Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-01-16

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Intransigent statements by Rauf Denktas on the eve of the resumption of talks on Cyprus

[02] Dick Cheney: The European Army issue is a domestic matter of the EU

[03] Talat expesses supports to the face-to-face talks procedure, underlining that the Turkish side has not shown good will

[04] Turkish Cypriot political parties comment on the negotiation process

[05] Akinci argues that both sides could have benefits from the solution of the Cyprus problem

[06] The restrictive behaviour continues in the occupied areas

[07] The occupation regime invited tenders for leasing the Mare Monte Hotel in occupied Kyrenia area

[08] Statement by Alvaro de Soto after the meeting between President Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader

[09] Turkish Cypriot organizations held a peaceful demonstration

[10] The occupation regime did not allow the Turkish Cypriot journalists to go to Ledra Palace Hotel

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] Ecevit's to-do-list in Washington

[12] Sami Kohen on the meeting between President Clerides and Rauf Denktas

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Intransigent statements by Rauf Denktas on the eve of the resumption of talks on Cyprus

Denktas was attending a ceremony held to commemorate Dr. Fazil Kucuk, former vice-president of the Republic of Cyprus who died 18 years ago.

Speaking at the ceremony, Denktas said: ``A game is being played in order to settle these talks on a framework as if they are the continuation of the intercommunal talks which were left half finished by removing the concept of face-to-face talks. However, we are going to the table by knowing what we will protect and defend.``

Denktas said that all political parties agreed that the Greek Cypriot side was not and could not be the government of the Turkish Cypriot side and it did not have such a right as the Turkish Cypriots had their own "state".

Stressing that it was everybody's task to protect the "state" and keep the "flag" waving and not to give in to external pressures, Denktas said that commemoration of Kucuk boosted their morale and showed again the path they should advance on the eve of the start of direct talks.

Denktas said: ``This is the path of independence, freedom and this is a path in which we try not to make our people second class citizens. This is a path closed to enosis. This is a path closed to the path of enosis through the European Union (EU)``.

Ankara Anatolia (15/1/02) also reported that responding to questions of journalists during a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Cyprus Song Aeguo, Denktas alleged that the documents on missing persons were not exchanged yesterday due to the difficulties the Greek Cypriots faced.

Denktas said that he would not meet with U.N. Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Cyprus Alvaro de Soto today who came to Cyprus to participate in the direct talks.

``There is no need to meet with de Soto, who wants to tell the news as if the former intercommunal talks would start in the island. I will meet with Clerides. The task of de Soto is to inform U.N. Secretary- General Kofi Annan about the direct talks with Clerides upon the demand of Clerides. There is no need for unnecessary visits to the island for show-off," Denktas said.

[02] Dick Cheney: The European Army issue is a domestic matter of the EU

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy, State Minister Tunca Toskay, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan, Foreign Affairs Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin, and Prime Minister Ecevit`s advisers Ertugrul Ciragan and Erdal Tumer also I attended the meeting.

Developments following the United States` military operation in Afghanistan, the Cyprus question, the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) and economic issues were taken up at the meeting between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the issue of Iraq was not brought onto the agenda of the meeting.

Prime Minister Ecevit requested that Turkey should be provided the same facilities with other candidate countries to the European Union (EU).

Noting that Prime Minister Ecevit`s requests were rightful, Vice President Cheney said that President Bush`s Commercial Adviser Robert Zoellick had been working on the issue.

Stressing that they had been attributing great importance to Turkey, Cheney said that they had been supporting investments in Turkey.

Meanwhile, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan informed Vice President Cheney on the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Project. Cakan said that the pipeline was one of the most important projects of the 21st century, and asked the United States to extend financial support for the project.

The ESDP was also taken up at the meeting.

Giving information about the works carried out among Turkey, the United States and Britain on the issue of the ESDP, Prime Minister Ecevit thanked the United States for its contributions.

Stressing that they attributed great importance to the agreement reached with Turkey on the issue of the ESDP, Vice President Cheney said that they took up the same issue with Greece.

Noting that some arrangements should be made within the structure of the EU on the issue of the ESDP, Vice President Cheney said that the issue was a domestic matter of the EU.

Referring to the Cyprus question, MrEcevit said: ``Turkey attributes great importance to face-to-face talks between Rauf Denktas and Glafcos Clerides. We are in favour of continuation of this dialogue process. The existence of two separate states and two separate nations on the island should be recognized. ``

Dick Cheney said that the Cyprus question was a difficult matter.

Later, Prime Minister Ecevit came together with World Bank President James Wolfensohn.

During the meeting, issues such as Afghanistan, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, and village-city project were taken up.

The sides stressed that the World Bank and Turkey should cooperate on the issue of Afghanistan.

Wolfensohn described the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Project as an important project, and said that the World Bank would provide the necessary support for the project.

Wolfensohn added that the World Bank would also provide the necessary support for the village-city project.

[03] Talat expesses supports to the face-to-face talks procedure, underlining that the Turkish side has not shown good will

Talking yesterday during separate meetings with delegations of the Turkish Cypriot Animal Producers Union and the Foreign Press Union, Mr Talat stressed that the political will and sincerity are very important for the process began on 16 January and pointed out that the Turkish side has not shown good will.

Referring to the fact that the occupation regime did not permit on Monday a delegation of Greek Cypriot businessmen to enter the pseudostate in order to meet with their Turkish Cypriot colleagues on issues regarding Cyprus' EU accession course, Mr Talat said that this was a sign of "great disrespect" and added: "Either the Turkish side has not understood how serious this issue is or it tries to play for time. Trying to continue keeping us in an open prison is not compatible with the process which has began".

Mr Talat noted also that the Turkish Press played an important role in the creation of the Cyprus problem and the escalation of the clashes, adding that the Turkish Press has a role to play in the solution of the problem.

[04] Turkish Cypriot political parties comment on the negotiation process

Meanwhile, "Ortam" (16.1.02) writes that Huseyin Angolemli, Communal Liberation Party (CLP) leader, declared yesterday that as a result of a CLP delegation conducts with other Turkish Cypriot organizations, he established that the Turkish Cypriot community is in favour of the solution of the Cyprus problem and the accession of Cyprus to the EU. According to Mr Angolemli, the Turkish Cypriots want also the solution of their economic problems and the democratization of their society.

[05] Akinci argues that both sides could have benefits from the solution of the Cyprus problem

Addressing a conference at the illegal "Near East University", Mr Akinci described as "the ideal solution" a structure in which "there will be the guarantees of Turkey, two geographic zones and the two communities to be the masters of themselves inside the island, but to have a single international identity".

[06] The restrictive behaviour continues in the occupied areas

In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Seylani accused the occupation regime of being responsible for the economic crisis in the pseudostate and of isolating the Turkish Cypriots from the world.

[07] The occupation regime invited tenders for leasing the Mare Monte Hotel in occupied Kerynia area

[08] Statement by Alvaro de Soto after the meeting between President Clerides and the Turkish Cypriot leader

The statement is as follows:

"The two leaders met today in private first in my presence. They had a good discussion on the substance. They subsequently met with their advisers. They have agreed to establish a pattern of meetings, which will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, starting at 5 pm. They will begin this on Monday next. They want to reflect in the remainder of this week on what they discussed today. What you have heard from me is probably the last you will hear from me for some time. We will be calling you, letting you know in advance if possible, if there is any announcement to make in the future. The usual pattern will be that no press will be present at future meetings. We will be proceeding at a business-like pace."

[09] Turkish Cypriot organizations held a peaceful demonstration

The demonstrators marched to the heavily -guarded residence of the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas. Alev Tugbek from KTOEOS (Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers Trade Union) on behalf of the 41 organizations said that they support the peaceful procedure of the talks. A small group of the demonstrators was allowed to approach the checkpoint to release doves into the air as a symbol of peace.

YENIDUZEN (16/1/02) reports that the movement "Women's initiative for peace" held a silent peace demonstration in the streets holding placards, where the following slogans were written: "It's enough! Reach an agreement! Solve the problem! Sign! Let's enter into the EU!" and, "Mr Denktas! Sign or Resign!"

[10] The occupation regime did not allow the Turkish Cypriot journalists to go to Ledra Palace Hotel

Under normal conditions, the paper writes, the holders of "yellow press cards" can cross the checkpoint and be at the buffer zone without taking any permission, but this time the occupation authorities did not allow them with the excuse that they did not submit an application 48 hours before. Until yesterday the so-called Foreign Affairs Ministry had never asked a "written application for permission" from the journalists for the activities taking place at Ledra Palace Hotel.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[11] Ecevit's to-do-list in Washington

If he does not spend to recover from jet-lag the first four days of his five-day trip to what he three decades ago considered the "mother of all evils," the Turkish prime minister and his entourage will ask the Americans to: (a) stay away from Iraq, (b) "give us money," (c) write off Turkey's military debts, (d) "give us money," (e) finance Turkey's peace-keeping mission in Afghanistan, (f) "give us money," (g) allow for more technology transfer in the defense industry, source codes of all critical weaponry included, (h) "give us money," (i) sign a free trade agreement with Turkey, (j) "give us money," (k) invest more in Turkey, (l) "give us money," (m) support Turkey's Cyprus thesis, (n) "give us money," (o) increase U.S. textile quotas on imports from Turkey, (p) "give us money," (r) make sure that Ankara does not have to renegotiate an agreed text on European Security and Defense Policy due to Greek objections, (s) "give us money," and (t) "before we forget, please give us some money." Quite an ambitious list... 1- Ecevit's visit comes at a time when the U.S. administration is still undecided on what to do with Iraq and Saddam Hussein. It is no a secret that the Department of State has a softer tone on Iraq while hawks like Deputy Secretary of State Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle (an advisor to the Bush administration and assistant secretary of state during President Ronald Reagan's term in office) think that "operation Iraq" will be inevitable sooner or later if Washington really intends to finish off international terrorism sponsored by rogue states. It is therefore highly unlikely that Ecevit could win any sort of U.S. assurances on Iraq other, perhaps, than a few nice words.

2- The proposal for a free trade zone is too immature and unrealistic, although Washington will probably tell its cash-strapped guests that "it would look forward to considering the idea," which is a polite way of saying, "not now."

3- Textiles make up around 40 percent of Turkey's $2.8 billion exports to the U.S. What Turkey's foreign trade officials -- and its textile exporters -- persistently ignore is the very simple fact that U.S. textile quotas are governed by the World Trade Organization -- and that half of the quotas on textiles in the U.S. were already eliminated on Jan. 1, 2002 and the remaining quotas will be eliminated by the end of 2004. As Robert Pearson, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara recently argued, the challenge for Turkey and the challenge for Turkish textile exporters will be to be competitive against the rest of the world. In Pearson's words, "every industry that is competitive globally in the textile sector at the end of 2004 is going to succeed in the American market."

4. The issue of writing off part of Turkey's $5 billion military debts to the U.S. is not a governmental but a congressional matter. Bush could only tell Ecevit that he has an intention to refer the matter to the U.S. Congress, although there is not yet an indication to that effect.

5- Judging from his to-do-list, one would think Ecevit perhaps assumes he is travelling to Beijing instead of Washington. Apparently he expects the U.S. administration to "order" Boeing Co. to buy aircraft engines from Turkey (although Turkey does not manufacture any), or he expects a nonexistent U.S. Department of Tourism to "order" travel agencies to send more American tourists to Turkey. Or perhaps Ecevit thinks the Department of Commerce could "order" Microsoft or General Electric to invest more in Turkey although the Turks themselves do not invest.

6- It looks that Washington will see an episode of "Turkish media wars." One TV station would immediately interview the bellboy of Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington to match a rival station that made a live broadcast from the hotel's laundry room. Looking merely at the extravagant media coverage of Ecevit's visit, probably unseen to them, some smart Americans may ask, "Hey, what's happening here? Are we sure these guys really need money?"

[12] Sami Kohen on the meeting between President Clerides and Rauf Denktas

However, he adds, one could say that this negotiation process has the chance to score progress, and even to succeed. Both leaders are aware of the fact that this is the last chance and that otherwise /unpleasant/ things will happen. However the belief that, non-solution is not a good solution, has gained extensive ground in both sides. But, this is not enough", says Kohen and urges the sides to engage in "give and take" bargaining without endangering the sides/ basic interests. "It is difficult but not impossible," notes Kohen and urges the leaders to avoid making unnecessary public statements, and to engage in actions that will consolidate trust and not vice versa." "Within this framework", notes Kohen, one cannot but feel sorry about what happened the other day when a delegation from the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce wanted to cross to the TRNC as the guest of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, which ended in failure, as a result of the insistence of the officials at the check point to apply some bureaucratic formalities. This, especially at this moment, should not have happened." Kohen concludes.

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