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Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-07-22Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIANo. 128/99 -- 22.7.99[A] NEWS ITEMS
[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS
[A] NEWS ITEMS[01] Ecevit warns against pressure on Cyprus issueTRT Television network (10:00 hours 21.7.99) reports that Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has said that any approach that tries to break Turkey away from the Turkish Cypriots will not be accepted. Pointing out that the G-8 countries are applying pressure on the Cyprus issue even though they are not directly involved, Ecevit added: ``Get out of my sunshine. We do not want anything else''.Ecevit reiterated Turkey´s support for the ``TRNC'' addressing his party´s assembly group meeting. Ecevit said: ``As you know, the pressure on Turkey and the TRNC has increased during the past days on account of the Cyprus issue. However, the more the pressure mounts, the more the determination and resistance of Turkey and the TRNC increase. Moreover, the more the pressure increases, the more relations between Turkey and the TRNC deepen and develop. The Peace Operation prevented a genocide. In the event that there is a plan to break the TRNC away from the guarantee of Turkey, god forbid that a tragedy worse than that of Kosovo and Bosnia will befall Cyprus. We will never allow such a thing regardless of the amount of pressure. I would like to issue a warning to all those countries that have no real reason to be concerned with Cyprus, in the words of Diogenes of Sinop: Get out of our sunshine. We do not want any other favours.'' [02] CTP refused to attend ``Partnership Council'' meetingIllegal Bayrak radio (10:30 hours, 19.7.99) reports that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) did not send a representative to the ``Partnership Council'' meeting between Turkey and the pseudostate last Monday. At a news conference, CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat explained that Sonay Adem, the CTP representative who was to attend the meeting, was informed only on Saturday afternoon (17 July) that the meeting was to be held Monday, and that he received the agenda of the meeting only that same day. Talat pointed out that very important issues are on the agenda that require prior preparation. He also recalled that the CTP is opposed in principle to the establishment of the ``Partnership Council'' because it foresees an integration between Turkey and the ``TRNC''. Even so, he added, the CTP sends representatives to the meetings.[03] ``Partnership Council'' meeting statement issuedThe Turkey-``TRNC'' so-called Partnership Council meeting ended on Monday and following the meeting, Sukru Sina Gurel, Turkish State Minister, told a joint press conference that they discussed the recent situation from the political perspective, and took some decisions to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two sides.Anatolia Agency (19.7.99) reports that ``The Agreement Which Provides Additional Facilities to the Citizens of Both Countries'' was signed by State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu. The agreement foresees to increase the residence and working permit of the pseudostate´s ``citizens'' in Turkey to five years, and provides facilities to have immovable property. In the joint statement issued following the meeting, it was said that the agreement to verify and deepen commercial, economic relations, and investments within the framework of Joint Economic Area which is planned to be set up between Turkey and the ``TRNC'', was once again confirmed. The joint statement pointed out that a lasting compromise in Cyprus can only be reached when it is based on the ``realities'' of the island, not by the pressures of the third sides. The statement added that the compromise can be reached when it is discussed between the two equal sides in Cyprus, and when it protects the balance between Turkey and Greece, and when it brings comprehensive solutions to the problems between the sides. The statement invited the sides to seriously reconsider the confederation proposal of Rauf Denktash. The statement said that the studies of the ``Partnership Council'' were principally intensified on forming the Joint Economic Area which focused on the circulation of goods, services, and capital between the sides, the transfer of technology, and flow of investments. The statement underlined that the Joint Economic Area is possible when the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement, the State Subsidy in Investments Agreement, and the agreements between the Istanbul Stock Exchange and the so-called Northern Cyprus Turkish Stock Exchange take effect. The statement said that the sides will exert joint efforts to overcome the sports embargo against the ``TRNC'' in the international platform, adding that the existing cooperation on education, culture, and sports, will further be strengthened. The statement said that the water transfer with balloons was revised and restarted, and the sides are studying on alternative possibilities to transfer potable water. Pointing out that the 250 million US dollars credit provided by Turkey and Turkey´s aid which increasingly continued since 1996 yielded positive results in the program of restructuring and strengthening the ``TRNC'' economy as was foreseen in the ``Turkey-TRNC Economic Cooperation Protocol'' signed on 3 January 1997, the statement said that these results were pleasing. The statement added that the Joint Economic Committee decided to start initiatives to make a new cooperation protocol under the light of the results of this program and long term targets. The statement said that 4 million US dollars for the maintenance of the electricity system will urgently be met to solve the energy problem of ``TRNC''. It added that the sides decided to start cooperation with the related institutions of both sides to benefit from the experiences of institutions in Turkey to bring a lasting solution to the energy problem of ``TRNC'' and to search for alternative energy sources. The statement said that the support will be given to the efforts to promote ``TRNC'' in the field of tourism, and the ``TRNC'' will be included in Turkey´s projects in this field. It added that joint efforts will be exerted to increase the passenger capacity of the sea and air transportation in a way to provide support to tourism. The sides also agreed to set up a Marine Committee to provide coordination between the two sides to develop the marine sector, and ship construction, and to develop yacht marinas, and sea transportation. The sides also agreed to turn the ``TRNC'' into the higher education centre of the East Mediterranean and gradually increase the student capacity of the universities to 40 thousand. The sides said that they supported the efforts of the ``Middle East Technical University (METU)'' to set up a campus in occupied Morphou. [B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS[03] Commentary views Turkey´s economic problems in connection with Cyprus and the Kurdish problemColumnist Mehmet Ozgul, writing in Neu-Isenberg Ozgur Political (Internet Version, 8.7.99) says the following: ``Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit explained the suicide of Turkey´s state minister in charge of the economy by saying, `the meetings with the IMF greatly distressed him´. This assessment is correct but incomplete. It is necessary to point out that the distress of Ulugbay is a reflection of the distress of the state; the suicide is an expression of the regime´s deadlock, of the lack of a solution. Many Turkish writers and politicians are calling attention to the depth and danger of the crisis. The regime is in crisis financially, socially and politically. All the data indicate this. This year, according to official figures, the economy decreased by 8.4 per cent. The deficit in the projected budget is presently 9 trillion Turkish lira. Of course the real one will be much higher. The rate of economic growth is negative. In the next six months, debts of approximately $22 billion are to be paid. Only those who experience it know the state of tourism and 40 other related sectors. The economy depends on `hit and run´ speculative gains, rather than investment and production. Industrialists complain that interests cause them to be in a situation where it is impossible to produce.Turkish experts warn that the next six months are critical and that if a solution is not found, the economy will hit bottom. The existing situation does not allow even a temporary way out of the crisis. Here, the support of institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank becomes more important than ever. At the meetings with the IMF we were told to wait at the `yellow light´. It is common knowledge that all the international markets will take these evaluations as a basis. Is it only economic demands that the IMF sets before Turkey in exchange for the `green light´? The insistence on a kind of devaluation mentioned in the IMF report claimed to have been leaked out to the markets by ANAP (Motherland Party) leader Yilmaz, may materialize. Turkey may also implement projects that put the burden on the shoulders of the working class, just like social security reform. But these not only may not prevent Turkey´s economy from hitting bottom, but will not satisfy the IMF. The head of the IMF Turkish Desk Carlo Cottarelli´s last words were: `This business will come to an end in Washington.´ (Meanwhile, let´s recall that Cottarelli is Italian. And let´s ask; does putting the country´s economy in order according to Cottarelli´s plans mesh with `National Dignity´?) What Cottarelli is talking about is the fact that Ecevit is going to the US in September. Cyprus topped the issues to be considered. The Kurds are in second place. The US plan for Cyprus was initiated by the G-8 and then the UN. The Westerners who earlier accepted the confederation that implied the formal union of two separate states, are now setting before Turkey a federation in one state, under one sovereignty. At exactly the same time, the foreign ministers of Turkey and Greece are meeting. Greece, which played an important role in PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan´s transfer to Turkey, is being rewarded by the US. With what? With Cyprus! Is it only the US that made that promise? We don´t think so. Turkey, which took him into custody, also accepted that. There is this condition as well in the protocol that was claimed to have been signed between the US and Turkey while Ocalan was being handed over. It is important to establish stability in the southern wing of NATO. There were various reactions to this initiative: Ecevit: `We cannot give up the independence of TRNC´. Demirel: `Whoever meddles with Cyprus, will have meddled with the Republic of Turkey´. Denktash and Bahceli: `The Cyprus issue is one of honour and integrity´. Those remarks seem to be aimed at coming out ahead at the bargaining table and satisfying public opinion. We shall all witness that these defiant remarks will prove to be useless, and that important concessions will be made to Greece in exchange for the marketing of Kurds. Right after that we shall also see what kind of a solution the international powers will propose for South and North Kurdistan. The attitude of the IMF and consequently of international capital, together with economic measures, depend also politically on the steps Turkey will make, primarily concerning the Cyprus issue. Turkey has been caught in a state of a lack of solutions. It is being presented economic and political projects, whereas there are other ways out of this absence of solutions. Turkey can make decisions itself by relying primarily on its own resources. The first step to be made in this direction is to stop the war that gives the image of instability and that is wearing away the economy, and to reach internal peace. To achieve this it is sufficient to listen to Ocalan and consequently to the Kurdish people. Turkey can get out of the trap it is in, only by taking the hand of peace extended by the Kurdish people.'' [84] AVRUPA accuses Turkey of using Cyprus as a trump cardAn unattributed article in AVRUPA (21.7.99) under the title ``Springboard'' says: ``Turkey, in order to make the world burst with impatience, threw all her weight on Cyprus.In order to normalize her relations, Turkey is exploiting us as she pleases. The atmosphere that Turkey creates gives the impression that she is challenging the whole world. The 25th Anniversary of the 20 July is being celebrated in this atmosphere. A unique chance to demonstrate Turkey´s decisiveness to the world… In fact, as Turkish Cypriots, we are not a fine leaf in this wind. Turkey only thinks about herself… Her own future… Her own security… Is Cyprus everything for Turkey? No, it is not This island is a single drop in a sea. And a springboard… For Turkey the borders of the National Pact of 1920 are important. That is, the present borders of Turkey. What is important is the security of these borders… Don´t the famous professors of Turkey know that the northern part of Cyprus will never be united with Turkey? Yes, they know it! But they pretend not to. Why does Turkey want to create an atmosphere that Cyprus cannot be abandoned? Just to make the world fear a little bit more. Just to secure a little bit more advantages for Turkey on the international field. What kind of advantages? Very simple… First of all in her relations with the EU… Istn´t the EU acting reluctantly towards Turkey? In that case what should Turkey do? Through which opening should she get in? How can Turkey make herself accepted in this union? Here it is, in this field Turkey´s biggest trump card is Cyprus… Ankara openly conveys a message to the world… It says… - If you do this to me, in turn I do this to you in Cyprus! Ankara is trying to bring the European Union back to the right course by using us… And when she is unable to get what she wants, she is pushing things further uphill. Thus making the EU get angry. And we are sheepishly believing all of these things. We are applauding. We are expressing our gratitude. We think that the motherland will never leave us half way through… As a matter of fact everything can be turned upside down. Everything can finish off the moment EU tells Turkey: - Welcome brother, you, too, are like the others, our full member. You will see then if the same speeches that were made on 20 July will be made again. You will see then how people will change by 180 degrees. How they will say diametrically the opposite things. Once Turkey gets what she wants, will anybody speak about the TRNC''? (MY) From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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