Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-05-30

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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 National Security Council discussed the Cyprus problem.

[02] The three mistakes of the Turkish National Security Council in AVRUPA's view.

[03] Reactions by the Turkish Cypriot Press to Turkey/s NSC decision on Cyprus.

[04] Denktash comments on NSC decision.

[05] Denktash goes to Ankara.

[06] Talat criticizes Ecevit's proposal for the creation of two separate states in Cyprus.

[07] Eroglu expects Azerbaijan to recognize the pseudostate.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Turkish columnist describes `unpleasant developments/ over Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish National Security Council discussed the Cyprus problem

NTV (2 p.m.) reported that Gurel entered the meeting at 10:30 a.m. and came out at around 12:00 hours.

In a statement issued at the end of the meeting the Council said that it is out of the question to turn a blind eye to any fait accomplis which will open the door that will take the Turkish Cypriots to the dark period of pre-1974 which caused great pain to the Turkish Cypriots.

The statement says that economic measures taken earlier to strengthen the «TRNC» economy as well as the latest developments in the Cyprus problem were reviewed in detail.

The Council made the following observations: « It is the Greek Cypriot stance of not giving up the fixed idea of turning the island into Greek island and continuing its efforts and allegations that carry no legitimacy from the point of view of international agreements and law which is the underlying reason that the problems in Cyprus were not solved for the last 37 years.

It further said that in the island there exist two equal peoples and two equal sovereign states that represent their two peoples.

Finding a mutually acceptable settlement in Cyprus, is bound to the acceptance of the two equal sovereign states in the island. Any allegation to the contrary has achieved nothing and it is not possible to achieve anything in the future.

The existing two states is the starting point of any settlement. Accession of the Greek Cypriot Administration to the EU following its unilateral application contrary to the 1960 Agreements, will deepen the division in the island and give way to developments that will disturb peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Integration steps with the «TRNC» will be intensified and strengthened», the statement concludes.

CNN Turk Television (29.5.01) broadcast the following:.Important decisions were made at the National Security Council meeting today.?? A decision was adopted for Rauf Denktash to resume the proximity talks from which he had earlier withdrawn.?? Kemal Yurteri reports the following from the NSC backstage:..

?The primary item on the NSC agenda was the Cyprus issue.?? The NSC statement dealt in detail with the issue.?? According to information we have obtained on the meeting, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel submitted a detailed report on the Cyprus issue to the NSC members.?? He also briefed them on the issue.?? Turkey's policy was once again stated during the meeting.?? A unity of views on a very important issue was reached at the NSC meeting.?? Denktash had earlier announced that he was withdrawing from the Cyprus proximity talks.?? At the NSC meeting it was noted that this decision was used as a propaganda tool against Turkey especially by the Greek Cypriots and that Europe and especially the United States have been leveling criticisms on the issue.?? A unity of views was reached for the talks to be resumed after the current government vacuum in the `TRNC? is filled and after a new `government? is formed.?? The Cyprus proximity talks will probably be resumed after the formation of the new `government? in Cyprus.

However, illegal Bayrak radio (29.5.01) later denied the reports about a decision for Denktash to return to the proximity talks.

The report of illegal Bayrak is the following: ?It has been reported that the report, which says that the National Security Council [NSC] adopted a decision to have the `TRNC? resume the proximity talks, is unfounded.??? According to information obtained by the `BRT? correspondent in Ankara, the issue of the `TRNC/ resuming the talks was not placed on the agenda.

The statement released after the NSC meeting is in the nature of a message on the Cyprus issue.?? The NSC statement warns of the consequences of the Greek Cypriot administration's becoming a member in the EU and assessed the European Court of Human Rights decisions as political, finding them unacceptable.??

The mandate of the UN Forces in Cyprus [UNFICYP] constituted another important item on the meeting's agenda.?? The NSC meeting proposed to increase the reaction to the practice of adopting a decision on extending the UNFICYP mandate without consulting the `TRNC?.?? Calling for increasing the measures such as restricting the `border? passages, the NSC criticized the UN attitude disregarding the `TRNC? when extending the UNFICYP?.??

[02] The three mistakes of the Turkish National Security Council in AVRUPA?s view

The three mistake as cited by the paper are the following:

1. In the statement of the NSC it is projected that there are two equal sovereign states in the island. But there is only one state in the island which is recognized by the whole world.

2. The view of the NSC is that the Greek Cypriot side does not carry legitimacy in accordance with international agreements and laws. But all the international legal institutions and states of the world are of the opposite view.

3. The NSC alleges that if two separate states are not established in the island then peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean will encounter uncertainties.. Whereas the real danger is the establishment of two separate states. Two different states in the island means the settlement of Turkey in the north and Greece in the south. The NSC cannot see that!»

[03] Reactions by the Turkish Cypriot Press to Turkey`s NSC decision on Cyprus

Ortam: Under the title «Inconsistency»notes that «NSC established that Denktash`s decision for withdrawing from the proximity talks was for the benefit of the Greek Cypriots». The subtitle of the paper says: «Vital decisions were taken at a meeting where the Cypriots were not present. At Turkey`s National Security Council meeting the return of President Rauf Denktash to the proximity talks for Cyprus was decided».

KIBRIS: Under the head title «National Security Council (NSC) in Ankara discussed `Cyprus`» the paper writes that «We are not turning a blind eye to fait accomplis».

Yeniduzen: «The two states were supported in the announcement of TR NSC by saying that `North Cyprus` accession to the EU will make the division of the island` deeper».

Birlik: «NSC: The accession of the Greek Cypriots to the EU makes the division deeper». The subtitle of the newspaper is «It was stressed that there could be no return to the period before 1974 in Cyprus when the Turkish Cypriots suffered a lot and that we cannot turn a blind eye to any fait accomplis».

Vatan: Noting that Turkey «once again stressed her determination» writes that «The expected decision was taken by the NSC.»

Yeni Demokrat: «Important decisions by the NSC».

Kibrisli: «NSC: The sovereignty is a condition».

Halkin Sesi: Under the title «Never to the period before 1974!..», writes that «NSC discussed Cyprus and decided that the agreement depends on the acceptance of the sovereign equality of the two states...».

Avrupa: Under the title «Three mistakes of the NSC» writes that «Turkey`s National Security Council took wrong decisions that would lead the solution of the Cyprus problem into bigger impasses».

[04] Denktash comments on NSC decision

Mr. Denktash claimed that after the decision many people called him to express their happiness and gratitute.

[05] Denktash goes to Ankara

On the same day, that is on 6th June, Mr. Denktash will also speak about the Cyprus problem at Gazi University.

[06] Talat critisizes Ecevit`s proposal for the creation of two separate states in Cyprus

According to Yeniduzen (30.05.01), Mr. Talat characterised as «unbelievable» the fact that Mr. Ecevit decided alone about a new model for Cyprus and expressed the view that no one in the pseudostate says anything against this statement because they are expecting to take Turkey`s money and spend it for their own benefit.

Mr. Talat noted that the Turkish Cypriots have the right to rule themselves, adding that Turkey considers the pseudostate as her own «satellite state». «This is extremely dangerous and harmful», stressed Mr. Talat.

The Turkish Cypriot politician concluded by saying that those who should look in the mirror and get angry with themselves about Cyprus` EU accession are getting angry with others.

[07] Eroglu expects Azerbaijan to recognize the pseudostate

Speaking during the meeting Eroglu said that they regarded the Azerbaijani people as brothers and pointed to the developing relations between the two «countries».

``We have problems, so does Azerbaijan, such as Karabakh. We hope that both of these problems would be resolved,`` Eroglu said. ``Since the very beginning, we have been saying that there could be no agreement without the recognition of two equal states. If our friends like Azerbaijan recognize the «TRNC», the Greek Cypriot Administration and the EU will have to accept the reality. The Greek Cypriots are insisting on not recognizing us and they regard our land as their own. If they sit down on the negotiating table with a recognized state, that would bring us closer to an agreement.``

Guluzade indicated that Azerbaijan and the «TRNC» had similar problems and that the Turkish Cypriots were fighting against Enosis while the Azeri Turks were fighting against the Armenian occupation. Guluzade said the Azerbaijani government wanted to strengthen its friendship with the «TRNC». He said he wanted an integration with Turkey which is a big source of hope for them. He also remarked that the Baku-Ceyhan natural gas pipeline would bring Azerbaijan closer to Turkey.

Guluzade also said he believed his country would recognize the «TRNC» in the near future and pay its debt to the «TRNC»which is the first country to recognize Azerbaijan.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Turkish columnist describes `unpleasant developments/ over Cyprus

«The developments in the `TRNC/ may come as a surprise to many. However there is nothing surprising for anyone who has been following up on developments. I stated in my earlier articles that much will happen in connection with Greek Cypriot membership in the EU--an eventuality that is now a certainty. In my opinion we are still at the beginning of the road in terms of what will happen.

Today the division on the island of Cyprus is not only between the `TRNC/ and the Greek Cypriot sector. The Turkish Cypriots are also divided among themselves. There are divisions over relations with Turkey, what needs to be done to solve the Cyprus problem, and membership in the EU.

The personal bickering which we witnessed in the latest presidential elections and which was reminiscent of a meaningless quarrel in the captain's cabin of a ship caught in a serious storm was the icing on the cake.

The dispute over ways of extricating northern Cyprus from the deep economic crisis that has been largely imported from Turkey is only an extension of the issues mentioned above.

I wrote earlier that the initiative on Cyprus has passed from the UN to the EU. I argued that this is because the Greek Cypriot sector will soon become a member of the EU. Anyone who has followed the diplomatic traffic in the last few days would realize this. The latest unfavourable verdict passed by the European Court of Human Rights [ECHR] must be viewed in this context.

To state the problem more explicitly, today many realities associated with northern Cyprus are not known in Turkey. Nor is the government making any efforts to bring them out into the open. It would not do that because that would be against its own nature.

For example I have always been confused about the economic embargo that is maintained against northern Cyprus. I discussed this matter with a senior Turkish Cypriot `official/ a few months ago. What he said confirmed my suspicions. It is true that a very unfair and unjust international economic embargo has been imposed against the Turkish Cypriot sector. They can sell neither their citrus nor their famous halloumi cheese.

However imagine the total population and production capacity of northern Cyprus. Forget all of Turkey, Istanbul alone is a sufficiently large market for everything produced in northern Cyprus.

I asked the Turkish Cypriot `official/: "Why can you not find a market in Turkey for the goods you cannot sell to Europe?" He replied: "Mr. Idiz you touched upon a very sensitive issue. If this issue is researched a little some very interesting realities may be revealed."

What he said next gave me the impression that the `TRNC/ not only faces an embargo from Europe but has to struggle against an indirect embargo by Turkey.

EU officials are now telling Ankara emphatically and defiantly that "the failure to find a solution to the Cyprus problem would not prevent the membership of Cyprus in any way." They are also taking the steps that support this position. In other words the entire dynamic around Cyprus has been working against Turkey's interests recently. They will continue to do so because we have abandoned the playing field.

Two days ago I sounded out a EU ambassador. Commenting on what happened that day, he said: "We have no doubt that these have been organized by Ankara and Denktash." He went so far as to say that they see the bomb attack against the offices of the daily Avrupa in the same framework.

When I asked what basis he has for such serious allegations, he said with the same defiant attitude I mentioned earlier: "This is a presumption based on our experience." The answer was extremely arrogant but it demonstrated clearly what the Turkish side faces. With a perverse logic the same ambassador described the ECHR's recent decision against the Greek Cypriot sector for torturing and mistreating Turkish Cypriots as a "an unexpected blessing" for the Greek Cypriots. When I asked why with a surprised tone he said: "They will abide by the decision and will pay the court-ordered damages. Then they will tell you with one corner of their eye fixed on Europe: 'Here, this is how we are. How about you?' They are playing a very subtle game and have been winning points in Europe continually. In the meantime the Turkish side, which has withdrawn from the negotiating table, is not making any progress."

These are extremely unpleasant developments for the Turkish side. Let us see how the coalition between the National Unity Party and the Democratic Party--which hurled every possible insult at each other only a year ago--will overcome this situation. Let us see what strategy Ankara will formulate against these negative developments».

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