Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-11-08

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish politicians try to capitalize on their decision to send 90 soldiers to Afghanistan.

[02] American weapons for Turkey.

[03] Kutan sees annexation of the occupied areas to Turkey as the only solution of the Cyprus problem.

[04] KTOEOS: "Taking children to military manoeuvres is a disgrace for the humanity".

[05] Ertugruloglu is flying to New York for the UN General Assembly and OIC.

[06] Eroglu is going to Ankara.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Cengiz Candar comments on Turkey's current political dilemma over EU and Cyprus.

[08] Columnist in HURRIYET comments on Ismail Cem/s recent statements on Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish politicians try to capitalize on their decision to send 90 soldiers to Afghanistan

"No matter how serious our domestic crisis, we cannot make concessions from our path in foreign policy. The Cyprus problem, which has escalated with the inclusion of the Greek Cypriot sector to the first circle of the EU expansion process, is at the same time one of the most critical thresholds of Turkey's EU membership", stated Mesut Yilmaz.

He also said that it was extremely important for Turkey to be a direct player in the Afghan developments by sending troops to the region. He continued: "The steps we have taken will redetermine Turkey's position in the international arena".

[02] American weapons for Turkey

The Bush administration, which has received Turkey's support in the fight against terrorism, is preparing to send weapons to the Turkish Armed Forces as part of an aid package being prepared for Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday. The package reportedly contains arms including helicopters that the Pentagon wants either to donate or sell to Turkey at reasonable prices. The Pentagon is reportedly planning to donate to Turkey 25 helicopters that are surplus to requirements. In addition, Eximbank loans for the purchase of SH60 Seahawk helicopters by the Turkish Navy are reportedly going to be processed.

Efforts are reportedly underway to write off either the whole of a $5 billion loan for the purchase of arms or at least if not part of this loan then the interest. The latter two options are more likely, according to Congress sources.

In addition, the United States is working to facilitate the import of Turkish steel and textiles but Congress sources say that these efforts could still fall foul of local industry lobby groups. The parts of the package that require approval by Congress will be put before it in the weeks ahead. No opposition is expected.

[03] Kutan sees annexation of the occupied areas to Turkey as the only solution of the Cyprus problem

Talking yesterday in the city of Van, Mr Kutan said that in the light of the recent developments the opposition and the parties participating in the coalition government must meet in order to determine a national policy on the Cyprus problem.

Mr Kutan noted, among other things, the following: ".If Cyprus joins the EU, then our interlocutor will be the EU and not the Greek Cypriot part. The government must stop thinking that it can do whatever it wants because it has the majority in the parliament. If this is a problem of Turkey, we have to determine a policy in national unity and solve it. At this moment no other solution is seen except the annexation of Cyprus".

[04] KTOEOS: "Taking children to military maneuvers is a disgrace for the humanity"

In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Barcin stressed that KTOEOS is against any kind of violence and war and called on the parents to oppose such behaviors by the occupation regime.

According to Mr Barcin the children must be taught the virtue of peace, not the war.

[05] Ertugruloglu is flying to New York for the UN General Assembly and OIC

Erutgruloglu, who will attend the coordination meeting of Foreign Ministers of OIC as an observer, will have the opportunity to meet and exchange views with foreign diplomats, journalists and members of think tanks centers.

The paper also reports that the so-called representative of the pseudostate to New York will not organize any events on the15th of November for the anniversary of the declaration of the pseudostate due to the terrorist attack in New York.

Ertugruloglu is accompanied by the so-called General Director of the Foreign Ministry, Resat Caglar and the third Secretary Feyza Erkal.

[06] Eroglu is going to Ankara

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Cengiz Candar comments on Turkey's current political dilemma over EU and Cyprus

Neither Bulent Ecevit nor his heirs apparent, Ismail Cem and Sukru Sina Gurel, and all those Democratic Left Party Ministers, who have an eye on the Prime Minister's seat who felt that soon Ecevit will be sent to retirement, did get the necessary applause regarding their recent hawkish statements on Cyprus. When Cyprus was placed as a crossroad before Turkey: "either integration with the EU or annexation with the TRNC. This gave way to domestic and foreign objections".

He then quotes retired ambassador Yarim Eralp/s article at the www. haber turk.com, internet site regarding the Turkish government's statements on Cyprus, and his demand to call a referendum. Recalling Ataturk and Inonu/s stance at the Lausanne Peace Conference in 1923, Eralp says that, it is the nation who should decide since at present we do not have statesmen like Ataturk and Inonu. Eralp further belittles Turkey's "stock exchange" and brands it "stupid" because in the face of Cem/s statement, it remained unaffected. `Had Cem/s statement been uttered in a Western Country, its stock exchange would have been upside down/ Eralp stresses.

Cengiz Candar then goes on to explain how Ataturk and Inonu, at the Lausanne Peace Conference, gave up insisting on acquiring Musul, Batum and Western Thrace and was content with Turkey's present-day boundaries. Candar says that this was the result of Ataturk/s `realpolitik/.

"As Ataturk and Inonu the two political giants acted this way at the Laussane Peace Conference, how come and with what right the ` political dwarfs/ of present- day, see in them the power to endanger the interests of the Turkish Cypriot community and the Turkish people? With what right can they ask Turkey to foot the bill for their diplomatic defeat?

Perhaps they are bluffing since neither the Istanbul Stock Exchange nor the EU Commission nor Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, and nor the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Kasoulides took notice of their bluff. The scene is nothing but a `diplomatic misery/ deemed proper to the Turkish people".

Candar then refers to the UN Security Council resolution 541 adopted in 1983, and says: "As long as this resolution is in force, it is impossible to make any state to accept Turkey's and Rauf Dnektash/s confederal solution thesis, and as the case is, it is considered a dream to put an obstacle before Cyprus's EU accession".

Candar criticises Turkey's stance since 1998 for deviating from her federal thesis and adopting an uncompromising diplomacy, which will block her EU path.

"This is an impasse" Candar declared and says that Turkey will definitely remove this hurdles on her path and find a way out of this impasse. "After 11 September, the question before Turkey is not, `is it TRNC or the EU/ but to be a Middle Eastern country or to take her place in Europe?", concludes Cengiz Candar.

[08] Columnist in HURRIYET comments on Ismail Cem/s recent statements on Cyprus

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has not only said things were going wrong in Cyprus, but also emphasized that Turkey could be forced to make a historical decision.

Cem also made strongly worded remarks. He added that he believed Turkey should pay a price for Cyprus.

Had these comments been made during a private conversation or at the Parliament's lobby, they would have been interpreted differently.

Since these opinions have been voiced by the Foreign Minister in an address to the Parliament, they must be carefully and even thoroughly analysed.

What is going on? Are we abandoning our target to join the European Union?

If that is the case, it represents a very critical strategic decision.

If you describe it as a tactical step aimed at drawing attention to the crisis, you should carefully calculate the consequences of such steps escalating the tension especially if you are dealing with Europe. For, one could hardly claim that the EU always perceives messages correctly and gives the most appropriate response.

It would be wrong to anticipate that the Union, which comprises so many differing interests, could be brought into line by means of bluffs.

They may eventually call your bluff and that would be the end of the whole thing.

It is true that developments taking place in Cyprus are not promising at all. However, this is not something new.

As a result of persistent Greek policies Cyprus has become a European issue. Now, there are two separate processes related to Cyprus.

One of them is the UN process and the second one has been undertaken by the EU.

The EU has decided to grant Cyprus full membership status even if a solution has not been found. Thus, neither the Greek Cypriot side nor Greece takes the UN process into consideration any longer.

Under these circumstances, there is only one alternative left: to pull the Cyprus question into a new framework.

In fact, Cem's statement is a verbal acknowledgement that Turkey is in a difficult situation regarding the Cyprus issue. Would not, however, picking the EU as a target and giving an impression that Turkey could dispense with its vested rights delight the strong anti-Turkish lobby in Europe?

Would not it also offer them a justification to deny those rights, which have been gained as a result of a lengthy struggle, while keeping Turkey away from the EU on the grounds that Turkey does not accept a compromise and hinders a final solution in Cyprus?

As far as I can gather, Cem's strongly-worded remarks were also provoked by EU Commission President Prodi's visit to the Greek Cypriot side. Prodi is not going to visit Turkey although it is one of the candidates for membership. He has instead visited the Greek Cypriot side and made remarks which offended the Turkish side.

There is no doubt that Europe has made a mess of the Cyprus question just like other issues it has tried to handle.

Therefore, putting the emphasis on cooperation with Europe in order to solve the Cyprus issue no longer seems to be a viable policy.

Furthermore, the EU is in a state of total confusion especially regarding foreign policy and security since 11 September.

Stability in the Mediterranean is crucial to security of the rear lines of the battle against terrorism. It is highly unlikely that Washington has not arrived at this judgement.

It is clear that the United States should be convinced to intervene in the Cyprus question rather than staking the rights gained in Europe in connection with the Cyprus issue.

The time has come for asking Washington, which has said a Palestinian state was necessary for peace in the Middle East, to declare that a Turkish Cypriot state is indispensable to guarantee stability in Cyprus.

KV/SK

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