Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-01-17

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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. 11/01 -- 17.1.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash warns Cyprus may become `Desert Island/, comments on EU issue.

[02] Denktash repeats intransigent views.

[03] Hurbank/s Birinci sentenced to 2 years for violating so-called banking law.

[04] ``Parliamentary delegation'' in Strasbourg.

[05] Air-traffick.

[06] ``Press Card Council'' accused of discrimination.

[07] Conference on ``Turkish Cypriot identity''.

[08] Diabetics visit Tziakourmas.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Ecevit/s remarks on politics, EU, economy highlighted.

[11] AVRUPA insists pseudostate is under Turkey/s occupation.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas Warns Cyprus May Become 'Desert Island', comments on EU issue Turkish Cypriot press (17.1.01) reported that Rauf Denktash was on a one- day

According to Anatolia (16.1.01) Denktash stressed that Turkey was asked to give up Cyprus to enter the European Union (EU). Denktash said the doors would not be open after giving up Cyprus, and noted that they would demand more from Turkey.

Addressing the ceremony Denktash said, ``Turkey has given the necessary response to the EU on Cyprus and made us relaxed. Cyprus is not an issue of bargaining on the EU issue. The EU and Cyprus should not be separated from each other. Application of the Greek Cypriot side to the EU is a very dangerous game''.

Furthermore, Anatolia Agency (15:01 hours, 16.1.01) reported that Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said on Tuesday, ``if necessary measures are not taken to solve the water problem, Cyprus will become a desert island''.

Addressing a seminar on ``TRNC Potable and Non-potable Water`` at the Anadolu University in central Eskisehir province, Turkey, Denktas said, ``we need to take water from Anatolia. If the necessary measures are not taken to solve the water problem, Cyprus will become a desert island.``

Prof. Dr. Engin Atac, the Rector of Osmangazi University, said, ``water resources are also limited in Turkey. Water supply for per capita has been decreasing gradually. It is necessary to find new water resources.``

[02] Denktash repeats intransigent views Illegal Bayrak Radio 1 (16:30 hours, 16.1 01) reports that Rauf Denktash

In a statement at illegal Tymbou airport, Denktas said that the speeches delivered at Osman Gazi University ``honored the struggle waged by the Turkish Cypriots''.

Denktas said that during his talks in Eskisehir he gave the message to Anatolia that the Turkish Cypriots and the ``TRNC'' exist and that they will never be bargained over. He added: ``We are open to the option of being good neighbors with the Greek Cypriots and to speak as one voice to the world on certain issues. Everybody must realize, however, that those who want us to sit at the negotiating table with the false premise that a Cyprus republican government exists and who expect us to give up our state, sovereignty, and our equality, are not on the right path. We did not flee the negotiating table. Nothing was left at the negotiating table for us to discuss''.

Denktas claimed that it would be suicide for the Turkish Cypriots to join the EU with the Greek Cypriots and without Turkey, ``regardless of whether the Turkish Cypriot people's rights are granted or not''.

He alleged: ``Having failed to achieve its aims with arms and embargoes, the other side discovered where we derive our strength from, and planted persons among us to create a rift between us and the motherland''.

Denktas noted that certain publications in the ``TRNC'' offended some columnists in Turkey and the latter began to ask their people if the Turkish Cypriots are worth being supported and protected to this extent. He explained that ever since Ataturk's time, Cyprus' importance for Turkey has been increasingly understood by every government. Today, he added, this strategic and geopolitical importance is at its peak.

Denktas pointed out that during its negotiations for EU membership, Turkey is trying to keep the Cyprus problem separate and that it is succeeding in doing that. Denktas said: ``We will not give up Turkey or our state for the sake of the EU. We will continue to march on our national path together with Turkey''.

[03] Hurbank/s Birinci sentenced to 2 years for violating so-called banking law

Hurbank is one of the five banks in the occupied area whose activities were suspended following the recent banking crisis.

[04] ``Parliamentary delegation'' in Strasbourg According to KIBRIS (17.1.01) a ``parliamentary delegation'' headed by the

The delegation will return to the occupied area on 28th January.

[05] Air-traffick According to BIRLIK (17.01.01) in 2000 a total of 437612 persons arrived in

Specifically, in December 2000, 29890 persons arrived in the occupied area by air and 25932 persons left.

According to the same source, in December 2000 261 aircraft landed and 255 took off the occupied area.

Of the total landings and take offs, the so-called Turkish Cyprus Air Lines realized 224 landings and 219 take offs, the Turkish Airlines 30 landings and 30 take offs, and three other private companies each one realized one landing and one take off.

[06] ``Press Card Council'' accused of discrimination According to KIBRIS (17.1.01) the ``Turkish Cypriot Press Council'' and the

In his written statement, the chairman of the ``Press Council'' Ismet Kotak has accused the so-called Council of discrimination among the journalists in issuing the Press Cards. He said that in issuing the Press Cards, the ``Council'' took decisions according to the journalist/s press organization.

He further accused the ``Council'' of trying to annihilate an important part of the press ``who defend the TRNC''.

Kotak further said: ``The aim is to monopolize the representation in organizations such as the Information Office, the TAK and the BRT and create an organization that expresses single view and single thinking''.

He warned that if this ``mistake'' is not rectified they will react including resorting to legal measures.

In his turn the chairman of the ``Journalists Association'' Safet Soykal accused the ``Council'' of acting ``arbitrarily''.

[07] Conference on ``Turkish Cypriot identity'' According to HALKIN SESI (17.1.01) a conference on ``the Turkish Cypriot

Turkish Cypriot journalist Arif Hasan Tahsin and Dr. Ayten Berkal will give lectures during the conference.

[08] Diabetics visit Tziakourmas According to KIBRIS (17.01.01) members of the Turkish Cypriot Diabetics

The chairwoman of the Association said they wanted to get information about Panayiotis Tziakourmas/s health and that they visited him out of humane considerations.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Ecevit/s Remarks on Politics, EU, Economy Highlighted An article by Bilal Cetin in SABAH (16.1.01) under the title ``There are

Even the United States has taken it seriously

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is greatly concerned about the turn things have taken. "Everything suddenly started to deteriorate although things were changing for the better", he said, attributing this to the fact that "things were changing for the better".

"I think that certain groups were disturbed because everything was on the upturn. For instance, we experienced a minor quake, or a financial crisis late last year. Nobody could predict that we were going to overcome this crisis easily and so soon. Some groups felt unhappy. Undoubtedly the inflation lobby has become a considerably negative factor. This lobby is upset because inflation is being brought down..."

At this point Ecevit spoke about speculations made about his physical condition and age. "In the past couple of years some groups started to spread rumours that I was ill. A person cannot keep on saying 'No, I am not ill' forever. It would neither be meaningless. Yet, this rumour was eventually taken seriously by some. It was even taken seriously in other countries, even in the United States. It was repeated so much that they probably thought it could be true. This, in turn, started to create question marks in Turkey and abroad. In other words, the conviction that 'the government is hanging in the balance and stability could not be maintained further", has more and more motivated some circles to gamble on the military."

Doubts are being cast on the EU

In the meantime, a general campaign launched against corruption and probes into the failed banks started to create disturbances among some groups and attempts to pave the way for an artificial crisis ensued..."

Ecevit's remarks were very striking. The question that needs to be answered now is who are trying to gamble on the military and to incite a possible crisis. "This is a method which is especially used by intellectuals or some interest groups when things get tough on them. In fact, the military should not be blamed, because there has always been some circles who have continuously provoked them. Yet, a large part of the society is definitely not in such a mood. Now, there are deliberate attempts to create a very artificial crisis. In the meantime, doubts are being cast on Turkey's plans to join the European Union (EU). These unnecessary debates are creating doubts in the EU. In other words, there are attempts to incite an extremely unnecessary, meaningless and troublesome crisis. A multifaceted plot designed to destabilize Turkey has been launched..."

A distinction must be made between good and bad guys

The current tension between the government and the army, combined by some probes launched into some corruption cases, has created an air of panic among businessmen and bureaucrats. According to rumours in Ankara, this air of panic has blocked the bureaucratic process and some bureaucrats are even refusing to sign critical documents. All these have an adverse effect on the national economy. Anxiety among businessmen and bankers has begun sending distress signals to the rest of the world. "None of the previous governments waged such a determined fight against corruption", said Ecevit who is also aware of these repercussions arising from some misunderstandings and mistakes.

Ecevit gave the following message: "People including those who are investigating corruption cases as well as the bureaucracy and the businessmen, who have full self-confidence, should keep doing what they are doing now. On the other hand, officials in charge of the probes should make a distinction between good and bad guys. I have been emphasizing one thing since this campaign has started: care should be taken to avoid a fall in production and discouraging investments. Some people fear that they might run into trouble because of their industrial operations. This should not be permitted to happen. However, we are now seeing that a wave of fear is spreading in spite of the fact that we are only fighting against corruption. There are bureaucrats and businessmen who fear that they could be accused in connection with any thing they might do. Those who have made no mistake and have confidence in themselves must not stop doing what they are doing. They should particularly maintain their contribution to production. The bureaucrats must fulfil their duties without any interruption. This is the only way to overcome the crisis. Groundless fears should be avoided. More than half of the economy depends on psychological factors. This negative trend has inevitably had a negative effect on the national economy..."

Election crisis I reminded the Prime Minister that attempts to hammer out a consensus between the political parties on the bill aimed at amending the Constitution have not been successful so far and the FP [Virtue Party] was still facing the threat of closure. "Yes, we also have this problem in addition to many others. However, I hope that we will be able to reach a reconciliation. Any new debate centering on the possibility of early elections or by-elections could trigger another crisis. A constitutional amendment making it difficult to ban political parties is absolutely needed."

This was a summary of Ecevit's opinions about fundamental issues which currently concern and keep Ankara busy''. [114] AVRUPA insists pseudostate is under Turkey/s occupation Turkish Cypriot daily AVRUPA (14.1.01), in a front-page article, refers to

the recent statement by the Turkish Military Academics Commander General Nahit Senogul that the pseudostate is Turkey/s ``trachea'' in the Mediterranean and that ``Turkey will not permit others to squeeze this trachea even if it is left alone in the world'' (See item 9, Bulletin No. 10/01, dated 13-15.1.01). The paper says that ``those who for years now have been accusing the Turkish Cypriots of being parasites, those to whom we have been expressing our gratitude for years now because they made us believe they are our saviours, are now twisting our neck so that themselves be able to breath''.

The paper reminds that the Turks have been calling the pseudostate a ``hump on Turkey/s back'' while now have changed tune and are calling it a ``trachea''.

The paper adds: ``General Senogul spoke in the words of Ecevit and through his statements one realizes that North Cyprus is under Turkey/s occupation. The more the EU course is accelerated, the more officials in Turkey get panicked and bring the benefits derived from Cyprus on the agenda. A few days ago, Sukru Gurel had stated that if we give $100 million to the TRNC, we get $200 million in return''.

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

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