Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-01-14

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly is visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[02] Mr Thomas Weston discussed the Cyprus problem in Ankara.

[03] Denktas expects the EU to "bargain" with his puppet regime, noting that the 28 February is not the last chance for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[04] Statements by Mr Erdogan on Iraq and Cyprus on his way to China.

[05] Turkish Cypriot journalists who are in favour of a solution in Cyprus are threatened.

[06] The Yugoslav ambassador was not allowed to cross to the occupied areas to meet with Mehmet Ali Talat because his driver was a Greek Cypriot.

[07] The Democratic Party will participate in the rally for solution and EU.

[08] The Turkish Cypriot political parties of the opposition convened yesterday.

[09] Additional report on JDP closure case to be prepared.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Mumtaz Soysal evaluates the change of policy declaration by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly is visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus

In a statement before leaving Ankara Mr Arinc, inter alia, said: "The efforts for peace in Cyprus must take into consideration the realities on the island. The efforts for a solution should accept the equal sovereignty and political equality of the two sides and maintain the bi-zonality. The Cyprus problem is going through an important negotiation process which concerns closely both the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey.

The Turkish Cypriots are fighting for equality and justice under the leadership of Mr Rauf Denktas. The Turkish nation has always overcome the difficulties through the history. The Turkish parliament, which always supported the Turkish Cypriots in their struggle, will continue to be behind the Turkish Cypriots from now on.

A solution which ignores the realities on the island and which does not reflect the will of the Turkish Cypriots cannot be accepted".

Later on the same day Ankara Anatolia reported the statements made by Mr Arinc on his arrival at occupied Lefkoniko airport where he was received by the so-called Speaker of the puppet regime's so-called Assembly, Mr Vehbi Zeki Serter, the so-called Foreign Minister, Mr Tahsin Ertugruloglu and Turkey's illegal ambassador, Mr Hayati Guven.

In his statements Mr Arinc expressed support for the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas, and repeated that the efforts for a solution should take into consideration the realities in Cyprus. In reply to a question Mr Arinc said that he would not participate in the mass demonstration organized today by civilian organizations in occupied Nicosia in favour of peace and against the policies followed by Denktas and Turkey.

Mr Arinc later met with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas, who briefed him and the accompanying delegation on the developments that took place in Cyprus in the last 40 years.

In statements after the meeting Mr Denktas, inter alia, said: "Some groups are trying to influence the negotiation process by holding demonstrations in the streets. The views to the effect that if we cannot join the EU, the guarantorship of Turkey will be ineffective and Hellenism will be successful, started to spread unjustly following the Annan Plan. The people were provoked on this issue. These developments weaken my position in the negotiation process. Despite these we do not give up and we continue our fight on our path because if the Annan Plan is implemented as it is there will be no Turkish Cypriot left on the island within five-ten years.

Certain negative developments started to take place in the TRNC during the past week. The Turkish society has been divided into two about the issue for the first time. This will not have a positive contribution to the TRNC. We will sort out our problems with love and resolution".

Referring to the statements made by the special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus, Mr Alvaro de Soto, that the sides are very near each other, Mr Denktas expressed dissatisfaction and said: "I do not understand where we came closer. The same things he says to Europe and in an official report he submitted to the Security Council. I feel very sad for this. When I meet him we shall talk about it".

On his part Mr Arinc said: "We came here to convey the devotion and love of the Turkish people. There are representatives of two parties in the delegation. I hope that our solidarity and co-operation within the parliament will also be an example to the Turkish Cypriots".

Mr Arinc also met with the so-called Speaker Mr Serter and the so-called Prime Minister, Mr Dervis Eroglu.

In statements after meeting Eroglu, Mr Arinc said that the Turkish Prime Minister, Mr Abdullah Gul, will visit the occupied areas soon.

[02] Mr Thomas Weston discussed the Cyprus problem in Ankara

Weston met with Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin on Monday.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting which lasted nearly one hour, Weston said that his meeting with Ilkin was a preliminary meeting and they would continue their evaluations next morning. He also said that they always supported a compromise that also their close ally Turkey could accept.

When asked whether or not he had brought a new proposal to Ankara, Weston said he did not comment on such questions.

[03] Denktas expects the EU to "bargain" with his puppet regime, noting that the 28 February is not the last chance for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem

Talking yesterday after meeting a delegation of the "Turkish Teachers' Group", Mr Denktas noted that they would negotiate on the Annan plan until the 28th of February, trying to change the negative for the Turkish side aspects of the plan. The Turkish Cypriot leader expressed the opinion that 28 February is not the last chance for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Mr Denktas said: "Let the Greek Cypriots take an advantage after 28 February. They cannot take the TRNC. Neither the Greek Cypriots nor the EU can take the TRNC. If we back our state the EU will come and bargain with us, because it wants the whole of Cyprus. All that is needed is our being patient and determined. .".

Asked whether or not there was a consensus during his meetings with the political party leaders, Mr Denktas answered:

"On some important elements yes. However, some people say: 'Try to ensure these. They are very important. However, do not avoid to sign on 28 February because you have not been able to achieve these, because this is the last chance'. However, 28 February is not the last chance".

Commenting on the attack against the car of Ahmet Barcin, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers' Trade Union (KTOEOS), Mr Denktas said:

".It is not obvious who did it. Provocateurs may have done it. Some people may do such things to themselves or may have them done, in order to provoke and acquire a status. I do not want to say anything about them. However, I want to think that someone got angry and did this. .We have always condemned and we continue to condemn such actions".

[04] Statements by Mr Erdogan on Iraq and Cyprus on his way to China

Erdogan replied to reporters' questions on board the plane en route to Beijing. Erdogan's first comments pertained to the developments in Iraq. Pointing out that there is a new development in Iraq and the UN weapons inspectors requested an additional period of one year, Erdogan remarked that the situation can change. Noting that he did not receive a message from Saddam via State Minister Tuzmen, Erdogan said: "I did not receive a message, only regards. In addition to the regards, there was gratitude for the sensitivity we have displayed concerning Iraq."

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Erdogan stated: "We do not support any idea that would harm the TRNC. We are taking steps with caution. There are certain persons who have proclaimed themselves the defenders of the TRNC. It would be appropriate to ask them what they have done until now. Trying to create a confrontation between Rauf Denktas and us or preparing the environment for such a confrontation does not benefit anyone. The government never acted out of a sense of making concessions for the sake of getting rid of the problem, and it will never do so in the future."

Reacting to RPP (Republican People's Party) Chairman Deniz Baykal's remarks regarding Cyprus, Erdogan recalled that the RPP leader was informed about the developments on Cyprus. Erdogan declared: "You cannot solve this problem or eliminate it by defending the option of non-solution. If you evade the negotiation table, you will be defeated both in your own country and vis-à-vis the world."

[05] Turkish Cypriot journalists who are in favour of a solution in Cyprus are threatened

In a joint statement the two Unions point out that during the last days some journalists who are in favour of a solution in Cyprus received threats by emails. In the statement the two Unions condemn this kind of threats and stress that these menaces will not stop the journalists from expressing freely their views and thoughts.

[06] The Yugoslav ambassador was not allowed to cross to the occupied areas to meet with Mehmet Ali Talat because his driver was a Greek Cypriot

According to the paper the occupation regime did not grant "permission" to the Greek Cypriot driver to cross to the occupied areas because he did not inform that he was a Greek Cypriot and he did not give his name in advance. Therefore neither the driver nor the ambassador passed to the occupied areas and the meeting with Mr Talat did not take place.

Commenting on the event Mr Talat said that it is a "primitive" episode. "It is such a shame, such a primitivism cannot be found in another country in the world", he stated. Mr Talat also said that he apologized to the Yugoslav ambassador for the incident.

[07] The Democratic Party will participate in the rally for solution and EU

The New Political Group of the DP announced that it is a movement which started from a group of members of DP, who feel discomfort with the mechanism that creates problem instead of solving the political problems in their country.

The Group also said that the will of the Turkish Cypriots for a Cyprus settlement and to join the EU is being reflected in a powerful way. They finally stressed that their participation in the rally is strengthening the position of the Turkish Cypriot leader at the negotiation table.

[08] The Turkish Cypriot political parties of the opposition convened yesterday

The representatives of the Turkish Cypriot political parties of the opposition made statements to KIBRIS newspaper prior to the meeting. The leader of CLP, Mr Huseyin Angolemli, said that they meet occasionally in order to exchange views and to act together for the solution of the Cyprus problem and the road to EU.

Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the RTP, said: "We meet with the political parties which want a solution for the Cyprus problem until the 28 of February within the framework of the Annan plan."

The General Secretary of the UCP, Izzet Izcan, said: "Our country is going through a very critical period; the demonstrations are continuing. We are trying with the other political parties to create a joint mechanism. We say that Rauf Denktas does not represent the Turkish Cypriot community and we do not accept him as our leader."

The Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the PUM, Alpay Durduran, said that their aim is to establish cooperation between the political parties on issues that are not included in the activities of the civil organizations.

[09] Additional report on JDP closure case to be prepared

According to Hasim Kılıc, the deputy chairman of the Constitutional Court, which is hearing the case lodged by Chief Court of Appeals Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu to ban the JDP, the rapporteur will prepare an additional report discussing how the changes made to the Constitution and the Political Parties Act would impact on the trial.

Kılıc, speaking on Monday in Ankara, said that the court would only hand down its decision in the case after that report is finished.

Ahead of Turkey's November 3 general election, Chief Prosecutor Kanadoglu applied to the court to ban the JDP on the grounds that party officials had falsified documents and hadn't complied with obligations under article 104/2 of the Political Parties Act. A final hearing of the case was deferred until after the election, which resulted in a landslide victory for the JDP.

Meanwhile, as NTV (14.01.03) broadcast the Supreme Election Board of Turkey decided that the elections in the Siirt province will take place on the 9th of March 2003. The elections were provisionally to be held in February, but were postponed for a month. Turkey's Supreme Election Board cancelled the results of the November 3 election in Siirt due to allegations of tampering with ballot boxes and because some communities were not provided with ballot boxes.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Mumtaz Soysal evaluates the change of policy declaration by the Turkish Foreign Ministry

The spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry spoke, and the state's official news agency, AA, distributed the text of his statement. What did the people understand as a result?

One does not have to be a philosopher like Jean-Paul Sartre in order to emphasize the importance of the results emanating from the relationship between the words and their meaning.

The subject of the spokesman's statement was Cyprus. Having come up with a document, called the "Annan plan," which in fact was the product of multi-faceted diplomacy, the United Nations had asked, with collective pressure, that this be signed without negotiation.

Neither the Greek Cypriots nor the Turkish Cypriot side signed it, but the parties avoided brushing aside rudely the text prepared by a big organization despite the fact the UN Secretariat had exceeded the limits of the "good offices mission" that the UN Security Council had given it. On the contrary, they found it to be "negotiable." The Turkish Foreign Ministry even admitted in its statement two days ago that the plan "Has introduced a new and important factor to the process of searching for resolution of the Cyprus issue through peaceful means."

Therefore, according to those remarks, "The need was felt to introduce certain new adjustments to the stand we have been following" in light of such an "available" plan, which "in reality" has been accepted as negotiable. As a matter of fact, "such an adjustment was made through the contribution of all the institutions concerned." Moreover, a need was felt to make such a statement for removing the impression that there was divergence in the statements made by the various "leadership authorities" or those differences of opinion had come about with the Turkish Cypriot leadership.

What were the words chosen to begin the statement that aimed at informing the public? It said there was a need for "policy adjustment" in Cyprus and that the "Requisites of this policy adjustment were being fulfilled."

What does "adjustment" mean? One adjusts or corrects something that is "wrong" or "unsound."

Is this the case? Has the Turkish side given up a solution based on two states, formation of joint sovereignty by the two sides, bizonality, sharing of land on the basis of justice, collective solution to the property problem, and Turkey's guarantee?

No. The leadership in [north] Cyprus too has reiterated this. So did the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, who declared support for that leadership two days ago. The Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas even said: "I shall not sign any solution that will not provide for all these things; if someone else wants to sign it, let him do so."

Once the word "adjustment" was spelled out, those arguing that "The policy being followed is wrong and unsound" started rejoicing.

Such an example and the lesson that may be derived from it are more than enough to explain the importance of the choice of words.

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