Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-08-16

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas comments on Civilian Initiative.

[02] Denktas says EU needs Turkish Cypriots.

[03] NPM/s civilian initiative communique extends full support to Denktas.

[04] Gulek: "Important developments expected in Cyprus".

[05] Kemal Dervis says impossible to join Cem's party.

[06] New Turkey Party (NTP) to participate in 3 November elections with its own identity.

[07] Motherland Party Council assesses Dervis choice.

[08] Fire destroys 100.000 square meters of scrubs and olive trees in Karpass peninsula.

[09] Five icons have been stolen.

[10] The efforts for repairing the Arsos - Pyla road continue.

[11] Decision of the "Ministerial Council" will be necessary for a foreigner to sell property to another foreigner.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Columnist suggests Ecevit should take steps for solution on Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas comments on Civilian Initiative

The Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, who inaugurated the so-called Martyrs Museum in occupied Vouno village said that they knew that freedom could not be easily acquired and noted: ``You either surrender or you gain your freedom by saying that you will pay the price for it. ``

Denktas also referred to the initiative of certain non-governmental organizations which started a signature campaign under the name of Common Vision to announce what kind of peace they want in Cyprus. Denktas said that he would meet with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Sept. 6 with a great deal of signatures collected to support him.

``They have collected a great deal of signatures, when you read them, you see that there is nothing in them. The thing they want is not clear. They say they want peace and membership to the EU. Is there anybody who does not want peace? All of my people want peace. But the basis of this peace will be created by those people lying in these mass graves with their blood and life. The basis will be sovereignty. If this is the case, the people will sleep in peace here and we can leave a sound future and lasting peace to our children.``

``However, there are certain groups within us saying that `Denktas does not represent the Turkish Cypriots while we try to defend the right of our people on the negotiation table and the principles of that cause which we adopted together with motherland Turkey. Because an EU representative called Madam Fogg ordered the journalists whom she supported by paying money and the agents she trained in Turkey to write that Denktas does not represent Turkish Cypriots,`` Denktas alleged.

Denktas said that if the two sides reach an agreement and set up a partnership, they can join the EU on condition that Turkey's rights on the island are protected, its consent is taken, and if Turkey's accession to EU is also kept on the same agenda.

``If Turkey wants that, this can come true. If not, we don`t have the right to end the basic right of Turkey, to disturb the Turkish-Greek balance by only thinking about EU membership and its advantages. If Greek Cypriots spoil the Turkish-Greek balance in Cyprus and if we get on the EU train only thinking of EU, this will be very bad for us.``

Denktas said that the people are tired of being deceived by EU membership, adding that the Greek Cypriots application to the EU was not due to economic reasons, but to the ambitions they could not achieve with weapons and "embargoes".

[02] Denktas says EU needs Turkish Cypriots

Denktas met with the delegation formed by the representatives of these organisations on Thursday afternoon. During the visit Denktas said that the EU needed the Turkish Cypriots and they had to make an agreement with them. ``They cannot deny our sovereignty, everybody should know this,`` and added: "If they want Cyprus, they have to take us too".

Denktas claimed that the Greek Cypriots were using the "fake title" of the Cyprus Republic and denied their sovereignty and he stressed that the Turkish Cypriots this time wanted a stronger agreement ``which cannot be torn apart and thrown away. `` Denktas criticized groups which call on both Turkish and Greek Cypriots not to insist on sovereignty but try to reach an agreement. ``If both sides don't insist on sovereignty, who will be sovereign? The Cyprus Republic will be sovereign, just like it happened in the past.

[03] NPM's civilian initiative communique extends full support to Denktas

The communique, which comprises of six articles, claims that the Cyprus Government does not represent the Turkish Cypriot people, adding that the EU membership should be simultaneous with Turkey based on two equal and sovereign founding states.

The "TRNC" civilian initiative communique was made public during a news conference at the Saray Hotel in occupied Nicosia. The communique was signed by 100 organizations from the occupied areas and 64 from abroad.

During the press conference, NPM general coordinator Taner Etkin said that a historic opportunity was created today. Explaining that all the organisations, which signed the communique, were at equal level, Etkin added that the civilian initiative communique reflects the voice of the Turkish Cypriots. Noting that the communique belongs to all the organisations, Etkin stressed everything necessary will be done in order to safeguard the sovereignty and existence of the "TRNC".

Later, Etkin read the communique and revealed those who signed the communique and added: "I am reading this communique as a response of our people to those who refuse our sovereignty and push aside the existence of our state. The communique claims that the `Cyprus Government/ is not the Cyprus republic and does not represent the Turkish Cypriot people. Pointing out that only the `TRNC state/ can represent the Turkish Cypriot people, the communique adds that the authority that has the right to speak on behalf of the Turkish Cypriot people is Rauf Denktas and the `TRNC Assembly/ and `government/. The communique alleges that the only solution that can safeguard the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriot people and ensure its security is the establishment of a new partnership based on two equal and sovereign states and the simultaneous accession of this partnership and guarantor Turkey to the EU. The communique goes on to state that in the new partnership to be formed based on two equal and sovereign states neither state can dominate over or claim to represent the other. The communique also underscores that no state or people can claim sovereignty, rights, or authority over the entire island."

[04] Gulek: "Important developments expected in Cyprus"

Gulek, who was holding contacts in southern Adana province, visited Adana Governor Oguz Kagan Koksal, and said that they would introduce investment facilities on Cyprus to the businessmen in the region, and added that they would inform about the incentive models that would be implemented.

Pointing out that it seemed that very important political developments would be brought onto the agenda in Cyprus in the coming months, Gulek said. ``Illegal and invalid European Union (EU) candidacy of the Cyprus Government is in question. We often mention this in EU platforms. We say this application is invalid and illegal, and that they would put into difficulty a probability for a solution on the Island in case they progress this application. We say they would meet with a more conflicted atmosphere and that this was an issue which they should not put aside."

Pointing out current economic difficulties of the occupied area, Gulek said: ``The difficulties we experienced were reflected there. We are in a position to support them. We develop projects to increase business facilities there.``

[05] Kemal Dervis says impossible to join Cem's party

"We arrived at a very important point in the past 24 or 48 hours, both sad and happy. I was a bit saddened by the fact that the NTP said that it is not interested in an alliance of the left, that efforts to this end are wrong, and that they will not take part in this effort. It is possible that the NTP has justified grounds for its view and that it pursues a different approach. The NTP says that the people and the electorates should bring about the unity. This is possible and I respect this view. We have differences of view on this issue," Dervis said

Announcing that he will not join the NTP, Dervis stressed the importance of RPP (Republican People's Party) leader Deniz Baykal's call for unity under the roof of the RPP. Warning that a very difficult period is ahead of Turkey in November and December in the event that the fragmented political structure continues, Dervis said that a strong leftist alliance should be in the Assembly after 4 November.

[06] New Turkey Party (NTP) to participate in 3 November elections with its own identity

NTP Board said that nobody should trust the classical, outdated discourse of certain parties which voice unification for tactical purposes, adding that ``the New Turkey movement started with the initiatives of Cem, Ozkan and Dervis together. Mr Dervis could not join the party to date due to his certain goals. We still keep our promise. New Turkey Party is a social movement which aims to bring together the modern elements in our country and to open the way to politics. People approve our party, which continues to get organised rapidly.``

[07] Motherland Party Council assesses Dervis choice

The MP Chairmanship Council assessed Dervis' political choice and the party's propaganda activities for the elections. "He began with a troika, he stopped at the RPP. What will happen next? The fact that Dervis has turned toward the RPP instead of the NTP does not put much pressure on us." Moreover, the following view was expressed: "It is difficult for Dervis, who embarked on his path with a social liberal philosophy, to reach a synthesis between his views and those of the RPP that comes from a rigid statist tradition."

The Chairmanship Council members assessed these developments as an illusion, whereas Yilmaz said that following with regards to Dervis' stand: "This movement gained an impetus with the NTP. Now, however, another picture has emerged. There is confusion."

[08] Fire destroys 100.000 square meters of scrubs and olive tress in Karpass peninsula

The paper writes that the fire expanded quickly because of the strong winds, which were blowing in the area and that it was put under control after efforts exerted by firemen and employees of the so-called "Forestry Department".

[09] Five icons have been stolen

According to the paper, the 22 year-old guard of the museum has been arrested by the so-called "police" and taken to "court", because no sign of violent entrance was found during their investigations.

The lawyer of the arrested guard had no objection to his client's being kept in prison, but he alleged that the young guard has been beaten by the "police".

[10] The efforts for repairing the Arsos - Pyla road continue

The paper writes that Ahmet Sakalli, the Turkish Cypriot headman of Pyla, said that they had a meeting with a UN delegation, which told them that they would reply to their demand within five or ten days.

[11] Decision of the "Ministerial Council" will be necessary for a foreigner to sell property to another foreigner

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Columnist suggests Ecevit should take steps for solution on Cyprus

"It did not receive attention in the press, but this week a very meaningful nongovernmental organisation initiative took place in the `TRNC/. Around 86 organizations, among which there were groups from the labour unions, the women's, youth, businessmen, artists, writers and retired groups, published a declaration under the heading of `Common Vision/.

Such a movement, representing approximately 80 thousand people, is happening for the first time in the `TRNC/. For this reason, the views, proposals and calls included in the declaration should be taken into consideration both in Nicosia and in Ankara.

The declaration mainly concerns two themes: A Cyprus solution and membership of the EU. It maintains that presently there is a good opportunity for the realisation of the hopes of the Turkish Cypriots and of the motherland as well on these two subjects, and that it is necessary not to miss this opportunity.

The form of solution envisaged in the document contains the equality and sovereignty criteria, which are actually dwelled upon by the Turkish Cypriot side. The views expressed can be summarised as follows: `A new partnership state should be established, which will have specified responsibilities and usages of sovereignty and based on the political equality of the sides. This state should be formed of the `Component States/, which have these rights in the north and in the south of the island. The solution should be provided in an environment where the guarantee agreements continue and in the form of a package. The new partnership state should have legislative, executive and judicial organs at a sufficient level to carry out relations with the EU and should have a single international political identity. The land and property problem should be solved in a manner so that new migrations will not be experienced/.

These views in their general outlines are in the direction of the known Turkish positions. In other words, the strategic targets are the same. However, some different approaches and flexibilities are proposed in the details and tactics. In this connection, a call is made to both sides to enter into a serious "give and take" process from now on.

According to the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ali Erel, who is leading this nongovernmental organisation movement, flexibility does not mean giving up basic rights. However, in his own words, `No solution can be found by setting forth conditions such as that first of all the `TRNC/ should be recognised and sovereignty of the `TRNC/ should be accepted. This method has been tried for years and a result has not been obtained. If no solution is obtained, then the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey will be forced to pay a high price for this/.

All right, would not such a "move" at this time weaken the Turkish Cypriot position? Erel says definitely `no/ to this. `On the contrary, this shows the determination of the Turkish Cypriot community on the subject of a solution. Thanks to this, the international pressures will be concentrated on the Greek Cypriot side. Furthermore, from now on the administrators are in a position to evaluate well the requests of an extensive section of the people/.

Ali Erel states that recently some progress was made in the Cyprus negotiations and in the meantime, the international community (including the United Kingdom) has increased its pressure on the Greek Cypriot side. This fact has been verified by what we have heard from other sources. It appears that there could be "some important developments for a solution" after the talks the UN Secretary General will hold with Denktas and Clerides on 6 September [2002].

Of course, it is very important for Ankara `to make encouraging efforts/. However, it is not certain whether or not Turkey would be able to make sufficient efforts within the election confusion. Thus, at this point a historical responsibility falls upon Prime Minister Ecevit. Ecevit, who is the creator of the `Peace Operation/, (1974) of which the anniversary is presently being celebrated in the `TRNC/, can now bring a real peace, that is a solution, in the best manner.

This opportunity should not be missed."

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