|
|
|
Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-04-25
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>
TURKISH PRESS
AND OTHER MEDIA
No. 79/02
25.04.02
[A] NEWS ITEMS
[01] Ôhomas Weston in Ankara. Turkey does not want outside interference in the
Cyprus talks
[02] More statements by Rauf Denktas in Strasbourg
[03] Muftuzade addresses a seminar in Sweden
[04] Talat criticized Denktas' statements in Strasbourg
[05] The Turkish Cypriot pilots on strike
[06] A commuter ferry-boat was bought by a Turkish Cypriot maritime company
[07] Turkish paper publishes Karen Fogg's reaction to statements made by the
General Secretary of the NSC last month
[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS
[08] Mehmet Ali Birand stresses that the Turkish troops are a dominant factor
in Cyprus
[09] Turkish Cypriot comments on the reasons for football player Sabri's
fleeing to the free areas of Cyprus
[Á] NEWS ITEMS
[01] Ôhomas Weston in Ankara. Turkey does not want outside interference in the
Cyprus talks
Ankara TRT 2 Television (24.04.02) broadcast that at a time when the direct
Cyprus talks between Denktas and Clerides are under way, Turkey is conveying
third parties, such as the EU and the United States, the message that there
should be no outside interference.
Thomas Weston, US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus, met
yesterday in Ankara with Ugur Ziyal, Under Secretary to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, and conferred with him for some 90 minutes. In a
statement he issued after the meeting, Weston said that he will continue to
work intensively in order to achieve some results even though he cannot give
any details, adding that he got the impression that Turkey's approach will
be along the same lines.
Diplomatic sources say that Turkey conveyed to Weston the message that there
should not be any outside interference in the direct talks.
[02] More statements by Rauf Denktas in Strasbourg
KIBRIS (25/04/02) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas
met on Wednesday with the Council of Europe (COE) Secretary General Walter
Schwimmer.
During the meeting, Denktas conveyed to Schwimmer the views of the Turkish
side regarding the negotiations on Cyprus.
Requesting from Europe to diagnose well the Cyprus issue, Denktas told
Schwimmer that the pseudostate should be represented equally in the
partnership that will be founded.
Speaking to Turkish reporters in Strasbourg, Denktas said that the European
Union's (EU) enlargement schedule concerned only itself, adding that this
schedule could not be the schedule of solution to the Cyprus issue.
Criticizing the EU, Denktas said: "It is unacceptable that the EU set
one-year schedule for solution of the Cyprus issue while it gave a
fifteen-year period for Turkey's full membership".
Noting the EU's statement, "Greek Cypriots will access the bloc whether or
not there is a solution", Denktas said that it was nothing but a provocation
and claimed that the Greek Cypriots are carrying out a campaign in the
island by using this statement as a trump card.
"They carry out a campaign against us. They have contracted authors and
tutors who work only for them. They have been publishing a newspaper for two
years to this end. Luckily, the Karen Fogg issue came out and the disgrace
and scandalousness of this business was revealed. We saw that all authors
and columnists had written in accordance with Fogg's instructions and we
felt relieved. More important, our people understood it", Denktas alleged.
Denktas also claimed that the EU, which raised Cyprus as an obstacle in
front of Turkey, would later raise the Aegean as another obstacle, it would
put pressure for recognition of the Armenian genocide and bring territorial
concessions onto its agenda.
"They want us to be a passive minority. Acceptance of the solution that they
want, would mean our entrance to the Greek slaughterhouse", alleged Mr
Denktas. The Turkish Cypriot leader is leaving Strasbourg today.
[03] Muftuzade addresses a seminar in Sweden
KIBRIS (25.04.02) reports that Hakki Muftuzade, advisor of Turkish Cypriot
leader Rauf Denktas, has addressed a seminar organized by the International
Affairs Institute in Sweden.
The paper writes that according to a written statement issued by Mr Denktas'
office, British Special Representative for Cyprus, Lord David Hanney, Sweden
's Special advisor on Cyprus, Ambassador Ingemar Lindhal and Turkey's
ambassador to Stockholm, Selim Kuneralp participated in the seminar.
During his visit to Stockholm, Mr Muftuzade met with Sweden's Special
advisor on Cyprus, Ingemar Lindhal, the Swedish Foreign Ministry EU-Cyprus
desk chief, Magdalena Damnert and the Swedish MP, Goran Lenmarkes. He also
had interviews with the Swedish Radio and the "Dagens Nyheter" newspaper.
[04] Talat criticized Denktas' statements in Strasbourg
According to KIBRIS (25/04/02) the leader of the Republican Turkish Party
(RTP), Mehmet Ali Talat, in a written statement made yesterday, criticized
the speech that the Turkish Cypriot leader made at the Turkish Federation in
France. Talat criticized Denktas' statement in his speech, "It seems that we
are heading for troubles", by saying that this statement was a fiasco and
added that a leader who can see that he is driving his people to trouble and
also expresses it, should be the first one who should look for alternatives
to get rid of this trouble. "However, Denktas with his stance does all he
can to put the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey 'in the centre of troubles'",
Talat said.
Talat said that many times Denktas, the Turkish Prime Minister and the
Turkish Foreign Minister said that they cannot deny Cyprus' accession into
EU in case there is a solution of the Cyprus problem, but Denktas, during
his speech at the Federation, added that he is against Cyprus being a member
of the EU without Turkey, even if the Cyprus problem is solved.
Moreover, Talat said that Denktas is claiming that nothing can happen until
June, using even the fact that he is going to have an operation. "It is
obvious that he is playing with time," stressed Mr Talat.
Finally, Talat called on Denktas and Clerides to be realistic on the table
of the negotiations and to make efforts for a settlement of the Cyprus
problem.
[05] The Turkish Cypriot pilots on strike
KIBRIS (25.04.02) reports that the Turkish Cypriot Workers Trade Unions
Federation (TURK-SEN) and the Trade Union of the Turkish Cypriot Banks and
Office Workers (BANK-SEN) went on a day strike yesterday at the "Turkish
Aviation Organization of Northern Cyprus" (KKTHK).
TURK-SEN's and BANK-SEN's chairmen Onder Konuloglu and Zubeyir Boransel said
that the rights of the workers at the organizations are violated, they are
paid low salaries and they are not paid extra money for the risk they take
during the flights. The two trade union leaders added that they have learned
also that the classification and advancement system of the salaries of the
employees will be lifted. Mr Konuloglu and Boransel demanded a collective
agreement to be signed between the trade unions and the employers.
The paper notes that eight of 17 pilots who work at KKTHK took part in the
strike. The trade unions support that the reason for the low participation
is the threats of the employers.
Konuloglu and Boransel said: "We as state union are trying to defend these
colleagues through collective agreements. However, KKTHK's Chairman,
Suleyman Kemik, does not even want to meet with us. He tries to scare us by
saying that KKTHK is a military aviation organization.".
[06] A commuter ferry-boat was bought by a Turkish Cypriot maritime company
According to KIBRIS (25/04/02), the Turkish Cypriot maritime company
''Akgunler Maritime'' has bought a Norwegian made catamaran type ferryboat
to commute even in rough seas. The 180-seat capacity new ferry will be named
Akgunler-2. The ferry was brought over from Denmark, and it will carry out
trips between occupied Kyrenia and Tasucu Turkey. The director of the
company said that with the new ferryboat their daily capacity of carrying
passengers increased to 880.
[07] Turkish paper publishes Karen Fogg's reaction to statements made by the
General Secretary of the NSC last month
Istanbul Star newspaper (23.04.02) publishes the following report under the
title, "Okay Madam":
EU Representative Karen Fogg, who wants the appointment of a civilian
official as the NSC [National Security Council] General Secretary, has said:
"Turkey can establish relations with other countries if it does not want to
join the EU. Ankara has to decide."
Speaking in Istanbul on 8 March, NSC General Secretary Tuncer Kilinc said:
"The EU poses a threat to Turkey. Turkey must adopt a policy that would
also include Russia and, if possible, Iran, without disregarding the United
States."
Ambassador Karen Fogg responded to General Kilinc's statement two days ago.
Responding to a question during the Haber-Turk Television Network's Press
Club program, she said: "A civilian official must be appointed as the NSC
General Secretary. Turkey can establish relations with other countries if
it does not want to join the EU."
The views she outlined during the program can be summed up as follows:
- The disclosure of my e-mails was an action against the establishment I
represent, not against me. The attack was related to Turkey's role in the
European Council. However, the people did not attach importance to the
developments. We worked on a security system during the past nine months.
We put it into effect after my e-mails were disclosed.
- Turkey is complying with the conditions. But, there is more to it. The
possibility of Turkey's accession to the EU inspired hope in everyone. The
Turkish people deserve to join the organization. The EU agrees with that.
- Turkey began to comply with the conditions for membership for the first
time. Adopting the EU policy and laws is an essential condition for
membership. The EU criteria do not change. The work carried out to prepare
for Turkey's accession was not enough. The necessary work was not carried
out on democracy. Three criteria exist for each country. They are related to
political, economic and constitutional issues. Turkey will decide when it
can join the organization. It must quickly realize what has to be done for
its accession.
- Turkey must successfully inform the EU on its problems with the Workers
Party of Kurdistan [PKK]. The individuals Turkey describes as terrorists
behave very carefully in the EU countries. They do not violate the laws.
- The EU does not frequently bring up the Cyprus problem. The organization
does not want border problems to affect the process for membership. Turkey
can establish relations with other countries if it does not want to join the
EU. Ankara has to decide.
- The European Commission discussed the relations between the civilian and
military sectors. I do not frequently come in touch with the General Staff.
I have not officially met the Chief of the General Staff. The EU Commission
believes that the relations between the civilian and military sectors will
evolve and the civilian authority will come to the forefront. We expect the
appointment of a civilian official as the NSC General Secretary. We believe
that this will establish a balance between the civilian and military
sectors. We want to cooperate with the Turkish Government.
- Claims have been made that the Turkish trade unions receive bribes from
the EU. The trade unions receive support from the confederations they are
affiliated to in Europe for their training programs. How can they be said
to be receiving bribes?
- The 28 February process is now left in the past. Confidence has to be
established between the Government and the people. Positive steps have been
taken in that direction. So, we should look forward. Let us forget the past.
The groups in Turkey are concerned with the EU aspects that are in line with
their interests. Everyone is trying to benefit from something.
- Turkey should not fear fundamentalism. The closure of political parties is
a problem, which Turkey must solve by itself. The EU approach on the matter
is quite clear. It believes that the matter is very unfortunate. The
conditions that would warrant the closure of political parties must be very
few. A party can be closed down if it encourages violence. The organization
is not in favour of the closure of political parties.
The War Academies Command organized a conference on how a peace belt can be
created around Turkey. The conference convened in Istanbul on 8 March.
Former President Suleyman Demirel and renowned professors participated in
it. Prof. Erol Manisali argued that the EU is an internal and external
threat to Turkey. He also argued that Turkey will lose Cyprus if it fails to
change its mentality. Speaking after him, General Kilinc said that he agreed
with Prof. Manisali. He asserted: It is quite clear that the EU has not
supported Turkey on matters that concern its national interests. The
organization maintains a negative approach on problems that concern Turkey's
interests. That is quite clear. Turkey must cooperate with other countries.
The most appropriate example would be Russia, which seems to be close to the
United States. Turkey must adopt a policy that would include Russia and, if
possible, Iran, without disregarding the United States.
[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS
[08] Mehmet Ali Birand stresses that the Turkish troops are a dominant factor
in Cyprus
Under the title: "Ismail Cem, what are you still waiting for?" Turkish Daily
News (25/04/02) publishes the following commentary by Mehmet Ali Birand:
"For heaven's sake, leave this patriotic rhetoric aside...
If the current stance is maintained we will lose Cyprus. We will have
betrayed our country's long-term interests. We will have blocked our own
path. We will have left to the younger generation, a straggly country
suffering from complexes rather than a bright future.
I am speaking about Cyprus.
We are missing the boat in Cyprus. And we are losing it because of our own
mistakes, complexes and narrow-mindedness, that is, because we are falling
into the trap laid out by the petty ploys of politics.
Unless a move is made without delay, and a solution is found on the island,
maybe we will still have the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC),
but it will be an impoverished place, all empty inside, a big burden on our
backs.
If the Greek Cypriots join the European Union in the name of Cyprus, we will
not be able to affect the Greek Cypriot side in any way, even if we put
50,000 troops rather than 30,000 in the Turkish Cypriot zone. We will not be
able to bring about any change at all, in the anti-Turkey policies Cyprus
would conduct inside the EU.
Everything we stand to gain by reaching an agreement today, we will have to
give back in the future, when the time comes to join the EU. Or we will part
ways with Europe entirely.
I want to stress this with special emphasis: A solution would be a thousand
times better, than the situation we will be faced with in the future -- even
though it may seem inadequate to us today. It is high time we left aside,
when referring to Cyprus, absurdities such as, "The motherland's offspring,"
"We would sacrifice our lives for you" or "The great strategic importance."
No one believes that anyway.
I want to say this insistently and in a loud voice:
We must know that when the Greek Cypriots join the EU, and move towards
increasing their per capital income from today's $15,000 to $25,000, there
will be hardly anybody left in the 'TRNC', other than the poor people that
have come from Anatolia.
We must prevent Cyprus from blocking Turkey's path towards EU membership.
I am ringing the alarm bells mainly because time is running out, and no
meaningful step forward is being taken during the talks.
Rauf Denktas seems to have 'stopped' after making certain 'relatively
significant' gestures. It is as if he is looking at Ankara over his
shoulder, but the gentlemen in Ankara are still unruffled. We do not know
the details. However, the Turkish side seems to be insisting on an
independent 'TRNC'.
The situation Glafcos Clerides is in, is even more uncertain.
A presidential election will be held in the Greek Cypriot zone. Clerides
will not be a candidate. However, the delegation accompanying him during the
talks, include presidential candidates. In other words, the EU membership
has now been 'in their pockets' even in the absence of a solution, reached
with the Turkish Cypriot side, and, at the same time, they are making plans
about next year's presidential election.
The bad thing is that at the end of this negotiating process, the United
Nations and the EU will decide which side has been dragging its feet, and
which side has made a contribution to the quest for a solution. And a
'witness' is following the talks: UN representative de Soto.
In the face of this overall scenery, Turkey and Greece, who have a vital
interest in the Cyprus issue, are watching the developments from afar, as if
they are looking at it, in a way, sitting in the grandstands. Their
contribution is limited to the statements they issue from time to time. Yet,
resolution of the Cyprus problem would make a fundamental effect on these
two countries, both regarding the Aegean and EU relations.
They do not want to intervene, because they are reluctant to take a
political risk.
Papandreou's party, PASOK, is being shaken. It is not even clear how long it
will remain in power. Since it is no secret that any erroneous step to be
taken in Cyprus, would deliver a heavy blow both to the Simitis-Papandreou
duo and to PASOK, Athens does not want to take a risk.
Ankara too acts with similar misgivings. Starting with Ecevit and his
coalition partners, the officials in Ankara are planning to get off the
hook, by simply shifting that task onto Denktas' shoulders.
This is a shame, such a pity.
Cyprus is too important to be left to Denktas and Clerides alone. In the
past too, solutions were always introduced by Ankara and Athens. Could the
1960 agreements be concluded if, in 1959, Greek Foreign Minister and Zorlu,
our Foreign Minister whom we hanged in the wake of the May 27 coup, had not
come together, that is, if Karamanlis and Menderes had not joined the loop?
Cyprus is the biggest obstacle on Turkey's path to Europe. We cannot take
this issue lightly. We cannot sacrifice this issue to patriotic rhetoric.
In Ankara, the leaders must come together and reach a basic decision. And
then they must make Ismail Cem join the loop.
In Athens too, a similar approach must be adopted regarding Papandreou,
regardless of the political risks that would entail.
It is high time Ankara and Athens woke up.
When Cyprus hits the iceberg we will all suffer. Greece will not have a
moment of peace in the Aegean. Greek Cypriots will not be at ease either.
And Turkey will yearn bitterly for the old times.
Here is a final warning: Rest assured, that if Turkey and Greece fail to
intervene and find the kind of solution that would serve their interests
best, America will one day appear on the scene and make its own solution
accepted. Then the two sides will be appalled. But it will be too late to do
anything.
So, we better make a move before losing any time. Let us not get lost in the
midst of petty political bargaining.
Let us make a contribution to our two countries."
[09] Turkish Cypriot comments on the reasons for football player Sabri's
fleeing to the free areas of Cyprus
The Turkish Cypriot Press (25.04.02) continues dealing with Sabri Selden's,
football player of the Turkish Cypriot club Binatli, fleeing to the free
areas of Cyprus. Most of the columnists blame the situation in the occupied
areas for the fact that not only Sabri, but also thousands of Turkish
Cypriots abandon the occupied areas and go either abroad or to the free
areas of Cyprus to earn their living.
Under the title "Fleeing out of the lack of system", Zeki Kayalp of
YENIDUZEN says, among other things, the following:
".We still hear and read the unjust accusations against Sabri who is accused
of 'treason' and 'abandoning his country'. However, no one wonders why Sabri
has abandoned this country. Let us not forget that in other countries we
have thousands of doctor Sabris, engineer Sabris, teacher Sabris. Everyday
thousands of molders and carpenters go to work in Southern Cyprus and take
the money of the 'Republic of Cyprus'. Have you never asked yourselves why
these Sabris abandoned this country to work in Southern Cyprus? Have you
come to your senses only when Sabri of Binatli abandoned this country?
Moreover, this Sabri did not go very far away. He went to the South, only 25
kilometers away from here. He did exactly like the rest of our citizens who
go to Southern Cyprus to earn their living.
Everyday thousands of our citizens go to the South, to Troodos, Pafos,
Limassol, Larnaca to work. .A month ago Nazim, a football player of MTG, who
is a university graduate, emigrated to London to earn his living, ignoring a
vital match of his team. I wonder, why Nazim, a university graduate, left
this country? Should he have gone to the South to become a headline in the
papers?
We witness everyday the struggle of the administrators of the football clubs
who go from door to door begging for money in order to survive in this
collapsing system and to pay the expenses for the referees. .It is sad that
the ephemeral policies, which are for years being applied in the political
arena, are also applied in the field of sports. As a result of this, our
youth are forced to abandon our beautiful country. .".
On the other hand, under the title "Pity!" Esref Cetinel of HALKIN SESI says
that about 4.000 - 5.000 Turkish Cypriots are estimated to work in the free
areas of Cyprus. Mr Cetinel writes, among other things, the following:
".We are hostages of our geography in the north. We are as free as to be
able to breath in an area of three thousand square metres and we are as
'sovereign' as to be able to exist in this very narrow place. . The Greek
Cypriots see this and they provide passports and work. When this is not
enough they take football players too. According to an allegation, about
4.000 - 5.000 Turkish Cypriots are working today in the Greek Cypriot side!
We close the doors, we forbid this, but we cannot prevent the flow to the
other side, because we keep our people prisoners for food, work and money.
We distract them with speeches about the "country and the nation", instead
of talking to them about the right of life. We push our people to the South,
which is the only way of 'fleeing', without being able even to instigate
them with enmity towards the Greek Cypriots. .".
Furthermore, under the title "Pity on us!..", the chief editor of YENIDUZEN,
Cenk Mutluyakali writes, among other things, the following:
".Some people called Sabri 'traitor', 'pitiful', and 'the football player
who has sold out his country'. I have asked two questions to the chairman of
the Turkish Cypriot Football Federation on the 'Radio Newspaper' programme
of Sami Ozuslu.
The first question was the following: 'Could Sabri be transferred from AEK
and play in a team in Turkey, for example Fenerbahce, as a citizen of the
Republic of Cyprus?'
The chairman of the Federation said 'Yes'.
The second question was the following: 'Very well, could the football player
of Binatli, Sabri take a transfer to Turkey's Fenerbahce as a citizen of the
TRNC'?
This time the answer was 'No'!
Have you understood who and what is 'pitiable'?"
|
