Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-09-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader met with Alvaro de Soto.

[02] Pieces of Basilica found in the occupied village of Rizokarpasso.

[03] Citrus producers asked for help from Denktas.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] A columnist of «Halkin Sesi» criticizes the pseudostate.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader met with Alvaro de Soto

Asked by a Greek Cypriot journalist after the meeting if common ground was found with Mr de Soto, Denktas said that common ground must be found between himself and President Glafcos Clerides, and not with de Soto. He added: «Do Soto is merely assisting us in finding common ground».

Asked about his views on EU rapporteur Jacques Poos' report on Cyprus, Denktas alleged that Poos' report is devoid of any foundation, and alleged that neither Poos nor his report are important in terms of the quest for the common ground that will enable the resumption of the Cyprus talks. Denktas remarked that until now the talks have been conducted between two equal partners on the basis of equality with the aim of establishing a new partnership. He continued: «We have certain criteria, which have been accepted in the past. The Greek Cypriot side must abide by these criteria. The Greek Cypriot attempt to eradicate these criteria just because the EU gave them the green light eliminated the opportunity for negotiations. The time has come for them to become aware of the facts».

When the same Greek Cypriot journalist said: «But, Mr. Denktas, time is running out». Denktas responded: «The time has not run out for 38 years; will it run out in 38 hours»?

Alvaro do Soto, in turn, refrained from answering questions on whether common ground has been found. He said that he will issue the necessary statement in a news conference on 5 September. In reply to a question on the possibility of the talks resuming in September, de Soto replied: «I hope so».

The UN official, who also met with President Clerides yesterday, will hold separate meetings with the two leaders today.

[02] Pieces of Basilica found in the occupied village of Rizokarpasso

Professor Dr Serra Durugul, who is heading the delegation, said that they began the excavation works in the village after the so-called municipality of Rizokarpasso found by accident archaeological artefacts during water works. After examining the pieces, it is believed that the archaeological pieces belong to a basilica built between the 5th and 8th century, during the Byzantine Era.

The Turkish Professor said that their aim is to make a scientific research in the area. He also added that the occupied areas have many similarities with the south coasts of Turkey (Asia Minor) and that he wants to find out these resemblances. It is also reported that three years are needed to have results in the excavations.

[03] Citrus producers asked for help from Denktas

In a statement during the meeting Mr Kombos said: «For 26 years they have been telling us stories. The producer needs help now. Nobody has the right to destroy the economy. Citrus is a 100-million dollar sleeping giant».

On his part Denktas said: «Citrus is the most important source for the economy. We must revive it. When I saw the dying citrus groves I felt something going from inside of me».

The Turkish Cypriot leader said he would raise the issue with the pseudogovernment so that it may be more fair with electricity and water supplied to the citrus producers.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[04] A columnist of «Halkin Sesi» criticizes the pseudostate

«...After 1974 we started with the wrong understanding about the state. May be we have become boring because we have written about it many times, but the state we established after 1974 is not a state. The people we have chosen applied the policy of populism, distributed the Greek Cypriot property haphazardly and gave equal opportunities for economic development!

And what happened? The `opportunities` they talked about had as a result the illicit profits from the Greek Cypriot properties and the policy they called populism brought poor quality and cheapness with it!

In the end we did not only go bankrupt, but at the same time we have the political problem wondering how to save ourselves from it. Our situation is just like it was before 1974. ...

Why did these things happen? Mistake number one: Turkey gave to the Turkish Cypriots what she did not give to her own people. We were all shouting: `If we are to crown the military victory with the economic victory in this island, we must come to the level of the Greek Cypriots. ...` .

Mistake number two: No economy could be created and we could not reach the Greek Cypriots by distributing the properties of the Greek Cypriots, by bringing illegal workers, by forcing people to work without pay, by bringing in population without any control, without understanding that there can be no economy without producing, by constantly increasing the salaries without being able to take taxes and by establishing banks everywhere. ...

Why are we writing these again? To tell the truth, we were very confused when even a politician like Bulent Akarcali, who has been struggling hopelessly for us, bursted with rage and told the real truth which we pretend we do not see. (Translators note: Bulent Akarcali is Motherland Partys Deputy Chairman and Member of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Foreign Relations Committee. Talking on a programme of the Turkish state television he has said that in northern Cyprus there is no state and that the pseudostate is a province ruled by the Turkish army and Ankara.). ....

After 27 years of claiming that we have a state, is this the state we should have? We are facing even more problems than Turkey which is a state with a life of 80 years. ...».

KV/SK

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