Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 98-04-13

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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. 64/98 -- 10-13/4/98

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] U.S Said Planning to Impose 'Camp David-like' Solution

[02] Talat Hopes Irish Agreement To Serve As Example For Cyprus

[03] Serdar Denktash To Meet Eroglu On "Government Protocol"

[04] Denktash Writes Letter To Annan About Greek Cypriot Air Force Plans

[05] Talat Critisizes Denktash's Policy of Isolation

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Ozker Ozgur: Ankara's Population Policy is Eradicating the Turkish Cypriots

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] U.S. said planning to impose 'Camp David-like' solution

In a written statement he issued, Kirdag said that Holbrooke's talks are aimed at imposing, after an artificial military and political crisis is created, a Camp David-like U.S solution to the Cyprus problem.

[02] Talat hopes Irish agreement to serve as example for Cyprus

In a written statement he issued Talad said that at a time when an Ireland without problems was said to be inconceivable, the concerned sides showed a determination to solve the problem, and this constitutes an important crossroads for the future of mankind. He said: "The current and future developments in Ireland should be an example for Cyprus, especially for Mr. Denktash and Mr Clerides, two leaders who have been claiming for years that they struggle for their respective national causes, but who grant no opportunity to any sort of rapprochement".

The CTP leader pointed out that the long-drawn Cyprus problem benefits nobody, just like the Irish problem. He stressed that it is an indisputable fact that the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots should establish their future together in Cyprus, their common homeland.

[03] Serdar Denktash to meet Eroglu on "Government Protocol"

Denktash and six other DP officials held an informal chat with reporters last Saturday.

Denktash replied to reporters' questions on the new "government" formation and on various domestic and foreign issues. He noted that the new "government protocol" will become clear in the coming week. Expressing the view that an amendment to the so-called election law can be realized immediately, Denktash said that the "Assembly" should determine the date of the early "elections" that are on the agenda.

Commenting on the recent developments with regard to the Cyprus problem, Denktash expressed the view that, given the current stage of the issue, a hot clash will not be experienced in Cyprus.

Noting that diplomatic visits on the Cyprus issue will increase this summer, Denktash stressed that the Turkish Cypriots should now consolidate their unity and solidarity and display their determination . He concluded by saying that both sides will benefit from such an outcome.

[04] Denktash writes letter to Annan about Greek Cypriot Air Force Plans.

In his letter to the UN Secretary General Denktash claims that all these developments constitute a provocation against the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". He alleges that this move is aimed at upsetting the existing strategic balance on the island and at creating a crisis. He asks the UN secretary general do whatever is necessary to dissuade the Greek Cypriots "from engaging in adventurist policies" at this critical stage of the Cyprus problem.

[05] Talat criticizes Denktash's policy of isolation

In a written statement he issued, Talat accused Denktash of pursuing a policy that pushes the Turkish Cypriots to isolation.

This policy, Talat said, is not in the interests of the Turkish Cypriots.

Talat claimed that the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leadership are pursuing the same path; the former by calling for EU membership without resolving the Cyprus question, and the latter by defying the world in demanding a separation.

Talat stressed that this path is a dangerous one that will threaten regional peace. He said that the solution of the Cyprus problem will be an important step that will improve the lives of all the concerned sides, the region, and the world. Great duties befall the concerned regarding this matter, he said.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Ozker Ozgur: Ankara's population policy is eradicating the Turkish Cypriots

"At the stage we have reached there is benefit in revealing the following communication I had received from the Turkish Embassy in Nicosia on 12 June 1989:

'Mr. Ozker Ozgur

Nicosia Deputy

It has been decided to terminate your right to make use of the Turkish Republic passports reserved for foreign nationals that the Turkish Republic issues as a facility to the TRNC(Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) citizens on a discretionary basis.

I request that you expeditiously return to the Consulate Section of the Embassy the Turkish Republic passport you are holding, dated 24 October 1985 and numbered TR-A-223494, which is reserved for foreigners.

Gursel Evren, Consular Affairs Secretary'.

Upon which I returned my passport together with the following letter to the Turkish Ambassador Ertugrul Kumcuoglu:

'Mr Ertugrul Kumcuoglu, Turkish Ambassador to Nicosia

I thank you for the communication asking me to expeditiously return the Turkish republic passport TR-A-223494 reserved for foreigners, in which you give no reason for your action. I want to declare that you cannot suppress my freedom of thought and expression by restricting my freedom of movement. I am returning the passport in question.

Ozker Ozgur, CTP (Republican Turkish Party) leader'.

Though in the communication sent to me the Ambassador was not giving the reasons for his action, we all knew what they were.

I had published an article criticizing (Turkey's) population policy in North Cyprus. I had emphasized there that the lifting of restrictions (on Turkish citizens) to enter North Cyprus is forcing the Turkish Cypriots to emigrate and that Ankara does not have a right to do such a thing.

Afte I returned the 'Turkish Republic passport reserved for foreigners', Arif Hasan Tahsin Desem also went to the Turkish Embassy and protested the incident by handing back his own similar passport.

Until January 1994 when I became Deputy Prime Minister I could only travel to Turkey by obtaining a visa from the Turkish Embassy.

In taking office, the CTP exerted efforts to bring the (Turkish citizens') inflow into the country under control. But we could neither bring this inflow under control nor find a solution to the citizenship problem. For the population policy was decided upon in Ankara and it was impossible for the TRNC Government to change it.

Nine years have gone by since June 1989 when the Turkish Embassy in Nicosia asked for the return of the "Turkish Republic passport reserved for foreigners". After nine years, in his 4 April 1998 column, Mehmet Ali Birand, one of Turkey's known columnists, described the present situation thus: 'Cyprus now faces a major danger. While the Greek Cypriots get richer and richer, the economic stagnation on the Turkish side is forcing the (Turkish) Cypriots to slowly leave the island. After finishing universities, the youth either emigrate to Turkey or, if they find the opportunity, to Europe with no intention of returning again.

In the meantime, there is a steady increase in the number of Turks from Turkey immigrating to the island as they find more opportunities there than in Turkey .(...)A day will come when a genuine Turkish Cypriot will be hard to find and the island will be filled up with Turks from Turkey'.

Shall we tell Mehmet Ali Birand 'have you finally waken up to the reality?'

We have been struggling hopelessly for years, we have been crying out 'the Turkish Cypriots are on the verge of annihilation'.

Almost the whole world was about to come crushing down on us simply because we wanted the preservation of the Turkish Cypriots' existence and identity. Our voice was heard neither in Nicosia nor in Ankara.

And now, as if he has discovered America anew, Mehmet Ali Birand is saying 'a day will come when a genuine Turkish Cypriot will be hard to find'.

Is that not what is wanted, anyway?

The Turkish Cypriots were needed until 1974. They managed to survive until 1974. Their function came to an end with the Turkish military intervention. After that there was not so much a need for the Turkish Cypriots as for a population that could be run according to Ankara's wishes.

The sad thing in this episode is that our own politicians propped Ankara's policy. The longtime president Denktash is famous for his statement that 'those who leave are Turks, those who come in are Turks'. The long-serving Prime Minister Eroglu asserts that "his hometown is Kayseri'. The Turkish Cypriots' identity is being despised. A woodcutter cuts down a forest with an ax using an ax-handle that comes from that very same forest.

Ankara's population policy is eradicating the Turkish Cypriots. Now that the eradication of the Turkish Cypriots is well under way, the integration has been placed on the agenda. Those who acted as the handle for the axe are now applauding the policy of integration.

But what is being done by those who claim to be opposed to this process? Oblivious to all this, they are taken up with the preparations for municipal elections. I hope you have an easy time with it".

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

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