Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-12-04

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

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 226/97 -- 4.12.97

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Poll details Turkish Cypriot view on EU.

[02] Dini: `Turkey must not prevent Cyprus from joining the EU'.

[03] Pseudostate sceptical of warm EU messages.

[04] Denktash meets Italian delegation; discusses EU process.

[05] So-called Housing Ministry destroyed by fire.

[06] Bomb thrown at Fener Patriarchate; worker slightly injured.

[07] Karayalcin elected Foreign Relations Committee Chairman.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Poll details Turkish Cypriot view on EU

According to the report, "TRNC citizens" are unanimous that in the case of Turkish Cypriots joining the EU the greatest benefit that they would be getting would be in the economic field. The economy is followed by social life, health, and education.

An overwhelming majority were unanimous that the accession to the EU would ameliorate the economic problems, which lie at the root of almost all the social problems.

According to the poll taken by COMAR, the "Cyprus Pubic Opinion and Market Research Company", for the KIBRIS paper, with Turkish Cypriots joining the EU, the community will attain a better position regarding education, economy, social life, employment, future security, health, democracy, and equality.

According to COMAR's poll based on a group of 945 polees sampled in such a way as to cover the entire "TRNC", the replies given to the question "if the Turkish Cypriots join the EU what position will they attain regarding the social issues", correspond to their replies given on the issue of whether or not they want to join the EU. The results of the poll as published in the paper revealed that an overwhelming majority support the idea of joining the EU, only differing on its timing and condition.

According to COMAR's findings, the Turkish Cypriots accession to the EU would "improve" the socio-economic life. And, the greatest benefit will be secured in the economic field.

Some 89.6 percent believe that joining the EU would "improve" the economy. Only 2.4 percent said that the economy will get worse. While 4.2 percent said that it will change nothing, 3.7 percent refrained from expressing any views on this issue.

Some 81.2 percent believe that joining the EU would "improve" education, 83.2 percent the social life, 78.3 percent employment, 80.5 percent future security, 81.2 health, 79.3 percent democracy, and 76.6 equality. The ratio of those who say that "we will be worse off" in these social fields never exceeded 3.6 percent in any given field.

The findings concerning the community in general also do not fluctuate when it comes to the professional groups and party affiliations. Some 89.8 percent of the UBP (National Unity Party) followers, 83.6 percent of CTP (Republican Turkish Party) followers, 81.6 percent of the DP (Democratic Party) followers, 96.7 percent of the TKP (Communal Liberation Party) followers, 87.5 percent of the YKP (New Cyprus Party) followers, 93.1 percent of those that would cast a mixed vote, and 78.3 percent of those who are described as "others" believe that the economy will improve with the accession to the EU.

In particular, young people, village residents, housewives, and teachers believe that joining the EU would improve the education system. Some 85.4 percent of those close to the left and 74.5 percent of those close to the right are optimistic in this regard.

The higher the age of those participating in the poll, the lower the expectation that the EU will improve the economy.

The view that the economy will improve is more widespread among occupied Kyrenia residents (93.7 percent), traders industrialists, and farmers.

Following are the percentages on the accompanying pie chart on economy.

1. It will be better		89.6 percent
2. It will be worse		 2.4   "
3. It will make no difference	 4.2   "
4. No idea/No reply		 3.7   "

The idea that entrance to the EU would improve the employment situation is more widespread among the men and young people. The higher the educational level, the more pronounced this idea. Some 93.3 percent of the unemployed say the employment situation will improve.

Following are the percentages on the accompanying pie chart on employment.

1. It will be better		78.3 percent
2. It will be worse		 3.6   "
3. It will make no difference	10.4   "
4. No idea/No reply		 7.7.  "

Village residents believe that EU membership will improve the health situation. This idea is widespread among then traders and industrialists (90.9 percent), unemployed (93.7 percent), farmers (100 percent), and housewives (88.2 percent).

Compared to the other regions, the residents of occupied Kyrenia believe more that the EU will provide better conditions regarding future security. The teachers join this idea with 91.9 percent, students with 90.9 percent, and enemployed with 87.5 percent.

Following are the percentages on the accompanying pie-chart on future security.

1. It will be better		80.5 percent
2. It will be worse		 2.4   "
3. It will make no difference	10.6   "
4. No idea/No reply		 6.5   "

The entire political spectrum believes that joining the EU would advance democracy. This belief only commands the support of 69.9 percent of those who say they have no political affiliations. All the parties believe that democracy will advance.

Following are the percentages accompanying the pie-chart on democracy.

1. It will be better		79.3 percent
2. It will be worse		 2.5   "
3. It will make no difference	11.7   "
4. No idea/No reply		 6.5   "

In parallel to the ideas on democracy, almost all the communal sectors are indicating that the EU would make positive contributions in this field as well. The belief in this regard is higher in the villages, and lower in the cities. The fall in the cities is most noticeable in the occupied part of Nicosia.

The belief that the EU will improve the social life of the Turkish Cypriot community is more widespread among men, young people, occupied Kyrenia residents, teachers, traders, and industrialists. Those closer to the leftist ideology are more optimistic in this regard.

Following are the percentages on the accompanying pie chart on social life.

1. It will be better		83.2 percent
2. It will be worse		 2.3   "
3. It will make no difference	 9.8   "
4. No idea/No reply		 4.7   "

During the poll taken by COMAR the "citizens" also assessed and gave marks for the "governments'" performance on a scale of 100 points. They have found the last two "governments" unsuccessful. In assessing the Democratic Party (DP) --Republican Turkish Party (CTP) "government" and the National Unity Party (UBP) -- Democratic Party "governments" they believe that both "governments" have not been successful.

According to the marks given by the "citizens", the two coalition "governments" could not get even 50 passing points on any performance. While the DP-CTP "government" on average received 40.8 points, the UBP-DP "government" obtained one more point and remained stuck at 41.9 points.

Those taking part in the COMAR poll acted generously with the marks that they gave to the coalition "governments" on matters regarding the economy, unemployment, education, socio-cultural life, democratization, health, agriculture, the Cyprus problem, public administration, housing problems, and the problem of illegal workers.

While the UBP-DP "government" received its greatest points, 48.4, for democratization; the DP-CTP received 49.4, its highest mark, in the educational field.

In general, they gave quite close marks for the performance of the two "governments", however, compared to the DP-CTP "government", the UBP-DP "government" performed better as regards the economy, employment, socio- cultural life, health, the Cyprus problem, "public administration", and housing. And compared to the UBP-DP "government", the previous "government" was more successful as regards education, agriculture, and the problem of illegal workers.

Those on the right of the political spectrum find the UBP-DP "government" more successful, and those on the left find the DP-CTP "government" more successful.

Those in the middle of the spectrum find both UBP-DP and DP-CTP "governments" successful in education, democratization, and health sphere.

Field of Performance		UBP-DP	DP-CTP
Economy				40.9	36.7
Unemployment			37.5    36.8
Education			46.7	49.4
Socio-cultural life		43.6	42.0
Democratization			48.4	47.1
Health				47.0	43.7
Agriculture			38.4	39.1
Cyprus problem			43.0	40.0
"Public administration"		42.7	40.1
Housing problems		39.5	38.2
Illegal workers problem		34.0	36.5

[02] Dini: `Turkey must not prevent Cyprus from joining the EU'

Turkey previously announced that if the EU initiates talks for Cyprus' membership, then, as a response, the "TRNC" would also start the integration process with Turkey.

Dini is visiting Washington for a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Madelein K. Albright. The EU will meet December 13 to ratify the earlier decision of the European Council to launch the talks for Cyprus' full membership, as well as to develop an interim formula under which Turkey's association with the "enlargement process" can be maintained -- short of extending full membership.

That's why Dini said he did not know what exact "form" such support for Turkey would take at the EU summit on December 13. Discussions continue for Turkey's participation at the EU Conference to be held in February.

"Do you support Turkey's participation in the upcoming EU Conference?" the paper asked Dini.

"Yes, we do support the participation of Turkey in the enlargement process of the EU", Dini said, approaching the question from a general angle. "This has been our position that we have taken openly. We continue to maintain that Turkey should be part of the enlargement process," Dini replied.

"I think the large majority of the European members of the EU would want to see Turkey associated with the process of enlargement and not to have it excluded from the enlargement process. Whether this will take the form of a conference, or whether instead it will be with all the countries talking, discussing or pre-membership and membership with EU -- this will be decided next week," he added.

Asked if he wants Turkish-Cypriots to become a part of the enlargement process, Dini said:

"Cyprus is a candidate for the EU. I think it has the strong backing of all members. Actually we expect that Turkey would not put any spanners in the wheels of the process of Cyprus becoming a member of the EU."

[03] Pseudostate sceptical of warm EU messages

"Broek's seemingly warm messages are the reflections of an EU plan to accept Greek Cyprus as a member before an ultimate solution on the island is reached", alleged in a television interview on illegal BRT.

"Broek's statements are nothing more than a show. The EU is preparing a sham for the Turkish Cypriots. The actual message which Broek has delivered is, `Abandon efforts for a federal solution on the island, join the EU accession talks in this or that way and secure Cyprus' EU membership'" Eroglu claimed.

Broek, EU's commissioner for external affairs, held talks with Rauf Denktash on Tuesday, and said after the meeting that even if it is not recognized, the "TRNC" should be taken seriously into account by the EU.

"The EU should serve the interests of both communities.

It will not oppose anything that the two communities agree on.

They should come together within a bi-zonal and bi-communal federation and try to adapt their legislation to the EU," the commissioner told a press conference.

"Even we do not recognize the TRNC it has a certain de facto legislation which is virtually in effect in the northern part of the island", Broek said.

These remarks drew a fierce storm of criticism from Greek Cypriots as the Cyprus government is the only one on the island recognized by the international community.

Meanwhile, Britain, who will take over the EU presidency from Luxembourg on January 1, 1998, has intensified its efforts on the Cyprus problem.

An "experts delegation" comprised of officials from the British Interior Ministry and Foreign Office arrived in Nicosia on Wednesday and held talks with officials from the Turkish Cypriot Republican Turkish Party and the Communal Liberation Party.

The delegation is expected to meet also officials from Greek Cypriot political parties.

In a separate development, the UN Secretary-General's special adviser on Cyprus, Diego Cordovez, has said he would resume negotiations aimed at reuniting the divided island after presidential elections in Cyprus in February, the Anatolia news agency reported.

After briefing UN Security Council members on his recent visit to the island in New York on Tuesday, Cordovez said that Secretary-General Kofi Annan was determined to continue his mediation efforts.

Referring to President Glafcos Clerides and Rauf Denktash, Cordovez underlined that the Security Council and the Secretary-General "have been very consistent and scrupulous in respecting the political equality of the two."

He said he told the Security Council he wanted to keep away from the controversy over whether negotiations on the future of Cyprus and EU membership were linked and that the ultimate objective should be a federal republic of Cyprus as a full member of the EU.

[04] Denktash meets Italian delegation; Discusses EU process

Noting that with Denktash they discussed how these delegations can be formed, Pasino said that the two sides will decide on the formation of the delegations.

[05] So-called Housing Ministry destroyed by fire

The "police" is also considering the possibility of a sabotage.

Explosions were heard during the fire that suddenly erupted in a district of the occupied part of Nicosia. These explosions caused panic among the nearby residents.

The fire broke out in the office of the "Minister" Ali Ozkan Altinisik and quickly spread to the other rooms.

As the fire raged on, Serdar Denktash, the "state minister and deputy prime minister", Ali Ozkan Altinisik, "labour and housing minister", Kutsal Tokatlioglu, "adviser at the ministry", and Tozun Tunali, the "director of the Ministry", arrived at the scene of the incident.

In a statement at the scene of the fire Altinisik said that it has not been possible to save any of the housing documents kept in the burned sections of the "Ministry".

When asked "if there is any possibility of a sabotage", Altinisik said: "I am very sad, I hope we do not come face to face with such a bad possibility."

Ali Ozkan Altinisik, who in recent months has been coming under intensive criticism in the pseudostate and about whom a so-called parliamentary investigation has been launched, appeared to be very sad about the fire.

[06] Bomb thrown at Fener Patriarchate; worker slightly injured

It was determined that the explosive, which was thrown by an unidentified person or persons at around 2400, was handmade.

[07] Karayalcin elected Foreign Relations Committee Chairman

Karayalcin was elected chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee after 13 of the 24 committee members voted for him. The other candidate, Welfare Party Kayseri Deputy Abdullah Gul, received 11 votes. EF/SK

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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