Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-12-05

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas plans to return to the occupied areas on Friday. Fluid in his lungs still causes health problems. The UN Secretary-General is expected to visit him.

[02] Yasar Yakis says the doors for a solution should remain open after Copenhagen.

[03] Statements by Deniz Baykal after meeting with Jack Straw.

[04] Statements by Dervis Eroglu in Istanbul.

[05] JDP leader was invited to Washington by President Bush.

[06] 101 convicts died in Turkish prisons.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas plans to return to the occupied areas on Friday. Fluid in his lungs still causes health problems. The UN Secretary-General is expected to visit him

Denktas, criticizing the Annan plan for Cyprus as well, spoke as follows: ^ÓThis plan is not a plan that will save Cyprus. Annan has made a statement that 'We want to create a single nation on Cyprus.' This is an incorrect formulation. If a plan has really been prepared for something like this, then it has to be understood that there is not one nation on Cyprus, but rather two nations. These two nations will live on. You cannot make them one nation.^Ô

Meanwhile, it has been learned that fluid was collected in Denktas' lungs. After this was recognized, Denktas returned this morning for examination to Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, in which his heart valves had earlier been replaced.

As he exited the Marmara-Manhattan Hotel, in which he has been staying, Denktas spoke briefly with journalists and said: "I hope that this problem will not impact on my plan to return to the island on Friday."

In reply to a question as to whether or not he would be responding today to UN Secretary-General Annan, Denktas said: ^ÓOur response is being prepared. It will be conveyed in the coming days.^Ô

Meanwhile, diplomatic sources who provided information to the AA correspondent indicated that they had not received any information to the effect that Denktas' response would be conveyed to the UN today.

Furthermore, invoking sources from the United Nations, KIBRIS (05.12.02) reports that the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to visit Mr Denktas. The sources noted that the time of the meeting is not known yet.

[02] Yasar Yakis says the doors for a solution should remain open after Copenhagen

Responding to questions of journalists about Turkey`s EU process and developments about Cyprus, Yakis reiterated the wish of Turkey to get a negotiation date in the Copenhagen summit.

``It is not possible for Turkey to accept EU`s giving a date for date, at least for today, a date for date is not a further step when compared to the circumstances of today,`` he said.

Yakis said that a date of date means EU`s saying to Turkey that ``at the end of 2003, we can negotiate if we can give you a new date or not.``

When asked if a compromise was reached between Turkey and Greece about the Cyprus issue, Yakis said: ``There is a consensus of opinion with Greece that `we can either go to Copenhagen by finding a solution to the Cyprus issue or the doors should not be closed even if the problem is not sorted out until Copenhagen.``

Yakis said that postponement of admission of Cyprus to the EU is not in the hand of Turkey, adding that Rauf Denktas is also under time pressure regarding the U.N. plan. Yakis said: ``If time is not enough, we will try to find a solution to that.``

[03] Statements by Deniz Baykal after meeting with Jack Straw

Baykal held a brief meeting with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw at the party headquarters. During the meeting, Straw conveyed to Baykal the view that the Cyprus plan should be approved by the sides as soon as possible. After the meeting, Baykal said: ^ÓI see that they believe that Turkey's ambition to join the EU could cause Ankara to demonstrate flexibility with regard to Cyprus.^Ô Baykal pointed out that we are experiencing a period in which efforts are being exerted to get Turkey to make concrete decisions and prior commitments with regard to Cyprus.

^ÓWe do not have any serious, satisfactory or official information concerning the developments that are shaping up within these intense diplomatic contacts in the field of Iraq, Cyprus, and the EU. This is a fact, and it is also a grievance,^Ô he concluded.

[04] Statements by Dervis Eroglu in Istanbul

``I believe that he will feel the need to meet with both leaders,`` Eroglu said responding to questions of journalists at Ataturk Airport before leaving for the occupied areas.

Eroglu said that the Turkish and Greek Cypriot side will convey their objections about the U.N. plan, adding: ``In my opinion, the timing of Annan document is wrong, but this mistake was made on purpose. You can evaluate it as a part of scenario. We face such a document after the elections in Turkey and before the establishment of the new government. They tell us to accept this document before December 12. It is not easy to sign such a document in 15-20 days regarding a problem which continues for 40 years.``

Eroglu stressed that only the part of the iceberg which is on the surface is seen when one looks at the document, adding: ``We should know that the iceberg below the surface is so deep. It is just like another iceberg. Only the part of the iceberg on the sea is seen, when you sign it you will see the part of the iceberg under the sea.``

``Won`t you sign it?`` asked journalists and Eroglu replied: ``I don`t make comments on the issue of whether it will be signed or not. I am telling the commitments that will bind us if we sign it until December 11. When you sign it you will officially approve the foundation of the new partnership state, you will accept to give concessions on territory, you will accept the maps, and deny the claims about property. You will accept the adoption of the Constitution. You will accept the deployment of the peace keeping force in Cyprus with a new mission. In the end, when you sign the 1.5 page document, you will accept everything.``

Eroglu said that the document that will include the rejections of the Turkish Cypriot side about the Annan plan has been prepared and it will be submitted to Annan by Rauf Denktas.

``I suppose the U.N. Secretary-General will feel the need to meet with both leaders. He should bring the two leaders together, so that he can understand if he can make them reach compromise on common points,`` Eroglu said.

``What changed and made you look for a compromise by taking the plan into consideration? Is there any pressure by the new government in Turkey?`` asked journalists to Eroglu who said: ``No, we search for a compromise for years. It has been the Turkish side which put forward views about documents and agreements on the table for years. There is a new government in Turkey, it will clear its policies and assume its attitude. We didn't see that there is a change in Cyprus policy.``

Eroglu went on: ``The current pressure on us is the December 12 Copenhagen summit, efforts of the Greek Cypriots to be included in the EU and linking the opening of Turkey's EU membership negotiations with a solution in Cyprus. The pressure results from the situation itself, the eve of the Copenhagen summit and the state of health of our `president´, not from the Turkish government.`` Asked ``what Turkey and Cyprus wanted,`` Eroglu said that they had expressed their views on the issue of territory for years and mentioned ``zeroing of territory.``

Eroglu noted that they wanted ``to zero the issue of territory with negotiations between two states by transferring positions of the territories left by Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots and then settling the issue with compensation.`` ``This does not take place in the plan. Articles facilitating return of the Greek Cypriots to the north of the island were added to the plan. This is against the agreement on exchange of population made in 1975 and bi-zonal structure. They will be given the opportunity of suffrage and acquiring property,`` Eroglu said.

Eroglu stated that there were negotiations on Israeli-Palestinian issue for years and they even witnessed signatures.

``But, there is still bloodshed. We do not want to face such a situation. When an agreement wanted by the world is being made in Cyprus, we want an agreement because of which forthcoming generations will not fight,`` Eroglu said.

Eroglu noted that an agreement which would only satisfy the Greek Cypriot administration could not be made and added: ``An agreement should satisfy both sides so that the two sides can sign the text in tranquillity. It is said that Greek Cypriots also have some objections but, this document is a document which in fact satisfies the Greek Cypriots. Everybody wishes that negotiations will continue till a satisfactory agreement is made but hopes they won't take long. Negotiations can re-start if an agreement is not reached. Both Turkey and us and the world want an agreement in Cyprus.``

[05] JDP leader was invited to Washington by President Bush

The leader of the JDP, will arrive in Washington on December 9 and address a seminar at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

On Tuesday Erdogan will meet with President Bush at the White House before flying to Denmark the day before the European Union opens its historic Copenhagen Summit, at which Turkey still hopes to be given a date for the commencement of accession negotiations.

[06] 101 convicts died in Turkish prisons

The paper reports that until now 101 prisoners died of this hunger strike. The convicts want to change the prison conditions especially the solitary confinement cells in maximum security prisons know in Turkish ^ÓF Type^Ô prisons.

Cicek said that now it is time the protestors, who are the source of the problem, take steps to end this protest.

He urged the protestors to give up their action.

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