Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-01-22

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Denktas and Eroglu on the current dialogue on Cyprus

[02] Statements by Denktas and Soysal on Monday/ s meeting between President Clerides and Rauf Denktas

[03] Cypriot leaders open talks on power-sharing, new constitution: Denktas, Clerides to build a new Cyprus on pre-1960 foundation

[04] Ecevit calls on the EU to "leave alone" the sides in Cyprus

[05] A bi-communal Economic Forum is formed

[06] The occupation regime demands rent from people living in CMC houses

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] The most important issue for Turkey is the position the new Cyprus Republic will take regarding Turkey's EU membership

[08] Erol Manisali criticizes the Turkish media for their approach towards Turkish -Russian relations

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Denktas and Eroglu on the current dialogue on Cyprus Ankara Anatolia (21/1/02) reported that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas, on Monday made statements, before his regular meeting with the so-called Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu and Deputy Prime Minister Salih Cosar.

Denktas said they left the meeting held o January 16 saying that they would discuss today the "authorities that would be given to the central administration".

Denktas added: "However, those are not definite principles. We may say / let us also discuss this. Or we may say let us not talk on it today. / The important thing is to discuss every issue with good will and to assess the issues on which we can agree or disagree. This is my approach, and I hope Clerides thinks the same.

Denktas said his so-called Under-Secretary Ergun Olgun, his consultant on constitutional issues Mumtaz Soysal, so-called officials from the Foreign and Defence Ministry would be included in the delegation that will attend the talks.

Responding to a question when the Turkish document, pertaining to missing persons would be sent to the Greek Cypriot side, Denktas said the draft text sent by Clerides foresaw sending the documents to the Committee together. Denktas said the Turkish side would prepare a new draft according to its own position and sent it to Clerides, however, he noted that this would not be discussed during Monday's talks.

On his part Dervis Eroglu, speaking to reporters following the meeting said they exchanged views regarding the Denktas-Clerides meetings, and that they gave information to Denktas about the economy.

Recalling that there was an extreme optimism when talks on Cyprus started, Eroglu said they expected the talks to end positively, yet he noted that they did not ignore the fact that there were two sides on the table. Eroglu said: If an agreement can be reached by considering today/ s facts, the Turkish Cypriots will approve such an agreement", adding that, "the important thing is to reach an agreement based on a solid basis. The agreement should not eliminate the vested rights of the Turkish Cypriots."

Eroglu said they also informed Denktas about the meeting that was held in Turkey/ s Embassy in occupied Nicosia on January 19, noting that the meeting was in connection with the 375 trillion liras, which Turkey would give to the pseudostate.

Eroglu said meetings related to the issue would continue, noting that the delegation would continue at the end of the months.

[02] Statements by Denktas and Soysal on Monday/ s meeting between President Clerides and Rauf Denktas

In a brief statement before leaving for the buffer zone, Denktas expressed the hope that the meeting with Clerides will be auspicious. Asked if he is taking a document to the meeting he said no. In reply to another question , he said the meeting could last a few hours. Asked about the issues to be discussed first, Denktas said that this will be the focus of today's meeting.

Meanwhile Istanbul NTV television (21/1/02) in a related report announced that "in a statement at the end of the one and a half hour meeting held at the buffer zone in Nicosia, Denktas said that it is still early to give detailed information "Soysal, in turn remarked that all the issues were discussed one by one. He noted that a general view was presented during the meeting. Asked if one can say that this was a good beginning Soysal said: "Of course".

[03] Cypriot leaders open talks on power-sharing, new constitution: Denktas, Clerides to build a new Cyprus on pre-1960 foundation

Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots were the two "founding equal partners" of the 1960 Cyprus Republic that lived only three years and collapsed in December 1963 when Greek Cypriots expelled their Turkish Cypriot partners from the administration of the island.

Although the Greek Cypriot-administered Cyprus government is recognized by the United Nations (U.N.) and the international community as the "sole legitimate government" of the eastern Mediterranean island, Turkish Cypriots and Turkey do not consider it as a continuation of the 1960 partnership republic.

According to the sources, particularly at the Dec. 29 dinner at the residence of Clerides, the two leaders have reached an understanding to put aside their titles, flags, states and move on to build a new state structure on the basis of the pre-1960 status of the two peoples and the founding treaties of the Cyprus Republic.

Denktas and Clerides had agreed on Jan. 16 to start meeting three times a week, starting yesterday, and work until they reach a settlement to the almost 40-year-old Cyprus problem.

The two leaders have also agreed not to disclose the content of their discussions until they achieve some substantial progress. Still, before entering into yesterday's first "working session" of the new talks process, both leaders made clear that the first task would be to reach an understanding on power sharing and constitutional aspects of the Cyprus problem.

The Greek Cypriot administration, which until the start of the current process was stating that the negotiation process was just a "constitutional exercise" and any settlement would restore the authority of the Cyprus Republic throughout the island, changed its language last week. A top Greek Cypriot government source, briefing reporters on the new talks, was quoted by Greek Cypriot papers as saying that "Clerides and Denktas will focus on the status of the new state that will be founded after a solution and on specific constitutional and power-sharing issues."

That was the first time that a Greek Cypriot official was declaring that the aim of the talks was to set up a "new state" on Cyprus. The talks have been set without preconditions and with all issues on the table.

Denktas, on the other hand, told reporters over the weekend that he and Clerides would open yesterday's meeting by addressing where the two sides differ. "Then, we'll discuss the functions of the sides in a new republic that will be founded -- the functions of the two equal sides."

Denktas said that at his face-to-face meeting with Clerides on Wednesday in the presence of U.N. envoy Alvaro de Soto, "the framework of the meetings was determined."

In a BBC interview, meanwhile, Denktas said if he wasn't ready for a compromise, he would not have requested resumption of the talks. "It is a matter of give and take," he added.

In the same interview, Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Yiannakis Cassoulides said any settlement should not include elements that might lead to partition.

Alvaro de Soto, who arrived on the island last week with his legal advisers, will remain in Cyprus for the duration of the talks. De Soto asked the two leaders about religious holidays and festivals observed by the two communities and told them that during these holiday breaks he would go to New York to submit his reports to the U.N. Secretary-General.

The U.N. expects 10 rounds of negotiations, most of which will take place in Cyprus, at a U.N. mansion close to the U.N.-controlled Nicosia international airport in the buffer zone dividing the island from east to west into northern Turkish Cypriot and southern Greek Cypriot zones. One round each will also probably be held in Geneva and New York, sources said.

The launch of the new round of Cyprus talks, widely seen as the biggest push yet to end the island's 40-year intercommunal problem, has been welcomed by the U.S., Russia, Britain, the EU, and of course Greece and Turkey.

[04] Ecevit calls on the EU to "leave alone" the sides in Cyprus

Mr Ecevit accused the EU of being the "biggest disadvantage" on the Cyprus problem and claimed that the Union with its behaviour makes the Greeks Cypriots to resist to a solution, because "it is being prepared to accept the Greek Cypriots as if they represented the whole of Cyprus".

"If the reality that in Cyprus two different states, nations or people exist is accepted and all sides behave according to this reality, then a solution could be established, which in time could be turned into an overall solution and be accepted by both sides", claimed Mr Ecevit.

Furthermore, referring to the face-to-face talks between President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, Mr Ecevit argued: "A serious dialogue has started between them, but the result cannot be predicted, because there is a precondition for reaching a concrete result. This precondition is the acceptance of the existing reality in Cyprus. What is this reality? In Cyprus there are two separate states, two separate nations".

[05] A bi-communal Economic Forum is formed

Noting that the meeting, which was to take place in the occupied areas of Cyprus but it had been postponed because the occupation regime did not allow the Greek Cypriots to pass to the pseudostate, was organized in Athens. The next meeting of the "Economic Forum of the Island of Cyprus" is to take place in Cyprus if the "practical difficulties are overcome". If not the meeting will take place in Istanbul.

The meeting was realized on the initiative of Oslo Peace Institute. Ali Erel, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (TCCC), Erdil Nami, former chairman of TCCC and Mustafa Damdelen, member of the administrative council of TCCC, have participated in the meeting from the Turkish Cypriot side.

[06] The occupation regime demands rent from people living in CMC houses

According to the paper, people living in the houses refuse to pay arguing that the houses do not belong to the pseudostate and thus it cannot demand rent.

The paper writes that the pseudostate is demanding rent from people living in 270 houses in the area of Lefka and 230 families living in Karavostasi village.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] The most important issue for Turkey is the position the new Cyprus Republic will take regarding Turkey's EU membership

Prior to the meeting, the most optimistic expectation, among the Turkish Foreign Ministry circles, was /one meeting each week or every other week/". Murat Yetkin then explains how Denktas who for years was considered as the major stumbling block before a solution using the "element of surprise" with a single manoeuvre was able to grab the role that "he is open and ready to discuss everything".

"By not refusing to discuss the /Missing Persons/ issue and more, by declaring that he had accepted this in order to help Clerides to free his hands, before his public opinion, Denktas, saw the trap laid by Clerides. From now on, Clerides will be considered a stumbling block, an obstacle if he refuses any proposal. At least the possibility of Clerides/ being accused of as (an obstacle) is equal to that of Denktas.

Breaking Point

At this point, one can harbour hope as regards the positive conclusion of the talks, for the parties in Cyprus, as well as for Greece, Turkey, the USA and the EU. Again at his point, one can notice that people have started to discuss in detail the elements of a settlement other then that of the existing present status quo, in the dark alleys of Ankara".

He then gives two issues to which Ankara looks for satisfactory answers, which are "Will the full equality of the Turkish side be recognized?" and "How the Foreign Ministry of the newly formed entity will function?".

Murat Yetkin adds: "If a positive answer is not given to the first one then the second question carries no meaning, since Clerides and Denktas have agreed that full agreement should be reached on all issues, in order to consider a final agreement valid.

So as the case is, for Ankara the functioning of the Foreign Ministry of the new entity, becomes the main issue. When you ask why the Foreign Ministry is so important you get the following answer: There are various possibilities including the model of the rotational presidency and the post of the Prime Minister and they're functioning.

The Foreign Ministry gains importance when relations with the EU are in question, because if the new entity becomes EU member before Turkey then who will decide when Turkey's EU membership is put to voting. People worry whether Cyprus will veto Turkey's membership.

Also, how will a positive note be secured for Turkey's EU membership in the Cyprus Parliament, which is a must for admitting new members.

From Ankara's point of view the most important issue regarding Cyprus/ future is centred on EU and regarding Turkey's membership", Murat Yetkin concludes.

[08] Erol Manisali criticizes the Turkish media for their approach towards Turkish -Russian relations

"On 15 January 2002, while Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was on his way to the US to meet with US President George W. Bush, Turkey and Russia were on the same date signing a framework agreement that will take the two countries into a very close cooperation. General Staff Chief Kivrikoglu and Russian General Staff Chief Anatolia Kvashnin were those who placed their signatures on the agreement.

In the spring when Russian President Vladimir Putin comes to Ankara the substance of the framework agreement will be further expanded. The agreement signed on 15 January includes the following points:

-Turkey and Russia anticipate carrying out cooperation in defence industries, and will jointly produce weapons. In other words, Russia is offering Turkey high technology .

-Cooperation is also planned on the topic of Caucasian petroleum and its transport through Turkey. Turkish-Russian cooperation is thus now on the agenda in the Caucasus and Inner Asia.

-Ankara and Moscow will also act jointly on the topic of Afghanistan.

-PKK (Workers Party of Kurdistan) and Chechen separatists are mutually declared to be terrorists.

-Ankara and Moscow declared that they have the same views regarding the continuation of the ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) Treaty.

All of these things are the clear and plain expressions of new policies that will extend as far as strategic cooperation between Turkey and Russia.

Turkey wants to draw closer to Russia and the Asia platform. For Turkey sees that, if it "stays unilaterally dependent on the West" then it will not be able to resist pressure regarding the Aegean, Cyprus, the PKK, Northern Iraq, Armenian calculations and Ataturk himself had in his day engaged in cooperation with Russia, the great power of the region, against Western impositions and calculations aimed at splitting up Anatolia. And thanks to this West's dream of the Greater Armenia, the Greek occupation of the Western Anatolia and Europe/ s plan to divide up Anatolia were all thwarted.

Why have the media been silent?

The media, which for weeks now have made Ecevit/ s trip the only item on Turkey/ s agenda, have been ignoring the very significant agreement signed in Ankara on the 15th of January. Why?

-Let us, for a moment , speculate in very optimistic terms: Could it be that our media have been hiding the matter in order not to stir a hornet/ s nest? Were they thinking that it would be better if the US did not become suspicious? Did the media ignore the mater so as not to offend the likes of Germany, Britain and France just at a time when we are on the road to EU accession? This is in fact not very logical. For even if the media don't mention it at all the powers in both the US and Europe undoubtedly know much more than the media would ever write about it anyway.

This optimistic interpretation is not very logical, since if our media have not been hiding this important agreement from the West, then who would they be hiding it from?

-Let us then look at the second possible interpretation. I really don't want to give this credence, but could it in fact be that certain individuals have been trying to cover up this affair with the thought that our own people should not learn or hear of it, and should not hear the reasons for Turkey/ s establishing close relations with Russia?

Indeed, if some very important circles in Turkey in fact believe in the necessity of developing relations with Russia, and that only in this way can the West's pressures on Turkey be resisted , then what would happen to the false winds stirred up by certain other circles? Wouldn't the people finally learn the truth? Naturally they would. And people would begin to realize that it is just as necessary to cooperate with Russia and the other Asian countries as it is to cooperate with the West.

The danger

And it is just this that would be so dangerous. For then wouldn't all the lies fed to us regarding the EU, and the spin put on the supposed virtues of globalisations, and the whole corrupt and dependent system based on markets, exchange rates, interest, debt, and foreign dependency, come into question?

Wouldn't the umbilical cords that link certain large capital circles within the country to nexuses of power abroad become visible?

The more pessimistic view on the media/ s hiding the affair and putting the agreement way into the background, appears to be the correct one. For this media engaged in the same deception in 1995 on the topic of the Customs Union with the European Union. It lied to the people, and acted under the influence of domestic and foreign circles of influence. That narrow circle bound Turkey in a one - sided way to the EU and a colonization agreement was hushed up and signed.

Have they been doing the same thing this time around, I wonder? That is the question that needs to be answered. For the sake of Turkey's national interests, these matters must not remain in the darkness, but must come out into the open.

This is the real change that needs to take place in Turkey.

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