Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-12-18

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader's health condition is said to be perfect now.

[02] Rauf Denktas said to feel neglected in Ankara.

[03] Summit on Cyprus to be held in Turkey today.

[04] Although all the international organizations repeatedly condemned the occupation of Cyprus, Yasar Yakis says the Turkish troops will be considered as occupation force only if Cyprus accedes to the EU.

[05] The Turkish politicians have started to realize that their groundless demands in the Aegean will affect Turkey's EU course.

[06] The Turkish Cypriots continue to demonstrate against Denktas and in favour of peace.

[07] Erdogan assesses the decisions taken at Copenhagen regarding Cyprus. He speaks about the realities of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus.

[08] Turkey's refusal to release Zana angers EU parliament.

[09] Turkish Foreign Ministry officials brief Erdogan and Gul.

[10] NTV report sees the measures for Turkish Cypriots as a pressure against Denktas.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Columnist in SABAH calls on Turkey to prepare for a solution to the Aegean issue.

[12] Turkey's road to the EU passes through Diyarbakir.

[13] Erdogan: Alvaro de Soto has submitted 6-7 maps to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

[14] Columnist in Turkish Daily News supports that Denktas is not supported by the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot mass media.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader's health condition is said to be perfect now

450cc of fluid, which had accumulated in his chest, was drained away and a drain was implanted against the possibility of recurrence of the same problem. It was an extraordinary day for the hospital staff because of their very special guest and they also witnessed a usual method employed during his consultation.

A group of well-known cardiologists from Ankara, who took part in the consultation, noticed that their conversations were being recorded. They were first surprised, but soon found out the reason behind it: the hospital management had decided to record the discussions about this well-known patient because of the widespread controversy witnessed during former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's treatment.

As regards Denktas' physical condition, his heart is in perfect condition in terms of its contraction and the state of the cardiac valves. Denktas is receiving a drug treatment and is on a rigid diet as he returned from the United States with an "acute anaemia" problem.

[02] Rauf Denktas said to feel neglected in Ankara

Whereas, there is only a distance of 4 km between the Camli Kosk residence at the Presidential Residence where Denktas is staying and the Prime Ministry and 7 km between the residence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

There has been no contact between Denktas and the government. The puppet regime's Ambassador Ahmet Zeki Bulunc, who answered the questions of the SABAH newspaper, stated that liquid is being removed every day from the drain in Denktas' chest and that his health condition is improving. While experiencing these developments, the statement of the Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, "We will come to an agreement [on Cyprus] up until 28 February otherwise, the TAF [Turkish Armed Forces] could fall into the position of being an occupying force", caused the break, which has been emerging between the puppet regime and the JDP [Justice and Development Party] government for some time, to grow even larger.

To the question of the SABAH newspaper, "Yesterday [Monday, 16 December] Foreign Minister Yakis said that it is possible to obtain an agreement [on Cyprus] up until 28 February. Is this an evaluation formed by talking with Denktas?" the so-called Ambassador Bulunc gave the following reproachful answer:

"Thursday [12 December] when Denktas was in the hospital, President Sezer, the Deputy Prime Ministers Mehmet Ali Sahin and Abdullatif Sener and the Minister of Health Recep Akdag visited him. Ever since that day no authorized official from Ankara has talked with Denktas. There has not even been a phone call between Minister Yakis and Denktas. Consequently, I am mostly connecting Yakis' statement, 'there will be an agreement' to good intentions. It is not a view formed by discussing it with Denktas. It is "his own personal view" as he did not talk with any authorized official or I also cannot say 'it is the view of the Turkish government.'"

Subtitle: The Summit in Ankara Will Be Soon

The fact that Denktas' treatment is continuing at the Camli Kosk residence and his being kept under observation by his doctor has brought the puppet regime officials to Ankara. Denktas' adviser Ergun Olgun came from Cyprus and the so-called Foreign and Defence Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu came from Copenhagen to Ankara yesterday. According to the information received, Denktas, who spoke with Olgun and Ertugruloglu at the Camli Kosk residence, is trying to make a decision on the response he will give to the revised plan of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. It was announced that after Denktas completes the discussions he will hold with Olgun and Ertugruloglu and reaches a final decision, he wants to talk with the officials in Ankara.

For this reason, it still does not appear that there will be an "Ankara Summit" in Denktas' program during the next week. But it is being expressed that the Summit, in which the response that will be given to Annan's plan will be discussed "as the Turkish side", will be held soon, and that President Sezer, Prime Minister Gul and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis will also attend.

[03] Summit on Cyprus to be held in Turkey today

The first meeting will take place at 15.30 and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal will participate in the first meeting.

Another meeting will later take place in which the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas will participate and the solution plan submitted by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will be taken up in detail.

The government will come together with President Sezer, Gen. Ozkok and Denktas for the first time after Annan gave February 28, 2003 as the last date to both sides in Cyprus to find a solution to the problem, reports Anatolia.

[04] Although all the international organizations repeatedly condemned the occupation of Cyprus, Yasar Yakis says the Turkish troops will be considered as occupation force only if Cyprus accedes to the EU

Yakis was replying to reporters' questions in connection with his earlier remarks that "if a solution cannot be reached in Cyprus by 28 February, the Turkish Armed Forces on the island will be in the position of an occupying army."

Yakis said that the danger exists that the EU countries may resort to representing the Turkish Army in Cyprus as an "occupying force" if south Cyprus joins the EU on behalf of the whole island. He added: "There is such a danger and such a possibility. I said that the EU countries should not be given the chance to do that."

Asked to comment on the reaction of RPP [Republican People's Party] Chairman Deniz Baykal on his remarks, Yakis said: "If Mr Baykal read my remarks and reacted in this way, I advise him to read my remarks once again." A reporter asked: "Do you mean to say that your remarks were misunderstood?"

Yakis replied: "I do not know how Mr Baykal understood my remarks so I do not want to comment. I am not saying that the Turkish army will be in the position of an occupying army. I am saying that the European countries will say that. I am saying that there is a danger that the European countries will represent the Turkish army in Cyprus as an occupying army. If Mr Baykal commented on my remarks without reading them, then he did something a party chairman should not do. If he read them then he did not understand them. If he understood them and still made that statement, then he must have misunderstood them. I stand behind my words. It is wrong to portray the Turkish Armed Forces in Cyprus as an occupying force but the EU countries will do that. It is unrealistic to ignore this possibility."

Yakis said that he discussed this issue with JDP [Justice and Development Party] Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

On the other hand, while leaving the JDP's parliamentary faction meeting today, Erdogan refused to comment on Baykal's reaction to Yakis' remarks.

[05] The Turkish politicians have started to realize that their groundless demands in the Aegean will affect Turkey's EU course

Gul frequently reiterated during his speech that Turkey did not promise anything in return for this date. He recalled that the EU adopts its decisions unanimously, and pointed out that the government will try to advance the date and to start the accession talks earlier.

"We wanted the accession talks to start at the beginning of 2004. That was our aim. What happened, however, is that we got something in the middle -- the end of 2004," he said.

RPP [Republican People's Party] Chairman Baykal said that he will support Gul in his efforts to start the negotiations earlier than scheduled. Nevertheless, he stressed, the outcome of the summit was not successful.

"When we will sit down at the negotiations in 2005, they will ask us if we solved our problems with Greece over the Aegean. In Helsinki, the EU had decided that unless Turkey and Greece solved their Aegean border problems, the issue would be taken to the International Court of Justice in the Hague," he said.

After Baykal, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis came to the rostrum. He stressed that the Aegean problem has nothing to do with the date, adding: Had we gotten a date in 2003, the situation would have been the same. In order to join the EU at the end of the negotiations, we need the support of all the countries.

Meanwhile Istanbul NTV television (17.12.02) reported that in his speech, Baykal strongly criticized Foreign Minister Yakis, saying that "the foreign minister's remarks are binding on the state; he must not say things that play into the hands of the other side or that show our weaknesses; he must know when to keep quiet." Baykal called on the foreign minister to resign, by saying "it is a sad situation that he is still in his post." Yakis, in turn, accused Baykal of using a national issue as a tool for domestic politics.

[06] The Turkish Cypriots continue to demonstrate against Denktas and in favour of peace

Tahir Hoca, leader of the Municipal Workers´ Union, said in a speech during the demonstration that the outcome of the Copenhagen summit was disappointing for the Turkish Cypriots but that it is possible to change that until 28 February. He stressed: "In order not to lose this last chance, the `Republican Assembly´ must remove Denktas from his post as negotiator and a peace council that will represent the real will of the Turkish Cypriot people must be established."

The Union of Turkish Cypriot Chambers of Engineers and Architects said that "Denktas' stand on a solution is an obstacle before the Turkish Cypriot people and Turkey." Ahmet Ulas, the head of the Union, issued a statement today saying that 28 February is a last opportunity for peace in Cyprus. If there is no solution, he said, the Turkish Cypriots will have no future. He called on the "Republican Assembly" to act accordingly.

On the other hand, the Fighters Commanders Association said that only unity and solidarity can take the Turkish Cypriots to a solution and to the EU. Hasan Keskin, head of the Association, expressed his regret and concern about the developments in north Cyprus in the wake of Copenhagen. He alleged that asking for Denktas' resignation will not lead the Turkish Cypriots to the EU.

[07] Erdogan assesses the decisions taken at Copenhagen regarding Cyprus. He speaks about the realities of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus

Erdogan said the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan wanted the sides to determine an attitude till the Copenhagen Summit, recalling that the U.N. Secretary-General's Special Representative talked with the sides in the summit.

Pointing out that the expectation to reach a solution in a short time was not realistic, Erdogan said no concrete result could be obtained till the summit. Erdogan pointed out the statement of the Special Representative that talks would continue till

February 28, 2003, and that positive results were expected to be taken.

Erdogan said as Turkey they thought it would be beneficial to continue the talks, adding: ``The coming short period is very important. I wish the talks will end with a just and lasting solution based on the facts on the Island. As it was not possible to resolve the Cyprus question till the summit, the European Union (EU) decided to

accept one part of Cyprus actively. In case the talks result positively till February 28, 2003, a new structure that would be established on Cyprus in the accession agreement that would be signed in EU Athens Summit on April 16, would be accepted to the EU as a whole. Otherwise, one part of the Island will participate in the EU. This will lead to the division on the Island for a long time. The Greek Cypriot side should be aware of this fact.``

Erdogan said they neither favoured non-solution nor a ``give and get rid of it`` policy, adding that, ``no-solution is political weakness and give and get rid of policy is political inability. We are aware of this.``

Erdogan said there was a third way on the Cyprus question, adding that this was a solution based on the facts of the island, considering Cyprus's integration with the world, and serving to the existence cause of the Turkish Cypriot side. He said they were following this cause and determined to be after it.

Erdogan also said that some ``marginal`` groups in Turkey made different evaluations like ``concession`` during the period of talks, adding: "The JDP administration did not make concession to anybody. I consider such statements as unsuccessful and incompetent understandings aiming to satisfy themselves.``

[08] Turkey's refusal to release Zana angers EU parliament

According to a report of euobserver.com, Sarditas, 50, founder of a non-violent pro-democracy movement in Cuba, received the Sakharov prize at noon yesterday, presented by European Parliament president Pat Cox. As a result of his openly critical attitude towards Cuba's ruling regime he has been arrested and imprisoned several times.

Past Sakharov Prize winner and former pro-Kurdish deputy Leyla Zana was not able to attend this year's ceremony, as she is currently held prisoner in Turkey. European Parliament presidential spokesperson David Harley said that the response given by the Turkish government was "unsatisfactory" and this issue would be discussed during the conference of presidents this week.

Leyla Zana was the winner of the 1995 Sakharov Prize. In 1994, together with other

MP's of Kurdish origin, she was sentence to 15 years' imprisonment.

The Sakharov Prize is intended to honour individuals or institutions which have made significant contributions to the cause of human rights. The prize is named after the late Soviet dissident physicist Andrei Sakharov.

[09] Turkish Foreign Ministry officials brief Erdogan and Gul

Erdogan came to the Prime Ministry Office, and held a brief meeting with Prime Minister Gul. Later, they were informed by Ministry of Foreign Affairs bureaucrats on the issues of Iraq and Cyprus.

State Minister Ali Babacan, National Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis were also present at the briefing.

[10] NTV report sees the measures for Turkish Cypriots as a pressure against Denktas

Under the proposed economic package individual Turkish Cypriots would be offered Cyprus Republic passports if they went to the Greek Cypriot side of the island to work. Turks aiming to work on the Greek side would be encouraged and if necessary given residential rights. Those Turkish Cypriots who are university graduates would be given opportunities to gain employment and businessmen would be encouraged to work in the Greek Cypriot side. There measures also aim to promote co-operation in the field of tourism.

Currently, some 1865 Turks cross to the Greek side to go to work, reports NTV.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Columnist in SABAH calls on Turkey to prepare for a solution to the Aegean issue

At the EU's Copenhagen Summit last week, postponing the starting date for Turkey's full membership negotiations until the end of 2004 has placed Turkey in the decision range, which can no longer be postponed for the Cyprus and Turkish-Greek problems.

Cyprus is the one, which is the very short-term of these two problems. The Turkish Cypriot side has a period of approximately three and a half months to decide what will be done on Cyprus.

The final date given for the sides to put their signatures on the agreement in the solution plan prepared by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is 28 February [2003]. According to the plan, the signed agreement will be presented for a referendum to both communities on Cyprus on 30 March [2003].

This will be followed by the signing of the EU accession agreements in a splendid ceremony that will be organized on 16 April [2003] for the 10 new members of the EU. This ceremony is dependent on whether or not the Cyprus problem attains a solution.

If a solution is found, then two pens will be placed at the section set aside for Cyprus at the table. In that case, the "TRNC President" Rauf Denktas and the "Greek Cypriot Administration" leader Glafcos Clerides will sign the agreement together as the "founding partners".

If a solution cannot be found, then Clerides will sit at the table alone and the signature will only represent the Greek Cypriot section.

When it is considered from this aspect, the Turkish Cypriots have a historic opportunity in front of them exactly 3.5 months from now, to become EU citizens.

If Clerides, however, signs the agreement alone, then it will create a situation, which will overshadow all of the magnificence of this ceremony.

The reason for this is the fact that for the first time in the history of the EU, it would take within its structure a country, whose "borders" are a source of conflict.

This situation can be compared with adding a problematic tissue to a metabolism, which has developed in a healthy manner. This is the last scenario that the EU wants to see.

The apprehension of the EU in this area is showing that the bargaining cards in the hands of the Turkish side in the upcoming three and one-half month period are actually not at all as weak as they are thought to be.

The Turkish side can very well use this situation in an effective manner from the aspect of being able to smooth out some of the negativities in the plan.

In parallel, the Turkish-Greek problems are entering Turkey's agenda in the medium-term.

It is interesting that there is a significant common denominator between the Copenhagen decision and the Helsinki decision in 1999, when Turkey was given the status of full membership candidacy, from the fact that the date of 2004 was mentioned in both texts.

The following arrangement was adopted in the fourth paragraph of the Helsinki text for the Turkish-Greek problems:

"The EU invites the candidate countries to show every effort to solve the continuing border disputes and other related subjects. In case they are not successful in achieving this, then the candidates should bring their disagreements to the International Court of Justice within a reasonable period of time. The EU, especially related to the reflections on the membership process, will review the situation related to these disagreements with the objective of encouraging a solution by means of the International Court of Justice by the end of 2004 at the latest."

Subtitle: Let us prepare to debate the Aegean

Here, it is obvious that a direct relation has been established between the accession process of the candidates (Turkey) and bringing the Turkish-Greek problems to the International Court of Justice.

In other words, in 2004, even if Turkey has achieved conformity to the political criteria, the EU can easily claim that the lack of solution of the Aegean problems is an obstacle in front of Ankara, based on this decree in the Helsinki text.

This situation, like it or not, will impel Turkey to searches aimed at finding solutions to the Aegean problems within the next two years.

Consequently, as of the present, it is necessary for us to prepare to debate all of the contested aspects, such as the territorial waters, air space, continental shelf, and economic region of the Aegean Sea.

[12] Turkey's road to the EU passes through Diyarbakir

The 12 December EU summit has appeared on Turkey's agenda for weeks. During this period we had the chance to find out the outcomes of the efforts that aimed at achieving results through Turkish style diplomacy that is based on "blackmail, threats, and sales." Using its new image, the JDP [Justice and Development Party] government, aimed to receive a negotiation date in 2003 with the support of the United States and Britain. Despite the fact that it insisted on this date in a way that ran counter to diplomacy and politeness, it eventually had to accept whatever was given to it.

Despite the fact that there are a great number of antidemocratic laws in Turkey and despite the fact that the Kurdish problem has not yet been resolved, the JDP government is acting as if Turkey has already complied with the Copenhagen criteria. Even if the statements in this regard succeed in affecting the Turkish people, Europe, which is very experienced in the political and diplomatic fields, perceives this in an entirely different manner.

As a result, the JDP government has once again been reminded of the Copenhagen criteria. According to the final declaration of the summit, in December 2004 the European Commission will note in its progress report whether or not Turkey complied with the Copenhagen criteria. If it has, the negotiations with the EU will begin "without any delay."

When we read these sentences properly, we can easily see that Turkey's route to the EU passes from Diyarbakir. When Mesut Yilmaz said this in 2001 all the sectors that are in favour of the status quo as well as the military and the bureaucracy raised hell. However, the fact that during the Copenhagen summit the need of complying with the Copenhagen criteria was once again emphasized, shows that within the next two years the Kurdish problem will constitute one of the main items of the agenda in terms of Turkey's relations with the EU.

Turkey wasted a lot of time by denying the Kurdish problem and by pursuing a prolonged decay policy with regard to this problem. The problems intensified and Turkey's rendezvous with the EU was endangered. The officials of the Turkish Republic should appropriately understand that Turkey cannot achieve respectability and a democratic identity without first resolving the Kurdish problem.

The August decisions were made during the term of the 57th government. The abolishment of capital punishment and the decision to allow Kurdish education created a positive atmosphere. The contents of these decisions were not filled however. The regulations that were published after passing these laws once again turned these into bans. The laws were not implemented. Furthermore, it became obvious that these laws were passed for tactical reasons.

In addition to making legal amendments, the 58th government should put these amendments into practice. As far as we can see, however, the JDP is "democratic" only when it serves its own interests. It adopts the Turkish-Islamic understanding and it ignores other peoples' right to exist. It cannot fill the contents of the democratization understanding. Instead of finding a lasting solution to the Kurdish problem, it slyly pursues the classic policy.

The United States extends support to the JDP. There is no doubt that the United States has greatly contributed to the JDP's victory in the elections. The Bush administration has high expectations from the JDP. The solution of the Cyprus issue is one of them. The US Administration also expects to receive the JDP's government's support in an intervention that will be carried out against Iraq. This is why the United States exerted so much effort to ensure that Turkey receives a negotiation date at the Copenhagen summit.

It seems that the United States will receive the support that it is asking for. The new government will extend support to the United States in a war against a Muslim country. In return for its support, the JDP demands that the United States support Turkey's EU membership, avoid extending support to the Kurds, target KADEK [Freedom and Democracy Congress of Kurdistan], and help Turkey in economic issues.

The fact that the United States and Canada included KADEK in their terrorist lists during this process is the result of this dirty bargain. According to the bargain, KADEK will be targeted in an intervention that will be carried out against Iraq. Furthermore, the Kurds will not be granted an important status in the aftermath of such an intervention. Certain Kurdish circles expect "the United States to establish a Kurdish state." This expectation stems from naivety and misinterpreting the developments.

The Turkish state has recently intensified the isolation conditions imposed on KADEK leader Ocalan. It totally ignores the Kurdish issue. All this is directly connected to these developments. This process might once again put clashes on the agenda.

It is obvious that a Turkey that has conflicts with the Kurds and that denies the Kurdish problem will not be able to sit at the negotiation table in 2004. the fact that it is making preparations for a war, rather than realizing democratization and the fact that it has intensified the pressure [on the Kurds] show that these two years will be wasted.

It is necessary to primarily resolve the Kurdish problem and to respect the rights of the Kurdish people.

[13] Erdogan: Alvaro de Soto has submitted 6-7 maps to the Turkish Foreign Ministry

Bila goes on and says that during his meeting yesterday with Erdogan the JDP leader has summarized his Cyprus approach as follows:

1. Non- solution is not a solution

2. No for "give and get rid of"

Bila says that the JDP leader explained his view as follows: "We are evaluating the situation after the Copenhagen Summit. We do not believe that non-solution is a solution. With good will we want to solve this problem. This is our approach in sitting around the negotiation table.

Of course our good will alone is not enough. The other side as well should have the good will and be really after a settlement. This settlement should definitely be just and should take into consideration the Turkish side's interests and the security concerns. It is out of the question for us to accept the "give and get rid of" approach that recently certain sections in Turkey and the "TRNC" have created. What do you give? Where do you give? There is no such thing. I have said this very clearly. For example, the maps in the Annan Document envisage a Greek Cypriot canton in the Karpass peninsula, this is not possible, I could say this to Annan as well. First of all, there is no relation between the Karpass peninsula and the South Cyprus. On the other hand it carries major strategic importance for the security of Turkey and north Cyprus. The Karpass peninsula has no relation with south Cyprus and, on the other hand, it is valuable for Turkey's security. For this reason I have openly said that these maps cannot be accepted. So, as a result of this approach de Soto had submitted to our foreign ministry 6-7 alternative maps. It is possible to make changes in the proposals if just objections are raised. As a matter of fact new proposals were developed and they are being developed."

Bila concludes by saying that Erdogan's approach to the Cyprus issue is like the Prime Minister Gul's approach. "It is more realistic than the editorials on Copenhagen. He is not ready to accept any plan for the sake of getting a date from the EU. He is looking into the issue from national security and strategy point of view. The JDP Leader is of the view that it is possible to find a basis for a compromise. He says that if the Greek Cypriot side exhibits good will and is willing to a settlement then it would be possible to find a way until 28 February," Bila concludes.

[14] Columnist in Turkish Daily News supports that Denktas is not supported by the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot mass media

"Turkey has entered an entirely new phase after the Copenhagen Summit.

So has Cyprus. With both sides.

When the dust settles, the picture becomes more or less clear. If the current government continues, with the supposed support of the pro-EU parliament, there is little reason to doubt that Turkey gets a definite date for initiating negotiations with the EU.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, JDP leader, when summarizing his views for his party comrades yesterday at the parliament, sent a clear message. It was due to respect for the desire of this people, he said, he and his friends did deliberately not insist upon an earlier date. Meaning, there was a lot of work to be done. Creating conditions for "zero tolerance for torture" is one of them.

Developments before and during the summit marked an entirely new spirit for Turkey. While negotiating with the European leaders, Erdogan and his friends had a spontaneous and huge support of the society. With NGO'S and other segments of Turkey behind them, people of all ages and professions, there was very little objection expressed for Turkey's efforts out there. This looked like, for the first time, Turks acted out of a national consensus.

Whether Turkey will get a clear and definite signal on December 2004 may be of lesser importance than if Turkey goes on and completes the reforms with an accelerated pace. Momentum is caught, and the main element that is necessary for that is the determination and skills of government.

What has happened with Cyprus is even more interesting. It is more than clear, by all measures, that the loser of the whole process is, whether you respect what he has accomplished in the past or not, Rauf Denktas. Stiff and lost in the past, he has failed to deliver for his people.

As we enter a new phase, time pressing the Northern Cyprus leadership for a "to be or not to be" situation, Denktas may find himself operating under even more complex conditions. It is more difficult to assess how skilfully, if at all, he will manage to maintain the status quo he has over and over proved to prefer, but apparently the way he chooses to handle the new situation by February 28 will define, for good, his relations with the Turkish Cypriots. Denktas and his allies will also have a more difficult time to get any substantial support of the press and media, both on the island and in Turkey.

As Turkish hopes increase for a membership of the EU, moreover, as Turkish Cypriots witness the integration process of their island, with them left out in the cold, Denktas will face a situation where he will make a choice between takings into account the will of the people or the will of himself.

The latter might be utterly difficult to explain, forever.

Because, the language that Denktas speaks is no more valid in today's world, not understandable to today's people".

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