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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-07-24

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.138/03 24.07.03

[A] NEWS ITEMS

  • [01] Denktas claims that all the buildings in the closed sector of Varosha are on Evkaf's land.
  • [02] The settler who was hosted illegally in the free areas by a Greek Cypriot refugee was a sergeant in the occupation army.
  • [03] Twenty-five former Turkish Ministers, among them Bulent Ecevit, face corruption accusations.
  • [04] An institution for DNA tests will be established in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
  • [05] OYAK is opening a branch in the occupied areas of Cyprus.
  • [06] A new political alliance is formed before the December 'elections'.
  • [B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

  • [07] AFRIKA columnist: 'You should declare all the citizenships be null and void'.

  • [A] NEWS ITEMS

    [01] Denktas claims that all the buildings in the closed sector of Varosha are on Evkaf's land

    Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (24.07.03) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas replied to journalists' questions during a reception that he hold yesterday. Mr Denktas, inter alia, commented on the situation in the occupied closed sector of Varosha as follows:

    'The situation has not changed. We made an initiative and the Greek Cypriot side responded to it. So, we will consider individual applications by the Greek Cypriots. Some of our architects and engineers have said that the buildings in the area cannot be restored. That is their opinion. I believe that they expressed their opinion without visiting the area to see the place. Significant funds will be required there and that is common knowledge. Nevertheless, long-term leases can be considered to those who make investments. Meanwhile, if a Greek Cypriot claims his property, then he will be referred to the Turkish Cypriot Religious Foundation (EVKAF). All the buildings in Varosha are on the land that is owned by Evkaf. So, the Greek Cypriots might reach an agreement with that institution to solve the problem. Solving the problem of the properties will significantly contribute to the effort of settling the Cyprus problem.'

    Asked whether or not Varosha area was being cleaned up, Denktas noted that Varosha is cleaned up from time to time and added: 'If weeds are removed, then so much the better. That is a process carried out in the summer. I am not informed about that because it is not an extraordinary situation.'

    Meanwhile, asked whether or not a new crossing point would be opened, Denktas said: 'We continue to keep the question of 'border gates' on our agenda. But 'border gates' have to be considered individually. Opening a 'border gate' is an expensive initiative. No one is aware of that. No one is concerned with that. Meanwhile, is there a need for additional 'border gates '? A call was made by the people in Lefka for the opening of a 'border gate' in their area. The UN officials responded to our initiative. That is where the matter stands at the present. We can reconsider the opening of a border gate there if the removal of the land-mines in the area is placed on the agenda'. He also added that the issue of opening new crossing gates will remain in the agenda and stressed that every gate costs a lot.

    [02] The settler who was hosted illegally in the free areas by a Greek Cypriot refugee was a sergeant in the occupation army

    According to Turkish daily HURRIYET newspaper (24.07.03), the mainland settler who was hosted with his wife in the free areas by a Greek Cypriot refugee from Yerolako village , was a sergeant in the occupation army since 2000 and his real name was Ismail Keles.

    HURRIYET reports that Keles and his wife who were arrested by the Cyprus police for illegal entry into Cyprus were deported to Turkey after questioning.

    The paper however, writes that when arrested sergeant Keles did not disclose his real identity and gave the false name of Ismail Mahmut and he did not say that he was a soldier serving in the occupation army.

    HURRIYET further reports that had he disclosed his real identity, he would have been questioned for months by the Cyprus police as agent and he would have been creating a political and military crisis between Turkey and Cyprus.

    HURRIYET also reports that the whereabouts of Keles, who was deported with his 19 year old second wife to Turkey via Athens, is not known.

    [03] Twenty-five former Turkish Ministers, among them Bulent Ecevit, face corruption accusations

    Turkish NTV television (23.07.03) broadcast that the Turkish parliamentary committee investigating allegations of corruption has submitted its report to the Grand National Assembly, calling for investigative bodies to be set up to look into the activities of 25 former ministers. Most of those that the committee recommends be formally investigated, were members of the 57th government, ousted from power in the November 3rd, 2002 elections. Foremost of those named in the committee's report are former Prime Minister Bülent Ecevit and his deputies, Mesut Yilmaz and Devlet Bahçeli.

    The report recommended investigative committees be established to probe the activities of the ministers mentioned below:

    Bülent Ecevit, Devlet Bahçeli, Mesut Yilmaz, Hüsamettin Özkan, Sümer Oral, Kemal Dervis, Koray Aydin, Cumhur Ersümer, Abdülkadir Akcan, Recep Önal, Hikmet Ulugbay, Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, Metin Sahin, Mehmet Keçeciler, Rifat Serdaroglu, Sükrü Sina Gürel, Yüksel Yalova, Yilmaz Karakoyunlu, Rüstü Kazim Yücelen, Günes Taner, Yasar Okuyan, Yasar Topçu, Mustafa Tasar, Nami Çagan and Zeki Çakan.

    [04] An institution for DNA tests will be established in the occupied areas of Cyprus

    According to the Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (24.07.03), the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas has announced that an institution for DNA tests will be established in the pseudostate in order to transfer the remains of their 'martyrs' from the free areas of Cyprus to the occupied areas of Cyprus.

    Denktas had also announced that the Turkish Cypriots of the occupied village Vouno were preparing to file lawsuits against the Government of Cyprus demanding compensations for people, who were killed during the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.

    'The Turkish Cypriots of Vouno village are demanding compensations. Firstly, they will apply to the Greek Cypriot Government. The applicants will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights if the Greek Cypriot Government fails to adopt a satisfactory approach. We hope that the Greek Cypriot Government will solve the problem by quickly responding to the demand for compensation', Mr Denktas concluded.

    [05] OYAK is opening a branch in the occupied areas of Cyprus

    Turkish Cypriot daily ORTAM newspaper (24.07.03) reports that Turkey's Armed Forces Pension/ Assistance Fund (OYAK) will open a branch in the occupied areas of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, who met yesterday with the representatives of OYAK, said: 'OYAK in one meaning is a bank. But coming to our country such a powerful bank shows the trust of Turkey and the bank to the Turkish Cypriots and to the future'.

    [06] A new political alliance is formed before the December 'elections'

    According to Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (24.07.03), as the 'elections' are getting near the political parties are trying to make alliances. The right-wing Renewal Progressive Party (RPP) and the National Revival Party (NPP) will participate in the December 'elections' together with the 'New Solidarity and Reconciliation' platform. A press conference will be held today, where they will announce their decisions.

    [B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

    [07] AFRIKA columnist: 'You should declare all the citizenships be null and void'

    Kazim Denizci in his column in Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (24.07.03) writes under the above title and criticizes the granting of 'citizenships' to Turkish settlers in the occupied area. He writes:

    'Upon opening of the gates, the Turkish Cypriots rushed to the Greek Cypriot side in order to acquire passports, identity cards and birth certificates. It is for months now there is overcrowding in front of the offices that issue these documents.

    Acquiring these documents is the natural right of the Turkish Cypriots who, for thirty years were denied of this right.

    Most probably this should be the price (Tr note: The Author uses the Greek word 'prostimo- fine/price) for being liberated.

    This is the situation in the south Cyprus. What about the north Cyprus? There is an intense traffic going on in these days in our identity card issuing office as well.

    There is overcrowding there as well. However, this crowding is not created by the Turkish Cypriots but Turks from Turkey who are queuing to get the TRNC identity cards. Please do not say that it is useless. Those who acquire this identity card have all the rights in the north.

    With the instructions from the authorities of the Republic of Turkey, they are distributing 'citizenship' like a candy. Who will stop this practice which is a crime according to the international laws? Not only the free will of the Turkish Cypriots is being usurped, their economy and culture as well are being destroyed.

    We call upon the opposition parties to pay a visit to the office where identity cards are issued .It is possible that the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) would refuse to visit this office because it wants to get votes from the Turkish settlers in the forthcoming December elections. We do however,expect that the Peace and Democracy Movement (PDM) will do this. It is time they should invite the international organizations to duty.

    Someone should stand up and call Turkey which demands to become a EU member, to order.

    The Patriotic Unity Movement (PUM) carried the issue of the demographic structure of Cyprus to the EU Council (Trans. Note: as the author says). It also made recourse to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

    I do congratulate them for this action. The EU officials should immediately take up this issue and reach a decision. It should even take a provisional decision that with this structure it is not possible to hold the December elections.

    The officials of the Republic of Cyprus as well should make recourse to the UN and the EU. I , as a Cypriot think that no one has the right to remain indifferent in the face of the occupier's contempt of the law.

    Soon these people who acquired identity cards will go and register as voters and then they will go to the nearest ballot box and cast their votes. Is it possible to brand this order democratic?

    Democracy under occupation could be only the way the occupier and the quislings want to. So those who want to be the walker-on in this buffoonery regime 'May it be easy for them.

    If the civil and military bureaucrats of the Republic of Turkey consider themselves omnipotent to do everything in my country, then no one should be expecting from me to turn a blind eye to these. Therefore, as a result render all the citizenships null and void'.

    /SK


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