Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 97-08-04

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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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH - DOCUMENT TO BE PREPARED IF TURKS ATTEND 2ND ROUND

[02] DENKTASH WILL GO TO MONTREUX

[03] TURKISH CYPRIOT TAXI DRIVERS QUARREL OVER GREEK CYPRIOT CUSTOMERS

[04] IAEWP PRIZE TO DENKTASH

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] COLUMNIST REPLIES TO DENKTASH LETTER ON ECEVIT

[06] CYPRUS COLUMNIST CITES ROLE OF GANGS IN LACK OF SOLUTION

[07] TURKISH CYPRIOTS URGED TO ATTEND UN TALKS IN SWITZERLAND

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] DENKTASH - DOCUMENT TO BE PREPARED IF TURKS ATTEND 2ND ROUND

Addressing the inauguration ceremony of a business complex in the occupied Kyrenia, Denktash said there are two views on whether to attend the talks in Switzerland. Noting that he is against attending the meetings, Denktash added, however, that these views will be assessed at the so-called cabinet meeting to be held on 4 August and a decision on whether to attend the meetings will be made. He stated that if the decision is to attend the meetings, the Turkish Cypriot side will prepare a document on its views in response to the Greek Cypriot document to be put on the negotiating table.

[02] DENKTASH WILL GO TO MONTREUX

The illegal radio announced that the so-called Council of Ministers met this morning, under Denktash's chairmanship and decided that Denktash should go to Montreux.

The announcement says that Denktash will attend the meeting on the condition that he will not make any consessions on the fundamental rights of the Turkish Cypriots defended until now. (MY)

[03] TURKISH CYPRIOT TAXI DRIVERS QUARREL OVER GREEK CYPRIOT CUSTOMERS

Turkish Cypriot taxi drivers at the Ledra Palace check point claim that relatives of enclaved Greek Cypriots who cross into the occupied area are being grabbed by the Taxi drivers coming from Karpass area.

In their turn taxi drivers from Karpass claim that Greek Cypriot enclave families contact them by phone and ask them to pick their relatives at the check point and bring them to Karpass. "This is what we do" said one of the Karpass drivers.

KIBRIS says that carrying Greek Cypriot passengers to Karpass is a very lucrative business and the argument between the taxi drivers, that is going on for the last two months, reached the critical stage where further confrontation is possible. KIBRIS adds that the issue is so serious that sides took up the case to the so-called "Attorney-General".

The paper reports that one way taxi fares to Karpass is 45 Cyprus pounds, and for a two way travel the fare is 70 Cyprus pounds. (MY)

[04] IAEWP PRIZE TO DENKTASH

The IAEWP's annual congress known as the Afrasya Congress is being held this year in Giresun, North Turkey. The congress will end on 9 August. 18 countries among them Greece are taking part in the congress. (MY)

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] COLUMNIST REPLIES TO DENKTASH LETTER ON ECEVIT

"A letter has been received from Rauf Denktash. It says: I read your "Ecevit's Line" with feelings of pithy for you and shame on behalf of the people. In the final analysis it will be history that will pass judgment on your article which comes as the last straw in years of effort to undermine the atmosphere of fraternity, friendship, and mutual trust that exists with the Motherland, which for us is vitally important (a trust that has also brought about our present salvation). You have displayed the most visible example of praying to Moscow and the Greek Cypriots while eating the bread of the Turks. Shame not only on you, but also on those who have published it and share such a view. Respectfully, hoping that you will conscientiously evaluate my words which are an expression of the freedom of though on my part as a citizen.

We thank esteemed Denktash. But, we want to point out that he has not been able to sufficiently explain of what we should be ashamed.

In Turkey there are parties and political leaders whose views differ from each other. There are the rightists, the leftists, and others. There are those who attempt to use religion for political purposes or turn poverty into a reaction to gain political capital.

The Cyprus problem has become one of the most important elements of Turkish domestic policy. With full knowledge of this, esteemed Denktash has been touring every Turkish city in an attempt to completely constrict the maneuvering capabilities of those who run and will run Turkey.

All these cannot be Turkey's concern alone. Though it was the Germans who elected Hitler and Italians Mussolini, the entire world suffered the Second World War. With its population of 65 million and geographical position, Turkey has the potential of either stabilizing our region or plunging it into fire. Who wields this potential and how he will use it concerns me. It must also concern esteemed Denktash, as it should also concern the future of our community.

All the actors that are part of this structure and have the potential to influence developments come under our purview. Our intellectual responsibility requires us to monitor such persons and inform the public about it.

We have no strength left to be rightists with the rightists and leftists with the leftists. And, Denktash has no right to expect such a thing from us.

As to Ecevit: As someone who has some amateurish interest in sociology, a bit of interest in history, and anxious to be helpful to the community, do I not have the right (even if I have been mistaken on this issue) to appraise him (Ecevit) as one of the leaders who knows well where the "exploitation of poverty and nationalism" could lead and manipulates it deftly?

I did not really understand. Do you want to say that my feelings and views on this issue have the potential of undermining our relations with Turkey? Truth to tell, I do not consider myself as an important person like Denktash to affect such a change.

As to Denktash's accusation that 'you have displayed the most visible example of praying to Moscow and the Greek Cypriots while eating the bread of the Turks', I do not feel the need even to reply."

[06] CYPRUS COLUMNIST CITES ROLE OF GANGS IN LACK OF SOLUTION

"Some businessmen might not want a solution so as not to 'harm' their interests in the TRNC where they have established a monopoly.

And, some politicians too might not want a solution so they do not lose the pomp and splendor surrounding them.

Even some intellectuals might not want a solution fearing their sterility might be exposed once the puny media breaks out of its mold.

Denktash too might not want a solution fearing that the goal of integrating the TRNC with Turkey might come to naught.

But, the assertion that 'the gangs also do not want a solution' was something new and it fell like a bombshell on our political arena. The source of this report is Enis Berberoglu, who with his articles in the Turkish media, has turned the unearthing of the Susurluk case into a life and death matter.

His latest article is not based on any assumptive claims, its veracity is proven by the events narrated. He says in brief:

- Turkish gangs have taken control of the British narcotics market (This was reported by Observer newspaper). The gang, which has only been apprehended in Turkey after the Susurluk incident and only in name, has been trying to take control of the TRNC's prestigious institutions in Britain, with the Turkish Bank being one of them. The British opened an investigation into its activities and only found a small amount of money laundering. There is yet another Turkish bank on the British market. The British Central Bank has banned it from collecting deposits.

Berberoglu adds: Those who have surrendered the north of the island to the Turkish gangs and the south to the Russian mafia are now in vain entertaining illusions of peace. If these gangs are not wiped out, it will become difficult to save the prestige of even the banks and companies belonging to the same nationality as that of the gangs.

Now let us cull a few figures from the same author's 22 July article entitled: "The Gangs Do Not Want Peace in Cyprus":

The foreign currency that enters South Cyprus through special companies, called offshore companies, amounts to $300 million per year. These companies work with one desk and a safe in search of tax heavens around the world. South Cyprus has become one of their bases. According to official records, there are 800 Russian offshore companies in South Cyprus. That is, one-third of the south's foreign capital belongs to the Russians. Hundreds of millions in drug and arms money is laundered in the south. Since we are talking about the mafia, one cannot but digress and recall the case of the "First Merchant Bank". This bank was mentioned in all stages of the Susurluk investigation. But, neither the TRNC officials nor the Turkish officials felt the need to seriously investigate this bank whose founders appear to be two Russian citizens. Moreover, the Turkish Republic is thinking of moving its casinos to the TRNC. That is, as if its strange links in the TRNC were not even, Turkey is now trying to export its gambling mafia to that country.

Enis Berberoglu adds: The gangs, which are understood to have entered into a dirty alliance with the aim of controlling both sides of the island, do not want to allow anyone else into their sphere of influence. They resist any decision that would undermine the status quo and are trying to undermine the political authority. Peace on the island seems difficult before the gangs are wiped out.

These are terrible claims. It is our right to know what primarily Denktash whose name is indirectly mentioned in connection with such claims, is thinking about such claims. We have been following the hashish issue for the last 23 years. We already know the political mafia among us. Now we have become the subject of world media. I wonder what are we going to say to these claims?"

[07] TURKISH CYPRIOTS URGED TO ATTEND UN TALKS IN SWITZERLAND

Because: If we turn out to be the side abandoning the talks, the Greek Cypriot side's EU membership will become all but certain. The EU's current preference is for Cyprus' EU membership to be placed on the agenda after a solution in Cyprus. But at the same time the EU is also unanimous in the view that the Turkish Cypriot side's intransigence should not impede the process. If the Turkish side withdraws from the talks under these conditions, then the Turkish Cypriots will be found guilty. The EU-GCS rapprochement process will then proceed outside the control of the Turkish Cypriot side. And that is precisely what the Greek Cypriots want. I mean, is there now a sense of buttering the bread of the Greek Cypriots?

Because: We have no valid reason for not going to Geneva. Yes, the EU Commission's recommendations were out of place and time, unjust and counter to the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community. But we cannot use this to break off the UN initiative. First, this (EU report) is a mere recommendation. Second, the two processes are different from each other. Our equality has been ensured and our views taken into account on the UN platform. We cannot run away from such a platform. And if we do we cannot explain our action to anyone.

Because: The inclusion of the Cordovez document, advanced during the UN initiative, in the records as an international text after some retouch accords with our interests. That is, the transformation of the Cordovez document into an international document and its inclusion in the UN records after being signed by the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots will be a step forward for us. In this way, the points for which we have been struggling for years would find acceptance by the international community. What are these points? Judging from the press reports, the Cordovez document envisages two separate flags, two equal communities, and full authority to the sides regarding their security issues. Moreover, it also indirectly accepts two separate parliaments, so much so that the two sides have been asked to prepare their own constitutions and hand them over to the UN for the third meeting. It should not be forgotten that only states can have constitutions and it goes into effect with a parliamentary resolution. This means that the UN's starting point is two separate states, two separate parliaments, and two separate constitutions. Now let us put our hand on our conscience: 'Is this not the approach that we have been working for years for its acceptance? Is this approach not widely different from the Greek Cypriot approach that said "we are the sole government, let us add an article on the protection of the minorities in our constitution so that you can join us?" Will it be right for us to break off the talks just when the UN has endorsed an approach which is very close to ours? Already, the Cordovez document constantly uses the term two states. How can we think of withdrawing from the talks just when we have secured such a position?' Therefore, we should go to Geneva and pursue tough bargaining to get our rights. And, as a follow-up to the 1977 and 1979 summit agreements, a 1998 agreement should also be signed hopefully."

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

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