Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-03-01

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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 Army is reportedly being prepared for creating a crisis in Cyprus.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot political parties have submitted their proposals on the Cyprus problem to Rauf Denktas.

[03] The Dean of the US Northern Virginia University visited the "Girne (Kyrenia) American University".

[04] The Chairman of the World Sports Writers/ Union is in the occupied areas with the aim of working towards lifting the so-called sports embargo.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Ali Erel says that a conflict will erupt if no solution is found.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Army is reportedly being prepared for creating a crisis in Cyprus

The paper argues that the article of the above-mentioned magazine has been published within the framework of the efforts exerted by the European Union to create "a Turkey where the power of money will rule and everything will be sold and bought like a merchandise". The EU, alleges KIBRISLI, "escalates the media war against the Turkish army which it considers as the biggest obstacle to this".

"According to the magazine", writes the paper, "the Turkish Armed Forces will create a crisis in Cyprus and will be absolutely isolated from the EU".

According to KIBRISLI the EU " is buying off journalists" within the framework of its psychological struggle and the campaign against the Turkish army.

The magazine wrote that Greece and the Greek Cypriots must not be considered as Turkey's enemies. It also argued that the reason for which Turkey wants to join the European Army is the fact that it sees from now that it could come to a conflict with the European Army because of the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot political parties have submitted their proposals on the Cyprus problem to Rauf Denktas

Enver Emin said that they support a solution to the Cyprus problem that will protect the rights and the freedoms of the Turkish Cypriots, an agreement based on two states.

In a statement during the meeting, Denktas said that the pseudostate is essential in the solution of the Cyprus problem, declaring that otherwise, a possible partnership will not be able to survive despite all the rights and guarantees. Alleging that the Turkish Cypriots were also an equal partner in the 1960 agreement, he said that the 1960 Cyprus Republic was not a unitary state, it was established as an equal partnership with a federal internal structure regarding its functions.

He added: "Therefore, we experienced federation and equality. Why were we not protected despite all the guarantees? Because the sovereignty was not based on a state."

Denktas said that the administration of the second partnership to be established should therefore be based on a more solid foundation than the Cyprus Republic. Geography is the way to bring about this foundation, Denktas remarked, alleging that the fact that there will be geographic separation was defined in the 1977 and 1979 agreements, which provided that the two peoples will govern themselves and that the three freedoms will be restricted.

Denktas said: "Now we see that there are attempts to overturn all this." Denktas asserted that he is careful in this regard and it is necessary to be careful.

The paper reports that also the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) submitted to the Turkish Cypriot leader in writing their proposals on the face-to-face talks.

Meanwhile, AFRIKA (1/3/02) in banner headlines "Secret from the people" reports that the RTP did not make any announcement to the people regarding the proposal paper that they submitted to Denktas and they did not reveal in public its content.

Moreover, the paper reports that Denktas had a private meeting yesterday with US Ambassador in Cyprus, Mr Donald Bandler. The article writes the following:

"Rauf Denktas met yesterday afternoon in private with the US Ambassador Donald Bandler accompanied only by his driver in his official car. For this appointment he did not make any announcement to the public and he did not call the press. This private meeting of Denktas on the eve of the second round of the talks was faced with interest by the citizens and became the reason for various comments. I wondered what Denktas and Bandler talked about?"

[03] The Dean of the US Northern Virginia University visited the "Girne (Kyrenia) American University"

The delegation, which will meet with some officials of "GAU", will try to promote in the Middle East and Central Asian countries the joint global campus, which has begun to operate in Prague. "GAU" and UNV are already cooperating.

The delegation will stay in the occupied areas for four days and return to USA on Tuesday.

[04] The Chairman of the World Sports Writers/ Union is in the occupied areas with the aim of working towards lifting the so-called sports embargo

Speaking during the meeting with Bayatli, Mr Denktas said that all the efforts so far were not successful and addressing Bayatli he said: "For this reason they invited you as an experienced and expert weapon".

In his turn Mr Bayatli said that a lot of effort has been exerted so far to lift the so-called embargo but with no results and added: "It means that this system is wrong and we have to find a new one".

Mr Bayatli proposed the establishment of a joint committee consisting of Turkish and Turkish Cypriots. "This committee should work in a systematic and organized manner with the support of `President/ Denktas, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Turkish Minister Responsible for Sports, Mr Fikret Unlu, in order to inform international federations and human rights organizations", said Mr Bayatli and added: "All over the world FIFA recognizes 212 states. Why is the `TRNC/ (`Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus/) not among these states? At present the easiest answer is: `Because you are not members of the United Nations. This is nothing but a maneuver. What is important is to solve this humanitarian issue".

On his part the Chairman of the so-called Association of the Turkish Cypriot Sports Writers, Mr Ertan Birinci, said that in order to lift the so-called embargo as association they have entered into action and intensive efforts are going on.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] Ali Erel says that a conflict will erupt if no solution is found.

He weighs, evaluates what he will say and then he speaks. For this reason what Ali Eren says carries more weight than what politicians say. One has to pay attention to what he says. The other day he said:

'The solution of the Cyprus problem has for the first time in its history been limited with a time factor. In case the sides are unable to reach an agreement in the coming four months then we will find ourselves and our island on which we are living, in a scenario of disaster with important risks that might lead to a conflict as well.'

Ali Erel has chosen his words very carefully. He is saying conflict. He is not saying war. He is saying disaster scenario. He is not saying blood will be shed. But the meaning of these words is. How the conflict will start, who will start the conflict, how this will be included in the disaster scenario, this is not clear. Ali Erel is not telling this. However, like him, there is another person who speaks about the possibility of a conflict. In fact he even says that `we are heading for a conflict'. He is Denktas who might have something in his mind. He makes a prophecy . According to him the Greek Cypriots will start the conflict When? At the moment when the Republic of Cyprus becomes EU member before a solution is found. If Cyprus is accepted without a settlement then this mean Turkey will be an occupying power since Turkey will be considered occupying the north of Cyprus, and the Greek Cypriots being encouraged from this fact would create problems along the borders. Thus conflict will start. Could this be considered credible? No. If no, then how will the conflict start? Who will fire the first bullet or throw the first bomb? The word `conflict/ smells threat . And since this word is used by the Turkish side alone then this means that the threat comes from the Turkish side. In fact Ankara is saying this for months now. Do not they say that if Cyprus is accepted unilaterally to the EU then there will be a major crisis in the East Mediterranean? What does crisis mean? It means war. This was said first by Ankara. Then Denktas. And now Ali Erel is saying it.

What is the proposal of the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in order to preclude the disaster scenario?

The Greek Cypriots should accept the Turkish effective guarantees. They have to give up the 24% of territory to the Turks proposal. And the most important thing is that the Greek Cypriots should accept the two states in Cyprus. Is this possible? No. What we understand from the word `conflict/ is that we are openly telling the Greek Cypriots:' Either you accept our terms or we make this world hell for you'. Do you have something else, please say it.''

KV/SK

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