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

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The National Security Council met on 29 November. MILLIYET reports on the discussions during the meeting.

[02] Denktas continues to be a stumbling block.

[03] Statements by Mr Alvaro de Soto from Ankara.

[04] ORTAM publishes the results of a public opinion poll conducted both in the free and the occupied areas of Cyprus regarding the Annan plan.

[05] Olgun says the Turkish side would convey its answer to the UN Secretary ^Ö General until Tuesday.

[06] Serdar Denktas: My oath is different than my father, regarding the Cyprus problem.

[07] Deniz Baykal: Turkey must continue supporting Rauf Denktas.

[08] Ali Erel sent a letter to the Turkish Cypriot leader for accepting the UN plan.

[09] KIBRIS and MILLIYET on the Turkish Cypriots working in the free area of Cyprus.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Mehmet Ali Birand blames Turkey for the situation in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[11] Columnist in Sabah says the Cyprus problem will not be solved because of Denktas.

[12] ^ÓWith Denktas and the NSC it is impossible!^Ô

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The National Security Council met on 29 November. MILLIYET reports on the discussions during the meeting

The NSC November regular meeting was held at the Cankaya Presidential Residence under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. In the meeting, which lasted for 4 hours 15 minutes, Cyprus, the EU, the ESDP [European Security and Defence Policy], and the security files related to religious reactionism and the PKK [Worker's Party of Kurdistan] were discussed. Besides the Minister of Internal Affairs Abdulkadir Aksu, who participated in the NSC meetings during the Turgut Ozal period, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Ministers Ertugrul Yalcinbayir, M. Ali Sahin and Abdullatif Sener, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasar Yakis, the Minister of National Defence Vecdi Gonul and the Minister of Justice Cemil Cicek participated for the first time. The breaking of the fast was made at the Presidential Residence because the meeting continued during the breaking of the Ramadan fast at sunset.

Subtitle: The "Unacceptable" terms in the Plan

Kofi Annan is waiting for the sides to send him their "reservations" on the subject of the UN plan. The NSC made an extensive evaluation related to the subject. It was learned that attention was drawn to the following points in the Cyprus briefing given at the NSC meeting:

- It is unacceptable to decrease the Turkish military forces below 10 thousand on the island.

- In the A plan, the territories of the ^ÓTRNC^Ô on the island, which is presently 36.5 percent, is reduced to 28.6 percent. Fifty villages and settlement units would be abandoned to the Greek Cypriots and 60-65 percent of the 214 thousand person Turkish Cypriot population would have to change location. In the plan, it is envisaged for the Turkish Cypriot side to abandon Famagusta, excluding the port region, and the Morphou region, where important water resources of the island are located.

- In the B plan, the ratio of territory for the Turkish Cypriots is reduced to 28.5 percent and 39 villages and settlement units would be abandoned to the Greek Cypriots and it would be necessary to force 50-55 thousand Turkish Cypriots to migrate. Also, it is wanted to leave the Karpass region on the northern tip of the island to the Greek Cypriots. The subject situation is against the strategic interests of Turkey.

- Abandoning the Mesaoria territories and the lands to the west will necessitate the relocation of two regiments on the island.

- There are defects in the document on the subjects of sovereignty and acquiring property.

The NSC made the following statement after its evaluations:

"In the meeting, information was presented to the NSC about the recent developments related to Cyprus. In this connection, it was stated that Turkey supports the latest position of the `TRNC President´ Denktas regarding the process of negotiations."

Reporting on the issue on (01.12.02) MILLIYET publishes the following report by Serpil Cevikcan under the title: ^ÓThe military drew `Attention´ at the NSC:^Ô

All eyes were turned to the NSC [National Security Council] meeting in connection with the escalating debates after the TGNA [Turkish Grand National Assembly] Speaker Bulent Arinc brought his wife, who was wearing a turban to the ceremony to see off President Sezer. It was learned that the military wing gave important messages at the meeting on the subjects of "the searches for a new constitution, the turban and the place of the military in politics". At the meeting, the five commanders also spoke on the subject of the turban and read passages from the government program. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, "The suspicions are unfounded. We are a team, which is sincerely attached to the Republic".

According to the information reflected to the "Milliyet" Newspaper the views set forth in the NSC meeting are as follows:

The commanders brought the subject of a "new constitution" onto the agenda. The commanders, who read passages from the government program, asked if the sentence, "A new constitution based on societal legality will be prepared", had the meaning that the present constitution was not legal. The commanders reflected their suspicions, which were reflected to the public in the form of is there a search against the basic attributes of the Republic with the expression "societal legality"?

Prime Minister Abdullah Gul responded by saying, "We are aware that some conclusions are deduced and suspicions felt from everything we say and from our behaviour. However, these suspicions are unfounded. We are a team, which is sincerely attached to the principles of the Republic. We are a group, which will not deviate from the basic attributes of the Republic".

Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir said, "The meaning of the statement you have read is the following: We know that a constitution will not be prepared based only on the single party government and the majority of seats in the parliament. Constitutions are texts that should be prepared with the largest societal reconciliation. The basic attributes of the Republic, the unchangeable principles of the Constitution and the articles of the Constitution, which cannot even be proposed to be changed, will be included in the new constitution".

The commanders stated that a solution is necessary on Cyprus that will preserve the gains of Turkey and the ^ÓTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus^Ô. The commanders said that it is unacceptable to bring Northern Cyprus to a position, which would create the result of a besiegement of Turkey from the south. They stated that especially after the energy routes [Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline] open, the strategic importance of the subject would increase. The government members stated that they would definitely take these warnings into consideration in the negotiations.

It was stated that the military wing also gave the message in response to the most recent statements of Europe, "It is necessary to respond at the level of the Prime Minister and the government". It was learned that Gul, the Minister of National Defence Vecdi Gonul and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasar Yakis emphasized that in Europe the JDP [Justice and Development Party] Chairman Tayyip Erdogan answered by stating "The military is not involved in politics in Turkey. However, the military intervened in the periods when terrorism escalated". The commanders expressed that it would be useful if these statements are also made by the Prime Minister and the official authorities.

The commanders emphasized the necessity of not permitting developments and images, which would weaken secularism that is the basic foundation of the Republic. The commanders, who also opened the subject of the turban, reminded about the decision of the Constitutional Court on this subject and the warning made by President Sezer and explained that it is necessary to avoid behaviours, which would create tension in the society. It was learned that the Chief of General Staff and the four commanders took the floor on this subject and expressed a consensus of opinion. It is stated that on this subject President Ahmet Necdet Sezer put the final point by saying, "The turban debate is finished".

The military wing also brought onto the agenda the messages of some EU representatives to the effect that it is necessary to change the position and function of the military in order for Turkey to be able to become a member of the EU. The commanders reminded about the statements of the EU Commissioner Gunter Verheugen and some country leaders and said that there is no end to the demands of the EU from Turkey and that they deliberately make things difficult. It was learned that the military stated that the Copenhagen political criteria have been fulfilled to a great extent and that finally the subject of Cyprus has been put in front of Turkey and said, "It is our concern that now they will also make an excuse of the Turkish military".

[02] Denktas continues to be a stumbling block

Denktas has declared that the Turkish side is ready to negotiate how to introduce changes on the maps.

^ÓWe will put forward how our borders would be changed^Ô Denktas stressed.

Referring to the territorial aspect of the Annan Plan Denktas said: ^ÓThe territorial map cannot be accepted, it should be changed^Ô.

[03] Statements by Mr Alvaro de Soto from Ankara

In reply to another question on whether he met with the Turkish Cypriot side during his visit in Cyprus, de Soto said: Mr Denktas is my counterpart and he is not in Cyprus at present.

Commenting on reports that the Greek Cypriot National Council decided not to take up the plan, de Soto noted: I do not have any information in this regard.

Describing as worrying the fact that the sides did not submit their views on the plan, De Soto added: There is still hope for a solution; however, a political will and wish for conciliation should be displayed.

In reply to a question on whether he has a new message for Ankara, de Soto explained that his goal is to exchange views.

[04] ORTAM publishes the results of a public opinion poll conducted both in the free and the occupied areas of Cyprus regarding the Annan plan

According to the results the 51.5 % of the Turkish Cypriots would have said ^Óyes^Ô to the Annan plan if a referendum took place last week and the 39.8 % ^Óno^Ô. 59 % of the Greek Cypriot participants in the poll have given a negative answer to this question and 28 % positive. 8.7 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 13 % of the Greek Cypriots gave ^Óno^Ô answer.

29.4 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 32 % of the Turkish Cypriots approve the provisions of the plan regarding the territorial aspect, whereas 62.4 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 63 % of the Greek Cypriots do not approve them. Regarding other provisions of the plan the results are as follows: 48.3 %of the Turkish Cypriots approve the six-member Ministerial Council which will have the executive power, whereas 27 % of the Greek Cypriots have the same opinion. The negative votes on this issue reach 29.6 % within the Turkish Cypriots and 56 % within the Greek Cypriots.

49.3 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 38 % of the Greek Cypriots agree with the exchange of properties as it is provided in the plan, whereas 41.3 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 53 % of the Greek Cypriots disagree with it.

61.4 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 15 % of the Greek Cypriots agree with the provisions regarding the three-year co-presidency, whereas 30.8 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 72 % of the Greek Cypriots disagree with it.

The provisions regarding the three-year transitive period for the refugees returning to their homes are approved by the 37.8 % of the Turkish Cypriots and the 31 % of the Greek Cypriots and are not approved by the 50 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 57 % of the Greek Cypriots.

47.6 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 33 % of the Greek Cypriots approve the provisions regarding the security, whereas the 39.3 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 54% of the Greek Cypriots disagree with these provisions.

The provisions regarding the citizenship and sovereignty are approved by the 51.9 % of the Turkish Cypriots and the 27 % of the Greek Cypriots and are disapproved by the 32.3 % of the Turkish Cypriots and 56 % of the Greek Cypriots.

The 52.2 % of the Turkish Cypriots and the 24 % of the Greek Cypriots approve the provisions regarding the presence of three foreign judges at the Supreme Court, whereas the 36.7% of the Turkish Cypriots and the 68 % of the Greek Cypriots do not approve these provisions.

The 56.6 % of the Turkish Cypriots said that they wanted to live separately from the Greek Cypriots in separate component states having a weak central government. The 35 % of the Greek Cypriots share this view. The 57 % of the Greek Cypriots want to live together with the Turkish Cypriots in two component states having a strong central government. The 37.4 % of the Turkish Cypriots share this view.

[05] Olgun says the Turkish side would convey its answer to the UN Secretary ^Ö General until Tuesday

Talking to KIBRIS from Ankara where he had meetings regarding the Annan Plan, Mr Olgun noted that the points of the plan on which the Turkish side has objections are the issues of sovereignty, properties, Turkey^Òs guarantee rights and the territorial aspect.

According to the same paper, a high - ranking Turkish Foreign Ministry official said regarding the territorial aspect that the land was more important than the percentage and added: ^ÓThere is a difference between Morphou and a dry plain^Ô.

The paper writes that there is an intensive preparation in Ankara towards the direction of getting ^Óa clear date in Copenhagen^Ô and on the Cyprus problem.

[06] Serdar Denktas: My oath is different than my father, regarding the Cyprus problem

^ÓThe oath of the generation of the present time, our generation, is different than the oath of ^Ópresident^Ô Rauf Denktas^Ô, said Serdar Denktas, commenting on the UN plan for a solution to the Cyprus problem. Serdar Denktas also added that in order for the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriot community to get to know each other they must have enough contacts between them.

[07] Deniz Baykal: Turkey must continue supporting Rauf Denktas

Referring to the National Security Council of Turkey (NSC), Mr Baykal said that the decision of the NSC to support Mr Denktas was right. He said that Turkey wants ^Óa peaceful solution^Ô for Cyprus and therefore during this period it offered some serious help to Mr Denktas. He also said that Turkey must offer support to the realization of an agreement for the Cyprus problem. ^ÓWe must exhibit understanding towards the direction of peace^Ô, he said.

[08] Ali Erel sent a letter to the Turkish Cypriot leader for accepting the UN plan

In the letter, Mr Erel wrote that its Chamber has evaluated the UN plan and reached the conclusion that they must accept it as a basis for negotiation. He also stressed that for them and Turkey, the Copenhagen summit on 12 December 2002, is very important and that if they do not negotiate they would lose their last opportunity for peace.

Some of the proposals are related to the issues of property and the referendum. They want the Governor of the central bank to be also a rotation position. If the Greek Cypriots decide against the plan in the referendum, then the international identity of the Turkish Cypriot state must be recognized and the Turkish Cypriots join the EU.

[09] KIBRIS and MILLIYET on the Turkish Cypriots working in the free area of Cyprus

The full text of Milliyet´s article is as follows:

In the front page of Milliyet under the headline, ^ÓTheir bread is in the South^Ô, and the subtitle ^ÓTheir jobs in the South, their houses at the North^Ô reports in these days, when the peace plans are being discussed in Cyprus, examples of economic cooperation between the two sides in the island are exhibited. Because of the economic crisis, more than seven thousand Turkish Cypriot workers, who are unemployed, cross every day to the South Cyprus in order to find a job.

The economic crisis in Turkey has influenced also the pseudostate. Many jobs were lost and thousands of people left without work. They began to look for new markets. The youth and the educated population found a way out to go abroad. Those, who stayed, since 1990 cross to the South Cyprus to work at the constructions. These workers, who were only a thousand until two years ago, have reached now the seven thousands.

They take permission from the ^ÓMinistry of Domestic Affairs^Ô and via Pyla, a village that Greek and Turkish Cypriots are living together, cross to the South to work. Unskilled workers get 250 million TL for a weekly wage and a foreman 500 million TL.

The Turkish Cypriots are going early in the morning to the village of Pergamos, where they leave their identity cards to the security point of the occupation regime and walk until the village Pyla. From there, it is really easy to cross to South. Generally, the Greek Cypriot employers are interested in the workers, who work at the constructions. Apart from the Turkish Cypriot workers, in South Cyprus there are around 30 thousand foreign workers, from Russia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Pakistan, writes Milliyet.

Commenting on the article KIBRIS writes that among the workers there are university graduates who cross to the free areas to earn their living.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Mehmet Ali Birand blames Turkey for the situation in the occupied areas of Cyprus

^ÓHow come you get angry when things got out of control and I had to bring to an end the program we broadcast live from the `TRNC´, saying, 'Here, this is Cyprus!' Am I the person responsible? Or you all?

I have received thousands of e-mail messages since last week.

The subject matter was the way I ended the program by saying, 'This is Cyprus...' when the program broadcast live from the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ turned into a cacophony, with provocative types shouting and screaming.

This has drawn an adverse reaction from Turkish Cypriots.

Before everything else they argue that it was a plot, that the students from Turkey should not have been admitted into the hall in the first place, that the group in question kept exerting constant pressure despite the fact that they had no right to speak, that the group in question was admitted into the hall with the aim of silencing up the Turkish Cypriot students. They accuse me of putting into practice a plot aimed at silencing up the Turkish Cypriots!

That is odd indeed. I wonder whether there is any journalist who has tried harder than I have to make the Turkish Cypriots' voice heard.

The other group, which consisted of people from Turkey -- students and certain persons who had migrated from Turkey and became `TRNC´ nationals -- had an even stronger adverse reaction.

They refer to the Turkish Cypriots as "leftists" and "no-good ingrates". They believe that I should not have let those Turkish Cypriots speak during the program. They see their participation in the program as an attempt -- on my part -- to divide the people living in the North. They consider it "sedition".

Now, let us stop for a moment.

There was no way I could have known who were coming into the hall and what was their aim. With the best intentions, the East Mediterranean University officials tried to admit into the hall only those who had invitations but then, when too many people were left outside, opened the doors to everybody when I, among others, kindly requested that.

Well, this is not the issue.

The issue is the scene observed in that hall.

On one hand there was a group from Turkey, a group with a harsh, repressive attitude, telling the Turkish Cypriots, "You are here thanks to us. You cannot possibly turn into ingrates, betraying Turkey!"

On the other hand there was a group of Turkish Cypriots telling them, "We are fed up. So you have saved us. Where has that gotten us? If no solution can be found we too will have to migrate."

Youngsters who insult one another, scorn one another, attitudes that cannot go beyond swashbuckling... Youngsters who do not even know to listen, to hear what their fellow man is saying...

Gentlemen, who has reduced Cyprus to this level? Can you tell me?

The Cypriot administrators, politicians, academics, bureaucrats appointed from Turkey, troops stationed on the island, even the Turkish tourists visiting the island for a few days, who has reduced Cyprus into this state?

Don't let us deceive one another.

Turkey could not set the island in the right direction. It implemented its own, degenerate system. It caused the irregularities to escalate. It put people on a payroll. It stifled the youngsters' hopes and impoverished the people.

Gentlemen, this way we have lost the island long ago. Only we are not aware of it. It is one thing to keep a piece of land in hand with 30,000 troops. It is something else to excite and motivate a society.

It is not a TV program that has brought Cyprus to this spot. That program merely held a mirror to Cyprus and to you all. Do not look elsewhere to find the persons responsible for that scene. We, all of us, are responsible.^Ô

[11] Columnist in Sabah says the Cyprus problem will not be solved because of Denktas

^ÓEveryone is asking me, "Will the Cyprus problem be solved this time?" I am also asking myself the same question. Will the Cyprus problem be solved this time? There are two answers to this question, one long, one short.

The short answer is as follows: No. The Cyprus problem will not be solved this time either.

The long answer is as follows: The Cyprus problem will not be solved, because the political will does not exist, either on Cyprus or in Turkey, which would solve this emotional and complicated problem.

Ever since the landing of the Turkish soldiers on Cyprus in 1974, the political party or parties having an interest in the preservation of the status quo on the island have come to power. The largest of these parties is the National Unity Party (NUP) founded by `President´ Rauf Denktas. The NUP is the party of those who have economic interests in the divided status of the island. This party and the coalitions formed with others who separated from it have been in power almost without interruption since 1974.

It is the NUP leaders who are opposing in the most open and strong manner the latest UN plan. `President´ Denktas is the representative of those who want the island to remain divided. Denktas is disgusted with the Greek Cypriots. He does not trust them at all. His ideal is to unite the north of the island with Turkey.

Denktas is the last great Turkish nationalist. It is impossible for any talks he would make, no matter how close the proposals are to the Turkish thesis, to provide an agreement with the Greek Cypriots.

However, neither the NUP nor Denktas came to power by force. They repeatedly came to power with elections of which the fairness has never been disputed. This means that the great majority of the Turkish Cypriots do not want a solution on the island either, because there are other political parties, the policy of which is to make an agreement with the Greek Cypriots and live under a common state. The Turkish Cypriots could have brought them to power, but they did not do it.

It can be said, "When you say the Turkish Cypriots you are also taking into account the immigrants from Turkey, the number of whom could be more than the Turkish Cypriots at the moment".

Yes, that is correct. However, I do not think that the situation would be different if we would exclude them.

It can be said, "The Republican Turkish Party (RTP) won the recent municipal elections. Does this not show that there has been a radical change in the inclinations of the electors?"

Perhaps. Then they can win the elections and could be effective in the determination of the destiny of their communities. However, can this happen?

However dominant the Uskudar Municipality is in the destiny of Turkey, then the Turkish Cypriots are that dominant in their own destiny.

In the final analysis, whatever Turkey says prevails on the island. Denktas is obliged to fulfil Turkey's commands, because it is impossible for him to preserve his position without Turkey's support.

Why does the political will (I am also adding the military within this), which would solve the Cyprus problem, not exist in Turkey? Why does Turkey not appear to be desirous and capable to conclude this matter, even though the UN plan constitutes the closest platform to the wishes of the Turkish Cypriot side up until now?

Because Turkey has completely lost the ability to solve problems at the hands of second class politicians. The broad horizons of those who created the Republic have been squandered in the swamps of bribery and corruption.

It is for this reason that the destiny of Turkey with its population of 70 million is dominated by the `TRNC´ with its population of 200 thousand.

The only unknown in this equation is the JDP [Justice and Development Party] of Tayyip Erdogan. When we also solve that, all of the answers will acquire a greater definiteness.^Ô

[12] ^ÓWith Denktas and the NSC it is impossible!^Ô

^Ó^ÅAnswering a question during his recent tour in Europe Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that ^ÑThe army does not interfere in politics^Ò! During the same hours, the decision of NSC Cyprus session to fully support Denktas was announced and it was by itself declaring Erdogan^Òs statement to be false.

The NSC is ruling Turkey for years. Nothing has changed today. The Justice and Development Party, which is in power by itself, is only for the show! Ismet Kotak is also saying this in his article ^ÑNow we see what they were being up to^Ò. He is saying that no one must get too enthusiastic by the election results because the last word belongs to the NSC! Has Denktas gotten the decision he wanted form the NSC or not? The rest is now a piece of cake for him! He will play and manipulate it as he wants!

Eroglu says that ^Ñno solution can be achieved within 24 hours^Ò! As if the Cyprus problem began 24 hours ago! They have been talking for 28 years! That is for 10.220 days or 245.280 hours! Let us accept that it cannot be solved within 24 hours. Was it not possible to be solved within 245.280 hours? However, you are right. If we do not take into consideration the persons in charge without authority here, then it is really impossible, they say, with Denktas and the NSC!^Ô.

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