Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-04-22

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader after meeting President Clerides

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader left for Strasbourg

[03] Statements on Cyprus by the Turkish Foreign Minister

[04] Details given on the water transported to the occupied areas from Turkey

[05] Denktas threatens to annex the occupied areas of Cyprus to Turkey in case Cyprus joins the EU before a solution to its political problem

[06] Turkey gives to the pseudostate a rescue vessel

[07] A Turkish Cypriot football player got a transfer to Anorthosis Famagusta, now in Larnaca

[08] A new case against AFRIKA

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Turkish Cypriot columnist comments on Solana's statements

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader after meeting President Clerides

Denktas replied to journalists' questions upon his return from the meeting. He said that he will meet again with President Clerides on 26 April because of his visit to Strasbourg. Asked by a journalist about the reason for his Strasbourg meeting, Denktas said that he will hold some contacts and explain the course of the Cyprus talks. Pointing out the course in Cyprus is the ongoing talks, Denktas said: "We will discuss what the sides want, which aspects, if at all, have been agreed upon, and what aspects are still to be agreed upon."

Reminded by a journalist about the claims that the British Government is preparing to grant political asylum to Turkish Cypriots, Denktas stressed that the British Government is not requesting passports from those who have immigrated. The report is a false one aimed at encouraging certain people to seek Cyprus Republic passports, Denktas remarked. He added that a passport is a document attesting to the existence of a person and his state, and a person who has a state will not accept the passport of another state, which is trying to annihilate him. The claim that we are the citizens of the 1960 republic is artificial, Denktas noted, adding: "If you are the citizens of the 1960 republic, where have you been for so many years? You have been ousted from this republic."

Alleging that until 1974, for years the Cyprus Republic granted passports in return for political information and spying, Denktas said that the administration is now saying that it will grant a passport in order to deceive the whole world. He added: "The Greek Cypriot administration is doing this in order to emphasize that you are its citizens, to prove that you love it, and not because it loves you. The Greek Cypriot administration is doing this in order to prove to the world that the Turkish Cypriots are its citizens, that is, in order to strike you from within."

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader left for Strasbourg

He will attend two conferences organized by Kabatas High School and by Robert College.

After wrapping up his programme in Istanbul, Rauf Denktas will leave for Strasbourg on Sunday.

He is scheduled to talk with Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA) officials and European Court of Human Rights Chief Judge Luziusk Wildhaber.

He is expected to return to the occupied areas on April 25.

Ankara Anatolia (21/4/02) reported that speaking to reporters prior to his departure for Strasbourg from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Denktas said that the Cyprus issue should be diagnosed.

``Before a diagnosis, they have made the solution of the Cyprus issue quite difficult by continuously inciting and encouraging the side which destroyed the Cyprus Partnership Republic and by giving promises about acceptance of its accession to the European Union as the `legal government` whether or not there will be an agreement. We are determined in the point that such a diagnosis should be made, `` he said.

Noting that they knew Europe as a bloc of nations which administer justice, Denktas said: ``Trying to solve the Cyprus issue without taking into consideration the status and rights given to Turkey and us by the 1960 agreements has not brought any result for thirty-nine years. We want them to respect the rights and authorities and status given to Turkey and use and take decisions by thinking what these mean. This is our right. ``

``The Cyprus issue can be solved if the two sides really want this and accept each other's equality, sovereignty and rights. We have the Belgium and Switzerland models in front of us. However, one of the sides did not try to destroy the other in those places. However, this desire exists in Cyprus. By examining these models and taking measures which prevent a new genocide, the Cyprus issue can be solved, `` Denktas concluded.

[03] Statements on Cyprus by the Turkish Foreign Minister

Belovacikli begins by asking Cem to clarify the current Israeli-Palestinian confrontation and Turkey's outlook in this regard. Cem replies: "Our stand on the matter is outlined in various Foreign Ministry statements and my remarks. Naturally, more important than all, it is cited in the prime minister's statements on the subject. This is our view: First, we vehemently support the UN resolution calling on Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories and cities it has occupied. Second, we have no tolerance at all with regard to terrorism. As I declared immediately after 11 September, terrorism has no religion, geography, or excuse. This is another criterion that plays a role in our approach to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. We believe that in the final analysis the problem will be solved through talks between the two sides. This is not a new view. A long time ago, before anyone made this link, we opposed the view that talks can be held only after the cessation of violence. We asserted that these two things must go alongside, that only if counter terrorism efforts and the dialogue process develop together, these two aspects will positively influence one another. In time, everyone reached this point. This is also an important measure in our approach. Finally, there was a matter that was slightly misunderstood by the public. When these incidents intensified, we proposed to hold a conference. We said this recent explosion in violence cannot be resolved with the initiative of the EU, the United States, or another country alone; it must be approached together. By together, we meant the neighbouring countries in the region. Russia, which is like the supporter or the protector of this peace process, must participate alongside the EU and the United States, as must the Organization of the Islamic Conference [OIC]. Our proposal was to convene this conference at the level of foreign ministers. We did not insist on Turkey as the venue."

Belovacikli refers to the EU-Mediterranean countries meeting to be held in Valencia, asking if the Middle East issue will be discussed. Cem notes that the Spanish say that the Valencia meeting should not focus on the Middle East issue alone, but this matter will probably be discussed at length. "There is no question of the Valencia meeting yielding a concrete result on the Middle East issue. It will provide an opportunity for dialogue."

Cem reports that his visit to the Middle East together with his Greek counterpart will take place "toward this weekend," barring any hitches. He says: "Our visit will be very important. As far as I can glean, it is being echoed in the world press as well." "Our mission actually incorporates a few messages. First of all, we will have the opportunity to share our views on these matters. This should not be viewed necessarily as the joint view of Greece and Turkey. There will be certain common views as well as Turkey's own views. We will discuss these with our interlocutors, namely with President Arafat and Mr. Peres or maybe with Mr. Sharon. Second, given its joint nature, this visit will reflect the atmosphere of the EU-OIC forum in Istanbul. We attach great importance to this, because the Istanbul meeting was important. We are planning its continuation in a reasonable manner, without exaggeration." Cem adds that by taking Mr. Papandreou along, Turkey is actually taking the EU to the Middle East. According to Cem, "Turkish-Greek relations are cited as an example of conciliation between hostile sides," therefore, our visit together is seen as a "peace message of its own." "Our visit is also a support for Secretary of State Powell's initiative, one that reinforces it. As I have always said, all we are doing is to prevent the death of children in Israel and Palestine."

Yetkin then mentions recent assessments to the effect that even if Turkey fulfils the political criteria for EU accession, it cannot join the Union if the Cyprus problem remains unresolved, and asks the Foreign Minister where we stand regarding the Cyprus issue.

The approach that Turkey should either give up hope regarding EU accession or make concessions in Cyprus that may not entirely serve our interests is a simplistic one that could only be adopted by a passive foreign minister, Cem states. He adds: "A skilful approach in this case consists of launching the negotiation process with the EU, while at the same time safeguarding the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots. This is the aim. The other options are easy solutions."

Cem notes that "as voices emerge from Turkey implying that these two issues can be linked, my task becomes more difficult, as does that of Mr. Denktas. There is no question of our linking these two issues to one another. The EU may establish a link, that is up to the EU. Turkey does not make a link. We also base ourselves on the fact that there is no legal connection between the two. The Cyprus issue is not posited as a legal condition in any of the documents we approved together with the EU."

Answering Yetkin, who evokes the Helsinki document, Cem says, "there is no such thing. In the Helsinki document, Turkey undertakes to support the indirect talks under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. This is our pledge, and we have fulfilled it. The EU tried to insert Cyprus as a political criterion both in the Helsinki document and in the subsequent Accession Partnership Document, especially upon Greek insistence." In both cases, we rejected this condition, Cem stresses.

As for the political aspect of the matter, Cem concedes that the Cyprus issue would affect Turkish-EU relations. "In this aspect, too, Turkey and Mr Denktas and his colleagues are pursuing a correct policy." Cem recounts that no criticism is being levelled against the policies of the Turkish side.

Yetkin asks if it is reasonable to expect a solution in Cyprus before Turkey receives a guarantee to start EU accession negotiations. Cem reiterates: "For us, these two issues are separate." Yetkin interjects by saying that Cem also concedes the political connection.

Cem says: "Let us set Cyprus aside for a moment. The results of the Association Council meeting with the EU are officially binding on both sides. There are two-three issues that Turkey must resolve. If Turkey solves these issues, Verheugen on behalf of the EU Commission and the Spanish Foreign Minister as the current term president announced that the accession negotiations will begin with Turkey, regardless of how the Cyprus problem develops. This was not only noted in the minutes of the Association Council meetings, which would not be right to divulge in public, it was also announced to the media in a news conference after the meeting. They did not actually say the talks will start even if the Cyprus problem is not resolved." "There are three subjects, and general human rights issues. During the Association Council, I asked them to abandon the terminology of Turkey's human rights record. This is wrong. Who is talking about whose record? When such a record is discussed, it must be put into a historical perspective. If you look at the past 500-700 years, you cannot even compare Turkey with Western or Central Europeans. Our human rights past in the historical dimension is incomparably better than any European country."

"The three issues that we must correct consist of education in the language of choice, television broadcasts in foreign languages, and the death penalty. If we look at things from a different angle, we are discussing already settled issues as big events, and we are needlessly delaying the negotiations with the EU wondering if we can solve the matters that we have already solved." "As I have always said, there are concerns about expanding these freedoms. They may be exploited. However, we as a state should enact the necessary laws that will prevent such exploitation. What I mean is that the EU issue is one that can be solved, so long as we do not make mistakes or get confused. Second, as long as we solve this, the developments in Cyprus are the concern of others. We should fulfil our own task properly."

[04] Details given on the water transported to the occupied areas from Turkey

According to information the Anatolian News Agency correspondent obtained from officials, the transport of drinking water is being carried out by a partnership between the Norwegian firm Nordic and the Akdeniz Water Distribution Trading Corporation, established in Antalya. The so-called Interior and Rural Affairs Ministry of the pseudostate, which is the contractor for the transport process in which Turkey serves as a guarantor nation, pays approximately 50 cents for every cubic meter of water.

The water transported to the occupied areas, is obtained from a spring which surfaces near the seacoast in Aydincik; the flow has been determined through measurements to be 1,121 cubic meters per hour. The spring supplies the district's needs for drinking water, as well as 60 percent of the requirements of the occupied areas. It is also stated that the water in question meets the Turkish standards for drinking water as well as the characteristics recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to information obtained from the relevant officials, a pumping station has been built at the spring in order to load the water. The water, extracted from the spring via the pumps, is conveyed through 930-meter-long pipes to a platform on the shore, and from here is carried through flexible hoses into the bladder.

Explaining that a receiving facility has been built at Kumkoy, in the occupied Pentayia district, which has the same capacity as the pumping station at Aydincik, the officials said that this facility pumps the water out of the bladders into a storage tank 2.050 kilometres inland, and that from there the water is put into the water distribution system of the occupied areas.

Laboratories have been established at both ends of the process to analyse the water which is loaded into the bladders and which is removed from them. Water samples taken from both the spring and the bladder both during and at the completion of the filling process are analysed and sent, while the water is once again tested upon arrival prior to being put into the distribution system.

Stating that the water transport is carried out on certain days of the week by a tugboat that tows the bladders, the officials said that, of the three bladders in use, two have capacities of 30,000 cubic meters each, while the third has a capacity of 35,000 cubic meters.

Stating that even larger bladders will be put into service during the months ahead, the officials spoke as follows:

"The water transport was officially begun on 15 July 1998. However, there was a period of almost 1.5 years during which, for various reasons, it was not possible to transport the water. To date, approximately 1.9 million tons of water has been delivered to the /TRNC/. We transport an average of 300 thousand tons of water per month, depending on weather conditions. It is not possible to transport the water on days when there are storms or high waves on the sea. Sixty percent of the drinking water requirements of the /TRNC/ are being met in this way. The bladders, which can be filled in approximately 14 hours, are made of a very durable mixture of fibre and plastic, about 2 millimetres in thickness."

[05] Denktas threatens to annex the occupied areas of Cyprus to Turkey in case Cyprus joins the EU before a solution to its political problem

The Turkish Cypriot leader alleged that they want from the EU to "respect the law, to stop recognizing the Greek Cypriots as a legitimate government and if it cannot do this to tell them that they do not represent the whole of Cyprus".

Mr Denktas repeated his demand regarding recognizing sovereignty to the Turkish Cypriots and added that he could not understand why Turkey should be kept waiting for 10 or 15 years to become full member of the EU.

Referring to the efforts towards the recognition of his illegal pseudostate, the Turkish Cypriot leader argued that conducts must be made with some countries in this direction on the basis of mutual interests. However, he noted that they have not done this until now because then Turkey would have been in a difficult position.

Meanwhile, according to KIBRIS (22.04.02), talking at a dinner in Istanbul organized by the Association of the Graduates of Robert College, Mr Denktas described the Cyprus problem as a "geopolitical issue for Turkey" and added: "Our strength is Anatolia, our saviour and guarantor is Turkey".

Furthermore, Mr Denktas expressed the opinion that the EU is using Cyprus as a master card to prevent Turkey's accession to the Union. "After Cyprus' accession to the EU unrest will continue. We support peace. We want our status to be defined", said the Turkish Cypriot leader.

Speaking at the airport before departing for Strasbourg, Mr Denktas said that the Cyprus problem could be solved if both sides really wanted this to happen. Mr Denktas proposed again the Belgium and the Switzerland models as a solution for Cyprus. Referring to the issue he said the following: ".There is the Belgium model and the Switzerland model. .The Cyprus problem could be solved looking at these models and taking the measures which would prevent a new ethic cleansing to happen".

[06] Turkey gives to the pseudostate a rescue vessel

The vessel was given to the so-called "TRNC Coast Security and Vessel Rescuing" company, which was established on 14 November 2000. 69 % of the above-mentioned company belongs to Turkey's Coast Security and Vessel Rescuing Directorate, 30 % to the pseudostate's "Development Fund" and 1 % to Turkey's Maritime Secretariat.

Meanwhile, according to the paper the occupation authorities have decided to renovate the lighthouses in the pseudostate. The above-mentioned lighthouses are at Apostolos Andreas monastery, Kormakitis village, Canbulat and Famagusta harbour. The lighthouse at Apostolos Andreas will be demolished and in its place a new one will be built.

[07] A Turkish Cypriot football player got a transfer to Anorthosis Famagusta, now in Larnaca

Meanwhile, the paper writes on 22.04.02 that the one of "the twins", Sabri (21) has been transferred to the Greek Cypriot club Anorthosis of Famagusta for the amount of 3 thousand Cyprus pounds and 1.500 pounds monthly salary. The paper notes that Sabri is the first Turkish Cypriot football player to play in a Greek Cypriot team after the 1974 Turkish invasion.

Furthermore, the so-called "Turkish Cypriot Football Federation" issued a statement noting that Sabri has not asked their permission for realizing the transfer. He only asked the permission of the so-called "ministry of Foreign Affairs", which gave him a negative answer. The so-called "Federation" said that Sabri would be punished when he returns to the occupied areas for "acquiring a certificate to play in a foreign federation".

YENIDUZEN notes that the speaker of a sports programme of the illegal "Bayrak" radio has described Sabri a "traitor", but he was forced to apologize after a strong reaction from his listeners.

The paper writes that Sabri's mother is from Turkey and his father is a Cypriot.

[08] A new case against AFRIKA

Omer Adal, who is Etkin's lawyer, alleged that Incirli has insulted through his article titled "Terrorist" his client and the Terrorist organization TMT "Turkish Resistance Organization". This is the second case opened against AFRIKA; the first one was opened by Fuat Veziroglu against the writer of the feature articles "Gappelari Fuad Dayi".

Eighteen more lawsuits in addition to the existing 200 lawsuits against AVRUPA were added. Half of the lawsuits are handled by the so-called Military Court and the rest by so-called civilian courts.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Turkish Cypriot columnist comments on Solana's statements

"EU Common Defense and Foreign Policy High Representative, Javier Solana, (who from time to time made statements which anger the Turkish side) has said that in case an agreement was not reached between the sides in Cyprus, they would accept only the Southern Cyprus as a member of the EU. Talking to "To Vima", Athens newspaper, he said: 'Southern Cyprus has no authority to decide for Northern Cyprus. You cannot define the wishes of others. We want the talks to have a result. However, if they are not successful, the Greek Cypriot side will be accepted as EU member. In case an agreement is not reached it is not the whole of the island which will be accepted'.

Until the time these lines were written no reaction had come from the Greek Cypriot officials to Solana's statement. However, it is for sure that this will cause confusion in the Greek Cypriot side, because the Greek Cypriot officials, who wanted to join the EU with or without an agreement and bring Turkey against the 300 million Europe, are going to be disappointed. The idea that 'the whole of Cyprus must become an EU member' which began within the period of the former President Vasiliou and continued by President Clerides, is regarded to have gone bankrupt. .

Will this statement, which is regarded as 'disaster' by the Greek Cypriots', bring a new momentum to the talks, which as alleged, were stalled because of the behaviour of the EU?

President Denktas during the last month of the talks is almost every day continuously strongly criticizing the EU. .Will the Greek Cypriot side now become more flexible and put onto the table its determination for a solution by the end of this year? What will the position of the Turkish side be? .

It is a fact that the EU, to which we have been getting angry from time to time, has created a movement in the talks. .Solana's statement is in the direction that the Turkish side wishes and expects. It must not be considered as a pretext for the non-solution, because the Greek Cypriot side has made this mistake, though in the opposite direction, by following the policy of joining the EU in the name of the whole of Cyprus..."

EG/

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