Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-03-28

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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 the Turkish Cypriot leader before and after meeting President Clerides.

[02] The "Second Development Platform" decides the "direct economic integration" of the pseudostate with Turkey.

[03] AFRIKA accuses the occupation regime of preventing a Turkish Cypriot living in the free areas of Cyprus to attend his father's funeral.

[04] The so-called "Attorney General" will demand an investigation against PUM.

[05] The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly predicts that the EU will be a German Union in 50 years if Turkey is not a member.

[06] Denktash met with British MP/s.

[07] Former chairman of the European Commission on Human Rights: "The world is not ready to recognize the TRNC".

[08] The Palestinian Ambassador in Ankara visited the so-called International Cyprus University.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Mehmet Ali Birand: If a solution is found in Cyprus it will be easier for Turkey to obtain a date from the EU.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader before and after meeting President Clerides

Prior to his departure for the meeting Denktas said that Mr Clerides will conduct a roundup of the direct talks. In reply to questions on the issues to be assessed, Denktas said that Clerides will conduct a roundup of the issues discussed until now. We held a roundup yesterday and today he will conduct a roundup of issues discussed, Denktas added.

Denktas replied to reporters' questions after the meeting as well. Explaining that the Cyprus issue was taken up in all its aspects and that there are some basic problems in solving the issue, Denktas added: "However, it is too early to comment on whether there is any progress. There are still certain difficulties. Recounting that the contacts held until now will be assessed until 9 April, Denktas added that both sides should prepare a chart on the wishes of both sides to find out if there are any common points. We can engage in the third round of talks accordingly.

In reply to a question, Denktas said that the United Nations does not have the right to present a plan within the framework of its goodwill mission unless the sides agree. De Soto does not have the intention to return to Cyprus with new proposals after his tour of Turkey, Greece, and New York, added Denktas.

In reply to a question on why he wanted to finalize the talks by June, Denktas said: "I was the first one to propose June. I have to undergo an operation between June and January. I, therefore, thought that we should conclude this issue by then. For this reason, I proposed June. I believe that the Cyprus issue has been discussed into depth with all its aspects and there's nothing left unknown. The issue can be resolved within six months if the conflict is diagnosed correctly."

Commenting on the vision of the two sides, Denktas said that there is a feeling that we cannot agree if we take up our visions. Denktas continued: "The visions are different. They consider themselves the government of Cyprus. We, in turn, do not recognize this. We consider ourselves a state and we are a state. The visions enter into the picture when we start to talk about the contents of the visions. Let us continue in goodwill and show patience. We will see only then".

In reply to a question on whether there were any common points with Clerides' statement, Denktas said that it is too early to say that there are any common points. Explaining that the sides are interpreting the common points according to their own conditions Denktas said that the common points are eliminated when the other side does not accept the conditions. It is too early to discuss these issues in detail, added Denktas.

In reply to another question, Denktas said that the talks can continue after June as well.

[02] The "Second Development Platform" decides the "direct economic integration" of the pseudostate with Turkey

The paper reports that the decisions of the platform were made public yesterday during a Press conference at Saray Hotel in occupied Nicosia. Announcing the 15-pages decisions the Turkish Cypriot chairman of the platform, Kamil Raif said that the economic problems of the pseudostate were increased due to the rabid decrease of the value of the Turkish lira, the high inflation rate, the internal structural problems, the unsatisfactory production, exports and investments and the dependence on the imports.

The report underlines the need for the pseudostate's overcoming the structural problems in order to be able to enter an economic development process and create an environment, which would encourage investments.

The platform has, inter alia, decided to take measures towards attracting to the pseudostate money, which has been deposited in Turkey and harmonizing its so-called "laws" to the norms of the EU.

[03] AFRIKA accuses the occupation regime of preventing a Turkish Cypriot living in the free areas of Cyprus to attend his father's funeral

The paper writes that Mr Kerlo came to the free areas nine moths ago due to economic problems and unemployment. Mr Kerlo had made his application to attend his father's funeral through the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), but the occupation regime informed him that he would be arrested if he entered the occupied areas.

Furthermore, yesterday Mr Kerlo's wife telephoned AFRIKA and said that the family would take the issue to the European Court of Human Rights.

[04] The so-called "Attorney General" will demand an investigation against PUM

Talking to the paper's editor in chief, Sinasi Basaran and asked what could be done, according to the so-called "law" for the political parties, if a party describes the Turkish Army in Cyprus as "occupying force" and makes a statement in a certain paper calling on the people to revolt against Turkey and its army in Cyprus, Mr Sait answered, inter alia, the following:

".If a political party has made such a statement, if one of its officials has made such a statement, then the issue must be investigated and we shall examine what rights the existing political parties law gives us. After that what is necessary will be done. The 71st article of the constitution alone says nothing on the issue. In the 71st article there is the provision for another law to be made. We have to make a law, which will envisage what the political parties can and cannot do and what is the limit. ...".

[05] The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly predicts that the EU will be a German Union in 50 years if Turkey is not a member

"Turkish Parliament speaker Omer Izgi said that the United Kingdom and France should support Turkey's EU membership most and added, "Otherwise, a Turkey-less EU would return to the 1937 period in 50 years time. Then, these two countries will have to leave the EU."

During a chat with Parliament reporters on Wednesday, Izgi announced that he would not be a candidate for deputy in the next session and added that he would quit active politics. When asked his opinion on Turkey's EU membership process in the light of his experiences by the TDN correspondent, Izgi said: "Two countries should have wanted Turkey's EU membership the most. The United Kingdom and France should have said they would not be there if Turkey was not. They lost that chance. If they are able to see the EU's future in 50 years time, they should be supporting our full membership the most. If Turkey cannot be a member, these two countries should announce that they would review their situation. Otherwise, these two countries, maybe with Spain, will have to leave the EU in the next 50 years time if Turkey is not accepted as there will be a situation similar to the wind blowing in Europe in 1937. The wind that blew for a nation at that time, will blow for the EU this time."

Stressing that he referred to Germany by mentioning about the wind that blew in 1937, Izgi noted that an EU ideal, similar to a communism utopia, can be restored in a balance that will be secured with the accession of Turkey, since the latter would become a member by taking Balkan states to its side. He emphasized that the EU ideal would turn real, but added that otherwise the EU would return to the 1937 climate.

When asked about alternatives to the EU, Izgi said that there might be alternatives to the EU for Turkey at any time, and added, "The EU's option is Turkey. However, the sole option for Turkey is not the EU. Turkey will find alternatives within its own axis, or a new world will be established and Turkey will take its place in this new world." Izgi claimed that the possibility of the establishment of a new world existed at any time, stressing that this new world might be established tomorrow, or even earlier than tomorrow.

Izgi also said that early elections would be seen on the horizon at least four months before they occur in Turkey, adding that there was always the possibility of early elections, but that no elections were seen on the horizon at present.

When asked whether Turkey would take a backward step on the Cyprus issue, Izgi noted: "Turkey will never take a backward step in Cyprus for the sake of EU membership. Our government is also adamant on this issue, no matter what EU commissioner Verheugen says. If they continue to think this way, they will divide the island, and their insistence on this will mean that they want the division of the island."

[06] Denktash met with British MP/s

No statement was made before or after the meeting.

[07] Former chairman of the European Commission on Human Rights: "The world is not ready to recognize the TRNC"

Dr Trechsel said that the possibility of peace can exist in the island in case it can be based on an agreement, which minimizes the differences between two equal partners.

Opposing the view that only after the recognition of the "TRNC" there is a possibility of solution in the Cyprus problem Dr Trechsel said: "Taking into consideration the structure of the political power that prevails in the world I do not believe that the recognition of the "TRNC" has any chance and the world is not ready for such a thing."

He also said that Turkey is considered responsible for the violation of the human rights in the northern part of the island and the pseudostate cannot be accepted as legal before the solution of the political situation in the island.

Speaking about the Loizidou case, Prof Trechsel said that Turkey must abide by the decision, which was against it, and pay as soon as possible, the damages.

[08] The Palestinian Ambassador in Ankara visited the so-called International Cyprus University

The Palestinian Ambassador said that the education in the pseudostate is an important investment and expressed his satisfaction that there are Palestinian students in the university.

The Ambassador is going to give a lecture at the "Near East University" on the Palestinian problem today. Prof. Dr Mohammed Selim from the University of Cairo and advisor of former Presidents of Egypt Nasir and Saddat, retired Ambassador Tahseen Basheer, will also deliver a speech during the same event.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Mehmet Ali Birand: If a solution is found in Cyprus it will be easier for Turkey to obtain a date from the EU

Judging by the reports in our media, during his recent visit to Brussels, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem gave the European Union a good beating. He rapped the Europeans, teaching them their place!

The public was pleased.

That part was for domestic consumption.

But there is also something else, the facts that remain behind closed doors. I want to tell you about these facts.

The Cem-Verheugen meeting can be described as a "stock-taking activity."

Turkey has managed to fulfil only half of its short-term pledges. And, of the medium-term adaptation arrangements, 12,000 have been completed.

If we look at this issue only from a short-term requirements perspective, Turkey fails in the test. If, on the other hand, we include the medium-term requirements as well in our calculations, Turkey gets a higher mark: 6 out of a total 10.

The statements made by the EU Commission officials indicate that obviously a new approach is needed.

Until now the EU stance towards Turkey was one of, "Pass the adaptation bills and then come and we will decide whether we will start the accession talks or not."

Now there is a tendency to alter this approach. In other words, the idea that "Turkey should pass the adaptation bills at a different pace in certain stages and that the EU should take certain steps without waiting for the end of the adaptations bills process" is now being developed.

This change in approach -- if it does take place -- will be very important because, in that case, it will be possible to give Turkey a substantial sign at the end of the year as to when exactly and under which conditions full accession talks can begin.

In short, Turkey's demand will have been fulfilled.

For the first time the MHP too sends off a signal

While Ismail Cem met with Verheugen in Brussels, an unexpected development took place in Ankara. Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli urged the EU to set a date for the start of the full accession talks between Turkey and the EU. Significantly, he made that statements during the open-to-the-press part of the MHP group meeting in Parliament, making it clear that these are his real intentions.

He showed that a MHP demanding from the EU a timetable for full membership talks cannot possibly be striving to keep Turkey outside the EU.

The MHP is an interesting party.

For one thing, it does not use the communications method to which we have become accustomed to.

With this attitude, Bahceli is making an arrangement.

He draws attention to the fact that the MHP should not be defined as the party that is pushing Turkey outside the EU. I see the same approach on the part of the military as well.

After certain generals got carried away while making public speeches, saying things that "went beyond the intended purpose," now those who speak in the name of the Turkish Armed Forces are almost "swearing to God" that they are in favour of the country joining the EU.

Just like the MHP, the military do not want to be seen as the party obstructing Turkey on the path to Europe. The military are trying to wipe out that erroneous impression.

They stress that their objections are limited to the manner in which the adaptation laws get written. Naturally, the way these get written is extremely important. However, as far as we can see, on this issue as well, harmony cannot be achieved between the MHP and Motherland Party (ANAP).

The breaking point is Cyprus, not Kurdish

Contrary to what some of us are thinking, the most important issue bound to affect "from outside" the relations with the EU, is not the Kurdish problem -- that is, the Kurdish teaching and broadcasting.

If Turkey is to be given at the end of this year a specific date for the start of accession talks, Cyprus is the issue that will affect the decision-making process.

If a solution can be found in Cyprus, it will be easier for Turkey to obtain a date from the EU.

In that case, a further brief postponement of action on issues such as the Kurdish problem and total abolition of the death penalty, will be tolerated.

If, on the other hand, the Cyprus problem remains unsolved or if a "road accident" happens regarding Cyprus, then the aforementioned possibility will become more distant.

Meanwhile, different voices are heard from the talks on the island. While the Turkish side says that things are not going well and that Clerides does not budge, one hears more optimistic messages from the EU circles.

The EU circles claim that though Clerides has not shown his "hand," the situation will be different during the coming days, and that the Greek Cypriots will be taking some major turns on the road.

So, regardless of all the fights, the EU train is travelling on its path, albeit slowly".

KV/SK

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