Hamamboculeri.org: Alternatif Haber,Ingilizce, 27 Temmuz 2002
BBC
Papers divided over Cyprus
Quoted from BBC Web Site
Sunday, 21 July, 2002, 05:59 GMT 06:59 UK
Papers divided over Cyprus
Cyprus has been divided since 1974
On Saturday - the 28th anniversary of the partition of Cyprus - Greek
Cypriot papers revealed a desire to abandon wishful thinking and address
the realities of the Turkish occupation of the island's northern part, while
most mainstream papers in Turkey concentrated on the need for Turkey to protect
the interests of the north.
The English-language Cyprus Mail called for an end to rhetoric and hopes
for foreign assistance and advocated a realistic assessment of the issues.
"After 28 years it must be time to discard the empty rhetoric, official myths
and the wishful thinking and start to address the harsh realities in a rational
and pragmatic way."
The independent I Simerini said Cyprus must solve the problem itself.
"Today's sad anniversary must not be limited to attributing responsibilities.
Today's anniversary must reinforce us with decisiveness to overturn the occupation.
We must not allow Turkish threats and international interests to specify
our policy. We are facing the problem and we must be the ones who will find
those mechanisms that will bring us out of the tragic deadlocks. The liberation
of the country is primarily our own affair, and then that of others."
The centrist Alithia called for conciliation with the Turkish side.
"Despite the deep wounds of the invasion we all understand the need to approach
the Turks and search for a common formula that will bring us together under
the same umbrella in a state with respect between one community and the other."
Papers of the hard left and right were united in their anti-Turkish rhetoric.
The leftwing Kharavyi, which is the mouthpiece of the Restorative Party of
the Working People, condemned the "invasion, the continuing occupation, Turkey's
expansionist policy, the policy of integrating the occupied areas, and the
systematic destruction of the cultural heritage."
The hardline nationalist I Makhi said: "Twenty eight years later our people
continue to stand imperious and look the beast in the eye. The conditions
are even more difficult and the horizon grey... There are many obstacles
and great difficulties. But, we can overcome the difficulties united and
win with wisdom. Attila is not unbeatable. The wrath of the Greeks is unbeatable!"
Turkish defiance
Turkish papers largely confined themselves to applauding the invasion.
The centrist daily Hurriyet noted the division in attitude to the anniversary.
"While 20 July is celebrated with joy in the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus, there is mourning with lowered flags on the Greek Cypriot side."
The Islamic fundamentalist daily Zaman applauded the invasion, quoting Turkish
Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas as saying, "If Turkey had not come, we would
have ended up in mass graves. Today there would be neither you nor your children."
The moderate pro-Islamic Yeni Safak echoed this sentiment.
The centrist daily Milliyet struck a more forward-looking note and quoted
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's call for the need to ensure equal rights for
both communities as the basis for any solution:
''The acceptance of the fact that the Turkish Cypriots have an equal right
to existence and rights will make a permanent solution possible in the Island."
BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates
information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet
from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.