Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-09-11

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey sticks to guns over Cyprus, EU force.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader briefed the leaders of the political parties on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

[03] Former State Minister suggests that the EU should be given observer status in the Cyprus problem.

[04] Turkey and the pseudostate sign so-called Tourism Cooperation Protocol.

[05] One more bank is about to go bankrupt in the occupied areas.

[06] One more fire in a forest in the occupied areas.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Turkish columnist calls on Turkey to withdraw its application for EU membership.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey sticks to guns over Cyprus, EU force

"Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem ceded no ground to the European Union on Monday in disputes over Cyprus and a new EU common defence policy.

Brussels wants Ankara to put pressure on the Turkish Cypriots to return to U.N.-mediated talks aimed at resolving the decades-old partition of Cyprus, made more urgent by Nicosia's fast progressing negotiations for EU membership.

It also wants Turkey to drop its veto on granting the EU's planned rapid reaction force automatic access to NATO assets for operations where the alliance as a whole is not engaged.

"I underlined to our colleagues...that they should look into Cypriot matters not from the surface, not by cliches and not by prejudgements as to bad guys and good guys...but very thoroughly," Cem told reporters after talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit earlier backed Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas/ refusal of a U.N. invitation to resume Cyprus peace talks in New York this week.

Denktas has boycotted the talks since late last year, demanding to be acknowledged as an equal of President Glafcos Clerides, head of the internationally recognised government of Cyprus which is now in EU accession negotiations.

Asked whether Turkey's tough stance might damage its own ambition to join the EU, Cem said: "We will never make a correlation between Cyprus and the EU and will never change our policies on either because of the other."

Military row

Cem said Ankara was working on a compromise on EU access to NATO assets, although Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, who met him on Sunday, said he detected "no new elements" in the Turkish position. "We are now trying to work out some modalities which will answer most of the EU's expectations in a way that does not mean Turkey plays the part of a country not conscious of her interests, which just gives away whatever she has," Cem said.

"Hopefully we will find a way out, but if we don't it will not be the end of the world for anybody," he added.

NATO member Turkey insists on having a full say in decision-making in the future EU force. The EU says this would be unacceptable for non-member countries like Turkey.

Michel said it was possible that an EU summit in December could declare the first elements of the force operational even without Turkish agreement on access to NATO resources.

"When they (the EU) ask for assets and capabilities which we have contributed so much...of course we want our interests to be looked after," Cem said.

"But this should not hurt our relations with the EU. Turkey believes it is in our interests to be included," he said. Cem later held talks with European Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen on Turkey's aspirations to join the wealthy 15-nation EU.

Verheugen told Cem that Turkey would need to make substantial reforms of its constitution in order to meet EU accession requirements. He also pressed Cem over Turkey's alleged human rights abuses, prison reform and curbs on media freedom.

Turkey is one of 13 candidates seeking EU membership but has yet to open accession talks due to the Cyprus issue and the concerns over its human rights record."

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader briefed the leaders of the political parties on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem

Alleging that the negotiations cannot begin without finding a common ground first, Denktas said: " In order to arrange a new date for resumption of the talks, a common ground must first be found. We are not going to the talks by saying that the date is wrong. We are not going, because there is no common ground."

After the meeting the party leaders of the National Unity Party, the Democratic Party and the Nationalist Justice Party repeated their support to Denktas. On the other hand, the Communal Liberation Party and the Republican Turkish Party called once again on Denktas to return to the negotiation table.

[03] Former State Minister suggests that the EU should be given observer status in the Cyprus problem

He said that the latest developments in the Cyprus problem raised the question that the existing disagreements in the Cyprus problem could after decades rekindle again in a dangerous manner. This should make every sensible person to think. He stressed that one can easily see that this course, where all the involved parties will be the losers, should not be allowed to continue further.

He said that the necessary movement in the Cyprus dispute should be in the direction of a realistic and viable settlement based on the right diagnosis with a common and courageous vision.

Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik stressed that the basic reason in the Cyprus knot, which is moving towards a dangerous point, is that from the very beginning the directly involved sides and indirectly involved countries, chose the easiest path of the problem.

He then suggested that for the solution of the Cyprus problem a path should be found to determine the real parameters of the issue.

He said that the substance of the Cyprus dispute is of being one of the two disputes between Turkey and Greece the other being the Aegean issue. «Unless these two disputes are settled in a manner acceptable to both sides, no one including the EU will be at ease», Irtemcelik declared.

«Settlement to the Cyprus and Aegean disputes should be searched in parallel with talks held between Greece and Turkey. Without any doubt the EU with its policy regarding the Cyprus problem, may already have disqualified itself. However, if the sides agree either the USA or an international personality can contribute to facilitate this process (talks between Greece and Turkey). One may consider giving the UN and the EU the observer status. It is obvious that it is necessary that both sides on the island should take part in the Cyprus negotiations», Irtemcelik noted.

When asked how the Cyprus government will face this proposal, Irtemcelik said: «We know that the chances are very slim that the Greek Cypriot-Greek side, which think that they are getting nearer to their objective will show interest in this kind of `way outs/.

However, one should not forget that real statesmanship dictates that one should not be carried away with the attraction of the short term daily successes but should think on a long term basis. The history is full of examples that like individuals, states as well, could be losers, at a moment when they think that they will be the victors».

[04] Turkey and the pseudostate sign so-called Tourism Cooperation Protocol

Addressing the meeting, Denktas said that contrary to Turkey the year 2001 was a bad year for the occupied areas in the field of tourism, adding that the rate of occupancy in hotels was 30 percent. Noting that this was the worst season in ten years in the field of tourism, Denktas said that initiatives were launched for the last three months in order to rectify the situation. Denktas continued: Instead of hiding behind excuses, we continued our activities while targeting the Turkish markets. Noting that the "Ministry" aims at attracting more tourists from Turkey to the occupied areas, Denktas said that they have various projects for next year.

Tasar, in turn, expressed his pleasure over being in Cyprus with the aim of developing Turkish-pseudostate cooperation in the field of tourism, adding that progress has been made in the topics of cooperation covered in the tourism cooperation protocol signed between Turkey and the pseudostate in 1997. He expressed full confidence that this protocol, which has been renewed during his current visit, will further increase the existing cooperation.

[05] One more bank is about to go bankrupt in the occupied areas

While some depositors have been told that they would get their money as soon as the period of their deposit account matures, others who have deposit accounts the period of which has already expired were told that all payments have been stopped.

[06] One more fire in a forest in the occupied areas

According to the paper, there are some suspicions that the fire was a sabotage, as it started at seven different points at the same time.

KIBRIS also writes that the so-called «police» of Kyrenia have arrested 7 or 8 persons who were found in the forest. The fire was extinguished as a result of the efforts of firemen, soldiers and people who live in the area.

A big fire occurred in the area of the villages Trapeza and Limnitis a few years ago, destroying a large area of forest on the Pentadaktylos mountain range.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Turkish columnist calls on Turkey to withdraw its application for EU membership

«The European Union finally spilled the beans. Luxembourg Deputy Jeaque [name as published] from the EU Socialist Group drew up a report. This report was voted on and accepted by the majority.

According to this report, Turkey invaded Northern Cyprus. Cyprus will become an EU member, no matter whether Turkey and Northern Cyprus want it or not. If an agreement is not reached right away, Turkey's EU membership application will never be accepted.

Excuse

This report is the expression of what the EU has in mind. In our every article we expressed the view that the EU will not accept us and will not include us as a member. However, Turkey's politicians and statesmen, who lack wisdom, cannot comprehend this. They cause Turkey to lose time and money.

I think there are two reasons why they accepted our application as a candidate EU member (I think they will not accept us). The first reason is to have us allow the usage of the Kurdish language and the other languages, in order to divide Turkey and to create a cultural mosaic leading to constant turmoil thereby making Turkey uneasy. The second reason is to take the control of Cyprus from Turkey and to pass it on to Europe.

First of all, they want to secretly come in and help the nourishment of separatism with the constitutional amendments. The new 37-article amendment package will cause Turkey many troubles. The inclusion of the statement "The official language is Turkish" allows for the usage of unofficial languages. This is a compromise made by Turkey and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP). With this [compromise], the PKK and its supporter, the EU, go one step forward.

The commitment to the application for EU membership will cause Turkey numerous troubles.

This shows Ecevit's lack of knowledge in politics, economy, and culture and his weakness as a statesman. EU membership has cost Turkey a lot.

According to the international agreements, EU's annexing Cyprus by force will cause disagreement between Europe and us and as a result will please the Greeks and the Greek Cypriots. That is to say, there is even a possibility for war at the end of this.

The Turkish politicians and statesmen are the individuals who created this environment. Ecevit and Yilmaz are especially responsible.

Cyprus Going

Denktas was the target in the disclosures of both the European Parliament and Verheugen, who is responsible for EU's expansion.

According to their disclosures, Denktas is the one who is incongruent and who obstructs reaching an agreement.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has given the necessary answer. However, the EU's effort to make the whole of Cyprus its member makes Turkey look like an invader that seizes other countries by force. And this has always been a reason for war.

In this case, the Greek Cypriots are on the same side as the Greeks, British, and the EU. If they [Greek Cypriots] manage to have the support of the United Nations, then Turkey will be left alone on its own in the world. It will be in the same shoes as Iraq, which invaded Kuwait. That is to say, Turkey will be a state that commits a crime and offence.

Immediate Measure

Turkey faces serious difficulties during these times of economic crisis, separatism, plunder, and stealing within the government; weariness and hopelessness among the people; and an international embargo and a threat of war.

For that reason Turkey should immediately withdraw its EU membership application and press for an honourable solution in Cyprus and if possible increase its security and defense measures. After gaining so much strength, the Greek Cypriots cannot be expected to reach an agreement [with the Turkish Cypriots.] Because they have the whole world's support. Then the only thing [for Turkey] to do is to withdraw the application for EU membership. We have no other legal basis or grounds.

KV/SK

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