Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-11-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Foreign Minister evaluates Denktas´ letter

[02] Denktas´ adviser Ergun Olgun went to Ankara to discuss Annan plan

[03] Finnish MP^Òs express their hope to see the accession of a united Cyprus to the EU

[04] Eroglu and Cosar criticize the UN plan on Cyprus

[05] Serter returns from CoE meeting with ^Ópositive impressions^Ô

[06] Tahsin Ertugruloglu will meet with Yasar Yakis

[07] A two thousand seven hundred year-old ^ÓKouros^Ô statue, of the Cypriot Archaic period, was found in the occupied Ay. Theodoros village

[08] Talat critical of Denktas´ delaying tactics

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Foreign Minister evaluates Denktas´ letter

Replying to journalists^Ò questions, Yakis said: ^ÓDenktas has some obligations to fulfil towards the Turkish Cypriot public opinion. A pretty good balance was maintained between the views explained in the letter and requests of the United Nations Secretary-General Annan. We hope that this balance will constitute a good start for the negotiations.^Ô

When asked whether or not Denktas` letter was contrary to the will of the Turkish Cypriot side, Yakis told reporters, ^Óthe step taken by Denktas creates the conditions necessary to reflect this will on the ground.^Ô

[02] Denktas´ adviser Ergun Olgun went to Ankara to discuss Annan plan

He went on and said: ^ÓIt is a fact that there is need for negotiations and conciliation in Cyprus. It is not healthy to continue relations in this atmosphere of tension and confrontation. Conciliation must be reached, but the form of this conciliation is very important. The sides' equality must be reflected in this conciliation in the full sense of the word. The two sides' sovereign equality must be reflected. This must be manifested in the territorial aspect. The representation and equality of the two sides must be reflected in the decision-making mechanism and institutions of the partnership government to be established.

Furthermore, the question of territory and property must be resolved in a sound manner. After an agreement is reached, care must be taken that the package does not include any elements of possible future conflicts, confrontation, or tension. We must ensure that once the package is completed, it will not be possible to puncture it for years. Attention must be paid to all these points. I spoke with the leaders of many circles in Cyprus. They also expressed their belief that many aspects in the package must be changed. Anyway, there are no differences. The negotiations to be held will focus on changing the aspects of the package that are unacceptable to both sides. The UN Secretary-General has accepted this. Therefore, he expects to hear the views of the two sides. He will do this in order to reach a middle way. Therefore, from the viewpoint of both sides we have now reached the point that is expected, as far as the pre-negotiation stage is concerned.

When asked to comment on Denktas´ statement that the territorial aspect in the plan is a disgrace, Olgun said: ^ÓOf course, this is an important issue in terms of the Turkish Cypriot side. This important issue must be resolved. Our territorial needs were not reflected in the package. We will try to achieve this.

In the same way as there cannot be a forced marriage, there cannot be a forced peace, because circles that are uneasy about it and that want to react against it will continue to react against it in the future. One must come to terms with peace. The sides must benefit more from attaining peace than from not attaining it. About 68-71 percent in south Cyprus rejects this agreement in its present form. Whether we can reach a satisfactory point as a result of the changes they want is a different matter. If, however, the changes they want are points that we cannot accept, and vice versa, a serious problem arises. We will see what happens in the coming days. Both sides must display certain flexibility with regard to points that are important and vital to the other side. The key to this lies in the acceptance, especially in south Cyprus, of the concept that will enable the principle of equality to be reflected in the agreement in all its aspects. The existing package contains shortcomings in this regard. We must bring this about. We will struggle to this end. Our goal is to try to approach a point that can be acceptable to both sides in Cyprus in sincerity and goodwill.^Ô

When asked what would happen if Cyprus becomes an EU member prior to a solution, Olgun said: ^ÓThis would be a train crash God willing, no such thing will happen^Ô. Olgun went on to say that at the end of his contacts in Ankara he would return to the occupied area, hold contacts, prepare a draft report and convey it to Denktas^Ô.

[03] Finnish MP^Òs express their hope to see the accession of a united Cyprus to the EU

The delegation and Finland^Òs Ambassador to Nicosia, Mr Pasi Patokalio, had separate meetings with Huseyin Angolemli, chairman of the Communal Liberation party (CLP), Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) and Hakki Muftuzade, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas^Ò special advisor on political affairs.

Mrs Jaakosaari described this period as ^Óvery critical^Ô for Cyprus and expressed their wish to tell people when they return to Finland that there is significant progress in the Cyprus problem. The Finnish MP noted that the Cyprus problem is very important for her country and reiterated their wish to see a united Cyprus acceding to the EU.

Meanwhile, Mr Angolemli said that they discussed at length the situation in Finland because of the issue of the Aaland Islands. The CLP leader admitted that the Turkish side had delayed for ten days to respond to the UN plan on Cyprus. However, Mr Angolemli claimed that the Turkish side ^Óhas given the expected answer, as this answer is similar to the answer of the Greek Cypriot side^Ô.

Mr Angolemli said that by Saturday they would inform the UN Secretary-General about their ^Óconcerns^Ô regarding the plan. He also added that he would exchange views with Mr Denktas^Ò advisor Ergun Olgun after the latter^Òs return to the pseudostate from Ankara where he is expected to discuss the Cyprus issue with the Turkish government.

Furthermore, after his meeting with the Finnish delegation, Mr Talat expressed his party^Òs full support for the initiative of the UN Secretary-General but added that unfortunately there are ^Ósome difficult and important realities^Ô as far as the Turkish side is concerned. According to Mr Talat there is lack of knowledge about the developments and the facts are not understood by the Turkish side, while at the same time there are some circles who do not want a solution, supporting that ^Óthe non-solution is the solution^Ô.

[04] Eroglu and Cosar criticize the UN plan on Cyprus

Meanwhile, talking at the same session, Mr Salih Cosar, leader of the Democratic Party and partner of Mr Eroglu in the so-called ^Ócoalition government^Ô, said that the Annan plan on Cyprus is based on the political equality of the two communities and added: ^ÓHowever, the plan is not based on the sovereign equality and weakens the bi-communal structure^Ô of the state.

Mr Cosar expressed the Turkish demand regarding the recognition, even for 24 hours, of the illegal regime established and controlled by Turkey in the occupied areas since the 1974 invasion of Cyprus.

[05] Serter returns from CoE meeting with ^Ópositive impressions^Ô

In a statement he issued at occupied Lefkoniko airport, Serter said that Marty's report was on the meeting^Òs agenda. Explaining that the report contained accusations against the Turkish Cypriots, Serter added that the delegation pointed out the drawbacks of discussing such a report when the UN Secretary-General Annan's Cyprus plan was on the table. Noting that the Committee did not take up the report despite the objections of the Greek Cypriots, Serter stressed that the report was postponed with 15 votes in favour and six votes against.

He said that Marty's report will be taken up once again at the Strasbourg meeting in January and Serter added that they were returning to the occupied area with positive impressions.

[06] Tahsin Ertugruloglu will meet with Yasar Yakis

According to the paper the two men will discuss the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

[07] A two thousand seven hundred year-old ^ÓKouros^Ô statue, of the Cypriot

According to the Famagusta area ^Óofficial^Ô of the ^ÓDepartment of Antiquities and Museums^Ô, Hasan Tekel, the statue is known in archaeological literature as a ^ÓKouros^Ô, is made of limestone, has no head and legs, and is estimated to have been 170 cm high.

The paper writes that in the past year, three statues of the same type were found in the villages of Ay. Theodoros, Leonarisso and Lithragkomi in the occupied Karpass peninsula.

[08] Talat critical of Denktas´ delaying tactics

Taking the floor, the leader of the Turkish Republican Party (RTP), Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, referring to the UN Secretary-General Annan plan, accused Denktas of delaying tactics. He said that the policy of ^Ónon-solution is the solution^Ô has failed. Talat said that in the past Denktas had confessed of his continuing delaying tactics.

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