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

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

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

No. 6/01 -- 9.1.01

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktash explains reasons for not attending proximity talks to US/ Moses.

[02] Denktash: ``Two equal states must be accepted if Cyprus talks are to continue''.

[03] Turkish envoy, Denktash send letters to Annan faulting latest UNSC resolution.

[04] 41 NGO/s prevented from marching, complain to UN.

[05] Talat on policy of integration.

[06] Foreign Ministers of Turkey, China sign Action Plan, discuss Cyprus.

[07] Protest march against ``action plan''.

[08] Integration in education.

[09] Talat visits Tziakourmas.

[10] Slovak ambassador congratulates Cosar.

[11] Zorlu Tore: A mistake to enter EU without Turkey.

[12] Saint Hilarion to be restored.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS.

[13] Columnist sees interruption of proximity talks on Cyprus, policy of integration.

[16] Turkey urged not to use Hatay as `Model/ for Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas Explains Reasons for Not Attending Proximity Talks to US' Moses Anatolia Agency (18:24 hours, 8.1.01) reports that Turkish Cypriot leader

Speaking to journalists following his meeting with Moses, Denktas said, ``the U.S. diplomat has told me that our continuing the talks is in favor of us and both sides should continue that talks, and I have explained why the path that the proximity talks had entered is unacceptable. Moses has not brought any proposal.``

When asked whether they had understood the reasons for withdrawal from the proximity talks, Denktas said, ``even if they understood, they will insist on inviting us to the talks. This is their mission. However, I suppose that they have understood some points.``

Noting that the U.N. Secretary General couldn`t set a date for talks yet, Denktas said he did not know whether the Secretary General was working on a new initiative, and that they would know it when Secretary General`s Special Representative to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto visited the island.

Meanwhile, Alfred Moses said that they came and were leaving in a friendly manner, adding that they had explained their opinions and listened to Denktas`s opinions.

Following his meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Moses will leave the island on Tuesday.

[02] Denktas: ``Two Equal States Must Be Accepted If Cyprus Talks Are To Continue''

The meeting with the US officials was also attended by Tahsin Ertugruloglu, ``foreign affairs and defense minister''; ``presidential secretary'' Ergun Olgun; Osman Ertug, ``under secretary of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministry''; Taner Etkin, ``political affairs adviser at the President's Office''; and Mustafa Evran, ``political affairs director at the President's Office''.

Moses and Weston refrained from replying to reporters' questions before the meeting. In response to Greek Cypriot journalists' questions, Denktas declared that the Turkish Cypriots will not continue the talks unless the existence of the pseudostate is accepted. Denktash declared: ``We will not say yes to a solution that does not recognize our state, our sovereignty, and our equality''.

In a related report, Ankara Anatolia at 16:16 hours on 8 January carries the following response by Denktas to a question on the ``TRNC's'' annexation into Turkey posed by a Greek Cypriot journalist: "You are misusing the word. We are further expanding our cooperation with Turkey. This is not annexation, it is the broadening of cooperation. If you are asking about division, this was an issue some time ago. Division was a thesis against enosis. If you present this thesis, if necessary we will also come up with the division thesis. However, for now, we have no such intention. I would like you to realize, however, that we will take a step to counter every step you take in connection with Cyprus."

[03] Turkish Envoy, Denktas Send Letters to Annan Faulting Latest UNSC Resolution

Turkey`s Permanent Representative to the U.N. Umit Pamir sent a letter to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Recalling the historical developments about the Cyprus issue, the letter referred to the Security Council`s decision, and claimed that ``nobody can identify the Greek-Cypriot administration as ``the government of Cyprus against historical, ethical and legal facts.''

``Recognition of Greek Cypriot administration as the government of Cyprus provides it with several advantages in political, economic and other fields. This creates a disadvantageous situation to the Turkish Cypriots,'' he said.

Meanwhile, a letter sent by Rauf Denktas to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said, ``the United Nations Security Council adopted a draft resolution on December 13, 2000, to extend mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus administration was described as the government of Cyprus. The draft resolution stressed that the UNFICYP would continue its mission on the island with the approval of this so-called government. The United Nations Security Council did not give place to the Turkish Cypriot side`s opinions in the draft law. Such a situation which do not reflect the facts on the island, is unacceptable.``

Denktas added, ``allegations saying that the arrangements in the Strovilia region changed the military status quo, do not reflect the facts. The last draft resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council, ignored the political equality of the sides, and existing political, judicial and practical facts. The last draft resolution do not facilitate United Nations Secretary General`s efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, and it made UNFICYP`s mission more difficult.''

[04] 41 NGO's Prevented From Marching, Complain to UN Anatolia Agency (14:08 hours, 8.1.01) reports that the forty-one

The demonstrators wanted to march to the so-called ministry of economy and finance but the ``police'' prevented them from using the road in front of the pseudo-assembly. Faced with this situation, the demonstrators first staged a sit-in and then marched toward the Ledra Palace check-point and complained to the UN officials there that "they were being denied their right to demonstrate."

Ali Gulle, leader of the Revolutionary Worker Unions, told the UN officials that "their right to strike and to demonstrate was being trampled on." He asked that their complaint be conveyed to the UN secretary general and to the world.

The UN officials on duty said that they would convey the union leaders' complaints and demands to the relevant authorities.

[05] Talat on policy of integration YENIDUZEN (4.1.01) reports that CTP [Republican Turkish Party] has reacted

Reacting to the subject matter article, Talat has said: "SABAH newspaper has made known the real intention behind the good news promised by Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, who has earlier said that we have entered the year 2001 with great hopes and that the year 2001 will be very auspicious for us.

In this way, the real intention became known behind TRNC President Rauf Denktas' withdrawal from the indirect talks and behind the introduction of the destructive 76-point economic package. This is nothing but the advancement of the policy of achieving integration between Turkey and TRNC by keeping the Cyprus problem unsolved.

The Action plan that Turkish State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel has referred to and which has been adopted by the Turkish Council of Ministers has exposed the real intention of local and foreign powers that are trying to raise the division of the island on the agenda by obstructing the solution of the Cyprus problem at a time when the Greek Cypriot sector has achieved progress regarding the EU accession conditions.

The UBP [National Unity Party]-TKP [Communal Liberation Party] coalition government, which has unconditionally accepted the coercive economic package, has put the Turkish Cypriot people before a coercive fait accompli with the introduction of an action plan approved by the Turkish Council of Ministers, thus endangering the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people.

This so-called action plan cannot solve any of the problems of the Turkish Cypriot people. On the contrary, this action plan will lead the Turkish Cypriot people toward destruction. This action plan aims at clearing Cyprus of the Turkish Cypriots, a fact that has become obvious with the remarks that Turkish politicians have made to the effect that 'Turks have strategic interests in Cyprus even if there were no Turkish Cypriots on the island'. This fact has also become obvious with the remarks that Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has made to the effect that 'even if Turkish Cypriots consent to the prospect of Cyprus falling into the hands of other forces, Turkey will not allow this to happen.'

According to this action plan, a tender will be put out in Ankara regarding a Water Master Plan project aimed at providing TRNC with water, thus regarding our country as another Turkish province and ignoring the existence of TRNC. This is not acceptable to us.

As a matter of fact, MTA [not further specified] has carried out studies in the past on subterranean water sources with the support of the Turkish and TRNC authorities. An agreement has earlier been signed on preparing a geological map of the island. The putting out of a tender through DSI [State Water Works] in Ankara regarding the water project at a time when there were plans to transfer the responsibility of carrying out the project to TRNC reflects the lack of Turkey's serious approach toward the issue.

Meanwhile, Dervis Eroglu and Mustafa Akinci, who seek to lengthen the period of their stay in power, have capitulated to Rauf Denktas' plans on reviving the integration process with the help of the subject matter action plan. Eroglu's and Akinci's endeavor in this regard is unacceptable.

The policy of integration between Turkey and TRNC that gained momentum following the Luxembourg decision in 1997 cannot contribute anything toward the solution of the Cyprus problem. On the contrary, this policy will drag TRNC to the most severe economic, democratic, and political destruction in the history of the country. We therefore reiterate the fact that the efforts exerted toward reviving the integration project will serve neither the interests of Turkey nor those of TRNC.

According to the subject matter action plan, TRNC citizens will be allowed to register property in their names in Turkey without the need to get residency permits. TRNC citizens will also benefit from all the rights recognized to Turkish citizens in Turkey. All these factors indicate that there are plans to create a territory in north Cyprus that is free of Turkish Cypriot citizens.

We would like to announce that we regard as an insult Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's remarks to the effect that 'even if Turkish Cypriots consent to the prospect of Cyprus falling into the hands of other forces, Turkey will not allow this to happen.' We consider it beneficial to reiterate this fact.

This is our country in the true sense of the word. The Turkish Cypriot people have lived on this island for centuries and will continue their existence on the island. Moreover, Turkish Cypriots will never allow their land to fall in other powers' hands. This land cannot be considered a homeland without the Turkish Cypriot people's existence on the island even if this land serves the strategic interests of others without the existence of the Turkish Cypriot people on this land."

[06] Foreign Ministers of Turkey, China Sign Action Plan, discuss Cyprus Anatolia Agency (12:04 hours, 8.1.01) reports that Turkish Foreign Minister

Sources said that during the talks Cem conveyed the views of Turkey to China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, about the Cyprus question.

Cem said that the officials of the two countries have to be in consultation regarding Cyprus within the scope of the U.N. and Chinese side also welcomed that.

[07] Protest march against ``action plan'' According to YENIDUZEN (8.1.01) the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) is to

According to the statement issued by the RTP General Secretariat, the march is to protest the misconception that ties up the Turkish Cypriot existence to that of the 350 million US dollar credit.

In order to symbolize the Turkish Cypriot determination to continue its existence and extending its roots on the island, the protestors will carry ``olive seedlings''. The olive seedlings will later on be planted.

The RTP officials said: ``The policy followed by the ruling forces to impose the Economic Package, to break off the Cyprus talks, and to facilitate the progress of the Greek Cypriot side/s unilateral EU membership with a partitionist (taksim) mentality will seriously endanger the Turkish Cypriot people/s existence on the island''.

The RTP officials called on everybody to assume their responsibilities.

[08] Integration in education CUMHURIYET (9.1.01) reports that Turkey and the occupied area have prepared

The reports claims that the integration is geared to increase the quality of education in the occupied area, to the better teaching of the Turkish History and of the events that happened in the recent past, to develop the national spirit and to have better conscience towards history.

CUMHURIYET says that the report about the plan is being kept secret. According to the plan which embraces 32 thousand students and 150 education establishments in the occupied area, these will be part of the Turkish educational system.

Within this framework, Turkey/s Middle East Technical University (METU) will establish a campus in the occupied area and teaching in this campus will commence by 2003.

Teachers will be trained in the occupied area.

As a first step of the integration, university students in the occupied area will no longer be allowed to wear a headscarf.

With a view to harmonizing the carriculum in the occupied area to that of Turkey, Turkish experts will be dispatched to the so-called education ministry in the occupied area and technical assistance will be provided. The cooperation between the two education councils will be further strengthened.

The so-called East Mediterranean University, the ``Kyrenia American University'', the ``Lefka European University'', the ``International Cyprus University'' and the ``Near East University'' will operate within Turkey/s Higher Education Council system.

The METU campus in the occupied area will be called ``METU-TRNC campus'' and its Ankara Campus will be called METU - Ankara Campus.

[09] Talat visits Tziakourmas KIBRIS (9.1.01) reports that a delegation from the Republican Turkish Party

Talat said that he continues his initiatives to visit also Turkish Cypriot Omer Tekoglu who was arrested by the Greek Cypriot authorities for drug trafficking. Talat asked from Tziakourmas to keep his spirits high adding that they make efforts to set both of them free.

[10] Slovak ambassador congratulates Cosar YENI DEMOKRAT (9.1.01) reports that the Slovak ambassador to Cyprus Duzan

[11] Zorlu Tore: A mistake to enter EU without Turkey According to HALKIN SESI (9.1.01) the leader of the Nationalist Justice

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriots will not go anywhere without Turkey, Tore added that it will be a mistake to enter EU without Turkey.

[12] Saint Hilarion to be restored According to KIBRIS (8.1.01) the so- called Antiques and Museums Department

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[13] Columnist sees Interruption of Proximity Talks on Cyprus, Policy of Integration

``The recognition of Turkey as an EU candidate was expected to facilitate the solution of the Cyprus problem. However, the opposite happened. A deadlock was reached in the talks, regardless of the spring atmosphere between Turkey and Greece. The indirect talks, which were held under the auspices of the UN Secretary General, were interrupted when the Turkish Cypriot side walked out. The TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] Republican Assembly supported Rauf Denktas' decision to abandon the negotiations.

Turkey and the TRNC are now taking steps toward integration. If that trend is maintained, Ankara might adopt a model similar to the one it adopted to annex Hatay in the past. It might then say that the TRNC has become one of Turkey's provinces. But, that will create a significant international reaction.

Ankara must carefully consider the decision it might make. No one can create a threat to the people of Turkish and the TRNC for the sake of emotional satisfaction and meaningless geopolitical fantasies. Ankara must carefully consider the consequences of creating problems in the bargaining process for the sake of realizing the policy of partition. What is more important is that Turkey must adopt a realistic policy on Cyprus. Each ministry cannot have its own policy on the problem.

If our problem is to safeguard the interests of the Turkish Cypriots and provide security for them, then we must realize that we cannot achieve our objective by disputing with the entire world. However, if our objective is to have a base in Cyprus to provide security for Turkey, then we can hold talks to achieve our objective. Nothing can be achieved if we walk out of the talks, create problems in the negotiations process, and maintain the policy of integration. So, the officials, including the Prime Minister, must carefully consider the statements they make.

Turkey owes its presence in Cyprus to the Turkish Cypriots. We can maintain our presence on the island as long as they want us to do so. Our presence there will be unlawful the minute they decide that they do not want us on the island. We would then not be able to convince anyone to justify our presence by claiming that we have to provide security for the installations in Ceyhan and defend ourselves against possible attacks from the Middle East. We must realize that the era in which territories were occupied or annexed does not exist anymore. We must also realize that we can use the 1960 London and Zurich Agreements to support our case only if the effort made to find a solution is maintained.

It is a fact that the Greek Cypriots do not want the problem to be solved, the Western countries do not like us, and the atmosphere in the UN organization is against Turkey. Considering all that, we must maintain our struggle. We cannot win if we create an opportunity for those who are against us to believe that their approach is justified. We must prove that they are wrong. We must maintain a consistent policy without making concessions from our main position. While we argue that "the Greek Cypriots want to persuade the world to agree that the Turkish Cypriots are a minority community," we must avoid making nonsensical remarks, such as "we can maintain our presence on the island even if the Turkish Cypriots do not want us to do so."

At this point, I want to suggest that the UN Secretary General's non-paper, which made the Turkish Cypriot side walk out of the talks, should be calmly studied again. Several points might definitely be found in it for an agreement if it is studied with goodwill. After all, the UN Secretary General's proposals are on the table to be debated. Even the suggestion that the property of the Greek Cypriots should be returned is not a final proposal. Paragraph 14 linked the amount of property to be returned to the territory to be given back and the compensation to be paid to the Greek Cypriots.

Turkey might not be able to join the EU even if it agrees to give the island to the Greek Cypriots as a whole. However, it must find a way to get rid of the problem the island has created for it, regardless of whether or not it joins the organization. No matter how justified Turkey's intervention in Cyprus was in 1974, we cannot persuade anyone to agree that we are right if we abandon the talks. Obviously, Turkey cannot be forced to withdraw from Cyprus. However, it can be forced to pay the cost of maintaining an irreconcilable approach and failing to look ahead.''

[92] Turkey Urged not to Use Hatay as 'Model' for Cyprus Another commentary by Mensur Akgun in Yeni Binyil (Internet Version, 7.1.01)

``States generally draw lessons from their history.

When they plan to embark on a venture they try to estimate their chances of success by looking at the past. The belief that history is cyclical makes it easy to draw lessons from the past. Unfortunately most of the lessons drawn are wrong because the nonrecurring aspects of history outweigh its recurring aspects. The world is changing rapidly and any steps taken that fail to account for change plunge countries into disaster.

My intent is not to ruin your Sunday with doomsday scenarios, but whenever I hear the pretexts of Turkey's leaders not to solve the Cyprus problem I am inevitably reminded of the past and Hatay. I am concerned that our statesmen will take the settlement of the Hatay problem as a model for Cyprus. For this reason I want to outline briefly the Hatay problem and its settlement and to point out differences between 1939 and 2001.

As is known Hatay was ceded to Syria in accordance with a treaty signed with then mandate power France on 20 October 1921. Later that agreement was reaffirmed by the Treaty of Lausanne. Turkey "largely forgot" the Hatay problem until France and Syria signed an agreement on 6 September 1936 on ending the French mandate. Indeed a senior Hatay delegation that went to Ankara in 1935 had to return without being to see anyone in government.

After settling the Straits problem with the Montreux Convention on 20 July 1936 Turkey, having regained its self-confidence, used the provisions of the 1921 treaty calling for the protection of the rights of Turks in Hatay to demand from France negotiations on the French-Syrian agreement that ended the mandate. On 9 October 1936 Ankara sent a note to France demanding that Hatay be given autonomous status.

These exchange of notes and negotiations lasted until 29 may 1937 when a treaty that satisfied Turkey's demands was signed. Based on the provisions of that treaty an independent Republic of Hatay was declared on 2 September 1938.

However soon it became evident that this independence was just a show. In the general elections held in Turkey in March 1939 the president and prime minister of the Hatay Republic ran as parliamentary candidates from Antalya and Gaziantep. Soon afterwards, on 29 June 1939 the Hatay Parliament held its last session and decided to annex Hatay to Turkey. In other words the Hatay problem was settled in accordance with Turkey's wishes because of the favorable conditions of the time.

International tensions helped Turkey's interests at every stage of this process. Italy's invasion of Ethiopia, Germany's unification with Austria, and clear signs that World War II would break out made Turkey's job easier. The Montreux Convention gave Turkey strategic control of the Straits. As a result Turkey's friendship became a sought after commodity in the international community. That was the most important factor that led to the settlement of the Hatay problem in our favor.

In other words environmental factors played a bigger role in the settlement of the Hatay problem than Turkey's desire to own that province. Had Britain not supported us Hatay would now be a Syrian province. I underscore this to make those who compare Cyprus with Hatay to think about the issue of support, to make them see that conditions that warrant support for Turkey have not developed, and to make them realize that there is no state that will support Turkey.

Otherwise no one would be displeased with extra goods. I also want the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to merge with Turkey as Hatay did. However if the price for that will be high, if it will jeopardize Turkey's future, if it will block our prospective membership in the EU, and moreover, if the rights of Turks there and Turkey will be protected without a merger, I suggest to our leaders that they forget the example of Hatay. I also recommend that they read the book "How Hatay Was Liberated" by Abdurrahman Melek, Hatay's first and only prime minister. The book was published by TTK in 1966.''

From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/

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