Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-11-23

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas/ adviser Ergun Olgun evaluates the forthcoming meeting of Denktas and Clerides.

[02] Cyprus triggers enmities.

[03] Demirel: Don't lose EU target.

[04] Denktas will go to Rome on 26 November.

[05] Pembe Turgut against entering the pseudostate by showing only identity card.

[06] Internal struggle inside the Turkish settlers/ party.

[07] The "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce" might issue a health certificate.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Columnist of Avrupa: "The Turkish Press and the people of Turkey found the `right address/".

[09] Turkish Columnist says that Denktas asked the 4th December meeting because he realized that he is loosing ground within his community.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas' adviser Ergun Olgun evaluates the forthcoming meeting of Denktas and Clerides

Olgun said that according to his personal view, UN Secretary-General Adviser on Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto/s attempt to be a part/side of this initiative is a kind of foreign interference to the negotiations that will bring together Clerides and Denktas.

Olgun said: "With a view to the sides putting forward their intensions for establishing a new partnership, Denktas' attempt is a new chance for the sides. For this reason, Denktas, in order to test this thing, is providing a chance to see whether there is a common ground or not. To realise this face-to-face meeting it is necessary that both sides' equality status, equality right, sovereignty and their rights to decide their own future and acceptance of their will is necessary. If you do not accept these you will not reach anywhere.

Stressing that at this stage there exists no negotiation process, despite the fact that the UN Secretary-General's good will mission continues.

Olgun noted: "The good will mission of the UN continues. Within the good will mission at different times, different processes were experienced. This is something different from them. This is a personal initiative by esteemed president and the aim in this initiative is to open the way before the good will mission."

Olgun defended the breaking off of the process of proximity talks, which was started in New York on 3rd December 1999.

Olgun said: "Definitely there is a need for a peace in Cyprus. Definitely there is a need for cooperation between the sides in Cyprus. However this comes out, if both sides see a benefit in such a partnership, that is the Turkish Cypriot side sees such a benefit. Does the Greek Cypriot side really see benefit in this partnership in line with its aims and interests, or does it try to stop the realization of such a partnership? Because, in order to realize this, they have to accept both sides equal status, equal rights, their sovereignty, their right to self-determination and their acceptance their free will. If you do not accept these you cannot reach anywhere."

Referring to de Soto's presence on the 4th December meeting, Olgun said that it is a foreign interference and that sides might be under the influence of this interference. And he said: "Esteemed de Soto was unsuccessful in the attempts he has tried in earlier processes. Therefore, as far as I am concerned, de Soto should have given a chance to these bilateral talks. He should have given a chance to these talks to lead its life and to reach its conclusion with its inner dynamics."

Olgun then explained the reservations, which will be created in case de Soto takes part in the talks. He said: "Esteemed Clerides only proposed a UN official to be present who will take notes at the meeting and our esteemed president accepted this. However, esteemed de Soto within this process, is a highly political personality, therefore it would have been more beneficial if another neutral person would have been found. By saying this, I am expressing my own personal views and my personal evaluations. On this issue one should respect the decision to be taken together by esteemed president and Mr Clerides. However, and I say this as a person who has certain experiences and who has worked on this issue. There are times during which the sides have difficulties and they need to establish bridges. In order to be sincere and to talk openly they want to be alone. Otherwise we do not want the sides to enter in populist activities. "

"This is a step forward by the President"

"Even if achieving this goal will not be possible, we still consider this a step forward made by Mr Denktas. Personally, I think that this initiative is an opportunity for the two sides to test each other, despite the difficulty and the interference. I believe, however, that we should not exaggerate and make speculations about it. This is coming up as one of the necessities of the environment we live in, but let us not press things too much, let us give this initiative a chance. The more chance we give it, and the more success we have in reducing the outside interference, the better opportunity we shall have to understand, perhaps, some things".

Olgun stressed that everybody could perceive the importance of a partnership and the mutual respect between the two cultures, the two people, the two nations in Cyprus, if the bigger than ever necessity for a partnership between the two civilizations in Cyprus was understood as a result of the difficulties and the problems of our entire region, especially during the post 11 September period and if the fact that in Cyprus there are two different nations, two different civilizations was understood and if these two nations could see where conflicts lead them to. Olgun said "It is useful to understand how wrong is to try to obtain superiority".

"The President does not intent to enter into any front"

Asked whether there is any reaction by the President to the interference of de Soto, adviser Olgun, noted that "President" Denktas undertook this initiative taking a great risk and undertaking the responsibility. "He does not intent to enter into any front on this issue or to offend any side".

"My criticism has nothing to do with persons, is a technical evaluation"

Explaining what he said regarding de Soto, Olgun underlined that his criticism has nothing to do with persons and added: "As a technocrat, I am making a technical evaluation. This is not something personal, the criticism does not concern persons". He said the following: "I am telling this as a person who respects a lot Mr de Soto, but the roles are different, things are different..".

[02] Cyprus triggers enmities

For those who believe that the Cyprus issue could be dealt with separately while Turkish-Greek dialogue could continue appear to be mistaken. It is, however, true that Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart Yorgos Papandreou met in Athens on November 8, signing among other things some military confidence building measures despite an earlier cooling of relations on Cyprus. But the resumption of dogfights in the Aegean appear to be an attempt by both sides sending warnings to each other on this tiny strategic island.

Cem's statement on November 2, that Turkey was ready to pay a price for Cyprus raising the possibility of annexation of the occupied areas has come like a cold shower for Greece as well as for the European Union (EU) which signals to admit Cyprus by early 2003 even if a political solution is not reached on Cyprus. This will place Turkey in an awkward position of occupying the pseudostate.

Turkey has now been put in a position both by the EU and by its close ally the U.S. that it has to make efforts to make a compromise both on Cyprus as well as on the European Security and Defence policy (ESDP). The Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and Cyprus President Glafkos Clerides are to meet face to face in Cyprus on December 4, upon Denktas's request. The meeting will take place at a time when Turkey has entered under increased international pressure.

On Monday, November 26, Turkey will get together for a fourth round of talks with Britain as well as with the United States in Ankara for a last minute effort to find a compromise on the level of Turkish participation to the planned European army as well as to the structural mechanisms of ESDP. The Turkish position on both Cyprus and the ESDP will also give shape to Turkey's future with the EU, that it has been a candidate member nation since 1999, for whom the EU has not yet given a green light for accession talks.

[03] Demirel: Don't lose EU target

"Turkey's candidacy to the EU had not been accepted before the Helsinki Summit. You are going to be candidate before you are a full member and you are going to hold a few talks. The latest Progress Report was not good, but it was not the end of the world, either. The efforts expended to date have not been done so in vain and to say something now about what lies seven or eight years down the line is both premature and unnecessary.

"Turkey pledged to abide by the Copenhagen Criteria and has to do this. There is no need to get offended at anyone or sulk. Let us roll up our sleeves and get those laws passed. Our aim is not to Turkify Europe but to Europeanise Turkey. It is not as if we have done everything and they are playing hard to get. No. Joining the EU is a process. At this point we have to take some important steps."

Demirel said there was no quick fix formula to the poverty and difficulties in Turkey and that everyone was going to work at it. "The direction is clear," he said and noted that everybody thought Turkey would get rich when it joined the EU. "By fulfilling all the criteria needed by the EU, we will be rich anyway," he said.

On the matter of the European Security and Defence Policy, Demirel said Turkey was totally in the right but had to use diplomacy and politics well and succeed in turning conditions in its favour.

Pointing out the conditions in Turkey in the past, Demirel said the EU's first condition was democracy and so it was bound not to take on a country that had seen military coups. "Things that look impossible today are possible tomorrow. Turkey is indispensable. Maintaining the EU target is the natural consequence of the desire to continue developing. Let us not take up a defeatist attitude," he said.

When asked about Cyprus, Demirel replied that the EU had given pledges to Cyprus. "But which Cyprus? We have said this several times. What we call the Cyprus state was formed by the 1959-60 agreements but then brought down. If you still believe the Greek part of the island is the Cypriot state, you are mistaken. If you do this and take southern Greek Cyprus into the EU, you will import a whole heap of problems," he said and claimed that the only solution was not to act rashly but to continue with talks.

[04] Denktas will go to Rome on 26 November

Prior to his arrival to Rome Denktas will make a short private stop over in Ankara. He will go to Ankara on 25 November and the same night he will fly to Istanbul. On 26 November he will arrive in Rome.

Denktas will be accompanied by his adviser Ergun Olgun and the so-called Undersecretary to the State Ministry Responsible for Economic Affair and Deputy Prime Ministry Ahmet Aker. They will return to the occupied areas on 29 November.

The paper does not mention, the subject of the conference.

[05] Pembe Turgut against entering the pseudostate by showing only identity card

Mrs Turgut, who had been attacked recently by a Turkish settler, met yesterday a delegation of the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Association.

"Our life and property are in danger. When we say this, some circles link the issue to the relations between the Turkish Cypriots and the Turks, but it is irrelevant", said Mrs Turgut.

[06] Internal struggle inside the Turkish settlers' party

Tore said: "My health condition is very well and I will be the leader of the party until 29 December." He also wondered who is the Chairmanship Committee who took this decision.

Political observers evaluated this decision as a blow to Zorlu Tore. Kenan Akin in a statement to KIBRIS claimed that this decision was taken due to the health condition of Tore and said: "This is not an operation!"

[07] The "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce" might issue a health certificate

Stressing that the KTTO has an international identity Erel, said that their Chamber of Commerce will be able to issue health certificates since the health certificates are issued in the world by the Chambers of Commerce so they need a laboratory within their organization "This approach has been considered positive by the EU. We will discuss this issue with the EU next month in Brussels. And this concept will be found within the EU."

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[08] Columnist of Avrupa: "The Turkish Press and the people of Turkey found the 'right address'"

"This is a headline in Milliyet newspaper: 'Ankara! Realise the worth of these people'.

Which people? The people of Turkey. Could Ankara realize the worth of the Turkish Cypriots, when she does not appreciate the value of the citizens who vote in Turkey? She could not. And because of this, she has made an alliance with Denktas. And during every election period she does everything possible to have Denktas elected. With the policy she has applied during the last 27 years, she made both the people of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots to be tired of living. .

This alliance has unmercifully oppressed the two people. It called the one people lazy, parasite and ungrateful, while it made the other to pay the price many times, in order to brake their friendship.

When the 'non-solution is a solution' policy went bankrupt, when the price paid by the people of Turkey became very high and when the Turkish Cypriots had no more strength to endure, then everybody found the right address. And especially the Press in Turkey began firing against the Ankara - Denktas alliance.

Sedat Sertoglu of Sabah, who has been a proven supporter of Denktas in the past, writes: 'Let us leave aside the fact that Turkey did not make a serious investment in the 35 % northern part of the island, which she controls since 1974, but she even prevented the exports of the TRNC to Turkey. The `wrong elections` were the only thing we have sent to the island from here. For years, we have not been able to solve the electricity problem of the island. We have not been able to solve the water problem, whereas we have solved the problem of unemployment by making almost everybody pensioner.'.

Gulay Gokturk, who has not written a single article about Cyprus during her 25-year long carrier, was forced to write two times within a week on Cyprus. And she noted the following: 'Ecevit said on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of the establishment of the TRNC that if the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots are forced to live together, the Turkish Cypriots will suffer even greater massacres and terror than during the period before the 1974 Peace Operation. .In brief, almost everything has changed during the last 25 years. But like it or not, the Greek Cypriots are said to have remained the same. They are so unchanged that as soon as the two parts start to live together, they will turn the time 25 years back and start slaughtering the Turks. This is another story of revenge before us.'.

Mine G Kirikkanat writes: 'For a quarter of a century Turkey has been settled in Northern Cyprus based on the logic of `building a squatter's house`. Because no one comes to demolish it she thought that the other side will get use to the idea and in the end she will get the title deed. But she has not taken it..'.

The Press and the people of Turkey have found 'the right address'. They are firing against the Ankara - Denktas alliance. When the Turkish Cypriot Press and the people find the 'right address' the road before both the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey will be opened".

[09] Turkish Columnist says that Denktas asked the 4th December meeting because he realized that he is loosing ground within his community

Mr Bahceli had criticized the European Union and those in Turkey who support that the country must make compromises on the Cyprus issue in order to be able to join the EU. Mr Berkan writes, among other things, the following:

".What has happened and Rauf Denktas suggested face-to-face meeting with the Greek Cypriot administration leader Clerides? And why did Clerides accept this suggestion?

I know that everybody is fed up with the Cyprus issue and no one is interested in this any more. The matter, however, became so important that it is related to our future, the lives of our children and our grandchildren. .

The only thing said (by some Turkish journalists) is that supporting Denktas ' position not to negotiate does not constitute a policy and that Turkey must continue searching for a solution. And even saying this is enough for Bahceli to characterize you 'crooked-headed'. If you ask me, Bahceli and his supporters have one and only goal: This is nothing else but starting a row with Denktas, preventing something unusual to happen and encouraging him to abandon the negotiating table.

Denktas has been forced to suggest a meeting with Clerides because he realized that he is loosing ground within his own public opinion and the number of his supporters is decreasing. Clerides has accepted this suggestion because he believes that Denktas will be willing to reach an agreement and then he wants to guarantee his country's EU accession by turning to the Europeans and say 'See, I have done everything possible, but Turkey and Denktas are not willing to reach an agreement'.

AC/SK

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