Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-11-27

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Soysal claims: ^ÓTurkey applying pressure for acceptance of the UN plan^Ô.

[02] Turkish Prime Minister Comments on Cyprus.

[03] Turkish Foreign Minister Yakis met with Alvaro de Soto in Berlin.

[04] Baykal on the new Turkish Government^Òs Cyprus policy.

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat: ^ÓWe must accept the UN plan as a basis for negotiation^Ô.

[06] Turkish Prime Minister responds to the criticisms against the Government Program at National Assembly.

[07] A new party established in the occupied area.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Soysal claims: ^ÓTurkey applying pressure for acceptance of the UN plan^Ô

Soysal said: ^ÓIf an agreement is not reached on all the issues, then this means that no agreement is reached on any of the issues. In other words, there should not be any problems in the future. Every point should be discussed in all its fine details and an agreement should be reached on all the points. There is a pressure from inside Turkey. This pressure is inducing the Turkish Government to apply pressure without considering all the details. What is this? Turkey is anxious about getting a date for the commencement of the accession negotiations or getting a date for fixing a negotiation date for the accession talks. This is the reason why Turkey wants this issue resolved and an agreement signed. Is this right? Is Turkey right in entering into something by signing a document that will create problems for the country in the future, and in the near future, in order to obtain a date toward full membership, a goal whose attainment is unsure? This should be considered. If serious negotiations are to be conducted on the issue, then this cannot be done within a few weeks. A date for Greek Cypriot accession can be delayed for another six months and the plan can be discussed as it should be within that period.^Ô

[02] Turkish Prime Minister Comments on Cyprus

Responding to a question about the Cyprus issue, Gul said: ^ÓWe are acting unprejudiced in order to find a solution to the Cyprus question. There is a conviction in the world that the Turks consider lack of solution a solution in Cyprus. According to our point of view, it is not an appropriate policy any more. We should be positive about solution efforts. We do not reject the solution plan of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. We will negotiate it. Cyprus should become an island of peace. However, we are concerned about certain issues like that of the migrants. The world saw what had happened in Bosnia-Herzegovina and in Kosovo. We do not want the same things to be experienced in Cyprus. This is our primary concern. And we are rightful in our concerns. Our final desire is to reach a solution that will satisfy the sides in the island.^Ô

Stressing that Turkey should be given a date at the Copenhagen Summit of the EU for opening of accession talks, Turkish Prime Minister Gul said: ^ÓThe Council of Ministers will convene on Wednesday. During the meeting, we will discuss what can be done till the summit on December 12. Then, the EU circles will not have the chance to say that Turkey has not fulfilled the Copenhagen political criteria yet.^Ô

^ÓNo one expected the Justice and Development Party (JDP) to launch such a serious initiative about the EU before the general elections. Our EU policy is our first surprise. There are differences about impressions and the reality^Ô, Abdullah Gul said.

[03] Turkish Foreign Minister Yakis met with Alvaro de Soto in Berlin

After the meeting which lasted two hours, De Soto said that with Yakis they had evaluated the Annan Plan. He said that he will continue his contacts tomorrow at the Turkish Capital by meeting Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ugur Ziyal.

Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis in his turn said that they had discussed mainly the UN plan. Yakis said that during his meeting with Denktas in New York he had the impression that the Turkish Cypriot leader is open for negotiation.

[04] Baykal on the new Turkish Government^Òs Cyprus policy

Expressing his party^Òs views on the programme, the leader of the opposition Republican People^Òs Party, (RPP) Deniz Baykal, referred to the government^Òs Cyprus policy and said: ^ÓWe cannot say: `Let us have whatever solution we can get in Cyprus, because this issue became a burden, and it is jeopardizing our other interests.´^Ô

Stressing that continuation of the cooperation between the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey regarding the Cyprus problem is important, Baykal said that, during the negotiations, Denktas´ views should be carefully evaluated.

Baykal said that it was unrealistic to expect that agreement would be reached on the `Annan Plan, prior to 12 December Copenhagen Summit.

Baykal, from his party^Òs point of view, pointed out the negative aspects in the Annan Plan, and criticized the government for finding this plan positive.

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat: ^ÓWe must accept the UN plan as a basis for negotiation^Ô

Mr Talat said that it is important to continue the Cyprus talks and find a solution for the Cyprus problem prior to the Copenhagen Summit of the 12th of December. Stressing that the time is crucial for Cyprus and that the time limit is becoming even shorter, Mr Talat said that the Copenhagen Summit is the last date for the reunion of the island.

Commenting on the UN plan, Mr Talat said that ^Ódiscussion is the only road^Ô for a solution and stressed that the UN plan is good, since it secures the interests and the expectations of each side. Mr Talat added that his party is ready to do everything possible for a solution to be reached until the Copenhagen Summit.

From his part the Italian Ambassador, Gherardo La Francesca, said that the Cyprus problem is in a very interesting phase. He also added that it was good that he was informed about the position of the RTP regarding the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

[06] Turkish Prime Minister responds to the criticisms against the Government Program at National Assembly

Pointing out that they would benefit from all the criticisms on the program, Gul said some details were not included in the program.

Stating that a new period started in politics in Turkey Gul said former policy understanding should be left aside from now on.

Turkish Prime Minister Gul, inter alia, said that they had recently come to power but that the foreign policy issues, particularly the Cyprus question, relations with the European Union (EU) and the Iraqi issue, had a past.

^ÓThere are files about these issues. The Foreign Ministry, Office of General Staff, National Security Council and other boards and institutions are involved in these issues^Ô, Gul noted.

Gul claimed that there should be dynamism in foreign policy and said that they could reach nowhere with the status quo in foreign policy.

^ÓWe can never give up our rights and laws. Turkey^Òs national interests are above everything,^Ô said Gul.

Gul stated that the parties represented at the parliament and outside the parliament and non-governmental organizations were all exerting efforts for the EU membership.

Justice and Development Party (JDP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan was holding contacts in European countries ``as the leader of a political party``, Gul said.

Reminding that Republican People^Òs Party (RPP) leader Deniz Baykal held contacts in Warsaw, Gul said that New Turkey Party (NTP) leader Ismail Cem had contacts in European countries.

Gul said that EU membership of Turkey, as a Muslim country, would be a gift to the world peace.

Such a Turkey would be a bridge between Europe and the East, Gul noted.

Referring to the Cyprus question, Gul said: ^ÓOf course we want a solution on the Cyprus issue. We should find a solution so that everybody can continue on his way. Let us reach a solution so that an atmosphere confidence can be formed. So that the Island can be an island of peace. So that everybody will benefit from the riches on the island.^Ô

Gul stated: ^ÓHowever, this does not mean that `we got bored. Let us leave the things on the table and go out. We call for an honourable solution that will satisfy both sides.^Ô

Pointing out that they did not reject the plan of the U.N. Secretary-General, Gul said they would sit and discuss the plan. He said they would evaluate the plan after getting the views of the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas.

Gul said they would exert efforts to find a solution on the Cyprus question, stressing that, ^Óhowever, this does not mean that we gave up the concerns on the future of Turkey and Cyprus.^Ô

Recalling that the things experienced at the beginning of 1990`s in Bosnia and Kosovo were experienced on Cyprus in the 1970`s, Gul said: ^ÓA state with two sovereignties. We will extend support to any project that will realize this.^Ô

Gul said: ^ÓWe are at a new period. All of us are in the same ship. Those on this ship will be damaged if this ship sinks. All of us want to be happy. The source of happiness is an enriched country where rights and freedoms are taken under guarantee.^Ô

[07] A new party established in the occupied area

The party^Òs general secretary Mehmet Suleymanoglu held yesterday a press conference at the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union headquarters in occupied Nicosia and announced the establishment of the new party.

Suleymanoglu said that the CSP is the party of toilers, anti-imperialists and peace-lovers. Suleymanoglu added that the difference between their party and the other leftist parties is that, the other leftist parties prefer to co-exist with the existing regime in the occupied area.

The CSP general secretary declared that, guarantorship system has brought blood, tears and unhappiness to the people of Cyprus, and that for this reason they are against the guarantorship.

Suleymanoglu also expressed the view that his party wants removal of the British Bases and other foreign forces from Cyprus. He demanded that the British Bases and the territory belonging to these bases should be returned immediately to the people of Cyprus.

The central committee members of the CSP are:

Mehmet Suleymanolgu- General Secretary, Hasan Balk-Secretary for Social Affairs and Organization, Kamil Incili-Youth Secretary, Kazim Ongen- Political Bureau, Secretary and Foreign Affairs Secretary, Aysel Yavasoglular.

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