Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-10-03

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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 Turkish Cypriot leader has undergone an angiography in New York

[02] Diplomatic source says no written proposals by Annan before the Turkish elections

[03] Voting started at Turkey's border posts

[04] Opinion poll in the occupied areas shows that Turkish Cypriots consider federation as the best solution

[05] The Justice and Development Party's position on the Cyprus problem

[06] BIRLIK supports that the "tri-zonal Cyprus plan" prepared by the USA five years ago will be put before the two leaders in New York

[07] Thirteen trade unions marched for peace

[08] Levent and Ener are free

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Columnist in Hurriyet assesses the U.S. National Security Document. It provides for solutions to regional problems

[10] Turkish Cypriot columnist supports that the Greek Cypriot side has made a historic compromise by accepting federation as the solution to the Cyprus problem

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader has undergone an angiography in New York

Sources said that Denktas' health was stable, he would rest all day and to this end, he cancelled all his meetings scheduled for the same day.

Denktas will meet with United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto and later with Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Thursday.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue AFRIKA (03.10.02) expresses the opinion that Mr Denktas uses his heart problems as the last master-card to gain some time. The paper refers also to Mr Denktas' statement that the negotiations procedure would end in case the Republic of Cyprus accedes to the European Union before a solution to its political problem.

AFRIKA reminds Mr Annan's statement that the negotiations will continue after Cyprus' accession to the EU and Turkish Prime Minster Ecevit's statement that "the Greek Cypriots could unilaterally become member of the EU". The paper adds the following:

"The differences between Denktas and Ecevit's statements were described as 'Turkey's tactics with two directions'. In case the words of Denktas come true Turkey will continue keeping Cyprus under its occupation. If the words of Ecevit are realized Turkey will annex the northern part of Cyprus".

[02] Diplomatic source says no written proposals by Annan before the Turkish elections

A diplomatic source told A.A correspondent on Wednesday that Annan attributed great importance to the role of Turkey, as a guarantor state, in the solution of the Cyprus problem, and he thought that a government which decided to hold early elections can't give sufficient time to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The diplomatic source said that no election atmosphere was formed in Turkey when Annan invited Denktas and Clerides to New York, expressing his belief that the Secretary-General can convey his proposals to the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides when the new government in Turkey starts its term in office after the November 3 elections.

Meanwhile Kofi Annan, who invited Denktas and Clerides to New York to have progress for a solution to the Cyprus problem, will meet with his special envoy for Cyprus Alvaro de Soto today.

After being briefed from de Soto, Annan is expected to fix his schedule with Denktas and Clerides.

Meanwhile the Turkish Cypriot leader is expected to meet with U.S. State Department's Cyprus representative Tom Weston. Diplomatic sources said that Weston wanted to meet with Denktas and the meeting is expected to take place at midnight (Turkish local time).

British envoy for Cyprus Lord David Hannay also wants to meet with

Denktas, but no appointment has been given to him yet. Denktas may also meet with Hannay today.

The meetings between Annan and Denktas-Clerides will be held on Thursday and Friday. Both leaders are expected to leave New York on October 5. The talks between the two sides will continue on the island as of October 11.

[03] Voting started at Turkey's border posts

Ballot boxes will be manned 24 hours a day by officials of the Supreme Election Board at the Kapikule border gate, and the Atatürk, Esenboğa, Antalya, Adnan Menderes and Sakirpaşa airports.

While Turkish citizens living abroad will be able to vote for the parties of their choice, they will not be able to cast their ballot for independent candidates.

Voting at the border posts will end at 4:00 pm on November 3, the day of the general election.

[04] Opinion poll in the occupied areas shows that Turkish Cypriots consider federation as the best solution

The newspaper continues today the publication of the opinion poll, part of which was published yesterday.

To the question what solution to the Cyprus problem the Turkish Cypriots prefer, the results were as follows:

                              1997*      1999*   2000*   2002
Bi-zonal federation           47.6%      28.2%   31.7%   35.5%
Two independent states        38.1%      38.5%   23.3%   28.3%
Confederation           It was not asked 14.5%   27.2%   11.8%
Integration with Turkey       11.5%       8.2%    7.7%    5.1%
One united State        It was not asked  6.6%    5.3%    8.6%
Other                          1.2%       0.6%    1.4%    6.8%
No answer/ opinion             1.6%       3.4%    3.3%    3.4%

[05] The Justice and Development Party's position on the Cyprus problem

Sami Kohen deals firstly with the Justice and Development Party (JDP) of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On the Cyprus problem, Kohen quotes that according the JDP´s report, JDP believes that a solution must be found in the Cyprus problem and proposes the establishment of a state based on two sovereign communities as in Belgium. JDP also warns that if Cyprus joins the EU, then the problem will be more complicated.

[06] BIRLIK supports that the "tri-zonal Cyprus plan" prepared by the USA five years ago will be put before the two leaders in New York

The paper publishes also a map regarding the above-mentioned plan and argues that the UN Secretary-General would ask from the two leaders to work on this plan and reach a "framework agreement" the latest until the beginning of December 2002.

[07] Thirteen trade unions marched for peace

In the letter, the thirteen trade unions expressed their hope that in the New York meeting there will be steps towards a solution in the Cyprus problem. Moreover, they stressed that they are willing to struggle in favor of peace and Cyprus membership in the European Union, in the framework of a federal Cyprus.

Addressing the march the General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers' Union (DEV-IS) connected the non-solution of the Cyprus problem with the major economic problems phased by the Turkish Cypriots and he accused the pseudostate of acting antidemocratically towards the people in the occupied area of Cyprus.

The thirteen trade unions that participated in the march are the following:

Cyprus Turkish Secondary School Teachers´ Trade Union (KTOEOS), Turkish Cypriot Primary Teachers´ Trade Union (KTOS), Public Servants´ Trade Union (KTAMS), Revolutionary Worker's Union (DEV -IS), Revolutionary General Work Union (DEVRIMCI GENEL-IS), United Public, Cooperative, Agriculture & other Services & Crafts Workers´ Union (EMEK-IS), Customs Workers' Union (GUC-SEN), Cooperative Workers´ Trade Union (KOOP-SEN), Electric Worker's Union (EL-SEN), Trade Union Municipality Employees (BES), Cyprus Turkish Telecommunication Employees (TEL-SEN), Cyprus Turkish Physicians Trade Union (TIP-IS), Turkish Workers´ Trade Union Federation (TURK-SEN).

[08] Levent and Ener are free

As a result of the above - mentioned decision the two journalists were set free today because they have already served their sentence. The decision was a result of an appeal made by the two journalists right after their imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Afrika (03/10/02) reports that the "trials" of "AVRUPA - AFRIKA", which began yesterday at the so-called "Nicosia District Court", will be continued on 6 and 14 November 2002. Charges have been filed against Sener Levent, owner of AFRIKA and its journalists Ali Osman, Suzan Karaman and Yalcin Okut.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Columnist in Hurriyet assesses the U.S. National Security Document. It provides for solutions to regional problems

What is happening in the world? Will a Kurdish state be established in Iraq? Do they want to force Turkey to abandon Cyprus? Will a war be waged against Iraq?

In order to get answers to these questions, one has to read the new US National Security Document that was disclosed last week. The document in question is the harbinger of a new era with regard to the US security priorities and foreign policies. The US national security strategy is based on the principle of US "internationalism."

The hopes of a communist internationalism were defeated. Victory now belongs to US internationalism. The new US National Security Document is a declaration of victory. We destroyed communism; the world should now be shaped in accordance with a new world order that conforms with US values and national interests!

The aim of the US internationalism is "to make the world a better place to live in and not merely to make it a more secure place." Within this framework, the United States is stressing in this document on the things that should be done and the kind of a world for which these things should be done from the perspective of the US national interests and security.

The United States aims at promoting human rights, democracy, peace, welfare among the nations, and the spread of the US lifestyle throughout the world. The new US National Security Document begins as follows: "The United States has become a single power in the world in an unanticipated and unequalled manner."

The new doctrine completely shelves the Truman doctrine that bases the foreign policies and security of the United States on the idea of turning the United States into a deterrent force in a bi-polar world.

Pay attention, the enemies of the United States are not strong rivals any more; presently dictatorships and terrorisms are the enemies of the United States. The concepts of "deterring and rendering the enemies ineffective by monitoring these enemies" have now been abandoned. Instead, the United States is arguing for the legitimacy of its right to strike at the enemies first.

When it deems necessary, the United States may strike any target single-handedly without informing anyone in advance about its intention to strike these targets. Another important factor is that according to the new document, henceforth the United States will not allow any country in the world to reach the level it has attained in terms of the strength of arms.

The document in question notes the following regarding the matter: "The US President will not allow any foreign power to draw closer to the level the United States--whose power exceeded greatly those of other countries following the collapse of the Soviet Union 10 years ago--has attained in terms of the strength of arms.

"Our country has the necessary strength to force its potential rivals to abandon their hopes for becoming as powerful as the United States or for becoming more powerful than the United States."

The US internationalism aims at bringing about peace and freedom and raising the level of the welfare of nations throughout the world. It views dictatorships and terrorism as its number one enemies and, therefore, it wants to rid the world of dictatorships and terrorism. Iraq is at the head of the list of dictatorships the United States wants to eliminate.

Cooperation with allies is important but not imperative in moving into action jointly in the role as a rescuer. The United States is stressing that it may also act single-handedly whenever it deems necessary.

The document in question needs to be studied in great detail. However, I would like to draw the attention of my readers to two points in order to understand the US position toward Iraq and Cyprus and in order to guess as to what will happen regarding Cyprus.

Solutions are needed for regional clashes without fail. Moreover, the document in question talks about freedom movements that do not resort to violence and says that "support" will be extended to these movements. The US internationalism renders this "support" a necessity.

[10] Turkish Cypriot columnist supports that the Greek Cypriot side has made a historic compromise by accepting federation as the solution to the Cyprus problem

".On Monday night I had the opportunity to have a short discussion with Dimitris Christofias, AKEL's General Secretary and President of the House of Representatives, who is in London. When I reminded Denktas' statement that he was expecting pressure, Christofias gave an example similar to mine and said that in 1977 and 1979 the Greek Cypriot side made a historic and a very big compromise by accepting a federal solution in Cyprus based on the bi-zonality, the bi-communality and the political equality between the two communities.

Let us be honest! What Christofias said is the truth. .There is a state in Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus. We have not protected this state. They provoked, we provoked, those who had interests provoked. Turkey said that Grivas' return to the island would be an act of war, but it ignored it when it happened. Afterwards, it divided the island into two showing as pretext the coup and the security of the Turkish Cypriots. As a guarantor state it should have restored the constitutional order. It did not do this. Two hundred thousand Greek Cypriots left their homes. Do not ask who started it because we too have responsibility for this.

The Republic of Cyprus, which is accepted by the whole world as a unitary state, had come to the point we wanted by accepting a federal solution based on the bi-zonality, the bi-communality and the political equality of the two communities. However, Northern Cyprus, which is under the administration of those who have dedicated their lives to partition and annexation, tried everyway to avoid this and in 1998 proposed the two-state solution. The UN did not accept this.

On 11 September the three-state solution was proposed. Everyone laughed. However, Denktas and his friends in Turkey did not care when everyone was laughing at us. Not finding a solution is enough for them. It is enough for Turkey to remain on the island. However, what about the Turkish Cypriots? They had been saved in 1974. This is enough for them."

EG/

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