Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-12-06

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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 Cypriot political party leaders express their views on the meeting between President Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader.

[02] Colin Powell and Ismail Cem refer to Cyprus during a press conference in Ankara.

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the dinner of President Clerides at Mr Denktas/ residence.

[04] Reactions of Turkish Cypriots parties and other organizations on Chlorides -Denktas meetings.

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat suggests the participation of the Turkish Cypriot in the accession process the sooner possible.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Cypriot political party leaders express their views on the meeting between President Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader

Attending the meeting were the so-called Republican Assembly Speaker Vehpi Zeki Serter; Dervis Eroglu, National Unity Party [NUP] leader, the NUP secretary general; Salih Cosar, Democratic Party [DP] leader, Atay Ahmet Rasit, DP official in charge of foreign affairs; Communal Liberation Party [CLP] leader Huseyin Angolemli; Gungor Gunkan, CLP official in charge of foreign affairs; Republican Turkish Party [RTP] leader Mehmet Ali Talat; RTP Secretary General Ferdi Sabit Soyer; Nationalist Justice Party [NAP] deputy leader Kenan Akin; NAP deputy leader Ahmet Guray; Mehmet Barut, National Revival Party secretary general and Liberal Party leader Unal Akifler;

Angolemli, Talat, and Akin made statements to the press after the meeting. Angolemli said that Denktas briefed the political parties on the meeting held yesterday, and the parties, in turn, expressed their own views on the meeting. Pointing out that yesterday's meeting was long-awaited and well received by the community, Angolemli said: "We are pleased with Mr. Denktas/ attitude yesterday and it is important that he remains at the negotiating table. He will have our support as long as he pursues this attitude. If different stands are displayed, we will again raise our criticism".

Talat, in turn, termed the prospect of the resumption of the talks as a good outcome. Reiterating that the RTP believes that the solution of the Cyprus problem will be found at the negotiating table, Talat noted that the outcome of yesterday's meeting was to continue the process at the table. Talat also stressed that the negotiations must be conducted uninterruptedly until a conclusion is reached. He added: The international circumstances are very suitable for a solution to the Cyprus problem. The excitement experienced by our people today will be transformed into genuine happiness if these circumstances eventually bring the two leaders to this point again and progress is achieved on taking certain steps that will transport the Turkish Cypriots to the EU accession process, from which they are now absent.

Pointing out that the recent process gave the people new hope for the future, Talat said that the Turkish Cypriots can participate in the EU process before the problem is solved, and they can accede to the EU following the solution of the problem as the process moves forward. On the subject of confidence-building measures, Talat vowed that his party is ready to do its share.

In his statement, Akin said that his party is waiting for a path to a solution that does not eliminate the Turkish Cypriots' sovereignty and safety and that will not bring about a return to the 1960 Constitution. Alleging that the failure of the Greek Cypriot side to reveal its clear stand regarding the process that will begin on 15 January raises certain doubts, Akin declared: "We hope that the EU process will begin positively by including the Turkish Cypriot side as well". He also expressed the hope that the winds of peace that began to blow in the community in the course of a few days with the meeting between the two leaders will come to a positive conclusion.

[02] Colin Powell and Ismail Cem refer to Cyprus during a press conference in Ankara

Referring to Cyprus Mr Ismail Cem said that they evaluated recent developments in Cyprus and that both Turkey and the United States sincerely supported the face-to-face meeting of the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and President Glafcos Clerides.

The two leaders were trying to create a new atmosphere and process for themselves, for their own people and for everybody, Cem stated.

On his part Secretary of State Colin Powell said that they were very pleased about the developments in Cyprus and evaluated these developments as the beginning of a new process.

U.S. State Secretary Powell added that every long journey began by the first step.

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot Press covers the dinner of President Clerides at Mr Denktas' residence

KIBRIS: "Winds of friendship". In its subtitles the paper notes that no statement was made after the dinner, which was covered live by hundreds of journalists and many TV channels.

"Avrupa": Under the title "The longest period of time" notes that "everyone is anxiously counting the days until 15 January 2002" when the face - to - face talks between President Clerides and Rauf Denktas are expected to begin. Above its front-page title the paper writes that "the opinion that Denktas sat at the negotiating table because Ankara has forced him to do so became prevalent and discussions are being conducted on whether Denktas is sincere or not". In its subtitles "Avrupa" writes the following: "The Clerides - Denktas meeting has been met positively and with cautious optimism in all the world"...We wonder whether the passports draft - law will be withdrawn or not from the Assembly.According to Cuneyt Arcayurek of Cumhuriyet, before going to the meeting, Denktas got an instruction from Ankara to arrange a second meeting. .Ankara is trying to prevent Cyprus' accession to the EU before the solution and to postpone it from now.".

"Halkin Sesi": Under the title "The second spring" refers to what it describes as "a second spring" in the relations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. The paper notes that there was no flag of the Republic of Cyprus on the car, which took President Clerides to last night's dinner.

"Yeniduzen": is the only paper, which does not refer to the dinner in its main article. It is, however, publishing the relevant reportage in its front page under the title "The leaders met for dinner". It also writes that about 30 Turkish Cypriot women members of peace organizations, holding candles in their hands, waited for President Clerides and shouted slogans for peace and for a common country for both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. They also held banners in both the Greek and Turkish languages saying: "Peace.Let us head towards a common country".

"Kibrisli": Under the title "Dinner of peace!" refers to the menu of the dinner and notes that President Clerides is the first Greek Cypriot leader who had a dinner at Denktas' residence.

"Yeni Demokrat": Under the title "Winds of spring" refers to statements by Salih Cosar, so-called deputy "Prime Minister", who characterizes the meeting "a very pleasant event".

"Ortam": It refers to the dinner under the title "Progress with kadayif" (translator's note: kadayif is a kind of a Turkish traditional sweet. In the desserts of the dinner kadayif was also included). Above the title it notes that President Clerides went to the occupied part of Nicosia for the first time after 26 years.

"Birlik": Under the title "The dialogue is positive" refers to the conclusions of yesterday's meeting of the so-called "Ministerial Council" of the pseudostate. The paper notes that "the procedure has not yet started" and adds that "excessive and artificial expectations could cause damage".

"Vatan": Under the title "Historic dinner" writes that President Clerides visited the occupied areas for the first time after 26 years.

[04] Reactions of Turkish Cypriots parties and other organizations on Clerides - Denktas meetings

In a statement issued by Izzet Izcan, PUM's General Secretary, the movement notes that "being able to turn the cautious optimism, created after the face - to - face meeting, into a real hope, depends on giving the two communities the chance to approach each other".

Meanwhile, Esref Dusenkalkar, spokesman for the New Democracy Party (NDP) characterized the 4th December meeting as "a positive start for peace, which sends away the darkness in Cyprus".

Furthermore, the Guc - Sen trade union noted that the meeting is "a hopeful start" and added that the communities in Cyprus wish that peace may be achieved as soon as possible.

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat suggests the participation of the Turkish Cypriot in the accession process the sooner possible

Mr. Talat said the following: "We have to participate as soon as possible in the EU process. For this reason Denktas may propose this to Mr Clerides on 15 January. He may tell Clerides that as Turkish Cypriot side we want to appoint an EU delegation and be included in the process as co-chairman".

Talat further said that he did not believe that the EU, the UN and other countries would object to this proposal and that they would encourage the Greek Cypriot side to accept it.

KV/SK

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