Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 01-04-19

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[B] TOYÑÊÉÊA ÊAÉ TÏÕÑÊÏÊÕÐÑÉAÊA Ì.Ì.Å. TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER

No. 73/01 -- 19.4.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Headlines of the Turkish Cypriot newspapers on yesterday/s press conference by Cem and Denktash.

[02] Akinci on settlement of the Cyprus problem.

[03] Opposition organizations protest against biased dissemination of information by illegal BRT and TAK.

[04] Turkish Cypriot party suggests the use of ``EURO'' in the occupied areas

[05] Male statue found near occupied Leonarissos village.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Sami Cohen urges Turkey to take initiatives on the Cyprus problem.

[03] AVRUPA notes that Turkey/s Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, speaks of war whereas his Greek colleague, George Papandreou, speaks of peace.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Headlines of the Turkish Cypriot Newspapers on yesterday/s press conference by Cem and Denktash

KIBRIS: ``From Cem to Greek Cypriots: Do not make a mistake''.

KIBRISLI: ``Equality, sovereignty, peace''.

BIRLIK: ``Cem: Everyone must appreciate the value of peace in Cyprus''.

YENIDUZEN: ``Cem: A mutually acceptable solution on the basis of two states

and equal sovereignty before any further details''.

VATAN: ``Cem: Nobody should play with fire.!''

YENI DEMOKRAT: ``Equality First!''

HALKIN SESI: ``Cem: Nobody should play with fire''.

[Highlights of Mr. Cem/s statements were given in yesterday/s Turkish Mass Media Bulletin No.72/01].

[02] Akinci on settlement of the Cyprus problem

Akinci further revealed that more extensive aid will arrive from Turkey in the coming days with a view to overcoming the economic problems experienced in the occupied area.

Akinci explained that the views of the ``coalition''partners regarding the Cyprus problem were aired during the meeting with Cem, adding that this was a very beneficial meeting. There are no differences of views with Turkey on basic issues pertaining to the Cyprus issue, Akinci declared, underlining that there is definitely no political entity in the occupied area which will agree to a political formula that will allow the Greek Cypriots to become the sole government of Cyprus or that will turn the Turkish Cypriots into a minority.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriots want a solution based on ``sovereign equality'', Akinci said: ``We want a solution that will not turn us back to the pre-1974 period and that will not turn Cyprus into a bloodbath ever again. Therefore, the sensitivity displayed for the solution of the Cyprus problem is one that must be displayed with regard to principles. It will be beneficial for both south Cyprus and Greece to realize this.

It is expedient to wait for the elections to be held in the Greek Cypriot sector in May before deciding on the question of whether the sides can hold talks'', Akinci went on, noting that after the elections the UN Secretary- General may undertake initiatives in this regard.

Akinci claimed that Cyprus can join the EU after a solution based on ``sovereign equality'', adding that Turkish-Greek relations are improving and Turkey is on the path to the EU. There is no room for pessimism if the Cyprus problem and the economic difficulties are viewed in the long term, Akinci stressed.

[03] Opposition organizations protest against biased dissemination of information by illegal BRT and TAK

The representatives of the 41 organizations gathered yesterday afternoon in front of the illegal Bayrak television/s (BRT) building protesting against BRT and TAK which are disseminating wrongly and insufficiently the voices of the 41 organizations. Symbolically they broke a TV set by throwing and breaking it in front of BRT/s entrance.

The chairman of KTOEOS (Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers/ Union) Ahmet Barcin, in a short statement said: ``We are here to press those who do not hear the voice of the people.''

Barcin also read the following press statement which was prepared by the 41 organizations.

``BRT and TAK insist on a biased, despotic and anti-democratic way of disseminating and broadcasting information and continue the ``dialogue of the deaf'' under the name of pluralism''.

The statement goes on: ``BRT and TAK, which are funded by people/s taxes, are in reality the property of the people. So these institutions are obliged to inform the people correctly and impartially''.

[04] Turkish Cypriot party suggests the use of ``EURO'' in the occupied areas

The co-ordinating President of the Party, Dr. Kemal Bolayir, has said that this could be useful and one of the urgent measures for achieving economic stability. However, Mr. Bolayir noted that the use of the Turkish Lira in the everyday life should continue.

[05] Male statue found near occupied Leonarissos village

According to archaeologist Hasan Tekel, the statue/s length is 1.30m and it is estimated that it belongs to the Archaic Era, 700 B.C. The head and the arms of the statue are broken. He also stressed that systematic archaeological excavations must be carried out in the area.

Finally, Tekel mentioned that in the past archaeologists D.G. Hogarth and Rubert Gunnis found parts of statues in the same area.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[01] Sami Cohen urges Turkey to take initiatives on the Cyprus problem.

Kohen writes:

``If things continue this way, the people in the streets in the TRNC will look to the south more and will further drift away from Turkey.

This is one of the things said to the Foreign Minister Ismail Cem during his two days/ visit to the TRNC. Cem has heard this from different people:

However, what is important this time is that this was said by the TRNC Prime Minister Dervish Eroglu as well. It is the serious economic crisis in Turkey that was carried over to the TRNC that pushed most of the Turkish Cypriots to think this way.

It is true that the economic crisis in the TRNC is seriously shaking the Turkish Cypriot community from its very foundations.

A businessman in Nicosia has told me the following: `People are depressed, weary and discouraged. They lost hope. Those who can emigrate are doing so, lot of people are thinking to leave/. And according to a retired bureaucrat who for years struggled for the cause and rendered his service as civil servant said: `Now a lot of people think, whatever will be will be, let this thing come to an end/.

And according to Communal Liberation Party leader and coalition partner Mustafa Akinci, who always tried to tell the realities in Cyprus openly, this situation forces the Turkish side to find a speedy solution to the Cyprus problem.

Akinci has submitted orally and in writing his views and suggestions on this issue to Cem.

We hope Ankara will draw the necessary conclusions from what is said to Cem during his contacts in Cyprus.

The fact is that the TRNC is as much (even more) in need of Turkey/s help as Turkey is of foreign support.

The TRNC/s basic difficulty stems from the fact that it has very limited financial resources of its own. Apart from a small income from tourism and education there are no other sources of income, such as from export. For this reason the TRNC is totally dependent on Ankara.

Of course the Turkish Cypriots are aware of the high standard of living and the richness of the South. And especially, when after two years South Cyprus becomes EU member - which is highly possible - the existing abyss between the two sections of the island will deepen at every level. The Turkish officials fear that this will give way to `envy/ and even to emigration. By telling the EU:.. It would be harmful if you accept the South among you alone/, will not change this situation much. In that case the serious consequences which are said to be created, will affect negatively all the sides including the Greek Cypriots (as Cem said it will affect the Turkish Cypriots as well).

Turkey and the TRNC, which are badly in dire need of foreign and domestic support at this very critical period, should be more creative and active in the Cyprus problem. The Turkish diplomacy, without endangering its basic views and interests, can engage in new initiatives.

At this moment the break in the negotiations has locked the issue. One has to think very well, for whose advantage it will be if this issue is left for the time? In any case, it is obvious that non-solution is not in the interest of the Turkish side.''

[70] AVRUPA notes that Turkey`s Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, speaks of war whereas his Greek colleague, George Papandreou, speaks of peace

``...We have watched both of them. And our conclusion is the following: The language Papandreou has used is a world language, whereas the language of Cem is only Turkish. ...Papandreou stopped using the sharp and chauvinistic Greek language of the past and turned to an international language. Cem is still within nationalist and chauvinistic limits.

Papandreou gave the message of peace, whereas Cem the message of war. Papandreou was calm and mild. Cem was aggressive. When Papandreou talked, even Clerides and Chrysostomos behaved in a reasonable way. As long as Cem talked Denktash was becoming more aggressive.

What are the threats levelled by Ismail Cem who gave us the impression of a diplomat who does not know what he says or does and , like a parrot, repeats things which have been dictated to him? He says: If the Greek Cypriot side becomes a member of the EU before the solution of the Cyprus problem, there will be no limits to what Turkey will do in response! What else? No one should play with the fire... That is, Cem says: You thick- headed Greek Cypriots, come to your senses. Do what we want and what we tell you. If not, I will throw fire on you and make you regret about the fact that you were born.

Ismail Cem is threatening with war. Are these words said in order to please himself, or are they the product of a psychological feeling of inferiority? Everyone knows the situation Turkey and Greece are in. In Greece there is development and social progress. In this field she has left Turkey away behind. However, Turkey is leading Greece in one field. The military power. That is, she has the military superiority.

No one should play with the fire, said Cem. What does this threat look like? It looks like a narrow-minded, big man against a clever but weak man. What is the difference between Ismail Cem from a man who tries to overwhelm his opponent by using force, when he cannot prove his superiority otherwise?

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

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