My biography;
Born in Nicosia Cyprus on 24 May 1937, eldest son of a poor family.
Elementary and secondary school education with many hardships and economic difficulties. Graduated from the English College with honours in 1955.
Worked as a bank clerk until 1958. Appointed in the Civil service and promoted to Inspector in the Ministry of the Interior until 1963 Dec. when intercommunal strife commenced in the island. Was appointed English news reader to work under the Turkish Cypriot Military command at the clandestine BAYRAK radio. Promoted to newswriter and commentator in 1967. Transferred to KIBRISIN SESİ radio in Southern Turkey 1969-71 as head of the English news desk. Returned to Cyprus Feb. 1971 to resume work at BRT radio/tv as English News Editor and commentator. Appointed Press and Public Relations Officer in the Foreign Ministry 1973.
Being a member of the TMT was called up for military service again in July 1974 when war broke out on the island after a short lived coup by the Greek Junta generals.
Discharged in August 1974 resumed as a journalist and worked for local newspapers, radio/tv stations after resigning from public service in 1977.
Editor at North Cyprus News Agency. Stringer to REUTERS news agency. Contributor to the CNN World Report until 1995. Invited to USA for higher education in journalism on a scholarship. Certificate of Merit and Award from the California State Polytehcnic University on Advanced Journalism.
Senior Lecturer at the European University of Lefke from October 1995 to 1997. Appointed Head of Press, Public Relations and Promotions Dept. 1998. Promoted to Press Counselor to the Rector Sep. 1999.
Have won 22 awards in Journalism, Award of merit from the EU after a 10-day programme in Brussels and Maastricht. Participated in Many overseas seminars, conferences as Chairman of the Cyprus Turkish Journalists Association. Organised several meetings with journalist colleagues in South Cyprus. Organised international seminars at the University.
As a sportsman, played table tennis, tennis and footall. Founded the C.T Football Referees Association 1962. Refereed many matches at home and abroad.
Founder member of the Cyprus Press Council. Founder of the Sportswriters Association and its first President. First T. Cypriot to be given International AIPS press card. Holder of indefinite Yellow Press pass of the state.
As a journalist attended many international events in Bonn, East Berlin, London, Brussels. Maastrıcht, Turkey, South Cyprus and covered border events for REUTERS and received appreciations.

Tel : 0392 7277362 (five lines) 0392 2276253
Fax: 0392 7277528, 0392 7277370
e-mail. ozcanhan@vuni.lefke.edu.tr

HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE MEDIA
Presentation by Özcan Özcanhan
Press Counselor and Director of Public Relations Dept.
European University of Lefke, Gemıkonağı TRNCWAPC Regional Seminar-Workshop
On Independent Functioning of Press/Media Councils,
7-9 Sept. 2000, Salamis Bay Conti Resort Hotel-Famagusta

I feel honoured and happy, to address such a distinguished audience.
I'd like to welcome you all and thank you for your choice of venue- The Turkish Republic of North Cyprus, for this seminar-work shop.
As is known, the United Nations General Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December, 1948.
Human Rights is an enermous subject, widely discussed, challenged, threatened... and violated on many occasions and in many parts of the world. Human rights is the common language of humanity. Human rights is a very serious matter in also international relations.
I'd like to start with very striking quotations from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
"Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. "and" No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of life"...

Many conferences, seminars and meetings were held on Human Rights.
Volumes and volumes have been written, documentaries and films have been made on human rights, since the Declaration of Universal Human Rights more than 50 years ago.
Member states of the United Nations have solemnly pledged to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, and to undertake individually and collectively actions and programmes to make the enjoyment of human rights a reality for every human being. Yet, many states have bad human rights records, where the media, also, suffers.
The media has played a very important role and continues to play that role in the dissemination of knowledge on human rights, publicity on violations or neglect of human rights anywhere in the world. It serves the promotion and protection of human rights.
However, one can cite examples of timid or hesitant media members and media organs in several countries where human rights are grossly violated.
Some papers, radio or tv stations refrain from printing or broadcasting blatant human right violations by police states, dictatorial regimes and administrations for the sake of their own skins or their own self interests.
Some fear the iron fist, while others fear losing revenues through advertisements they get... and losing other covert benefits. And the International news agencies, newspapers, radio/tv and institutions, such as REUTERS, AP, Ajans France Press, Tanjug, Intertass etc, BBC, CNN, RAU, ZDF etc.. have on many instances taken sides. Nonetheless they pose as the champions of human rights and work more than the local and national media for the upkeep of human rights.
It is a known fact that some brave media employees, editors and managers have fought hard against the violation of human rights, against racism and apartheid in South Africa, Indonisia, China, Vietnam, China, Korea, Turkey and other countries.. Some have joined civil rights as well as human rights campainers and many lost their jobs or lives.
Why?
Because, since the early 17th century and the French Renaeussance (liberty, equality, fraternity), the human being and rights for a secure, equal and respected life have occupied the agenda. Those against and those for the upkeep of the human being and a better life for all was not welcome in many circles. The media, during the initial campaigns for human rights had to go through hard times trying to convince rulers, land-lords and financiers to show respect for the common man in the street or in the fields, toiling for just bread and water.
Is the media, today, carrying its mission free of bias, fear or self interets? Generally speaking the media upholds human rights and the lofty principles of equality, security and respect for all humans. But, needless to name any country or government, this very day human beings are not treated at all, equally and like humans, in some parts of the world. And the media turns a blind eye, for obvious reasons.
We have seen the international media reportings about racism in South Africa, violations of human rights in China, sectarial killings in Ireland, ethnic cleansing in Chechenia, Sudan, Kosovo and Bosnia and in my own country, Cyprus. Very few , boldly reported atrocities and stood against violations of human rights and inhuman blockades...
In my own country, did you know that I am denied even the basic right to correspond with the outside world, to trade, to have direct air and sea links and to have sports with the youth of the rest of the world ?
All due to the embargoes by the Greek side and the countries that continue to treat South Cyprus as the legitimate Cyprus Republic and the Greek Cypriots as the legitimate government of the island. They, the Greek Cypriots, have no jurisdiction over the Turkish population here, but they have the cheek and the cruelty reminiscent to old ages, to deny the Turkish Cypriots their self determination and to live in peace in their own respective area.
Even today, attempts have been made by the Greek side, as you have mentioned at this workshop, to prevent this seminar taking place here in North Cyprus. They want North Cyprus to be isolated from the rest of the world and the people living here to be denied all human rights.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Did you know that any mail adressed to us here with Cyprus written on the envelopes will not reach us? That it will be witheld by the Greek Cypriot post office. Did you know that I cannot travel to any country directly? Did you know that Britain has introduced visa restrictions to the Turkish Cypriot people of this island whereas Greek Cypriots can travel freely to the UK and elsewhere?
Do I not have the fundamental rights to communicate, travel, trade and have sports with the rest of the world?
Where is the international media to voice my human rights. Why does it not expose the inhuman bans on my people. Why is the European Court of Justice a tool of the Greek Cypriot administration by banning its members from importing anything from North Cyprus?
Where is respect for my human rights? And where is the international media? For some media, the love affair of film stars and singers or their successes, is more important than violations of human rights and burials of hundreds of human beings in mass graves by their torturers... For the american media, the O. J. Simpson trial-he had allegedly murdered his wife and her lover- was top story for weeks, while thousands died of hunger in Ethiopia, Somalia etc... and while scores of people lost their lives under oppression and persecutions...
Of course, this platform is the ideal place for us to raise our voice. Because, no body in international fora listens to us, abroad. Please, forgive me, but I have to ask the rest of the world and the media, why do Turkish Cypriots have to suffer because of economic and political embargoes and because of the indifference of the media lords, at large, in this new millennium.
I wish to take this opportunity to complain also to the World Association of Press Councils the Greek Cypriot media who have launched a relentless and insulting ,slander campaign, malicious and unfounded reportings against our universities. And the chorus in their newspapers and media organs using unbelievable language on the internet against the Turkish Cypriots and their universities which are nothing but centres and homes of higher education. Can the WAPC do something about this behaviour of the Greek Cypriot media and violations of the press ethics and code? Can the WAPC caution or warn them? Would it not be a test for WAPC to try to stop the unseemly, unjust, inhuman, infamous publications in the Greek media?
I would like to conclude with my gratifications to Turkey and the Turkish governments who have enabled us through these years, to communicate, trade and travel via Turkey by providing us with the Mersin-10 code for mail, for allowing us to travel through their air and sea ports and most important of all by protecting our human rights with their military- as a guarantor power-and with their media.
The world media, in my view, has failed to a large extent, in upholding human rights without double standars. It is no secret that even the intenational media have acted on many occasions as if they were party to the events that they preferred to report in their own way and to suit their own interests.
The media has to be impartial, report objectively and has to uphold and protect human and other rights of peoples around the world and not only the rights of the powerful.
Welcome to the TRNC and have a pleasant stay here.
Thank you very much for being with us here today.
May God bless you all..