Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-01-20

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader before and after meeting President Clerides under UN auspices.

[02] Denktas will take the issue to the pseudoassembly if the Annan plan is not changed by 28 February.

[03] Reference to Cyprus during a telephone conversation between the UN Secretary-General and Premier Gul.

[04] Erdogan met with Dervis Eroglu.

[05] The Turkish Chief of General Staff met Eroglu in Ankara.

[06] Eroglu meets Gul. Statements after the meeting.

[07] Mr Thomas Weston met with political party leaders.

[08] ORTAM says a new "official" policy is formed after the 14 January rally.

[09] Two members of the Turkish Cypriot technical committee for Cyprus, resigned.

[10] Mehmet Ali Talat: Annan/ Plan is better that the recognition of the "TRNC".

[11] Sezer vetoes law erasing Erdogan's criminal record.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Columnist in MILLIYET confirms that Turkey continues to blackmail the US over Cyprus in exchange for Iraq.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader before and after meeting President Clerides under UN auspices

Prior to the meeting, Denktas told reporters that nobody had the right to create a situation which might be turned into a crime of humanity with the UN Secretary-General/s peace plan for Cyprus, and said: ``To this end, everyone has to behave himself and think that there is a humane issue and a situation which will not force people to abandon their places should be created.``

When he was reminded about the statement of U.S. State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston following their meeting that ``they had observed common grounds and to this end, he was hopeful``, Denktas said that diplomats` word ``hopeful`` was a requirement of diplomacy and said that they discussed the realities and pointed out to difficulties during their meeting.

``A map has been drawn which requires migration of 50 thousand people. But, a humane plan and program to settle even 5 people out of this 50 thousand people have not been put forth. There is not a fund. Everything is in the air. Nobody has the right to make fun of us,`` Denktas said.

Denktas went on: ``We don`t accept this map. We neither accept migration of that many people. We want them to show how people will be settled down and where they want to be settled. Such plans, maps and proposals which will affect 50 thousand people were made without any thinking. Nobody has this right. To this end, everyone has to behave themselves and think that there is a humane issue and a situation which will not force people to abandon their places should be created.

``When he was reminded about Clerides` statement on Greek Cypriot television channel that ``they would never accept changes in sovereignty, new state and security``, Denktas said that Clerides` statement had to be read carefully from beginning to end.

Denktas alleged that the intrigue that candidacy was made in order to protect European Union (EU) membership instead of solving the Cyprus question could be seen.

``It will be seen that everything we stress on are being rejected,`` Denktas said.

Responding to a question about the agenda of the meeting, Denktas said that they would discuss changes that they wanted to see in the plan. Noting that he expressed his views on Wednesday`s meeting, Denktas said that Clerides would give response in today`s meeting.

Speaking to the press after meeting with President Glafcos Clerides, Denktas said that they decided to meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 16.00 to 18.30 with Clerides. Denktas said that they didn`t take up the issue of funds during today`s meeting, adding that he brought the issue onto the agenda during his meeting with foreign diplomats the same day.

Denktas said that he read certain articles of the Annan plan on which the Turkish Cypriot Trade Chamber wants amendment during the meeting, adding: ``They were surprised and they said `didn`t the Turkish Cypriot Trade Chamber tell the people that the Annan plan has to be signed as it is? `Well I said I complain about the same thing. They tell this to people, but they also want these amendments and I support the majority of these amendments, I told them. Yet we could not reach a result about this issue, we continue to speak and we will continue to do so/.``

When reminded about the words of Clerides who said that ``we won`t accept amendment in issues of security, sovereignty and new state,`` Denktas said: ``He says he does not want a new state, this is their approach and our approach is also known.``

Denktas said that Clerides didn`t bring anything to the meeting, but he will bring on Monday`s meeting.

When journalists asked Denktas ``your convalescence still continues, but you will have a busier schedule this time. How will you manage that after going through two surgical operations?`` Denktas said he had no other choice.

[02] Denktas will take the issue to the pseudoassembly if the Annan plan is not changed by 28 February

Denktas, who received some delegations, said: ``If the parliament says that the plan can be `signed` despite everything, I will tell them to find another person who will sign it.

It is not everyone`s skill to sign a plan which will annihilate a nation in five or ten years in order to get a European Union (EU) passport``

Denktas noted: "The day when we give up our state and the day when we fall in that trap, we will see that we have made a mistake but it will be too late.``

"We are in cooperation with Turkey," Denktas added.

Referring to the Copenhagen opportunity Denktas said: ``We were invited by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. He said that there are a few differences between us and the Greek Cypriots and told us to talk with Clerides for a few hours, sign the document and end the issue. I was very astonished because there are many differences between us. We are accused because we did not go although they made such an invitation. We sent our representative but he and Clerides could not meet.``

[03] Reference to Cyprus during a telephone conversation between the UN Secretary-General and Premier Gul

A statement issued by the Press Center of the Prime Minister's Office says: "UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called our honorable prime minister on the telephone today and they spoke for 25 minutes. Mr Annan thanked our honorable prime minister for his latest efforts and initiatives toward the peaceful solution of the Iraq problem. Our honorable prime minister discussed the results of his recent visits to Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, and briefed the honorable Secretary- General on the joint initiatives we plan to take with the said countries.

"During the conversation, the honorable Secretary-General briefly mentioned the negotiations that have resumed in Cyprus."

[04] Erdogan met with Dervis Eroglu

On his part, Mr Erdogan stressed the importance of the negotiation process, adding: "There may be certain difficulties on the island at the moment, but they may end with the steps being taken in line with the 28 February process and the positive conclusion of the negotiation process."

[05] The Turkish Chief of General Staff met Eroglu in Ankara

Eroglu, in turn said: " We are going through a transition period. We also have certain citizens who are influenced by difference scenarios. We will definitely overcome these negotiations honorably and with patience in an atmosphere of prolonged talks." Eroglu added that an agreement that will please the Turkish Cypriot people and that will not cast a shadow over their future will be reached.

[06] Eroglu meets Gul. Statements after the meeting

On his part Eroglu said that they took up the Cyprus problem and economic problems and expressed pleasure with the messages given by Prime Minister Gul.

"The `TRNC/ and Turkey were in cooperation so far. The two countries would continue to be in cooperation within the framework of Annan plan peace talks. ``We are setting our policy together with motherland Turkey. We will regard the interests of the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey together with the JDP government from now on. We continue our cooperation and discussions for reaching a positive agreement,`` Eroglu said.

On his part, Mr Gul said that they reviewed the ongoing talks within the scope of the Annan plan during their meeting, and added:

``I would like to state that the `TRNC/ is undoubtedly sister of Turkey. To this end, we will follow developments there. Certainly, everyone will exert efforts to reach peace in the island. But, this peace will not be a deceptive peace. There will certainly be a peace which will take under guarantee the future of the Turkish Cypriots.

Constructive and positive talks continue. I would like to address my brothers in `TRNC/: These are very important days. These are days when we should protect our unity, solidarity and integrity. It will be very meaningful to show unity and solidarity when efforts are exerted for peace after sitting at a negotiation table. I am hopeful about the future. I hope peace will prevail in Cyprus and everybody will live in peace and tranquillity, be more developed and rich in the future.``

Gul also said that he would visit the occupied areas in the possible shortest time.

[07] Mr Thomas Weston met with political party leaders

His first meeting was with the officials of the National Unity Party [NUP], the Democratic Party [DP], and the Reformist Leap Party [RLP]. Following the meeting that lasted an hour and 15 minutes, NUP General Secretary Suat Turkoz said the party appreciates the efforts of outsiders to help solve the problem. He said they told Weston the points in the Annan plan which must be improved through negotiations.

DP Chairman Serdar Denktas described the meeting as useful and affirmed that such meetings will be held throughout the process of negotiations. He added: "What we must concentrate on at the moment is to make sure that those points of the plan that may threaten us in the future are eliminated from the plan now. It must not be forgotten that being the weaker side, the Turkish Cypriot side needs more protection. It is important to explain that the Turkish Cypriots must have more rights in connection with EU membership and the solution process." Serdar Denktas stressed that some points in the plan are not clear enough and must be clarified.

RLP chairman Hasipoglu said that it was a useful meeting in that they were able to hear Weston's views, but that certain questions remain unanswered. Hasipoglu quoted Weston as saying: "In this process, you must give something if you want to take something in return."

Thomas Weston then met with Huseyin Angolemli, leader of the Communal Liberation Party; and Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party. Both leaders said after the meeting that Weston affirmed being optimistic about the 28 February process. Angolemli and Talat criticized Bulent Arinc, speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, for his remarks on the rallies being held in north Cyprus, on the opposition, and on the Turkish Cypriots. Talat reiterated that Rauf Denktas does not represent the Turkish Cypriot people and that his only supporter is Turkey.

Meanwhile in statements to KIBRIS newspaper (19.01.03) Mr Weston said that work has started on the creation of funds for financing the implementation of the Annan plan in case of a solution.

[08] ORTAM says a new "official" policy is formed after the 14 January rally

The paper accuses the puppet regime in occupied northern Cyprus of using the money and the power of the "state" and of applying a policy trying to "surround and enclave" the Turkish Cypriots who participate in the rallies asking for solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan plan and accession of a reunified island to the EU.

Under its front-page title, the paper notes the following:

"According to the new 'official policy formed after the 14th January rally, those in the TRNC and Turkey who oppose peace began to apply a full 'attack' plan. On the one hand, politicians from Turkey who oppose the EU are sent here and insult us with statements they make looking directly into our face, and, on the other side the idealists in Turkey (translator's note: the word 'idealists is used in the Turkish language for the nationalist extremists, known as the Grey Wolves) are organizing rallies.

Instead of understanding the message of the people, Denktas and Eroglu inform the administrators of Turkey and provoke attacks against the organizations of their own community. Instead of opposing the journalists and the politicians who insult our people, they apologize to them.

The fact that the state with the 'tricks' of Denktas and Eroglu has undertaken a role in this 'operation to intimidate the people', in this intensive propaganda struggle aiming at braking the influence of the Turkish Cypriots for peace and EU, is described as a 'serious threat to democracy'".

Meanwhile, KIBRIS (20.01.03) reports that the "idealists" have organized rallies in Istanbul, Samsun, Konya, Ankara, Mersin, Izmir, Trabzon and Erzurum in order to express their support to the policy of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas on the Cyprus problem. Addressing the rally in Istanbul, Levent Demir, chairman of the local Idealists Society, said that those who claim that the delirium of a handful of "mentally retarded species" who had organized a rally in Nicosia with the money of the Greek Cypriots must be listened to, should tell the public opinion what is the price they have to pay.

Furthermore, the same paper writes elsewhere that Recai Kutan, leader of Turkey's Felicity Party (FP), who is illegally visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus, has said that Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas "seriously needs the support of Turkey". Mr Kutan added that the Annan plan "may look like a useful thing but inside there are traps".

Meanwhile, KIBRIS (19.01.03) reports that Mehmet Agar, leader of True Path Party (TPP), accused the Turkish government of not supporting the puppet regime in occupied Cyprus, like his party did when it was in power, by opposing various scenarios of the foreign powers for Cyprus.

[09] Two members of the Turkish Cypriot technical committee for Cyprus, resigned

Mr Duzgun, who comments on the reasons that led the two men to resign, writes, inter alia, the following:

"Mr Oktay Feridun. Why did you resign from the "Joint State Laws" technical committee? Is it true that Mumtaz Soysal told you "Be like a Turk"? Is it true that you resigned for this reason? Are you thinking to make a statement in order to inform the people?.Esteem Salih Dayioglu. Is it true that you resigned from the "Joint State Laws" technical committee in order to support Oktay Feridun? Are you thinking to make a statement regarding this matter?".

[10] Mehmet Ali Talat: Annan/ Plan is better that the recognition of the "TRNC"

According to the paper, Mr Talat said that if the pseudostate gets recognition it would be difficult to close the doors for the Greek Cypriots. He said that this would mean that the pseudostate would become member of the UN and would have to adjust to the international law. Therefore everybody will get their property and everyone will be able to live in any place they want. "The Turkish Cypriots will become instantly a minority", he said and pointed out that therefore the Annan/s plan is a better solution.

Commenting on the possibility that the Turkish side would accept the UN Plan and the Greek side would reject it, Mr Talat said this would have been a disaster for the Greek Cypriots. "May God help and the Greek Cypriots will reject the plan. We will see then what is going to happen, because this means that they would reject the EU too. This is going to be a disaster for them". Mr Talat said that in this case there will be progress towards the recognition of the pseudostate and even the embargo against the occupation regime will be lifted .

[11] Sezer vetoes law erasing Erdogan's criminal record

The law stipulated the erasure of the sentences of those who were convicted of the Turkish Penal Code's Article 312 from official records, which also paved the way for ruling Justice and Development Party (JP) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to become a deputy and prime minister. Erdogan was banned from holding political office because of a conviction for reading a poem that a court said incited religious hatred in the scope of the same article of the Penal Code.

Sezer said in his veto rationale that the draft law aimed a "special pardon", emphasizing that such arrangements should be approved with a majority vote in Parliament. He said that the draft was therefore contradicting the Constitution.

Erdogan is hoping to stand in Siirt by-elections scheduled for March 9, following recent constitutional amendments that could allow him to run for Parliament. After winning a landslide victory at the November 3 polls, JK Party pushed through constitutional changes to allow him to run for office. This law was a further step to erase his conviction.

The draft law is required to clear Parliament in its initial version this week in order to enable Erdogan to become a candidate at Siirt elections. According to the election calendar, parties are required to present their candidate lists to the electoral board by February 6, at the latest.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[12] Columnist in MILLIYET confirms that Turkey continues to blackmail the US over Cyprus in exchange for Iraq

We should not be confused in this turmoil. Efforts are being made to shape Turkey's Iraqi policy by holding the pulse of the soldiers. The parameters of this policy are as follows:

1. The conditions of enabling the United States to penetrate Iraq from the north:

a. You should receive the United Nations' approval for carrying out an intervention against Iraq.

b. Similar to the operation in Bosnia, the United Nations should assign the NATO forces to carry out this intervention.

2. The United States should put its weight with regard to two issues in Cyprus.

a. In the creation of the new Cyprus, for the TRNC, its "founding state" status and not "partnership" status should be stressed.

b. Following the agreement, the Greek migration to northern Cyprus should coincide with Turkey's full membership in the EU.

The United States should also put its weight with regard to the changes in the Annan plan.

3. With regard to political solidarity

a. Turkey should be provided guarantees that it will be given information on the restructuring efforts in Iraq in the aftermath of an operation. Furthermore, Ankara should be provided all the guarantees that it will participate in the post-war negotiations.

b. If all these conditions are met, the TGNA [Turkish Grand National Assembly] might approve to extend support to a US operation.

However,

If you demand to use Turkey's bases and seaports and if you ask to use Turkey as a passage through which your 80,000 soldiers will pass to Iraq, this means that you lack political tact.

Under these conditions, the TGNA will never approve this decision.

Subtitle: The IMF Stick

So, what is the stand of the United States?

When talking with Turkey, the US officials note that the 27 January UN report on Iraq will point out that "despite the fact that the inspectors have not found mass destruction weapons, they have the impression that such weapons exist in Iraq."

These officials constantly point out that they will make efforts to ensure that the United Nations issues a new resolution on this issue.

What happens if the United Nations refuses to do so?

According to the United States, "this is not so important. After all, there are five UN decisions on this issue and these decisions enable the United States to carry out a military intervention against Iraq due to the existence of mass destruction weapons in this country."

They underline that "they will hit."

Why have they waited for 10 years?

In answer, the US officials say to the Turkish side:

"We have suspicions to the effect that these mass destruction weapons might be given to Al-Qai'da or similar terrorist organizations. Our plans regarding Iraq are part of our struggle against global terrorism."

Our side asks:

"You constantly inform us of your demands. You want to use our bases and our seaports. You want to deploy 80,000 troops to northern Iraq via southeast Turkey.

"You explain to us your plans regarding the stages of your operation.

"You talk about a plan that aims at eliminating one of Saddam's Republican Guards Division in the south, while you block the second division in the north. You claim that when this force is divided, you will suffer minimal damages and the operation will not prolong.

"What will happen after the operation?

"What kind of a restructuring do you have in mind?

"Will Turkey have a say in the restructuring of Iraq?

"Will a Kurdish state be established in northern Iraq?"

The United States refuses to answer these questions, however.

Subtitle: What Kind of an Alliance?

JDP [Justice and Development Party] deputy Mehmet Dulger underlined the question and said the following:

"There is no alliance between Turkey and the United States. There is an alliance between the United States and Britain. We are not included in the decision making and planning processes. There are no guarantees with regard to the aftermath of the operation. They just have demands."

A rational JDP deputy, in turn, said the following: "We talk to them about all these issues. They refuse to answer our questions regarding the aftermath of an operation, however. We demand guarantees with regard to the aftermath of the operation. They refuse meet these demands.

"When we point out that under these conditions it will be very difficult to receive the TGNA's approval, they warn us by saying: "You will make us very upset."

What does this mean? They imply that the IMF might (be forced to) create problems for us.

They show us the stick." What is our answer to all this?

The United States placed an embargo on Turkey after the 1974 Cyprus operation. We refused to give in, however. You were eventually forced to remove the embargo. "Currently, our economy is very sensitive. Do not use the IMF as an embargo weapon."

What about State Minister Kursat Tuzmen's visit to Iraq together with a 350-member delegation?

Why did Tuzmen arrive at the press conference hand-in-hand with Yassin Ramadan? Was this so necessary? It is true that the United States is temporary in this region and that Iraq is here to stay.

It is also true however, that Saddam is temporary in Iraq.

/SK

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