Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-09-05

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The President of Turkey wants implementation of UN resolutions on Iraq. In Cyprus he wants "realities" to be taken into consideration.

[02] The Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry hopes the UN Secretary-General will bring the victims of the Turkish invasion to the line of common sense.

[03] The Turkish Cypriot leader left for Istanbul on his way to Paris.

[04] KIBRISLI sees "UK stamp" on "new Cyprus".

[05] Eroglu: The rights of Turkey must be taken into consideration in an agreement for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[06] Turkey/s political parties after forging alliances for the 3 November elections.

[07] Angolemli: "Denktas is going to Paris with the identity of an integrationist leader".

[08] Alpay Durduran estimates that Turkey/s threats to annex the occupied areas will harm its EU membership.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The President of Turkey wants implementation of UN resolutions on Iraq.

Reporting on the meeting NTV television (04.09.02) broadcast the following: During a meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that it was Ankara/s position that more emphasis should be given to having the UN/s resolutions on Iraq acted upon. These resolutions include the return of international inspectors to the country to verify that Iraq no longer possesses weapons of mass destruction.

Sezer, meeting with Annan on the fringes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, said that Turkey was working to avoid a military operation against Iraq, adding that Turkey would be the country that would be worst affected from such an attack.

Annan said that Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz supported the establishing of co-operation to enable the UN weapon inspectors work in the country.

The President also told Annan that, in order to achieve a sustainable peace in Cyprus, the realities of the situation should be taken into account.

[02] The Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry hopes the UN Secretary-General will bring the victims of the Turkish invasion to the line of common sense

Upon a question in the weekly press briefing, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said that ``Turkey always supports a solution on the island.``

Dirioz said that Turkish officials exchanged views with the special coordinator of U.S. State Department for Cyprus Thomas Weston about Cyprus in the beginning of the week and that Turkish officials told Weston that Denktas really wanted a solution on the island and that Turkey supported Denktas.

Dirioz said that it was totally explained to Weston about the demands and the things that can be accepted by the Turkish side, adding that the planned visit of British Special Representative to Cyprus Lord David Hannay, to Ankara is not on the agenda yet.

[03] The Turkish Cypriot leader left for Istanbul on his way to Paris

In statements before his departure, Denktas said the Paris meeting would be an evaluation meeting, stressing that he did not expect Annan to present a proposal. However Denktas noted that Annan could make a statement following the meetings.

Stating that he would go to Paris upon the invitation of the U.N. Secretary-General, Denktas said Annan would firstly hold separate meetings with them, and later they would meet altogether.

Denktas said he would meet Annan at 10:00 local time on Friday, adding that the evaluation meeting would take place in Paris. He said Annan would convey them the evaluation regarding the meetings, and that he would again convey to the Secretary-General where the difficulties were.

He also said that they would make an evaluation meeting among them after his return from Paris.

The Turkish Cypriot leader responded to the questions of reporters upon arrival at Istanbul`s Ataturk Airport.

Responding to comments of a journalist that the sides approached the last stage during the talks, Denktas said: ``Why we have approached to the last stage? Talks continue. We try to convey the difficulties during the meetings. I am going to Paris to make an evaluation with the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. We will convey him the difficulties. We will do our best to reach an agreement.``

When asked what kind of a result he expected from the talks, Denktas said: ``During our recent meeting with Clerides, both sides revealed their own positions. So, we will reveal our own position, and they will reveal their own position.``

Responding to a question which said, ``EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen had said that Cyprus would be a member of the EU whether or not there is a solution on Cyprus by the end of 2002``, Denktas said: ``I have started face-to-face meetings with Clerides by making very big principle sacrifices. I have started them without pre-condition. Verheugen began to say `we will take you whether or not there is an agreement` and disrupted the atmosphere we wanted to create. We listen to the statements of some diplomats that Verheugen should not be taken into consideration seriously. They say, `don`t take Verheugen seriously. He is not the one that will take the decision.``

When asked if an optimistic atmosphere could be caught at the end of the talks, Denktas said: ``I have been in the talks since 1968. We have caught very hopeful moments. We have come to the stage of signature and Greek Cypriots rejected it having the title of ``legal Cyprus government.`` It is a national case for them to preserve this title. Making an agreement with us and making us partner again is the continuation of guaranties. To this end, they escape when we have come to the stage of signature. If the EU is to take them when Cyprus is split into two, when there are U.N. soldiers between us, and where there is the atmosphere of ceasefire agreement, then there is no respect to democracy, international agreements, and human rights in the EU. We want the EU to look at the facts and make a diagnosis.``

[04] KIBRISLI sees "UK stamp" on "new Cyprus"

Invoking "reliable sources", KIBRISLI says that Mr Annan "is very well prepared for the Paris meeting", having the aid of the teams of Lord David Hannay, Mr Tomas Weston and Mr Alvaro de Soto. According to the same sources, continues the paper, Mr Annan will submit to the sides a framework agreement and ask them to sign it.

"If Koffi Annan does not succeed in ensuring a joint declaration by the sides, he will issue a statement alone", adds KIBRISLI, noting that the basic principles of the solution will be included in this statement. However, before that the UN Secretary - General will try to get the approval of the sides for alternative texts, which he has prepared.

The paper writes also that: "Lord David Hannay's basic principles of the 'New Cyprus' doctrine, which is based on the double sovereignty and the single international identity, are expected to be reflected in the behaviour and the statements of Kofi Annan".

The paper supports also that if the views of Lord Hannay are not reflected in the statements and the proposals of Mr Annan, then "the insincerity of the British diplomacy will be proved".

[05] Eroglu: The rights of Turkey must be taken into consideration in an agreement for the solution of the Cyprus problem

In an interview with illegal "Bayrak" television, Mr Eroglu claimed that all Turkish Cypriots want the accession of Cyprus to the EU and are in favour of reaching an agreement on the Cyprus problem, but this agreement should be based on the so-called sovereignty and the security of the Turkish Cypriots. Furthermore, "the rights of Turkey must also be taken into consideration", he added.

[06] Turkey/s political parties after forging alliances for the 3 November elections

The pro-Kurdish People's Democracy Party (HADEP), a representative of the far-left of the political spectrum, the Social Democratic People's Party (SHP) and the Party of the Labor (EMEP) have established an election alliance and will be entering polls under the roof of the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) -- a contingency party established by the HADEP people as a precaution against possible closure of their party by the Constitutional Court.

In the right, on the other hand, the True Path Party (DYP) of Tansu Ciller, reportedly has come close to making a deal with the Great Unity Party (BBP) of Muhsin Yazicioglu and the Bright Turkey Party (ATP) of Tugrul Turkes, the son of the late legendary leader of Turkish nationalists.

Polls show the Kurdish nationalist HADEP, which faces an imminent closure by the Constitutional Court, has a public backing of around 5 percent. The SHP, headed by Murat Karayalcin, has a negligible public support while the socialist EMEP hardly has any support in the public. The three parties have reportedly agreed to establish an election alliance, but because HADEP could be closed down by the Constitutional Court before the polls, they have decided to enter elections under the roof of HADEP's contingency party, the DEHAP.

The Freedoms and Democracy Party (ODP) of Ufuk Uras, is reportedly also trying to enter the election alliance of HADEP, SHP and EMEP. Uras declared Wednesday that he was ready to quit ODP leadership and work under whichever roof unity of the left could be achieved.

Very much in line with this search for an alliance in the far-left of the political spectrum, the center-right DYP has for some time been after allies that would make it easier for it to overcome the ten percent national threshold barrier more easily. Within that scope the DYP was holding meetings for some time with the far-right BBP of Yazicioglu and the pan-Turkist ATP of Tugrul Turkes.

According to well-placed political sources the three parties have come very close to a deal. According to the present DYP position the BBP would withdraw from the polls in exchange of around 10 prominent places on the DYP candidate lists. The BBP, on the other hand, was reportedly demanding 20 places on the lists. The two parties, sources said, are very close to making a deal around 18 places on the lists, ten of them prominent.

The DYP could not produce deputies from Kirsehir, Nevsehir, Aksaray, Kahramanmaras, Osmaniye, Yozgat, Sivas and Adana, places where the BBP has relatively more backing. The BBP was also demanding some prominent places in the Ankara and Istanbul lists.

The DYP, on the other hand, has reportedly almost agreed with the ATP of Turkes and it is very likely that the son of the legendary leader of Turkish nationalist front will run for Parliament on a DYP ticket from Kayseri.

Thus, if the three parties sort out remaining minor problems between them, analysts say, they may enter elections with a discreet election alliance. Election alliances are not allowed under existing election and political parties laws of the country.

The high ten percent national threshold in the polls is forcing parties both on the right and left of the political spectrum, excluding the pro-Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP) of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) of Deniz Baykal -- that appear to each have over 20 percent support in polls -- to forge election alliances although not allowed by the existing legislature of the country.

The fight for survival between the DYP and the Motherland Party (ANAP), on the other hand, may come to an end with the November 3 elections. The anticipated major decrease in ANAP votes, as well as a 2-3 percent increase that the DYP could secure through an alliance with the BBP and the ATP could play a major role.

The call of Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit for "nationalist left" parties to unite under the roof of the DSP in the polls, on the other hand, so far could not be realized although the initial response of both former Foreign Minister Mumtaz Soysal and former Constitutional Court chief justice Yekta Gungor Ozden was positive.

Both Soysal's and Ozden's parties have not fulfilled the conditions to become eligible to enter polls and therefore are not among the parties to enter polls. Thus, both two small "nationalist left" groups reportedly are very receptive to Ecevit's offer to include their candidates on DSP lists. Still, there is so far no movement on that front.

[07] Angolemli: "Denktas is going to Paris with the identity of an integrationist leader"

Angolemli writes, inter alia, the following in his press release:

"Denktas, who will meet with UN Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, in Paris on 6 September will depart from the island with the knowledge that the Turkish Cypriots, who were isolated from the world due to different kinds of 'embargoes', want to open their arms to prosperity, peace and the modern world. We expect that Esteemed Denktas will evaluate correctly the will of the Turkish Cypriots in this important meeting with Annan and will exhibit this powerful will for a solution in Cyprus.

This meeting with Annan will be one of the most critical stages since the beginning of the direct talks between the two leaders last January. Denktas goes to this meeting, where the UN will clarify their views and thoughts, after being declared by the Security Council as the 'intransigent side', weakened by the human rights violations due to the conviction of the two journalists and will participate with the identity of the 'integrationist' leader who wants to bind some 'ministries' of the 'TRNC' with Turkey. Denktas has put in a difficult situation both himself and the Turkish Cypriots. He should know that he is holding in his hands the key of the solution and the accession to the EU. He must take advantage of this opportunity provided by this meeting. "

[08] Alpay Durduran estimates that Turkey's threats to annex the occupied areas will harm its EU membership

Durduran also added that at this point the humanity has reached, it is impossible and not useful for the Turkish Cypriots to level threats that a state will be created by force or that the territory will be annexed.

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