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

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Message by the Turkish Cypriot leader to the Turkish Cypriots, who gathered at Inonu Square to protest the UN plan, after he received the revised version of the proposed Basis for Agreement on a Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem

[02] Statement by the Turkish Cypriot politicians after receiving the revised UN Plan from Rauf Denktas.

[03] The Turkish Cypriot leader denies invitation to Copenhagen to sign Document.

[04] Denktas is going to Ankara for a medical check-up at Ankara.

[05] Turkey resorts to its favorite method in order to get accession date. It will punish the countries which approach the issue negatively.

[06] The vast majority of the Turkish Cypriots are against the UN Plan.

[07] The banned Islamist leader of Turkey meets Bush and the Jewish lobby. He specifies Verheugen´s duties and tells him how to speak.

[08] Turkey's Erdogan discusses Cyprus with Annan.

[09] Erdogan addresses American Turkish Council in Washington.

[10] JDP leader Erdogan to advise Denktas not to avoid negotiations.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] MILLIYET columnist: ^ÓGul rejects 2005^Ô.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Message by the Turkish Cypriot leader to the Turkish Cypriots, who gathered at Inonu Square to protest the UN plan, after he received the revised version of the proposed Basis for Agreement on a Comprehensive Settlement of the Cyprus Problem

^ÓThey cannot make us refugees again. You do not want to be refugees again. Shame on those who want you to be refugees again. The refugee issue in Cyprus was solved by the agreements concluded in 1975. The UN has given you guarantees. The bizonality has been confirmed. Reciprocal population exchange has been realized. Regarding land and property, the fundamentals have been decided. Within this framework you have been asked to prepare yourself for the future. The ^ÓLaws^Ô of the ^ÓTRNC^Ô have been drawn up according to these promises and agreements. Exchange of property was realized on this basis. The Greek Cypriots have been settled and rehabilitated in the south and they are prospering. In the north the Turkish Cypriots, according to the promises given to them, have been settled and they are rehabilitated.

Uprooting them and making them refugees again is unbecoming of humanity.

On these issues what are necessary will be done. With a view to not bowing to this injustice, the struggle shall continue hand in hand.

Changes have been realized on the document that is before us. We have been given a document that has been branded as a new document. I have given this (document) to the Party leaders. Tomorrow we will meet again and look into this document again. The Document is the old document. Our worries and anxieties regarding our status and sovereignty still continue.

In the Greek Cypriot side around 80 percent of the people opposes to this document. And, you, are steadfast here.

This means, therefore, that the ground to bring both sides together is not paved yet. The reason for this is that we have not been treated equally; and that they uphold the Greek Cypriots as the Legitimate Government of Cyprus.

The effort to keep the Greek Cypriots on the EU path still continues. Having all these facts before us, we will continue to examine the new document, which is not so new, tomorrow. We do know which are traps and which constitute a danger. The two peoples continue to gather around their kinsmen since 1900. The mixed villages dropped from 600 to 103 in 1963. And after 1963 the majority of these villages have been forced to migrate. The future of Cyprus has been decided by the population exchange agreement.

The territorial arrangement could only be realized as border arrangement. Hands extended upto Limnitis naturally will return empty-handed.

I talk to you, not to make you give up, but to tell you the truth. It is time to hold on to your rights, to your villages, towns and to your motherland with four hands.

It is the time when we have to embrace each other. We want a firm and strong peace that will not allow the Greek Cypriots to come among us and put us in a difficult situation. We want a peace that will not repeat the 1963 events.

We want a peace which will be based on two states and two sovereignties.

I salute you with determination and I congratulate you.^Ô

[02] Statement by the Turkish Cypriot politicians after receiving the revised UN Plan from Rauf Denktas

Illegal Bayrak television (10.12.02) broadcast live the statements made by the politicians.

The so-called Speaker of the pseudoassembly Mr Vehbi Serter said:

^ÓWe will do the full evaluation tomorrow.^Ô

The so-called Prime Minister Eroglu said:

^ÓThe latest situation has been evaluated, and tomorrow there will be another evaluation, after studying certain documents^Ô. Eroglu also said that the new documents contain maps which are not changed.

The leader of the Democratic Party (DP) Mr Salih Cosar said:

^ÓThere are changes on certain articles of the previous plan. We will study them and tomorrow we will meet again. I only read one paragraph, which was about the voting rights of the Greek Cypriots returning to the Turkish areas.

On his part the leader of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP), Mr Huseyin Angolemli said: ^ÓThe point that we have come to is the new document of Kofi Annan. Now we will take this new document and each one of us will study it with his party and take his decision.

This will be in the form of ^Óyes or no^Ô. Likewise, until 12 December, the Greek Cypriot side as well as Greece, Turkey and Britain either they will say ^Óyes or no^Ô. So, these two last days need very intensive work. We as the Turkish side should calculate very carefully and decide. We have to think very seriously about our future. If we act together, and bring forward the positive points, as far as I am concerned this is very important.

The Greek Cypriots likewise either they will say ^Óyes or no^Ô until 12 December. Most probably they (UN) will invite the representatives of both sides as well as of Greece, Turkey and Britain to Copenhagen and they will demand from them to sign this document.

Here, in these two days, it will be decided whether this signature will be put or not^Ô.

Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) said that this plan ^Óis a whole with the date^Ô. ^ÓYou cannot divide the date from the plan and the plan from the date^Ô, noted Mr Talat, alleging that if the Turkish side permits the Republic of Cyprus to accede into the European Union on 12 December and if it cannot create ^Óa procedure which will bind (the Greek Cypriot side) to a responsibility of stable overall agreement^Ô, it will not find the Greek Cypriots on the same position after 12 December.

Noting that he has just read the letter with the objections of the Greek Cypriot side to the 11 November Annan plan for Cyprus, Mr Talat claimed that from that document he realized what the position of the Greek Cypriots will be after the 12 December.

^ÓIf we do not bring them to a position to sign either a foundation agreement or another text which will be ensuring the signing of a foundation agreement, after 12 December this plan will not exist, the Greek Cypriots will enter alone into the EU and we shall wait for Turkey to enter the EU, something which will take a long time^Ô, said Mr Talat supporting that if this is realized the Turkish Cypriots will be sacrificed.

Ertugrul Hasipoglu, leader of the recently established Renewal Progressive Party, said that Mr Denktas gave the party leaders a diskette with the revised document and added that they will meet again tomorrow at 11:00 a.m after studying the document.

^ÓThere are some things which seem to be positive, but the traps still exist^Ô, alleged Mr Hasipoglu adding that the thing that causes the most trouble is that both sides are under pressure and they are not given time. Mr Hasipoglu said that these things could not be done in a hurry, because they are related with the future of Cyprus and its inhabitants, the Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots.

Kenan Akin, leader of the Nationalist Justice Party said that it seems that ^Ówithin the framework of the efforts for a solution, Kofi Annan insists on brining the non-solution onto the agenda^Ô.

Referring to today^Òs rally, in which, according to him ^Óthousands of Turkish Cypriots have said ^Óyes^Ô to the solution but ^Óno^Ô to the map^Ô, Mr Akin claimed that the UN Secretary ^Ö General keeps on exerting pressure on the Turkish side, in spite of the fact that he knows the issues on which it cannot give concessions.

^ÓThey must know that a solution could not come as a result of pressure^Ô, he added noting that it seems that Mr Denktas is ^Óextremely annoyed^Ô by the pressure allegedly exerted on him. ^ÓIt is not possible to reach anywhere with such texts^Ô, concluded Mr Akin.

[03] The Turkish Cypriot leader denies invitation to Copenhagen to sign Document

[04] Denktas is going to Ankara for a medical check-up at Ankara

[05] Turkey resorts to its favorite method in order to get accession date. It will punish the countries which approach the issue negatively

Sources said that ambassadors of countries which thought that Turkey should be given a date to start accession negotiations with the EU came to the Foreign Ministry in the morning upon the invitation of Ziyal.

Ziyal warned the ambassadors that ``the EU started to lose its credibility`` and the ``attitude`` of the EU which claimed that ``it was acting according to rules`` ``was not in line with those rules.``

The EU was assuming an attitude according to the proposals of Germany

and France and this was a contradiction, Ziyal said and added that EU`s rules were the Copenhagen political criteria and Turkey should fulfill those criteria.

Asking for an end to this conflict, Ziyal said that Ankara once more wanted a date to start entry talks within 2003.

Diplomatic sources drew the attention that the EU could want to see implementation of the Copenhagen political criteria by the new Ankara government and said that Ankara would not object to waiting for six months.

The same sources stated that Turkey wanted a date to open negotiations with the EU within 2003 but it could accept a date before May 2004.

The number of EU member countries will be 25 by May 1, 2004. If the EU gives 2005 as a date to start entry talks with the EU, Turkey would say ``thank you`` and ``go back``, the sources said.

But, the sources noted, Turkey would not ``tear and throw away`` the Customs Union agreement.

The diplomatic sources said that Turkey would continue to work in this direction but that it would review its attitude towards countries which were approaching Turkey`s negotiation date negatively.

The sources stated that Ankara could take a separate measure against each of the countries and that it could review tenders awarded or to be given to those countries.

The same sources said that the new government was in favour of a solution to Cyprus question, adding that on every occasion, the government was giving the message that this was not possible in the short term and time was needed.

[06] The vast majority of the Turkish Cypriots are against the UN Plan

The survey was conducted by the Turkish Cypriot newspaper VOLKAN, during which some 434 people were interviewed in the rural areas, and 516 in the district centers.

Following are the questions, the response options, and the responses given by those interviewed.

Question: Do you approve of the Annan Cyprus solution plan entirely? The following answers were given:

a. I do not approve; it will create problems in the future: 69.5 percent

b. I approve completely: 6 percent

c. I approve partially: 18.5 percent

d. Definitely nothing wrong: 3 percent

e. No reply, no idea: 3 percent

Question: How do you feel about the return of the Greek Cypriots to our area at the ratio of one percent annually, increasing their number to one-third of our population in 20 years and gaining the right to elect and be elected?

a. I do not approve; it will create problems in the future: 73 percent

b. I approve: 9 percent

c. I approve partially: 10 percent

d. Definitely nothing wrong: 4 percent

e. No reply, no idea: 4 percent

Question: What is your reaction to the plan's approach to the return of the Greek Cypriots to their former places and properties?

a. I am worried; I do not approve: 67 percent

b. I approve: 10 percent

c. I approve partially: 15 percent

d. Definitely nothing wrong: 4 percent

e. No reply, no idea: 4 percent

Question: What is your opinion about the maps attached to the solution proposal submitted to the parties?

a. I am worried; I do not approve: 61.7 percent

b. I approve: 11 percent

c. I approve partially: 19 percent

d. I approve the ratio, not the places to be given: 2.3 percent

e. No reply, no idea: 6 percent.

[07] The banned islamist leader of Turkey meets Bush and the Jewish lobby. He specifies Verheugen´s duties and tells him how to speak

The statement and his replies to questions are as follows:

The meeting we just had with the honorable president concerned mostly the EU membership process. He informed us about the meetings he held with Germany, France, the Netherlands, and some other countries on this issue. In addition to that, we exchanged views on the steps that need to be taken regarding democracy and freedoms, in connection with our joint struggle. The president expressed his affection for Turkey and for our people. At this short meeting, we also discussed the steps that we can take in the future, also in connection with Iraq. After we go back, we will discuss these issues with the honorable prime minister, and then declare our assessment.

Question: Did the president make any specific demands in connection with Iraq? What was discussed regarding Iraq?

Answer: Actually, we mostly discussed peace, the way to solve this issue peacefully.

Question: Did you make any promises?

Answer: I told you. When I go back, I will discuss these issues with the honourable prime minister. We will assess the matter and reach a decision.

Question: Did the president voice an expectation regarding Cyprus?

Answer: We have not yet received the latest document in connection with Cyprus. We will receive it today. Our government, I believe, assessed it today. We are not yet completely updated about this assessment. As you know we are going to New York. We will issue a statement on the issue there.

Question: Did President Bush inform you about any evidence the United States might have against Iraq?

Answer: No.

Question: Will Turkey receive an economic aid package?

Answer: I told you. There are steps that need to be taken regarding the mass destruction weapons in Iraq and regarding terrorism.

Question: Did you discuss the Cyprus issue?

Answer: Partially.

Question: Did you discuss Turkey's losses from the war?

Answer: We discussed peace, not war.

Question: I meant the losses Turkey incurred since the Gulf war?

Answer: No.

Question: Did President Bush indicate that he will hold renewed telephone conversations with EU leaders in the coming 48 hours?

Answer: I asked him to do that. I said I know you talked to them but if you talk to them again we will be pleased. He said that he was going to talk to them. Actually, Mr. Powell too said that he was going to talk to them.

Question: Chairman Erdogan, anything on the EU is very important for us.

Answer: Our parliament is working intensively at the moment in connection with the EU's demands regarding the Copenhagen criteria. The committees are adopting the laws at a fast pace. I found out from my colleagues that they are trying to finish enacting these last laws, and that they will do so until 12 December.

Meanwhile Ankara Anatolia (10.12.02) reported from Washington that the banned Islamic leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the EU's stand with regard to giving Turkey a date for the commencement of the negotiations and said: "They have reached such a point that it seems as if they are using Cyprus as a trump card."

Erdogan talked to the journalists at the lobby of the Monarch Hotel, where he is staying in Washington.

Having held a short meeting with the representatives of the Jewish community in Washington prior to his conversation with the journalists, Erdogan noted that the representatives of the Jewish community noted that they hope that the existing relations between Turkey and Israel will further enhance.

Stating that the Jewish leaders did not put forward any special demands, Erdogan explained that the Jewish community in the United States noted that they exert and will continue to exert utmost efforts for Turkey.

Erdogan reported that during his meeting with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, the two officials merely aimed at getting acquainted.

Noting that in his meeting with Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, they discussed the agenda of his meeting with US President George W. Bush, Erdogan explained that issues such as the EU, Cyprus, and Iraq will appear on the agenda of his meeting with President Bush.

A journalist asked: "Did you give a new letter to Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen?" In answer Erdogan said: "No. We gave him the original copy of the letter that was sent to him previously. The letter is related to the first and second adaptation packages. The letter does not refer to Cyprus."

In answer to another question, Erdogan criticized the EU's stand with regard to giving Turkey a date for the commencement of the negotiations and said: "They have reached a point that it seems as if they are using Cyprus as a trump card."

Referring to the statement issued by Gunther Verheugen, EU Commission member in charge of expansion, to the effect that Turkey cannot become an EU member prior to 2013, Erdogan defined this statement as "gracelessness." Erdogan said: "This was very erroneous and very ugly. He does not have the right to issue such a statement. He is a bureaucrat. He is not a politician. He is not a decision maker. He is talking as if he is a decision maker."

In answer to a question on whether or not the bridges with the EU will be burnt if Turkey is not given a negotiation date, Erdogan explained that the bargaining will continue until the evening of 13 December and said: "We have to examine the conjuncture of that day. There is no doubt that this possibility exists. There are many possibilities."

[08] Turkey's Erdogan discusses Cyprus with Annan

leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who proceeded from Washington to New York as a part of his tour to the United States, met on Tuesday with United Nations (U.N.) Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, advisers, and Foreign Ministry personnel as well as U.N. Deputy Secretary-General for political affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast attended the meeting which lasted for about an hour.

Following the meeting, Erdogan told reporters they have debated the Cyprus issue during their meeting.

Erdogan said that they discussed the person who would represent the Turkish Cypriots at the Copenhagen summit on December 12 during their meeting but refrained from announcing a name.

[09] Erdogan addresses American Turkish Council in Washington

Erdogan delivered a speech at the American Turkish Council (ATC) in Washington.

When a U.S. reporter asked ``how much assistance would be made to Turkey by the United States in case of a war in Iraq``, Erdogan said: ``We have not come to the United States to demand loan. Don`t give us money. Just support our exporters.``

Responding to a question on Cyprus and European Union (EU), Erdogan said: ``I don`t find it right to directly link Cyprus and the EU. The Cyprus issue is put forward to us continuously. They said Copenhagen criteria. Unfortunately, they are using Cyprus which has no connection with the Copenhagen criteria as a trump card. We don`t think this is right. We know that there is Cyprus question and we are determined to solve it.``

Noting that both parties had to make sacrifices in the Cyprus issue, Erdogan said: ``There is a government ready to solve this at the moment. We are saying that we will negotiate this plan contrary to the former government. We have to solve the issue through negotiation. But, if they want the impossible then a solution will become difficult.``

Erdogan stated that he wanted once more to tell the U.S. officials the importance of Turkey`s role in its region in especially post cold war era and in a period when countries had to focus on new techniques.

He also stressed the expectation that political and bureaucratic hurdles before defense industry should be overcome as soon as possible during his contacts, Erdogan said.

Erdogan said that the defense industry relations between the two countries have reached a good level in which the two countries produce F-16 planes together and producing fighter planes together came to agenda. ATC had taken an important role in supporting the issues which Turkey attributes importance, voicing both countries` common interests both in the U.S. and also in the Congress and also pursuing the interests of the U.S. firms working in Turkey.``

Erdogan who was awarded with a plaquette by ATC officials, also met with Turkish Friendship group members in the U.S. Congress.

Robert Wexler, the Chairman of the Turkish friendship group in the Congress said that they discussed with Erdogan the issue of upgrading the economic relations with Turkey to the level of military and strategic relations.

Wexler said that the Turkish friendship group in the Congress will work on plans to create more economic relations between the two countries.

Cliff Sterns, another member of the group said that Erdogan`s party`s having the majority in the parliament is a big opportunity. Sterns said that the new government can do many things on secularism and economic prosperity by thinking in long term. Sterns also voiced the wish of U.S. President George W. Bush to sign an agreement with Turkey which will be similar to North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and which will be valid for a short term.

Erdogan also met with Democratic Party senator Paul Sarbanes and former Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos. Sarbanes, one of the leading names of the Greek lobby in the U.S., wanted to meet with Erdogan. Turkish-Greek relations, Cyprus and EU process were taken up in the meeting.

Sarbanes gave the message in the meeting that if there is progress in the Cyprus issue, certain impediments which Turkey faces in the Congress can be lifted.

[10] JDP leader Erdogan to advise Denktas not to avoid negotiations

In a statement to NTV before leaving New York for Copenhagen, Erdogan declared that the time has come to solve the Cyprus problem. Claiming that the plan drafted by the United Nations should be negotiated to this end, in response to NTV correspondent´s question if he will advise Denktas on this subject, Erdogan said: ^ÓYes, I will advise him on this subject, because there is no need for evasion. Negotiations can easily be held. Mr Denktas is ill, but he can at least send an emissary to Copenhagen.^Ô

Expressing the belief that no harm will be done by a negotiation process that may be launched in Copenhagen, Erdogan noted that negotiating is not tantamount to accepting the UN plan.

Upon being reminded of his reference to the Cyprus problem as a trouble during his speech in the Turkish House, Erdogan responded: ^ÓYes, you are right, but this is a trouble that has been continuing for 40 years. Anything that is not solved is a trouble, as you know.^Ô

Erdogan remarked that the Turkish Cypriots´ dispatching a representative to the EU Copenhagen summit will constitute an important and positive sign for starting the negotiating process. Erdogan added: ^ÓOne must not fear or avoid negotiations. We must show that we are sitting at the negotiating table with faith and confidence.^Ô

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] MILLIYET columnist : ^ÓGul rejects 2005^Ô

Bila then writes that after the meeting he had talked to the PM and in the light of Copenhagen summit, he had put certain questions to him as regards Turkey^Òs EU course as well as the Cyprus problem.

When asked by Bila:^Ô What would be your stance regarding Cyprus? Annan has submitted a new revised plan. He is expecting Denktas^Ò signature until 12 December.^Ô

The Turkish Prime Minister Gul said: ^ÓFrom the Turkish side^Òs point of view, there is no positive text. We are thinking to separate the Cyprus problem from the EU issue. The course of events points towards that direction. This is what we have understood from the texts that were presented. One has to start working to separate these two issues from each other.^Ô

When observed by Bila : ^ÓWhat would happen if on 12 December South Cyprus is admitted into the EU and to Turkey they give 2005 as a date?^Ô

The Turkish Prime Minister Gul said: ^ÓThey would be committing a historic mistake and they have to bear the consequences.^Ô

^ÓThe Prime Minister Gul with firmness goes to Copenhagen, it seems that the Turkish President, the Turkish Chief of the Staff and the opposition are backing Gul^Òs stance. The high level meeting at Cankaya Mansion has clarified the stance to be taken by Turkey as regards the Cyprus problem and the EU issue^Ô, Bila concludes.

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