Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-04-09

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Written statement by Rauf Denktas to justify his delaying tactics.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader is trying to blame the Greek Cypriot side and the EU for his intransigence.

[03] Studies under way to transmit electricity to the occupied areas from Turkey.

[04] Eight Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot and Turkish organizations demand solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN resolutions for Cyprus.

[05] YENIDUZEN publishes a public opinion poll showing that the 84% of the Turkish Cypriots support the accession to the EU. -

[06] KTOS:"We say no to the state terrorism".

[07] The Patriotic Unity Movement called on Denktas to stop being intransigent.

[08] A bi-communal festival will be held on 13 April.

[09] Deputy resigns from DLP.

[10] Former Turkish Deputy appeals to European Court on her political ban

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] The level of unregistered economy in Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Written statement by Rauf Denktas to justify his delaying tactics

In his statement Rauf Denktas repeated that he had mentioned June as a target date when it was decided to start the talks in December, and added: "When setting this date, I thought that some serious progress can be achieved until June since there were already pages of proposals and no aspects of the Cyprus issue that had not already been assessed. I also thought that we would be able to determine until June whether the possibility of a solution exists in the event that there is an agreement on the main principles of the target and solution".

Recounting that the Cyprus issue is not a soccer game and that the talks under way are extremely complex, Denktas added that the talks concern the future of 700,000 Greek Cypriots and 200,000 Turkish Cypriots with a direct impact on the peace and stability in eastern Mediterranean.

Denktas continued: "It is impossible to accept to continue with the talks under pressure to find a solution by June". Explaining that the UNSC term president said that a comprehensive solution will take into consideration all the UNSC resolutions, Denktas added: "It was agreed with Clerides when preparing the statement on 4 December that there will not be any preconditions at the talks and that there will be freedom to raise every issue on the table. There was no agreement, however, that the comprehensive solution will take into consideration the UNSC resolutions. Pointing out that such an approach runs contrary to the agreement on not having any preconditions, Denktas said that the third round of talks will continue within the framework of the principles agreed upon on 4 December.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader is trying to blame the Greek Cypriot side and the EU for his intransigence

Denktas further said the Greek Cypriot press is disseminating reports and propaganda claiming that the talks are not progressing positively and that the Turkish Cypriot side is not responding to the openings of President Glafcos Clerides satisfactorily. Noting that Athens is also part of this propaganda, Denktas added: "The Greek Cypriots are leaking so-called confidential reports in order to show to the world their reasons for pessimism".

Alleging that Verheugen has adopted a totally pro-Greek Cypriot approach, Denktas said: "Verheugen proved this by his statements, which say that the intransigence of the Turkish Cypriot side by not responding to the new openings of the Greek Cypriots will not prevent them from being EU members. There is one thing, however. There will not be any agreement on any issue before reaching an agreement on every issue. I want to underline this. While the talks are under way, it means that those who make such propaganda do not want a compromise. The side, which is sincere in its desire for a compromise, continues the talks, notes down the factors on which there can be an agreement, makes evaluations about the points on which agreement has not been reached yet, and tries to negotiate how these difficulties can be overcome".

Responding to other Greek Cypriot reports, Denktas said: "The Turkish Cypriot side is calling on the Greek Cypriots to set up a new partnership. This is the greatest opening. This partnership will be protected within the framework of the 1960 agreements and, in this way, a superior authority will be created whose name will be given later. This authority, in turn, can become EU member".

Stressing that the Turkish side will insist on the principle of two sovereign states, Denktas said: "We do not erase the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, but we propose to give this republic's authorities to a superior authority together with the authorities of the Greek Cypriots. What do they expect? Do they expect that we will be incorporated into the Greek Cypriot republic?"

Further alleging that the Turkish Cypriot side had proposed a middle way about the constitution and federal centre but that the Greek Cypriots had refused it, Denktas said that the demand about the exchange of territory and property-assets and compensation was a demand that had been made in the very past and it had been approved by the UN Security Council. Denktas said: "The reason for their anger and negative interpretation of this is because they seek to spread into the whole of the island. They have never given up the policy of having all the Greek Cypriots return. They believe that they will be able to do this. They should know, however, that this attitude makes a Cyprus solution impossible. Our approach is one of harmony, which will not force people to migrate, will not create danger again, and will honour the bizonal principle".

In reply to a question on Greek Cypriot press reports that de Soto will bring new proposals, Denktas said: "A person who is a goodwill mission official does not bring proposals as long as the sides do not want him to do it. Alvaro de Soto is only assisting the two sides and he is not intervening". Denktas further expressed the belief that de Soto will not give up this approach.

In reply to a question about the reports that the United States and Britain will put pressure for completion of the process of talks in June, Denktas said: "They have made Palestine and Israel reach an agreement by allegedly putting pressure. Now, there is much bloodshed and nobody can say stop. We cannot go anywhere with pressure. There cannot be a forced marriage. This is a political marriage. This is a political marriage of two sides, which split up after a bloody feud. Naturally, there should be a formula which will not allow a possible return to before 1974. Our sovereignty, the motherland's guarantee, and exchange of property lie on the basis of this formula".

[03] Studies under way to transmit electricity to the occupied areas from Turkey

The project, aiming to carry electricity from Turkey to the areas of Cyprus occupied by the Turkish army since 1974 and then to the free areas of Cyprus through energy lines beneath the sea, will be put into implementation.

Sources said on Monday that agreement was made to launch studies for the sale of electricity from Turkey to the pseudostate and the Cyprus Government within the scope of the improvement of economic relations between Turkey and Greece.

The feasibility studies are under way to fix the investment costs of the project of cables that will be laid beneath the sea between Anamur and occupied Kyrenia. If the project is found feasible, Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEIAS) will fulfil the project on behalf of the so-called Cyprus Electricity Administration (KIBTEK).

A Turkish delegation which illegally visited the occupied areas in recent days had reached a pre-agreement with "Cyprus Electricity Administration" about the preparation of the project for laying cables beneath the sea.

TEIAS will undertake the investment and the necessary finance of the project if the project is found feasible.

Underwater cable construction will be made through an international tender. Besides Turkish companies, some Italian, British and French companies are expected to take part in the tender, reports Ankara Anatolia.

[04] Eight Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot and Turkish organizations demand solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN resolutions for Cyprus

The paper writes that the eight trade unions, which participated in the 1st regular General Assembly of the Confederation of Turkey's Public Servants (KESK) in Istanbul, are the following: Cyprus Workers' Federation (PEO), Cyprus Workers' Confederation (SEK), Trade Union of Public Servants (PASYDY), Trade Union of Turkish Cypriot "Public" Servants (KTAMS), Federation of Revolutionary Workers Trade Unions (DEV-IS), Trade Union of Turkish Cypriot Teachers (KTOS), Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers Trade Union (KTOEOS).

The eight trade unions note that: "as workers of Turkey and Cyprus we demand a peaceful solution of the problems between our countries, based on the decisions of the United Nations".

The joint statement stresses, among other things, the following: "All organizations signing this declaration support the decision taken by the Forum of all Cypriot trade unions and we note that this aims at finding an urgent and just solution based on the relevant UN resolutions, which will be realized by a federal and democratic system, within which the rights of all citizens will be fully respected and will be based on the High Level Agreements and the creation of a joint economy without any discriminations."

[05] YENIDUZEN publishes a public opinion poll showing that the 84 % of the Turkish Cypriots support the accession to the EU

Asked how much they support the accession of Cyprus to the EU the participants answered as follows: 60 % I fully approve it, 24 % I approve it, 8.1 % I have not decided, 1.4 % I do not approve it, 2.4 % I definitely do not approve it, 3.7 % I have no opinion, 0.3 % no answer.

Furthermore, to the question "under which circumstances do you support the accession?", the participants in the poll answered as follows: 49 % with the solution, 23.8 % after the solution and together with Turkey, 12.5 % by applying again after the solution, 11 % accession at once, 1.7 % never, 1.5 % no answer.

[06] KTOS: "We say no to the state terrorism"

In order to protest the trial the organization will be making tomorrow a 24-hours strike in all schools in the occupied part of Nicosia.

Furthermore, KTOS issued yesterday a statement under the title "We say no to the state terrorism", in which it notes that the occupation regime tries to silence all the supporters of peace by exerting psychological pressure on them and by describing them "traitors and friends of the Greeks".

[07] The Patriotic Unity Movement called on Denktas to stop being intransigent

Referring to the statement of the President of the Security Council that called on the two sides to accelerate the negotiations and to show political will, Keskiner accused Denktas that he tries to gain time by describing this message as a "pressure".

[08] A bi-communal festival will be held on 13 April

The General Secretary of RTP Youth Branch, Mr Erbay Akansoy, in a press conference held yesterday, said that because of the condition of taking permission from the so-called Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence, only those who will be in the list of the pseudo-ministry and will show their "TRNC" identity card will be able to participate in the festival.

[09] Deputy resigns from DLP

The DLP, with 136 deputies, was the largest party in Parliament after the 1999 elections; but eight of its deputies have since resigned from the party, and two have died. Meanwhile, independent lawmaker Bekir Gundogan, from the eastern city of Tunceli, and defunct Virtue Party (FP) deputy Evliya Parlak joined the DLP ranks after the elections.

Sezer served the country as the forestry minister before the 1999 elections, during the DLP-led minority government administration. It is rumoured that Sezer was disappointed when he was not named as a minister in the current Cabinet.

According to rumours, Sezer may join forces with former Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan to form a new party.

[10] Former Turkish Deputy appeals to European Court on her political ban

The FP was closed by the court because of its anti-secular activities, while Ilicak was barred from politics because of her contribution to these acts, such as supporting the FP's former headscarved deputy Merve Kavakci, who was also barred from political life and who entered Parliament with her headscarf, drawing reactions of secular sects in Turkey.

Claiming that she was paying the bill of Kavakci, Ilicak said in her application to the European Court that she was not a threat against the secular Republic and added that the Constitutional Court violated European Human Rights Convention's articles arranging the freedom of thought and organization.

Ilicak stressed that she could never obtain full information about the allegations against her and said her right to a fair trial had been violated for this reason. According to Ilicak, the Prosecutor took only a speech by her on the headscarf issue and her entrance to Parliament with headscarved Kavakci, as the basis of his allegations.

Noting that headscarved women should also be represented in Turkish Parliament, Ilicak stated that she had joined the FP with the assumption that this party would draw the different poles nearer. Ilicak claimed that there was no law banning the entrance of women deputies wearing headscarves into Parliament, saying that supporting the annulling of the headscarf ban would not mean a will to destroy the secular Republic.

Ilicak also criticized the FP for not defending her at the Constitutional Court. She said she went to a high school run by Catholic nuns and had had university education on Political Science in Switzerland, adding that she was supporting democracy and pluralism in Turkey, and so could not be a threat to the secular Republic.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] The level of unregistered economy in Turkey

"The definition of 'unregistered economy' is:

'Although active in the production of goods and services, not measurable by conventional methods and thus not recorded in the measurements of Gross National Product (GNP).'

Unregistered economy and unreported employment assists tax evasion and thus lowers costs.

The unregistered economy also helps the employment of illegal immigrants.

The level of unregistered economy is estimated to be 45 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Turkey, whereas the same percentage is between 7-19 percent in the European Union.

Thus, it is clear that only half of the economy is registered in Turkey.

It is estimated that the cost of the unregistered economy was $20 billion in uncollected taxes in 2001.

In fact, with the addition of the economic crisis, the share of corporate tax in all collected taxes fell from 10.5 percent in 1999 to 8.9 percent in 2000, and the share of income tax fell to 23.4 percent in 2000 from 33.3 percent in 1999.

The level of unreported labour is also estimated to be 15 percent of the total labour force in the cities.

It is also nearly impossible to register the labour force in the agricultural sector.

The labour force in agriculture is almost totally unregistered. The factors creating an attractive climate for 'unregistered economy' are as follows:

1) The share of agricultural labour force in the total labour force is 42.3 percent, but the share of agriculture in the GDP is only 13.5 percent!

2) The Turkish population is the 15th 'youngest population' in the world. People between the ages of 15-64 make up 64.2 percent of the total population.

3) Immigration to big cities from rural areas is still high. The increase of population in the urban West was 22 percent between 1990 and 1997.

4) There is terrible income distribution in the country. The share of the richest top 20 percent of the population of the total income has risen from 49 percent in 1988 to 54.6 percent in 1994. Whereas the poorest 20 percent share has decreased from 5.4 to 4.9 percent for the same years. The urban West is 3.5 times richer than the rural East.

5) Turkey comes 33rd in terms of competitiveness among 75 countries. The textile exports of the country, which make up 24 percent of total exports, have risen by only 0.5 percent in the last four years.

6) Turkey is the leader of 'inflation rates' in the world. -- It is possible that this is the only world leadership Turkey enjoys! -- Inflation is at around 68.5 percent in Turkey, as opposed to the 2.3 percent EU average.

7) Turkey comes third in the world with regards to 'bribery.' 8) And finally, the most important factor for 'unregistered economy' in my eyes is the level of productivity!

Among the 21 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) the level of productivity is lowest in Turkey. In comparison, the level of productivity is 4.21 times higher in Belgium than it is in Turkey. The same ratios are: 3.72 for Italy, 3.65 for Ireland, 3.18 for Spain, 2.17 for Greece, 2.13 for Portugal and 1.27 for Hungary!"

KV/SK

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