Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-10-21

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] A new operaiton was performed on the Turkish Cypriot leader.

[02] New solution package said to be closer to the Turkish positions.

[03] New EU report for the 24-25 October summit leaked by Ankara Anatolia.

[04] Bulent Ecevit and Sukru Sina Gurel on Northern Iraq and Cyprus.

[05] Memorandum of undertanding for closer integration signed in the occupied areas.

[06] The National Security Council may extend emergency rule.

[07] Turkish army denies northern Iraq troop movement.

[08] US Greek Orthodox delegation calls for the reopening of seminary.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Army back to its camps.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] A new operation was performed on the Turkish Cypriot leader

[02] New solution package said to be closer to the Turkish positions

The package, which reached the EU officials in Brussels and which is guaranteed by the EU, will be submitted to the sides on a take-it-or-leave-it principle. The issues not approved by the two sides will not be discussed, while an atmosphere of discussion will be created on matters that both sides concur on but need some correction. The Greek Cypriot side's rejection of the package will cost it its EU membership; while new sanctions will be imposed on the Turkish Cypriot side in the event of rejection. There are assessments, nevertheless, that the package is closer to the views of the Turkish Cypriot side.

The UN plan is largely based on the Belgian model. As for the details of the package, which is built neither on a confederation nor a federation, the administration is based on a three-state formula and full political equality. The plan is founded on a multi-dimensional sovereignty system. Accordingly, the two wing states -- the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides -- are granted internal sovereignty rights. Foreign sovereignty is transferred to the central state that will be jointly formed by the two sides. The responsibilities of the joint state are limited to issues such as the EU, foreign affairs, defense and the economy. The administrative system is transformed into a parliamentary regime. Despite this, the presidential office is preserved -- albeit with a symbolic nature -- on a rotational basis.

The wing states will have their own prime ministers and assemblies, as will the joint state. In the joint state, there will be a lower House which will be based on the proportion of the two sides' populations, as well as a higher House in which the wing states will be represented in equal numbers. The decisions adopted in the lower House will not be valid unless they are approved by the higher House.

Those who immigrated from Turkey to the occupied part of Cyprus will not be sent back. They will be citizens of the new joint state. The rights of settlement, movement, and property acquisition -- generally known as the EU practice and the three freedoms -- will be limited for the Greek Cypriots in the north. At the end of the interim period, which is envisaged as 10 years, the Greek Cypriots' right to settle in the north will be limited to maximum 10 percent of the Turkish Cypriot population.

The wing states will be able to establish ties and conclude agreements with third states in fields such as culture and trade independently of the joint state and without the need for its approval.

Moreover, Huseyin Alkan, reporting from the occupied area in Hurriyet (19/10/02), regarding the issues that the sides do not agree, says that the issues being discussed at the negotiations, carried out between the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot sides under the auspices of the UN, are summarized under four major topics, that is: Administration, Territory, Security and Ownership. Huseyin Alkan then lists the issues that the sides do not agree. They are:

1. Authority issue

The Greeks want the central Government to be furnished with extensive powers, and the remaining powers to be vested on the wings.

The Turkish side wants the central government to be responsible for Foreign affairs, Security and Finance and all the rest of the authority be left to the constituent states.

2. Distribution of Territory

The Turkish side is refusing to discuss the territorial issue prior to solving the sovereignty issue. With a view to not turning the Turkish Cypriots into minority in their areas the Turkish side wants to limit the freedom of movement, settlement and right to own property.

The Greeks, in order to secure the maximum number of refugees to return to north, want one third of the ^ÓTRNC^Ô that constitutes 35.6% of the territory of the island. The Greeks refuse to make concessions on the refugees´ right to return to their places.

[03] New EU report for the 24-25 October summit leaked by Ankara Anatolia

The draft text adopted at the Permanent Representatives Committee will be presented to the consent of the EU foreign ministers at the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg at the beginning of next week. The text will later be approved by the heads of state and government in Brussels on October 24-25.

A paragraph on Turkey in the mentioned text says ``as stated in the last progress report announced by the European Commission, Turkey took significant steps in adjustment to Copenhagen political and economic criteria and the EU acquis. These steps bring Turkey closer to opening of full membership negotiations.``

The text notes that the EU ``has encouraged`` Turkey to continue its reforms and implementation of the reforms and to ``take concrete steps.``

The paragraph states that the EU's approach to Turkey is the same as the approach to other candidates and asks that a decision is taken for a following stage of Turkey`s candidacy at the Copenhagen Summit and also asks that facts in the progress report be taken as a basis when the decision is being taken.

The text points out that EU membership of Cyprus is preferred when the problems in the island are solved.

Calling the sides to continue the solution efforts and make use of opportunities, the text states that in case of a non-solution, the decision about the full membership of Cyprus will be taken at Copenhagen Summit ``in the light of the final statement of the Helsinki Summit.``

The Helsinki statement noted that solution of problems in Cyprus was not a precondition for full membership. However, it said, the Council would make a decision in the light of developments.

The draft final statement of the Brussels summit mentions a financial support especially to ``Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus`` in case of full membership of Cyprus. This support is said to be around 39 million Euros in 2004, 67 million Euros in 2005 and 100 million Euros in 2006.

[04] Bulent Ecevit and Sukru Sina Gurel on Northern Iraq and Cyprus

Addressing a rally at the Democracy Square in Izmir's Karsiyaka District, Ecevit said that Turkey wants peace in the Middle East. He stated: There are problems concerning Saddam. We can solve them. We can solve them alone or with the United States. There cannot be a solution in Iraq without Turkey's consent.

Stressing that certain parties have recently been pursuing a policy of concessions with regard to the occupied areas of Cyprus, Ecevit stated: Cyprus' existence is essential for Turkey's security. We attach as much importance to the territories of the Turkish Cypriots as we do to those of Turkey.

Ecevit also added that he will quit the leadership of the DLP.

On 19.10.02 NTV broadcast that on his way to a conference in Afyon, Sukru Sina Gurel, deputy prime minister and foreign minister, replied to reporters' questions about northern Iraq and Cyprus.

A reporter asked: Isn't there a contradiction between the prime minister's remarks that things have gotten out of hand in northern Iraq, and the remarks by the Foreign Ministry spokesman who said that everything is under Turkey's control?

Gurel replied: ^ÓThere is no contradiction. The honorable prime minister did not say that things got out of our control. He said that things got out of hand in north Iraq. We will not allow the developments to get out of our control.

Later, Gurel addressed the conference in Afyon, and stated that the results of the US intervention in Iraq will not be limited to that area. The results will be long-lasting, he said, adding: We do not want an intervention.

For its security, Turkey will continue to be interested in Northern Iraq until Iraq's territorial integrity is once again established effectively around a central authority and until this authority is spread to cover north Iraq as well. Turkey will take every kind of measure against any threats that may arise from there. In fact, it has already started to take these measures.^Ô

Gurel charged that certain circles are trying to create confusion and trying to force Turkey toward a certain direction.

A member of the audience asked him if the Incirlik base will be opened to the use of the United States, and Mr Gurel replied:

^ÓOur strategic cooperation with the United States does not and will not cause us to make moves that might threaten others' territorial integrity.^Ô

Gurel also discussed the EU and Cyprus at the conference in Afyon today. Recalling that Turkey took the most progressive steps in connection with the EU and that now it is the EU's turn to take steps, Gurel added:

^ÓEither the EU will decide at the Copenhagen summit to start negotiations with Turkey in 2003, or Turkey will have to review its relations with the EU in all respects because it will be so disappointed. The proposal -- as Mr. Mesut Yilmaz says -- to look into a third option suggested by the EU, the idea of conditional compromises, or the suggestion to set up special relations with the EU will not be accepted by any Turkish government, least of all by the Ecevit government.^Ô

Gurel reiterated that Cyprus' division will become final if the EU admits Cyprus before a solution is reached on the island.

^ÓSuch a move would make Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, in other words, two elements of the Turkish nation, the Cypriot Turks and the Anatolian Turks, freer than ever to take joint steps toward the future. Maybe that will be the best thing, ^Ó Mr Sukru Sina Gurel said.

[05] Memorandum of understanding for closer intergration signed in the occupied areas

Speaking in the signing ceremony, so-called State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Salih Cosar said that the integration of the occupied areas with the motherland Turkey will develop, the impediments will be lifted and that occupied areas will open to the world with the adjustment studies and regulations carried out.

Cosar thanked all Turkish officials for the support they extend to the occupied areas.

[06] The National Security Council may extend emergency rule

The NSC is expected to focus on developments in Northern Iraq and the possible US-led operation against the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The introduction of a regional governance system, such as martial law or the extension of emergency rule, is reportedly being considered against possible security problems in the region.

The Council also will discuss holding an extraordinary parliament session to grant the government the authority to send Turkish soldiers abroad.

[07] Turkish army denies northern Iraq troop movement

Meanwhile, local sources told Reuters on Friday they saw thousands of troops with heavy artillery cross the Iraqi border, where NATO ally Turkey maintains a military presence to pursue separatists from its own Kurdish minority.

Independent verification was not possible, and it was not clear if the movement was a routine rotation or operation.

Turkey already maintains thousands of troops in neighboring Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, to chase the militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) seeking autonomy from Turkey. Turkey is seen as a front line player in any U.S.-led attack against Baghdad, which Washington accuses of developing weapons of mass destruction.

"Certain press organs have reported today that 12,000 members of the Turkish Armed Forces entered northern Iraq. These reports are completely wrong," Turkey's General Staff said in a written statement.

Newspapers reported several thousand troops crossed from Sirnak province in southeastern Turkey on Friday into areas run by Iraq's opposition Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), with whom Ankara has traded barbs over a potential Turkish military role in Iraq in the event the United States launches a campaign.

Relations have soured between Ankara and KDP leader Massoud Barzani in recent weeks, with Turkey signalling it could intervene militarily if Kurds try to set up an independent state amid the turmoil a U.S. campaign could set off in Iraq.

Turkish Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel on Saturday warned Barzani and the Kurdistan Patriotic Union (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani to "heed our warnings" on any moves to set up a new ethnic state in the Middle East.

"Our presence in north Iraq will continue," Gurel said in comments broadcast by Turkey's NTV television.

"Those (Iraqi Kurd) communities' welfare and security have until now been under Turkey's safeguard. If they want it to continue like this, then they need to behave accordingly," he said.

The KDP and its rival PUK say they do not aspire to statehood but seek autonomy within a united Iraq.

Kurds have enjoyed broad autonomy since wresting control of northern Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War. U.S. and British warplanes based in southern Turkey have patrolled a "no-fly" zone over the enclave, providing the Kurds a safe haven from possible reprisals ordered by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

However some Kurdish separatist groups do aspire to an independent Kurdistan, including Kurdish minorities in Iran, Syria and Lebanon as well as Iraq and Turkey.

Earlier this month, the two rival Kurd groups agreed on a draft constitution that envisages the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, currently under Baghdad's control, as the capital city of a new Iraqi Kurdish homeland.

In response, Turkish Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said his country could use military force to prevent the formation of such a state. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said last week developments in northern Iraq were dragging Turkey into a war.

Turkish bases were a hub for U.S. attacks against Iraq during the Gulf War. However, Turkey has now expressed strong reservations about a possible U.S. military operation in Iraq to topple Saddam.

[08] US Greek Orthodox delegation calls for the reopening of seminary

Anthony Limberakis, the national commander of the Order of St. Andrew, said ahead of talks with Turkish government officials Monday that it was his hope that the seminary would be reopened.

"It is my understanding that the Turks take great pride in being a tolerant people and in maintaining religious tolerance in their country," Limberakis said.

Many of today's Greek Orthodox leaders, including the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, were trained at the Halki Greek Orthodox Theological School, which was closed by Turkish authorities in 1971 under a law that put military and religious education under state control. Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, has strict secular laws.

The country is under increasing pressure to reopen the school, including from the European Union, which it aspires to join.

"We look forward to cordial discussions with our Turkish friends regarding issues of mutual concern... and issues that would benefit the Orthodox Christians of America by opening up the school of theology," Limberakis said.

On Tuesday, the delegation is scheduled to visit Heybeli island, or Halki in Greek, where the seminary is located.

The reopening of the Halki Theological School, "is something that everyone in the Greek Orthodox world has been hoping to see happen," said delegation member Arthur Anton.

"There is no reason for the Turkish government not to ... give a chance to religious freedom," he said.

On Saturday, the delegation visited the 6th century Monastery of the Life Giving Font of the Virgin Mary and met with members of Istanbul's Greek community.

The delegation is expected to attend the Sunday service at the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of the world's Orthodox Christians, has long lobbied to reopen the theological school.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul dates from the Orthodox Greek Byzantine Empire, which collapsed when the Muslim Ottoman Turks conquered the city in 1453. Istanbul, then called Constantinople, was the capital of the Byzantine empire, and thus the heart of Greek culture for more than 1,000 years.

Although few Greek Orthodox Christians remain in overwhelmingly Muslim Turkey today, Bartholomew's patriarchate is still based in Istanbul and directly controls several Greek Orthodox churches around the world.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Army back to its camps

^ÓThe expulsion of the Spanish journalists is something on which many more things will be said and cause a lot of headache. While the reactions from the inside and outside grow, Tahsin Ertugruloglu finally talked and confessed saying: ^ÑI had no idea about it^Ò. He says that he had no idea of something done by whom? How is he supposed to know? It seems that Mr Tahsin had no idea because these issues are not taken care off by the civilian administration, but by the military administration. In this country there is an authority called Civilian Affairs Administration. The head of it is an army officer, a colonel. He is the one who decides who will cross over to the South and who will not. He gives or denies permission to the trade unions, the politicians and those who go to the South to work. If the opposition in our Parliament does not know this, let it be informed by us. We have written in this newspaper that there are nine information units in nine various places of Nicosia. Nobody believed us. The head of the Civilian Defend is a colonel and there are army officers in other institutions as well. They are ruling us.

There are people who call us enemies of the army. However, both our children and we have served in the army. And for years we have participated in wars. Our record is in their hands. They can take a look at it any time they want.

Our country, from Rizokarpass to Limnitis is full of military units and barricades. Can foreign tourists come and walk around in such a country? Let no one speak of democracy in a country where the state of war still exists. If the army in this country does not return to its camps, if the barricades and the barriers are not lifted from the roads and if the army does not do only its military duty, then the parliament, the government etc in this country will be only for show. Are we not a small Turkey? Both in Turkey and in the TRNC there were always and always will be this kind of events. ^Å^Ô

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