Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-03-08

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas left for Istanbul.

[02] Rauf Denktas delivered a lecture at Marmara University.

[03] Rauf Denktas addressed a meeting of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce.

[04] Protests against the increase of the fuel prices.

[05] Turkish Cypriot travel agent in London to sent tourists to the occupied areas.

[06] Turkey plans to repair the illegal Tymbou airport.

[07] The General-Secretary of the NSC proposes alternative politics for Turkey to include Iran and Russia.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas left for Istanbul

In his predeparture statement at the occupied Tymbou Airport, Denktas said that he will recount in his lectures the principles defended on the Cyprus issue and the reasons for not finding a solution to the issue for the past 38 years. Explaining that there are those who seek to portray the Cyprus issue as an obstacle on Turkey's path to the EU, Denktas added: They are doing this intentionally. The main goal is to prevent Turkey's membership in the EU or to delay it for as long as they can. Denktas also recalled Foreign Minister Cem's comments to the effect that Cyprus is not an obstacle on the path to the EU.

Alleging that the Cyprus issue was not created by Turkey, Denktas added: "It is the Greek Cypriot side and Greece who started with this issue when they destroyed the partnership republic in order to own the Cyprus Republic. The Greek Cypriot side is not inclined to form a new partnership because the world considers the Greek Cypriot side as the owner of the Cyprus Republic".

Noting that he will be hopeful in the event that the EU tells the Greek Cypriots to resolve the issue that they initiated, Denktas said: "The Greek Cypriots will try to maintain the present situation if they are not told this".

Denktas expressed the wish that the Greek Cypriot side will show a sincere interest in the steps launched by the Turkish Cypriots on the way to set up a new partnership on the island and for these steps to yield favourable results. Denktas pointed out that there are those who ask not to relinquish the state and who are worried about giving up their principles for the sake of the EU, of being a minority, of the probability that the Greek Cypriots will return to where they want, and of being thrown out of their homes and motherland.

Denktas stressed that the goal is to secure cooperation and achieve results between the Turkish Cypriot people, who finally found tranquillity after establishing their own state, and the Greek Cypriot side.

[02] Rauf Denktas delivered a lecture at Marmara University

In his lecture Denktas said that they were pleased that Turkey was behind them and alleged that they had a cause of freedom, law and humanly living.

``However, if you, as the Greek Cypriot administration, come to the point that `no, sir, there is the Cyprus government. It is in power. It has sovereignty, territorial integrity and everything. Two communities are making a peace deal under this`, then there will not be any agreement. When these talks are under way, the spokesman of the Greek Cypriot administration said two or three days ago that `the United States, Britain and EU have assured Clerides. The government of the Republic of Cyprus will continue. They will not touch on territorial integrity. Independence will continue and talks are between two communities.` If such an assurance was made to Clerides, then our searches for a compromise are in vain. If they have taken that guarantee, will Clerides set up a new partnership with me?,`` Denktas said.

Denktas stressed that they would not give up being the founding partner, equal status, sovereignty rights and rights of Turkey on Cyprus, adding that ``we are ready to form a `united Cyprus` which can join the EU. Let`s shape up the things under equal conditions. Greek Cypriots don`t have the right to administer us or intervene with us. I have made the biggest opening. I opened the doors to make us join the EU together and to found a new and common administration.``

Further alleging that Turkey has also made the necessary opening for peace and stability and to prevent the occurrence of war, Denktas said that ``I don't know if a war can break out. If Greek Cypriots buy stationery, I will say a war won`t break out. But they buy attack helicopters. They spent one million dollars daily for weapons. There is no need for that.``

Responding to questions of journalists, Denktas said that Cyprus applied to the EU while the negotiations on the island continued, adding that this was a violation of the 1960 treaties, which gave a basic right to Turkey.

Supporting that Cyprus can't join an organization to which Turkey and Greece are not members, Denktas said that if the Greek Cypriot side joins the EU before Turkey joins EU, a great crisis will erupt.

Denktas said that he met with President Clerides not to cause such a crisis and proposed him to found a new partnership by showing flexibility on many issues. ``It is told that you will accept a compromise not to prevent Turkey`s joining the EU,`` told a student to Denktas who said that ``those who put the issue of Cyprus in front of Turkey should be ashamed. Turkey didn`t start the Cyprus issue.`` Denktas noted that EU supports the Greek Cypriots as Greece is a member of EU, adding that there were certain EU countries which don`t want Turkey to join the organization.

[03] Rauf Denktas addressed a meeting of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce

Addressing the meeting Denktas said:

``Persons in charge of EU tell us that the EU train moved, Turkish Cypriots will miss it. But we tell them that it is not the Cyprus, but Greek Cypriot train. Greek Cypriots want to achieve the things they could not do by weapons and embargoes, by EU membership,`` said Denktas.

The same persons tell Turkey to sort out the Cyprus problem. They give a period of 10-15 years for Turkey`s membership. On the other hand they want to admit Cyprus to EU. God knows what EU will want in these 15-20 years.

This nation can't give in to this dishonourableness. The train to Brussels will at some point be stopped by the impediments Turkey puts forward by international agreements".

Denktas said that pressure was imposed on him to accept the demands of Clerides, calling him to talk on equal conditions.

Denktas stressed that the Cyprus issue is not an obstacle for EU candidacy of Turkey, adding that ``we say `yes` to a new partnership on equal conditions and sovereignty conditions. We tell them not to touch Turkey's guarantorship. Responding to questions of reporters, Denktas said that when they touched on the Varosha issue, the Cyprus question flamed up.

Upon the questions of reporters prior to the meeting, Denktas said: ``Saying that `come after settling the Cyprus question` is a big injustice for Turkey. It was the Greeks and the Greek Cypriots who caused Cyprus the question not Turkey. Why don`t they tell the same thing to the Greek Cypriots and Greece? What is the reason of the double standard?``

Responding to a question about the e-mail messages of EU Turkey Representative Karen Fogg, Denktas said that ``Fogg herself deteriorated secrecy by using that method`` and noted, ``nobody has the right to complain. Does a diplomat make intelligence through e-mail?`` ITO Chairman Mehmet Yildirim said that some circles correlated Turkey's EU membership with the Cyprus question and noted: ``We think that Turkey's EU full membership will not be settled with the solution of Cyprus question.`` Yildirim stated that they supported Turkey's economic policies regarding the pseudostate and said: ``I believe that we can carry the pseudostate on our back. We have confidence in Denktas and support him.``

[04] Protests against the increase of the fuel prices

The paper reports that about 300 buses, trucks and taxis participated in each protest act. As a result of the strike problems were caused in the transportations, as a lot of villagers, students and other employees were not able to go to their homes, schools or working places.

The participants in the protests demanded from the pseudogovernment to annul the decision regarding the increases of the fuel prices.

[05] Turkish Cypriot travel agent in London to send tourists to the occupied areas

Havana Travel was established three years ago and during the first year of its entering into the tourism business sent to the pseudostate 100 tourists. The 1500 tourists who are about to visit the pseudostate this year are high income-tourists and some of them own property in the occupied areas. Others will stay in luxury villas or hotels.

[06] Turkey plans to repair the illegal Tymbou airport

The paper writes that tenders have already been invited and could be submitted until 18 March 2002.

[07] The General-Secretary of the NSC proposes alternative politics for Turkey to include Iran and Russia

Prof. Manisali, who addressed today's session of the symposium on 'World and Turkey' at the War Academies, said that the EU will not accept Turkey as a member and that the EU wants to continue using Turkey as its backyard.

The statement of Professor Erol Manisali is the following: "It goes without saying that it is in the interests of Turkey to become an EU member if it was another Spain, Greece, or Portugal. There should not be one-sided commitments and one should not be put on hold and adopt a membership perspective forever with the hope that one day it will become an EU member. Even the Turkish Armed Forces will not be able to lift a finger in 15 years as long as this train follows this tract and this corrosion continues".

Explaining that a fight for choosing sides started after the 1990s, Manisali said that Turkey should also chose sides adding that Turkey should set up an alliance with Russia.

In the questions and answers part of the symposium, Gen. Kilinc stood up and said that he will make a statement instead of asking a question. He said that he shared the views of Prof. Manisali. Explaining that these were his own personal views, Gen. Kilinc said the following:

"In those issues which concern its national interests, Turkey has not received even a small amount of help from the EU. On the contrary, it is obvious that the EU has a negative approach to the issues concerning Turkey's national interests. It is, therefore, necessary for Turkey to explore new possibilities. As Mr. Giritli said earlier, Russia is also isolated and is trying to approach the United States despite everything. I believe it is beneficial for Turkey to explore new possibilities, if possible in a way to include Iran, without disregarding the United States".

These remarks caused a commotion at the meeting. Later yesterday CNN Turk broadcast statements by the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Bulent Ecevit, on the same issue in reply to questions as follows:

Question: General Tuncel Kilinc, General-Secretary of the National Security Council, said that the EU is not extending the necessary support on Turkey's national security. He said that we should explore the possibilities of cooperating with Iran and Russia without excluding the United States.

Answer: I think he said the United States, Russia, and Iran.

Question: He said Iran and Russia without excluding the United States.

Answer: I have also listened to his comments. It could be, however, that I do not remember well. What I remember is that he said the United States, Russia, and Iran. I do not know, however, how the United States and Iran will come together. The general expressed his personal views. At present, we have positive relations with the United States and the EU. Appropriate measures can be taken, however, in the event that there are serious difficulties. At this stage, however, we are not exploring such possibilities.

Meanwhile the British Ambassador to Turkey Mr Westmacott has assessed General Kilinc's remarks to Mehmet Ali Birand on the 'Headline' program of CNN Turk. Westmacott said that Turkey receives the highest loan from the IMF, adding that this constitutes proof of EU support to Turkey in its difficult times.

In reply to Birand's question on whether it is really true, as Gen. Kilinc said, that the EU does not support Turkey's national interests, Westmacott said: "I do not know what the general means by these remarks. If he meant the economic crisis, the EU countries and the United States have extended support to Turkey in its difficult times. We have worked together with the Turkish government and done everything necessary to prepare in Washington a stand-by package. In my opinion, this is very important. Turkey is one of the countries which receives the biggest loan from the IMF. This is proof of EU support for Turkey, on the condition that Turkey seeks to join the club. We do not seek the changes to be made just because the EU has asked for it. What we want is the following: There are certain rules and values which all of us should abide by. These changes, in turn, are right for Turkey. They will be favourable for Turkey".

KV/SK

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