Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 00-08-10

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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. 152/00 -- 10.8.00

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] ``Cabinet'' in occupied areas assesses economic package, Geneva talks.

[02] Akinci receives ``NGO/s'', comments on economic crisis, ties with Turkey.

[03] Denktash meets American Ambassador.

[04] Talat: No ``mean'' people among Turkish Cypriots.

[05] Halloumi scandal in occupied areas.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Need for new concepts on Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] ``Cabinet'' in occupied areas assesses economic package, Geneva talks

Salih Miroglu, so-called government spokesman and minister of public works and transportation, made a statement to the media after the ``cabinet'' meeting which was held under ``Prime Minister'' Eroglu and which lasted approximately four hours. Miroglu also replied to questions.

He said that the ``cabinet'' was briefed by the ``Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister'', on the third round proximity talks held in Geneva and an assessment was made. He added that the difficult problems, the economic crisis were also discussed. Meanwhile, another assessment was made on the economic package which is the key to overcoming the economic crisis and putting an end to the deadlock, Miroglu added.

``This package is the product of the joint work carried out by experts from the TRNC and Turkey. This package was once again studied in Ankara yesterday. A decision was reached for the expert teams from both countries to once again get together to conclude this package. With this package we shall, in a short while, reach a solution suitable to our country that will develop our economy, that will overcome the problems, and that will solve the economic problems in the medium term. We will then be implementing the package'', Miroglu said.

He added that ``the Economy and Finance Ministry'' initiated some new work on the new payment plan and that various alternatives were submitted to the ``cabinet''. Also the results of the meeting Eroglu held with the Bank Depositors Coordination Committee were conveyed to the ``cabinet''. The procedure to be followed is that this work and these meetings will yield some results as of next week and a new payment plan will emerge. The views of the Bank Depositors Coordination Committee will be studied carefully and we will then be facing our bank victim citizens with a new payment plan'', Miroglu said.

Asked about funds, he said that the search is continuing. ``Funds will be found both by mobilizing our domestic resources and, as we have been saying from the very beginning, through the support of our motherland.''

Stressing that the economic package was prepared jointly by Turkish and ``TRNC'' experts, Miroglu said that there might be additions to and deletions from the package, that work on the issue is being conducted in Ankara and that the experts will meet once again to give the final shape to the package.

[02] Akinci receives ``NGO/s'', comments on economic crisis, ties with Turkey

Mehmet Suleymanoglu, leader of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union, noted that the ongoing social, economic, and political crises in the ``TRNC'' are the result of a 26- year accumulation. He said: ``this accumulation of 26 years has caused the people to be disgusted and frustrated and has created the need for a reorganization.'' Noting that it is wrong to make only the people pay for the price of the current problems, Suleymanoglu stressed that it is clear that the people are not among the factors that created this current situation.

Noting that the economy has hit rock bottom and that many sectors are about to collapse, Suleymanoglu said: ``At a time like this a package patented by Turkey has been included on the agenda. Other packages were also put forth in the past and they are the reasons for the current situation. Therefore, we believe that submitting similar packages by ignoring the process of the past 26 years and without taking into consideration the views and proposals of the people and their organizations and the existing economic conditions will not be beneficial for our people and the workers.''

Akinci said that this is the first time that the Turkish media has intensively been discussing the situation of the Turkish Cypriot people since 1974. Noting that this is a positive development, Akinci continued:

``Some of the articles on the issue were insulting to the Turkish Cypriots. It is impossible to accept these. Replies and reactions have been issued. However, I assess as a positive development the fact that this issue is being discussed by the Turkish public after so many years. It is a positive development in that it informs those who are not aware of the developments in the ``TRNC'' and in that it prompts them to further study the issue''. Akinci added: ``If there is no economic self-sufficiency then those who make economic contributions have a say in that administration''. Noting that the Turkish Cypriots should find ways to increase their economic self sufficiency, Akinci said that measures in that direction should be prepared and accepted by the people and their organizations. He continued: ``We will enter a period of austerity. There are special relations between Turkey and the ``TRNC''. Cooperation with Turkey will continue on this island. The important thing is to determine how this cooperation and these relations will be conducted''. He added: ``At the moment these relations are not based on the right foundation. Had they been, then we would not have experienced various hitches''. Stressing that placing these relations on the right foundation based on mutual trust and cooperation will benefit both sides, Akinci said: ``We should, therefore, discuss what this right foundation is. Akinci said that if the Turkish Cypriot people have a larger say in their organizations then Turkey will benefit from such an implementation.''

Akinci said that given ``the two-state structure of the island, a structure based on two-states in domestic issues and one in foreign issues is being discussed'', adding that this situation ``necessitates the self-government of Turkish Cypriot organizations''. Referring to the economic package, Akinci said that rejecting the packages being prepared will not lead the Turkish Cypriots anywhere. He continued: ``We will need to tighten our belts. We need to start a process of sharing all the necessary sacrifices. This tightening of belts however, should not turn into suffocation.''

Referring to the discussions on the presidential and parliamentary systems, Akinci said: The parliamentary system works very well in countries within the EU, an organization which Cyprus is considering of joining. However, he found a statement by Denktash strange. Denktash said that a two-head system is impossible. ``Democracy is not a regime of two heads but one of many heads. The same goes for the presidential system. There is a separation of powers. The authorities of the president are defined. He is, however, obliged to cooperate with the congress and the parliament. Therefore, the principle of many heads is valid in a parliamentary system. Let no one try to present us the presidential system as an administration with a single head''. Noting that the 21st century will be the century of the ``NGO/s'', Akinci said that the important issue is to bring about a lasting peace acceptable to both sides on the island and to ensure that the Turkish Cypriots take their place within the EU in the aftermath of such a solution.

[03] Denktash meets American Ambassador

When asked ``what did you bring to the leader'', Bandler said that he came to have an exchange of view on the Geneva talks prior to his departure to the USA. He also said that they exchanged ideas on taking pictures as Denktash has beautiful pictures, and therefore they dsicussed photography.

[04] Talat: No ``mean'' people among Turkish Cypriots

Talat said that among the Turkish Cypriot people there are no ``mean'' people. In its turn PUM invited Denktash to ``love people and to give up insulting the Turkish Cypriots''.

In his speech Denktash insulted the Turkish Cypriots who opposed him or criticized the occupation regime, and said that these people were ``mean people''.

[05] Halloumi scandal in occupied areas

When the consignment arrived in Kuwait the Kuwaiti Municipality carried out an analysis on the imported halloumi cheese and results showed that the imported cheese contains ``Coliform'' bacteria.

The importing company sent the cheese samples to a special laboratory in Denmark for further analysis. The Danish Laboratory results showed the same bacterium as well.

Following this result, the Kuwaiti municipality destroyed the 21 tons of halloumi cheese. The importing company, with a letter to the Turkish Embassy/s Trade Councillor in Kuwait, demanded compensation. ARABIAN BEVERAGE CO. LTD. demands 71 400 US dollars as compensation.

The Turkish Embassy/s Trade Councillor in Kuwait informed, with a letter, the so-called Turkish Embassy Trade Councillor in the occupied area, about these developments and urged the Trade Councillor to follow up the issue.

KIBRIS publishes the letter sent by the Trade Councillor in Kuwait to his colleague in the occupied area.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[06] Need for new concepts on Cyprus

``That should not be surprising if the situation is seen from an objective angle because everyone agrees now that the Cyprus problem can be solved only through an agreement that will provide for the establishment of a ``bizonal'' and ``bicommunal'' structure under ``a partnership government'' to be set up with the consent of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides. The structure might then be called a ``federation'' or ``confederation'', the columnist says.

The incidents in Kosovo and Bosnia showed that communities, which radically differ form each other, cannot be forced to integrate, Semih Idiz says.

``The UN organization began to see that reality only recently, regardless of being aware of it right from the beginning. We welcome that state of affairs but we must note that it is very painful because the delayed acknowledgement of a reality means loss of time and energy. Nevertheless, we have seen the UN officials unexpectedly changed their views many times during their deliberations on the Cyprus problem in the past. So, we must act with caution even if we feel we can anticipate the developments that might take place in the near future. In short, ``acting with caution'' is the most valid approach, as it has always been so in the past.''

Clerides seems to be worried, the columnist says. ``That shows that something is changing regardless of what has been said about the negotiations process''. Semih Idiz claims that the Greek Cypriot side has not changed its approach at all.

He says that now everyone realizes that the Greek Cypriot side/s expectation is baseless and unacceptable. The writer claims that Europe is now able to see more clearly that the existence of two communities with different religions and cultures on the island cannot be ignored.

The paper adds that although Denktash was satisfied with the meetings he had in Geneva, by the statements he made after his return he showed that the Turkish Cypriot side has realized that it has to adopt a more ``creative'' approach in the future. ``So, no one should be surprised if the Turkish Cypriots take steps to revise their approach on the concepts of ``confederation'' and ``federation''. In fact, Denktash himself said in the past ``the situation hit the bottom in north Cyprus. Nothing can remain unchanged.'' Mumtaz Soysal, who is his adviser, expressed a similar opinion in one of his columns not so long ago'', says the columnist.

He continues: ``All that should not be taken to mean that a formula will be quickly found to solve the Cyprus problem. The developments merely indicate the recent changes in the concepts that have been upheld for many years. That must not be underestimated because if the problem will be solved, then it will be solved on the basis of new concepts.

The columnist concludes with the following:

The Turkish Cypriot side has been accused of trying to maintain the status quo in Cyprus for many years. The international community has agreed that the existing status quo is unacceptable. The approach the Turkish Cypriot officials have adopted now can be outlined as follows: ``You will find us maintaining a flexible approach if you abandon your unchanging views''. So, allow me to say that it has passed the ball to the Greek Cypriot side and the international community.

/SK

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

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