Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-02-15

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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. 25/99 -- 13-14-15.2.99

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey not side in international legal issues with pseudostate - Loizidou case.

[02] Akinci leaves for UK to attend Wilton Park Conference.

[03] UK conference on Turkey.

[04] A hair-raising report on human rights in Turkey.

[05] So-called mayor offers land to London-based villages who return.

[06] Greek Ambassador Nezeritis on S-300, demilitarization.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey not side in international legal issues with pseudostate - Loizidou case

A statement issued at the end of the symposium says that the existing problems are caused by the differences in the legal systems of the two sides and the inadequacy of the ``agreement on mutual juridical aid on legal, commercial, and penal decisions, and on the recognition and execution of sentences, extradition, and the transfer of convicts'', dated 25 December 1987.

The statement says that the failure to conduct bureaucratic procedures properly also causes certain problems. It is proposed in the statement that committees be set up by the two sides to determine the specific problems and reach solutions.

The statement says that it is important to stress that the pseudostate is an independent ``state'', adding: It is beneficial to inform the world public opinion that, contrary to the Loizidou decisions of the European Human Rights Court, the Turkish Republican state cannot be a party to the international legal relations and problems with the TRNC''.

[02] Akinci leaves for UK to attend Wilton Park Conference

[03] UK conference on Turkey

Speakers from Turkey, Greece, England and European Union will attend the conference and a group of businessmen from Cyprus have also been invited to attend.

The conference named ``Turkey: A Future in Europe?'' will discuss how a more constructive EU Turkey relationship could be achieved and how can progress be made on implementation of the Customs Union. Turkey´s relationship with Greece and Cyprus and other neighbouring countries is also on the agenda.

UK Special Representative to Cyprus Sir David Hannay and Leader of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament Pauline Green will be among the speakers.

Speakers from Turkey will include ANAP Member of Parliament Ilhan Kesici, DSP Member of Parliament Firat Dayanikli, Professor Dogu Ergil and former Ambassador to the EU Cem Duna.

[04] A hair-raising report on human rights in Turkey

The number of torture victims who applied to the law and complained is 90. According to IHD´s report, most of the torture takes place in Istanbul. It has been confirmed that torture takes place in almost all police stations in Istanbul, including the counterterrorism office, the public order bureau and the Beyoglu police station. Among places where torture is common, the Kars special team, the Elazig security directorate and the Tunceli counterterrorism office are noteworthy. The report lists not only police stations but also military headquarters, including the Kilyos gendarmerie, the Erzincan 59th cannon brigade and the Samandira gendarmerie.

Vocations of torture victims range from journalists and students, which comprise the majority, to truck drivers, people in the transportation sector, tailors and carpenters. The most common methods of torture are threatening with rape, ``disappearing under torture,'' torturing the victim´s family, and displaying a pregnant woman nude to her husband. The others are better known methods such as beating, giving electricity and hitting the victim on the head with an iron bar. The report divides the damage caused by torture into ``physical'' and ``psychological'' outcomes, for which 116 people received medical reports. Twenty-six children received torture in police stations, the most noteworthy among whom is a child called H.K.., who was a shoeshine boy. This boy was brought to prison for asking for payment from a police officer whose shoes he had polished. H.K. was brought to the Mecidiyekoy Police Station and held under custody for an entire day. The boy´s family and lawyers were not informed, and he was beaten with a billy club and tortured. H. K. was incarcerated in a cell by himself. The doctor gave him a report for 10 days after noting marks from beatings on his legs and arms.

The report by the IHD goes into details, describing the names of the torture victims, where they were tortured, what the torture methods were and the damage.

The report received wide attention. It is now expected that prosecutors will accept the report as an official complaint and start investigations.

[05] So-called mayor offers land to London-based villages who return

[06] Greek Ambassador Nezeritis on S-300, demilitarization

``Question: How did the S-300 crisis effected the Cyprus problem?

Nezeritis: The report that the S-300 missiles were to be deployed in Cyprus was exploited by some countries as though the whole Cyprus problem was tied up with the S-300 missiles. Also, the solution paths searched for a settlement in the Cyprus problem were blocked in the face of the S-300 issue. Some big powers openly expressed their concern regarding the S-300 issue. This is not a secret. Others put forward the view that the S-300 missiles would create problems during the negotiations aimed at settling the Cyprus problem. This, too, is not a secret. It reached to a point where the Cyprus problem was drifted away from its path. And as a result of all these, the Cyprus government has decided not to buy the missiles. We want the settlement of the Cyprus problem. We are aware that it is in nobody´s interest to bring the issue to this point. We are aware that there are real possibilities for a way out. And these possibilities will not harm anybody. Scores of efforts were put in for so many years for the settlement of the Cyprus problem. It was considered nonsense to blow up all these opportunities for the sake of the missiles. Now the obstacle has been removed. The S-300 missiles will not be deployed on the island. Also it is a fact that an incredible amount of arms are amassed on a small piece of land. Today noone wants to invest so much money on weapons, especially when these weapons would be delivered two or three years after their ordering thus becoming obsolete before they are deployed. No one, unless it is deemed absolutely necessary, spends so much money on arms. There is a way out of this situation in Cyprus. We hope that in the near future there will be some reductions in weapons on the island. We really hope that the proposal to demilitarize Cyprus will be seriously considered. The arms race is not in the interest of anybody. It might be in the interest of weapon manufacturers. That is, total demilitarization of the island will be the best way out. And in the meantime it is the best way for the island´s people to establish trust among them.

Question: But here there is another point. In Cyprus there are British Bases. What will happen to these Bases if the island is totally demilitarized?

Nezeritis: If we use strictly the legal language, the Bases are not part of the Republic of Cyprus. The bases are sovereign British territories, therefore they cannot be considered with the context of the demilitarization formula''. (MY)

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

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