EU eventually decides to intervene alone. Turkey will have a say in this process should the European army want to carry out its intervention by using the NATO's capabilities (planning, command control, military airports and spy satellites). There is no big problem up to this point, but the real difficulty emerges here. Retired Ambassador Yalim Eralp raised this problem in its article in Haber Turk news portal on the Internet: What would happen if the European Union launches a military operation on its own without making use of the NATO's capabilities? This is the question that really disturbs the Turkish General Staff which is concerned that the European army may intervene in a crisis in Cyprus or in the Aegean in the future. Turkey does not want to confront the EU army in the event it is engaged in an armed conflict in these two areas. Concerned about the possibility of a military intervention which the EU may launch in an effort to protect Greece, it is trying to forestall such possibilities right at the very beginning. It has developed two separate scenarios for this purpose: 1. The EU cannot carry out a military operation in Europe even on its own before it has received the green light from Washington and nobody could resist an operation which could be blessed and supported by the United States. In that case Ankara would not be able to take any considerable step to oppose it. 2. The second scenario, which Turkey mainly focuses on, is based on the possibility of a military operation that could be launched by the EU in Cyprus or in the Aegean region without first consulting with the United States. Turkey is presently going to great lengths to prevent this possibility. In other words, it is trying to have a say in a military operation, which could be conducted by the EU by entirely using its own capabilities outside of the NATO, or to secure a place in a mechanism that could prevent that from happening if conditions warrant. It goes without saying that this is a goal difficult to achieve. The EU has refused this demand, arguing that it would include any country other than its members in its decision-making mechanism. Consequently, Turkey has threatened to veto the European army's whole relation with the NATO. Turkey may be bypassed This is a possibility that the United States does not want to happen. There is a probability that the EU army may entirely become independent of the NATO in the face of Turkey's veto, eventually diminishing Washington's control on the EU's military operations. Eralp has drawn attention to this possibility, giving events that took place in Portugal in 1974 as an example. When the communists joined the government in Portugal the NATO created a parallel group outside of its official meetings and handled its affairs in this forum from which the Portuguese had been excluded. A similar scenario ostracizing Turkey may be put into action unless a solution is eventually found. In other words, the United States may sign a bilateral agreement with the EU to permit the latter to use US military capabilities in any operation the EU may launch alone. After all, the NATO consists of US intelligence satellites and communication and planning facilities. Hence, they may solve the problem by circumventing Turkey and this would be the worst solution. Is Ankara overestimating the value of its bargaining chips? And, is Ankara misjudging the realities? Perhaps, time has come for putting these questions to ourselves».
  • [11] The real motives of the Youth Organization of the National People/s Movement In a commentary in AVRUPA (11.6.01) Sevgul Uludag analyses the role of youth organizations in occupied Cyprus, as follows: The movement that the state, the soldiers, and the civilian defense forces are trying to organize under the name NPM [National People/s Movement] under the command of the state has announced the formation of a youth organization under the name NYM [National Youth Movement]. I do not know what purpose will NYM serve, because the young people have already chosen their political organizations a long time ago in accordance with their own class and interests. As a center Right political party, NUP [National Unity Party] will occupy its proper place within the EU in the future. DP [Democratic Party], on the other hand, has come into being after being severed from NUP and has never emerged from its position under the shadow of Rauf Denktash. Moreover, DP has not been able to prove that it has matured and this political party appears more like an association run by the commanders than a political party. As a political party in the center Right with social grassroots and with its own youth and women's organizations, NUP appears like a political party that will continue along its own course after absorbing DP within its structure. Meanwhile, most of those working within the executive cadres of the NUP Youth Association are either university professors or students trying to gain master's degrees at universities. On the other hand, it is clearly evident that not a single individual working within the cadres of DP's youth organizations is of any high standards and that DP's youth organizations have not carried out any significant activities or displayed their existence. Not much can be talked about DP's youth organizations, because DP does not have any youth organizations. As a center Left political party, RTP [Republican Turkish Party], for its part, will take its proper place in the EU in the future among the socialist or social democrat parties. The youth organization of RTP has also been established properly. Everyone can see that the RTP Youth Organization includes among its ranks university students as well as university graduates who have gained their master's or doctorate degrees. As should have been expected, the RTP Youth Organization members are slightly ahead of the principles adopted by RTP. In addition to being slightly ahead of RTP, the Democratic Youth Organization members have at times displayed a more fiery and excited attitude, which is quite natural. Yet, the members of the RTP Youth Organization cannot be defined as adventurous. The RTP Youth Organization recently successfully held a youth festival together with EDON [the youth branch of AKEL, Restorative Party of the Working People]. Some 3,500 individuals participated in this festival. Despite the prevailing unfavourable circumstances and the endeavour of the state to deter their activities, the young RTP members have taken serious steps toward conciliation and rapprochement. Meanwhile, the protocol of cooperation that the young RTP members have signed with EDON constitutes a significant step in the development of relations between the [Turkish and Greek Cypriot] communities. The young people of PUM [Patriotic Unity Movement], for their part, represent the more radical and militant sectors of the Left with their attitude, activities, approach, and the issues that they raise on their agendas. The PUM Youth Organization has actively taken part in the organizing of scores of bi-communal meetings and activities, thus introducing the motto "common homeland, common struggle" expression in the vocabulary of the young people. In addition to publishing the Patriotic Youth periodical, the PUM Youth Organization publishes a newspaper named Ozgurluk [freedom], the special issues of Patriotic Youth and a number of other publications, particularly on the Cyprus problem. The PUM Youth Organization also uses the advanced technology as a means of waging its struggle. Thus, this youth organization is the personification of an exemplary youth organization. The PUM young people have played their most important role when they have held a commemorative ceremony in honour of the two communists Misaulis and Kavazoglu, who have been murdered during the sixties. Former union members who have witnessed these events in those days have also been present at the ceremony. No commemorative ceremonies whatsoever have earlier been held in north Cyprus in honour of the two communists under discussion. The mere ability of the PUM Youth Organization to organize such an event shows that these young people are of high standards. Meanwhile, the PUM Youth Organization also keeps alive its international political relations by trying to convey the problems of the young Cypriot people to the whole world and by conveying to Cyprus the experiences they gather from other political youth movements in the rest of the world. Thus, the PUM Youth organization is acting like a bridge... Meanwhile, in contrast to its small size, the youth organization of the Social democrat CLP [Communal Liberation Party] plays a significant role like the youth organizations of RTP and PUM from the perspective of reflecting its views regarding peace and democracy and from the perspective of voicing these views on various platforms. There are a number of extremely bright young people among the ranks of the CLP Youth Organization. The voices of the social democrat young people will be heard more clearly when the road is paved before these young people in the future and when politicians refrain from perceiving these young people as a mere tool for gaining votes during elections. The EKIM (October) Youth Organization, one of the socialist youth organizations, for its part, gathers together the militant young people under its own umbrella. Thanks to the work that it conducts in organizing theatre groups and educational activities with the help of its own resources, EKIM has proved its existence among the rest of the youth organizations. Is there anything missing in this picture? The political youth organizations have to a certain extent occupied their own places in the country. Each one of the young people belonging to these youth organizations has determined his rank in accordance with his own class and interests and is carrying out his activities accordingly. While the NUP Youth Organization is propagating the integration policies with flattery, the young people belonging to the youth organizations of RTP and PUM are rejecting these policies. DP, for its part, cannot claim that it has a youth organization anyway. Therefore, which masses does NYM plan to target? Will the young people belonging to the NUP Youth Organization join NYM? Will they do this in response to an order issued by a commander? Will NYM try to achieve the things that the Idealist Hearth Organization--which was not accepted by the Turkish Cypriot people--failed to achieve? Considering that the "striking team" of TMT [Turkish Resistance Movement] was in its early stages made up of unemployed, powerless, and uneducated young people, will the grassroots of NYM also be made up of unemployed and hopeless young people who lack any of the qualities of the young people belonging to the aforementioned youth organizations! Will NYM prepare cadres for the "striking teams" of NPM? Will they give cars, revolvers, and money to these unemployed and hopeless young people and tell these young people that henceforth they will be part of this "striking team?" Who will be the targets of these "striking teams?"
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