Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-11-12

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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 side received the UN Cyprus solution plan in New York.

[02] Written statement by Rauf Denktas after receiving the UN plan on Cyprus.

[03] Statements by Rauf Denktas to illegal BRT immediately after receiving the UN plan on Cyprus.

[04] Reactions of the Turkish Cypriot Press on the UN solution plan.

[05] Deputy chairman of the RPP Inal Batu: The UN Secretary-General acted with precipitation to present the solution plan to the parties in Cyprus.

[06] A 25-member CIA delegation is visiting Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot side received the UN Cyprus solution plan in New York

Sir Kieran Prendergast, the U.N. Deputy Secretary General responsible for political affairs, conveyed the plan to Olgun who is accompanying Rauf Denktas.

Speaking after the meeting which lasted for nearly half an hour, Olgun said: ``We have taken the views which the U.N. prepared to help the process. I will immediately present those to our `President'. He would make the necessary statement after making an evaluation.``

Stressing that the plan that was presented was not a text on a ``take or reject`` it basis , Olgun said he was not authorized to announce how many pages the plan was.

Olgun confirmed that the U.N. put forward a time for response, but stated that he would not give information about the time.

Prendergast, the U.N. Deputy Secretary General, will present the plan to the U.N. permanent representatives of Turkey, Greece and Britain today.

[02] Written statement by Rauf Denktas after receiving the UN plan on Cyprus

"We are going to evaluate in a constructive manner all of the Secretary-General's comprehensive solution suggestions with all sides, with its context and qualifications very carefully.

I will take up the subject after I return to the island with my government and parliament. I will ask my people's opinion and thoughts. I will make an evaluation and deliberations with motherland Turkey.

In this regard I want to emphasize to the related third parties under the light of these happenings, that the two leaders should have the opportunity and the time for free deliberations."

A short time ago, Umit Pamir, Turkey's permanent representative to the United Nations emerged from his meeting with Denktas. In a statement to NTV, Pamir said that it is not possible to make a comprehensive assessment at present. He even added: "Whatever anyone says now regarding this Cyprus plan would be saying something wrong, because it will take time to assess this plan. It could take two, three, or even four days, because there are very detailed proposals especially pertaining to the territorial issue, even about the smallest villages. These proposals must be evaluated, therefore, the assessment process may take time."

[03] Statements by Rauf Denktas to illegal BRT immediately after receiving the UN plan on Cyprus

"There will be another medical test on Friday and if everything goes well it will be possible to return to Cyprus during the weekend. I am already for the last two-three days feeling good and I am working well. God willing I will be there during the weekend".

When asked to comment on his first impressions as regards his two contacts with the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Denktas said: "Esteemed Annan has asked the following both in his letter and during our telephone conversation:

Please do not evaluate the plan in a negative way and reject it immediately. This is an attempt to prepare a negotiation ground. If both sides accept this negotiation basis, it is possible to reach a good place in "Give and Take" process.

At the beginning we tried to stop such an attempt, but they (UN) have decided and went ahead. Now we will take this comprehensive solution proposals, and will study carefully every aspect of it. We have to evaluate it with a constructive understanding. We will do this. Upon my return to Cyprus, I will confer with the `Government', `Parliament' and Party leaders, and discuss this issue with them. I have to go to the people and get their views because they put forward maps. These maps concern people, therefore we have many things to do.

It is also necessary to make a joint evaluation with motherland Turkey. These all shall be done.

God willing, both sides shall be given the chance to negotiate freely. Not with exerting pressure to finish off this thing in 3 or 5 days or in a week. With good will and with the idea of getting a good result, we will continue our path.

We have a 150-page text before us. We have to study it carefully. We have already started to study it".

When asked if there are from first look at the plan provisions unacceptable for the Turkish side, Denktas said: "We have received this document just now so I am not in a position to answer this question. We will start to read this document now, we will evaluate and maybe tomorrow I could make a first statement, or I could make, like today, a general statement, but first we have to read it. You have to give us the chance."

When asked to comment on Tayyip Erodgan's statement about the Belgian model and the Greek-Greek Cypriot "distortion" of it, Denktas answered:

"The Cyprus problem has never been a government issue, it is a state issue, it is the nation's issue. It is an issue which has been adopted by unanimous assembly decisions. For this reason, on this issue we are at ease. I am sure we will be in good cooperation with the new government".

[04] Reactions of the Turkish Cypriot Press on the UN solution plan

KIBRIS: Under the front-page banner title "Here are the main lines of the plan", the paper writes that the Americans leaked a summary of the UN Secretary-General's plan for Cyprus to the Press and adds that the plan includes elements from the Swiss and Belgian models.

VOLKAN: Under the front-page banner title "70 thousand Turks refugees for the third time", the paper publishes a map and the UN proposals on the territorial aspect of the Cyprus problem, noting that according to the UN plan 80 occupied villages will be returned to the Greek Cypriots.

AFRIKA: Under the front-page banner title "The plan is new, Denktas is old" writes that Mr Denktas asked for "opportunity and time in order to negotiate the plan freely". The indirect message of the Turkish side to the world, continues AFRIKA, is that time is not enough until the Copenhagen Summit and therefore Cyprus' EU accession must be postponed for the sides to have time to negotiate the plan.

KIBRISLI: Under the front-page banner title "New stage!" refers to Mr Denktas' statements that the plan has not been submitted in a "take it or leave it" basis and adds that a new stage could begin with this plan.

YENI DEMOKRAT: Under the front-page banner title "And the plan has been submitted" refers to the developments that took place yesterday, adding Mr Denktas' statement that the Turkish side would constructively study the plan.

YENI DUZEN: Under the front-page banner title "'Planned' waiting" writes that some of the provisions of the plan are: a partnership based on the political equality, rotating President and Prime Minister, security ensured by a multinational force, return of the Greek Cypriot refugees to their homes within 20 years and citizenship granted by the central government.

HALKIN SESI: Under the front-page banner title "The UN plan has been submitted to the sides!" notes that while the UN Secretary-General asked from Denktas not to react immediately in a negative way, the Turkish Cypriot leader stated that there are some points in the plan to which he will oppose.

VATAN: In its front-page banner title uses the expression "A new stage in the talks procedure!" and gives details about the submitted plan.

BIRLIK: In its front-page banner title writes that so-called Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu met with a delegation of Turkish ghazis (war fighters) and stated that: "The struggle has not been forgotten". The paper reports that Mr Eroglu "wished" that the plan submitted by the UN does not ignore the so-called realities in Cyprus. Before seeing the formula it is not possible for us to define our attitude, continued Mr Eroglu.

[05] Deputy chairman of the RPP Inal Batu: The UN Secretary-General acted with precipitation to present the solution plan to the parties in Cyprus

Mr Batu said that he found a bit bizarre the time chosen by the UN Secretary General, Koffi Anan, to present the new solution plan for the Cyprus problem to the parties, because of the situation in the pseudostate, following the illness of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas, and the political situation in Turkey where no government was established after the elections of the 3rd of November. "This proposal (of the Secretary General) will fall through", he stated.

Mr Batu criticized the chairman of the Justice and Development Party (JDP), Tayyip Erdogan for his decision not to visit occupied Cyprus and stressed that Mr Erdogan's fist visit should have been to the pseudostate. Mr Batu described Mr Erdogan's statements for the Belgian model as "unfortunate" and said that this statement was a product of lack of information.

Referring to the Copenhagen summit, Mr Batu said that Turkey is in continuous contact with the EU representatives and stressed that Turkey has the right to get a date of accession negotiations to the EU or at least a date subject to conditions. Referring to the political situation in Turkey after the recent elections, Mr Batu said that his party wants Mr Erdogan to become the Prime Minister of Turkey.

[06] A 25-member CIA delegation is visiting Turkey

A 25-member delegation formed by officials from CIA's Middle East Department and officials from Pentagon are accompanying Mclaughin.

The issues of Iraq and the fight against terrorism are expected to be high on the agenda of Mclaughin's contacts in Turkey.

Mclaughin is scheduled to meet with General Staff, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Intelligence Agency (MIT) officials.

/SK

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