Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-10-17

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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 will not take part in the talks until the end of November.

[02] Mr Alvaro de Soto visited Ankara. He plans to carry out more visits to the Turkish capital.

[03] The deputy leader of the Nationalist Action Party alleges that the Turkish and US policies over the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus were concurrent.

[04] Threats by Sukru Sina Gurel against the interests of the EU in the Eastern Mediterranean if Cyprus accedes to the EU.

[05] They call Peace Water Project the transfer of water to the lands and properties of Greek Cypriots under occupation.

[06] Developments in Northern Iraq under the control of Turkey.

[07] Talat is carrying out contacts with the Ambassadors of EU member countries in Cyprus.

[08] Supreme Election Board decides DEHAP (Democratic People/s Party) can take part in 3 November elections.

[09] The occupation army celebrates the 2000th voyage for transporting logistic support into the occupied area of Cyprus.

[10] The budget of the pseudostate discussed in Ankara.

[11] The occupation regime is trying to promote the pseudostate in Azerbaijan through a newspaper aritcle contest.

[12] Journalists to be tried for "following news" in the occupied areas.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] On what grounds will you be able to invade a foreign territory, than a considerable act of aggression?

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader will not take part in the talks until the end of November

In a statement to illegal BRT, Olgun pointed out that Denktas underwent a serious heart surgery and added: "The doctors are trying to overcome Denktas' breathing difficulties and the fact that he gets tired easily.

"Upon being reminded that Denktas will be leaving for Ankara on Friday and that there he will be holding talks on the Cyprus problem, Olgun said that there are plans for Denktas to leave for Ankara in five to seven days in a bid to rest, adding that these plans have yet to be finalized. Noting that the date Denktas will leave for Ankara will depend on the decision to be adopted by his doctors, Olgun said that the doctors have forbidden Denktas from working for the duration of eight weeks beginning from the day of his surgery. He added that, therefore, it is out of the question for him to conduct talks on the Cyprus problem. Olgun said that Denktas will then leave Ankara for the occupied areas and will resume his activities on the Cyprus problem as well as other issues after having rested for a while in line with the recommendations of the doctors.

[02] Mr Alvaro de Soto visited Ankara. He plans to carry out more visits to the Turkish capital

Mr Alvaro de Soto responded to the questions of NTV/s reporters at Istanbul`s Ataturk Airport, before his departure for Ankara.

De Soto said it was not an unexpected visit, adding that they wanted to be in continuous contact with the sides. De Soto said he would often visit Turkey in the coming months in this respect.

When a journalist said, ``Copenhagen Summit approaches. Do you see any hope for solution for the Cyprus problem``, de Soto said he believed that an agreement could be reached before the Copenhagen Summit. He said this should improve in this way, and this is what the Secretary-General hopes to happen.

De Soto said they hoped that everybody would be in cooperation in this respect, stressing: ``Let`s concentrate on it before Copenhagen``.

When asked what would be the conditions of the agreement, de Soto said he did not want to enter into details, that the details of the agreement would be determined through direct consultations, and that the concerned "governments" would decide for that. He said he did not want to make a statement on the issue through the press.

Responding to a question on how he considered the current situation, de Soto said he thought this was an opportunity, and that he hoped the opportunities would be assessed. De Soto said he thought this would be for the benefit of everybody, stressing that particularly the solution of the sovereignty problem would be for the benefit of everybody.

De Soto said they also believed that an agreement could be reached at the same time, noting that such an agreement would be appropriate to the interests and targets of everybody.

Recalling that the sides had agreed to form two committees during their meeting on October 4, de Soto said that the committees had not been formed yet, and expressed his hope about formation of them as soon as possible.

De Soto later left for Ankara.

De Soto, who went to Ankara to hold contacts with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, told to the reporters that if he did not believe in possibility of finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, he would have not come to Ankara.

De Soto stressed he believed that there were some formulae to remove all disagreements between the two sides on the island.

Later the same day Alvaro de Soto met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.

No statement was issued about the meeting, which was lasted three hours and forty minutes and was also attended by the Foreign Ministry's Chief of the Cyprus Desk, Mr Ertugrul Apakan.

Following his meeting with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, de Soto told reporters that he believed that there was a favourable atmosphere to find a solution in the island.

Mr Alvaro de Soto said that he had a long and useful meeting with Ziyal and that he would visit Athens in the following week and then come back to Turkey.

Asked if he was carrying out a shuttle diplomacy on a certain plan, De Soto said that some could name it as a shuttle diplomacy, however, he would prefer to define his contacts as a detailed consultation.

He noted that there were differences between the sides but that they believed that those differences could be eliminated with political will. Responding to another question, de Soto said that Annan invited the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides to New York for another meeting in November.

They hoped that Denktas would recover as soon as possible and that talks would be held at the beginning of November, De Soto stated.

De Soto pointed out that a decision was made to set up two committees during the meeting of the leaders with Annan. However, he said, those committees had not been activated yet due to technical procedures and not as a result of any problem.

Upon another question, de Soto said that the two sides had to be prepared for a ``give and take`` process.

Calling on the two sides ``to hurry`` not to miss the opportunity, de Soto noted that the existing opportunity had to be seized.

Asked if they were intensifying efforts on founding a partner state, de Soto said that the structure of a government after a solution in Cyprus was one of the issues under discussion.

Noting that he could not say that they were concentrating on this issue only, de Soto said that there were other issues that they were discussing.

[03] The Deputy leader of the Nationalist Action Party alleges that the Turkish and US policies over the illegal Turkish invasion of Cyprus were concurrent

Speaking at a new conference in Erzurum, Eastern Turkey Kose said that the necessary sensitivity should be shown on the issue of Iraq, that every development in the region will affect Turkey in all fields and especially in the economic one, and added:

"These policies have never clashed including the landing of our troops in Cyprus in 1974. As a matter of fact, they have been concurrent. They have been concurrent with regards to our national interests. Therefore, I believe that in the developments to take place in the Middle East, the United States will not allow any organization or formation to emerge in the Middle East and especially in Iraq against Turkey's will."

[04] Threats by Sukru Sina Gurel against the interests of the EU in the Eastern Mediterranean if Cyprus accedes to the EU.

Mr Gurel added: "The EU, by taking certain steps that have drawbacks, did not refrain from laying the groundwork for creating a new focal point of conflict in the eastern Mediterranean. If the EU accepts the Greek Cypriot side as a member, then it will make the division of the island permanent. It will put the stamp of the EU on this division. It will disrupt the Turkish-Greek balance. Moreover, it will create new likelihood of clashes in the Eastern Mediterranean. Surely, this does not anger well with the interests of the EU."

[05] They call Peace Water Project the transfer of water to the lands and properties of Greek Cypriots under occupation

Is Bank stated that the contribution shares of the Bahrain branches of the two banks was 4.75 million dollars. According to the credit agreement which was signed on October 15, the due date of the five years fixed term credit would be 24 months after the signing date and it will be repaid in seven equal installments.

The final feasibility studies of the project of water transfer by pipeline from Turkey to the areas of occupied Cyprus was undertaken by Alsim Alarko Industry Facilities and Trade Inc. within the scope of the so-called Peace Water Project.

[06] Developments in Northern Iraq under the control of Turkey

Yusuf Buluc, a Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry told a press briefing in Ankara on Wednesday that recent statements by the two leaders of the two main Kurdish factions in the region, Massoud Barzani and Jelal Talabani, were badly timed. Their statements had totally failed if their objective was to threaten the Turkish public, Buluc said.

Ankara has been concerned at comments from Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's Talabani suggesting that they might declare an independent Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. Turkey has said that it will not allow any such move to take place.

He called especially on authorities related to the region to be careful when making statements and to avoid comments that could lead to instability in the region.

[07] Talat is carrying out contacts with the Ambassadors of EU member countries in Cyprus

Talat began his contacts the day before yesterday with the British High Commissioner Lyn Parker. Yesterday, he met with the Danish Ambassador, Mr Knud Johensen and the later with the French Ambassador, Mr Jacques Depaigne.

In a statement to the reporters prior the meeting with the Danish Ambassador, Talat said: "The Copenhagen Summit is a very important and critical meeting, because of its results. We will try to get good results from this Summit for the Turkish Cypriots. Of course, this can be possible with the Cyprus settlement."

Talat also said that the future of the Turkish Cypriots is in the EU and that it cannot be accepted that the Turkish Cypriots will be excluded from the procedure.

Prior the meeting with the French Ambassador, Talat stressed that it isn/t possible to expect a positive result or development from the Copenhagen Summit before obtaining a solution in the Cyprus problem. He also added that it will contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem, if during the Copenhagen Summit Turkey is given a date for a start to accession negotiations.

[08] Supreme Election Board decides DEHAP (Democratic People/s Party) can take part in 3 November elections

The SEB convened yesterday to discuss the DPP file. The meeting lasted until the evening. After the meeting, SEB Deputy Chairman Ahmet Hamdi Unlu announced that the Board unanimously decided that DPP could take part in the elections. Unlu recalled that DPP was one of the 23 parties which had completed their organization, as confirmed by the Supreme Court of Appeals. He said: We received no objection at the beginning of the election process regarding DPP's qualification to participate in the elections.

To a question on the number of provinces in which DPP is organized, Unlu said that this will be announced later together with the detailed announcement on the SEB decision.

[09] The occupation army celebrates the 2000th voyage for transporting logistic support into the occupied area of Cyprus

The paper notes that the ceremony took place at the Mediterranean Garrison Command in Turkey. Addressing the ceremony, Vice Admiral Yener Karahanoglu, commander of the Southern Naval Region, said that during the last 28 years many ships, small or big, transported logistics necessary for the Turkish occupation army in Cyprus.

According to the Admiral those ships during their 2000 voyages transported 733.677 personnel, 28.215 vehicles of various types and 252.878 tons of various equipment.

Talking at the same ceremony, Rear Admiral Hasan Hosgit, Commander of the Mediterranean Region, said that the first convoy for Cyprus departed on 19 July 1974.

[10] The budget of the pseudostate discussed in Ankara

According to KIBRIS, during his visit to the Turkish capital, Mr Bayram met, inter alia, with State Minister responsible for the Economy, Masum Turker and Finance Minister Sumer Oral.

[11] The occupation regime is trying to promote the pseudostate in Azerbaijan through a newspaper article contest

The contest is organized by the Journalist Research Union of Azerbaijan (JAB), with the support of the pseudostate/s representative in Azerbaijan. The theme of the contest will be "Northern Cyprus: A fortress of Turkism in Mediterranean Sea". Articles can be of a literary or sociological nature. The articles should have been published in a newspaper in order to be eligible for the contest.

According to the paper the three finalists of the contest will receive a money award and will be invited to the so-called "independence celebration" in the pseudostate.

[12] Journalists to be tried for "following news" in the occupied areas

The journalists sued are: Sevgul Uludag from YENIDUZEN, freelance journalist Oya Gurel and two from AVRUPA/ AFRIKA newspaper Ali Osman and Kazim Denizci.

The occupation regime sued 25 persons, among them trade union leaders and journalists for allegedly "trespassing into property" at the 20 July Fen Lyceum in occupied Nicosia, when there was a strike and a protest action by the Secondary Teachers Trade Union (KTOEOS).

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] On what grounds will you be able to invade a foreign territory, than a considerable act of aggression?

The analysis is as follows:

Tuesday evening's Q&A on CNN Turk, which I led, dealt with the hot topic of Iraq, and with the help of experts such as Mr Ilter Turkmen, a former foreign minister, Mr Ozdem Sanberk, a former foreign ministry undersecretary, Dr Ahmet Davutoglu, scholar on international relations and Mr Sadi Erguvenc, a retired air force general. In addition, Turkish viewers had a rare chance of hearing the version of the KDP, voiced by its representative in Ankara, Mr Safeen Dizayee.

The two hour programme brought, I am rather sure, a surprising element of how national hysteria developed by politicians' robotic talk, endorsed by some uninformed and aggressive parts of the media. It also showed us the importance of communication between conflicting parts, in this case Ankara and Iraqi Kurds.

Confusion is a bad thing in international politics. It may be misused and create undesired consequences. Ankara's lack of sophistication and political flexibility seems rather clear in the case of Iraq, and displays a dilemma unbecoming a strong nation like Turkey in the region. Fixations in the old ideals may be borne out of the notion that everything in the world will remain unchanged, while it is actually the opposite. You don't try to push the river back, when you realize that it flows. You have to adapt to it, trying to find ways to maximize benefits.

In the wake of a possible military intervention in Iraq, the panic -- deep irritation -- created by politicians, some ignorant commentators and hawkish elements of the military is deeply surprising to outside observers. A fear is deliberately being spread in the public on an illusory Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. The reason for feeding the old myths of overblown threats to the nation may be the fixation on frozen doctrines, but its reflection is perhaps more important: In times like these -- add the "premature" election campaigns to the economic crisis -- creating an enemy is the easiest way out for the power hungry politician.

This is what has been happening in Turkey lately. Northern Iraq has turned into a leverage for manipulating the election agenda. Rumors of a postponement of elections by means of a military operation in Northern Iraq that spread lately has prompted reactions from politicians such as Deniz Baykal, rejecting any ideas of intervention until after the elections.

Some voices cry "intervention, now!" When asked, "on what basis?", no reply is heard. Arguments against a possible American intervention has naturally a boomerang effect there. But to no avail, hysteria builds up.

What is to be expected, then? Awareness within military circles is rather high that, risks of a massive military move are incomparably high to advantages. On what grounds will you be able to invade a foreign territory, than a considerable act of aggression?

All signs indicate, that Ecevit's latest moves about Northern Iraq has clear personal political motives. His party is nearly non-existent in the latest polls, and realizing that, he is keen on playing on nationalist emotions, hoping to get back at least some of the lost votes. He may continue to be hopeful on that level, but one can foresee clearly that Turkey will not catch the U.S. and its allies with a cold surprise in this case.

/SK

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