Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-02-06

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

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

[02] Turkey openly declares that it expects help from the US to continue violating the international law and its crimes against a small neighbouring state.

[03] Reference to Cyprus by the Turkish Prime Minister during statements on Iraq.

[04] The occupation regime offers "citizenship" of the pseudostate in order to manipulate a referendum for the Cyprus solution.

[05] The puppet regime prevented a Greek Cypriot doctor from addressing a meeting for a humanitarian cause in the occupied areas.

[06] Weston went to Ankara for meetings in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

[07] Tayyip Erdogan speaks about founding peoples and claims that the Karpass peninsula "has no relation" with the Greek Cypriots.

[08] Only 28.5 % of the so-called MP's support the policy of Rauf Denktas on the Cyprus problem.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

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

Before leaving for the talks Denktas made statements as follows:

"According to Greek Cypriot radio today, Clerides would reply to our document. That would be a welcome development, for it may help our friends to see the entire picture. I'll talk to you again after the meeting."

Question: Do you have new members in your delegation?

Answer: No, we are only taking our friend, the cartographer, Halil Giray. He has good documents on percentages and population figures. Just to have him by our side, so that we do not talk abstractly.

Question: Does that mean that today's talks would mostly focus on territory?

Answer: Yes, mostly. I also want to say something else. Some have been spreading rumors to the effect that Denktas is replacing all the [Turkish Cypriot] soldiers at the presidential residence with Turkish [mainland] soldiers, because he does not trust the Cypriot soldiers. How could they concoct such things I do not know. I have never heard such an ill-intentioned gossip in this country before. We have suffered a lot in the past from gossip. They now want to influence people with gossip. I hope such gossip would not cause too much harm this time around.

Question: Isn't the protection of the presidential residence vested in the security forces?

Answer: Yes, it is.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting Mr Denktas alleged that the Greek Cypriots again failed to bring their sine qua nons to the table while totally rejecting the Turkish side's sine qua nons tabled beforehand, and added:

Instead of bringing their own sine qua nons, they submitted their written views on our sine qua nons. It was quite a tough meeting, Clerides looked dour. They made statements revealing their true intentions. For that reason we could not discuss the map. If suitable, I want to brief the "Republican Assembly" tomorrow, so that they [Turkish Cypriot deputies] know what stage we are in. So that we continue the talks on Friday accordingly. In the meantime, there will be another meting on Monday, then there will be no meeting on Wednesday because of the feast of sacrifice. Taking advantage of that, de Soto would pay a visit to New York. For that reason, the Friday morning meeting after the holiday has been moved to 17:00 in the afternoon. Yes, these are all the developments for today.

Question: You had already declared in the past that you would convene the "Republican Assembly" in case of a deadlock.

Answer: I did not say deadlock. I said that I would put together the Greek Cypriots' replies to our sine qua nons and their own sine qua nons and take all that to the "Assembly". While criticizing our sine qua nons, the Greek Cypriots have made statements revealing their true policies. That is why I think it would be better if the "Republican Assembly" sees and examines those statements as well as de Soto's map. That is why I am going to inquire now. If they [the Turkish Cypriot "deputies"] are ready let us hold a meeting tomorrow.

Question: It seems it was an argumentative meeting. What did you argue about?

Answer: As I said, the Greek Cypriots are quite unyielding as regards our sine qua nons. If we are unable to agree on any issue--and they say we cannot agree--, then we have to ponder if we could ever accept this plan without changes. They rejected every amendment we proposed. As I said before, they are comfortable, for they act like the Cyprus Republic. They have to be reminded that the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" is not part of that Cyprus Republic. It is up to them to decide whether it would be victory, glory, or success to take half of Cyprus into the EU or adopt a reasonable approach in light of the 1963 events that lead to the division of the island. As far as I see, they have no such intention. It is very dangerous for us to enter into an agreement that could be interpreted widely differently. We want clarity, no vague issues should remain. The only reason why we suffered in 1960 and 1963 was because the Greek Cypriots used their own interpretation and methods to undermine the veto Dr. Kucuk resorted to in a few cases. They can do the same thing with equal ease, for this is an agreement only on paper. But this time around we would be in a far weaker position vis-a-vis them. That is why we should be careful. I hope tomorrow we could meet at the "Republican Assembly".

Soon after this statement, Mr Rauf Denktas asked the "Republican Assembly" to convene in an extraordinary session. A statement issued from the "Republican Assembly" noted that responding to the request the "Republican Assembly" will meet tomorrow at 10:00 under its so-called Speaker Vehbi Zeki Serter.

Meanwhile KIBRIS (06.02.03) reports that the platform "This Country is Ours" is organizing a gathering in occupied Nicosia in order to express its support to the Annan Plan after the statements which, according to Mr Denktas, President Clerides made during their meeting yesterday that he accepts the plan as it is.

[02] Turkey openly declares that it expects help from the US to continue violating the international law and its crimes against a small neighbouring state

Buluc said: ``It is a strategic issue of the United States. The Cyprus issue is also a strategic issue of Turkey with respect to ensuring the security of Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus. Turkey can take up its strategic issue with the United States, since the country considers the United States a strategic partner. Therefore, strategic partners can discuss their strategic issues. Turkey has always explained in its contacts with the U.S. that it attributed importance not to confront with results which we did not expect regarding the Cyprus issue, while it approached developments about Iraq in line with its national interests. In that respect, Turkey`s getting the support of the U.S. is important and natural. Therefore, there is such a connection between the Cyprus and Iraq issues.``

Upon a question, Buluc reminded that Cyprus negotiations were carried out within the scope of the Annan plan, and added: "The U.S. is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. Permanent members have special importance and influence regarding the decisions taken or to be taken in the U.N. Security Council. Therefore, it is normal for us to continue attributing importance to U.S. regarding the Cyprus issue. The U.S. has not shown any hesitation to that. On the contrary, Thomas Weston, the special representative of the U.S. frequently visits Turkey.``

Buluc further said that the guarantor states on Cyprus needed to reach an agreement among themselves in some points of the Annan Plan regarding security and guarantees.

In reply to another question in his weekly press briefing, Buluc said that there was a part in the Annan Plan concerning security and guarantee and he added that guarantor states in Cyprus needed to reach an agreement among themselves on those items.

Noting that the guarantor states had to fix some agreements with their authorities gained by the 1960 agreement, Buluc said that Turkey and Greece had not started such a negotiation yet.

When recalled the claims that the United Nations would present a new plan to the sides in Cyprus on February 25, Buluc said that he could not confirm a third plan`s existence.

Mr Buluc also said that negotiations were continuing and that if there were any new points on which consensus was reached on views which were put forward during the negotiations, it would be natural to expect their being reflected to the solution plan. He added that if that situation required a third plan, it should also be considered natural.

[03] Reference to Cyprus by the Turkish Prime Minister during statements on Iraq.

To this end NTV interrupted its normal 'Key' program to go over to Nermin Yurteri in Ankara. Yurteri interviewd CUMHURIYET/S Ankara representative Mustafa Balbay on the briefing Gul gave to Ankara journalists. In reply to Yurteri's question on Gul's remarks with regard to Iraq, Balbay said: "The prime minister made a clear statement on the Iraq issue. He said: We are no longer to blame. Turkey did everything possible. From now on, Turkey will act along the lines of its own interests. From now on, Turkey will act together with the United States. In short, he said that Turkey will stand by the United States. Gul said that the fact that Arab countries decided to hold a meeting among themselves without Turkey and reject Turkey's proposal to convene a summit of the heads of state in Damascus weakened a hope for peace. He said: I know this world and you know my past; however, this situation made me lose hope for peace. We made our decision, he said." On the issue of the authorization on bases and ports, Balbay said that "the authorization will be for three months. We expect, from this, that the other permits on deploying foreign soldiers will also be given for three months."

In reply to Yurteri's question on whether this will be after the holiday, Balbay said: "He said that it will be on 18 February. He also briefed us on his conversation with Dick Cheney yesterday. He said that it was an honest, open, on equal footing, and a detailed exchange of views. It is understood from this that all the issues were taken up."

In reply to Yurteri's question on whether the Cyprus issue was also discussed, Balbay said: "Yes, the Cyprus issue was taken up, but it was not linked directly. It was decided that it will be difficult to assess two issues in the same month. With regard to the relations with the United States, Gul said: We have military, political, and economic contacts. With regard to the economic contacts, Gul said that the US Secretary of Treasury will arrive in Ankara tomorrow [6 February]."

In reply to another question on whether Turkey requested a written commitment from the United States, Balbay said that they have insistently asked whether there is a written commitment binding on the US Administration and that Gul said in reply: "No. There will be an agreement. We will receive 100 percent guarantee. His assessment with regard to the economic damages is 100 percent. In reply to our insistent questions on the day after the operation in Iraq, Gul said: The United States will set up an authoritarian administration in Iraq. This authoritarian administration will govern the whole of Iraq. He repeated this statement. He said the following at various intervals: We have embarked on a process. There is no other way."

In reply to a question on whether Gul said anything on the number of troops to be deployed in Turkey and the date of the operation, Balbay said that Gul briefed the correspondents on the process leading to the present and continued: "What is noteworthy is that Gul said that he was handed in a timetable during his meeting with Powell in Davos. He did not go into the details of this timetable." With regard to northern Iraq, Balbay said: "Gul said that Turkey is not going into war in northern Iraq. We are going into northern Iraq in order to prevent a war and disorder, Gul said."

In reply to another question on whether there will be consensus within the Justice and Development Party, JDP, on the decision with regard to Iraq, Balbay said: "Gul said that he does not believe that a contrary opinion will be expressed. He said: We are adopting this decision for Turkey's interests." With regard to the stand of the Republican People's Party (RPP) and Deniz Baykal, Balbay said: "On this issue, Gul said: I regret that Baykal said that the show is over. We are not putting on a show. We have not been sleeping at nights. We found it very difficult to make this decision. I even briefed those parties which received one percent of the votes. At various intervals during the chat, Gul said: We made this decision together with the whole of Turkey. It was not easy at all. At this stage, we did everything we could have done. On the issue of the Arab countries' meeting, I sensed that his hurt feelings. He said: We are no longer in this cycle. They have decided to convene an Arab summit among themselves. Our president had conveyed us his wish to attend such a summit if it would have been convened in Damascus. Another important issue is that he told us that the patriots are on their way. The patriots will most definitely arrive, he said." On the issue of northern Iraq, Balbay says: "We asked him on whether the 5,000 PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan] terrorists in northern Iraq can be grounds for war. He said that all these were assessed and that they do not pose any danger. In reply to another question on whether Saddam can threaten Turkey, Gul said: Turkey's assessment is that Saddam no longer has such power."

[04] The occupation regime offers "citizenship" of the pseudostate in order to manipulate a referendum for the Cyprus solution

YENI DUZEN publishes a statement by Sinan Aygun, the chairman of the Trade Chamber of Ankara who is visiting the pseudostate with the "Vakif of the Marmara Group for Strategic and Social Research". According to the paper Mr Aygun said that yesterday he became citizen of the "TRNC" in only half an hour and added: "If it is needed millions of Turkish persons will come to the island in order to reject the Annan Plan".

The paper also publishes statements by Osman Sertkaya, chairman of the Institute of Turkology of the University of Istanbul who said that he gave his identity card and a picture to the "Prime Minister", Dervis Eroglu, who is going to make him "citizen" of the pseudostate as well.

[05] The puppet regime prevented a Greek Cypriot doctor from addressing a meeting for a humanitarian cause in the occupied areas

[06] Weston went to Ankara for meetings in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[07] Tayyip Erdogan speaks about founding peoples and claims that the Karpass peninsula "has no relation" with the Greek Cypriots

Mr Erdogan expressed the wish that the person who will sign the agreement in Cyprus on behalf of the Turkish side is Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, noting that he has nothing personal against Denktas. "I am arguing about a perception. This perception concerns the future of our citizens in Cyprus".

Repeating that the non-solution could not be a solution in Cyprus, Mr Erdogan referred to the rallies, which had been recently organized in the occupied areas and said: "We say that if the citizens are organizing rallies in Cyprus demanding a solution, no one can say that there is no problem in Cyprus".

Answering a question Mr Erogan claimed:

".The issue should be settled by the two founding peoples. However, the Southern Cyprus does not represent the 'founding people understanding'. I think that perhaps many things will be settled if steps are made with the understanding of a partnership state based on two founding peoples. I do not think that there are serious problems on the territorial issue, because today's administration has already spoken about 29 % plus. In the Annan plan there are suggestions between 28.2 % and 28.9 %. I think that those who had referred before to 29 % plus will settle this issue with the Annan plan which came to 28.9 %. .".

Asked about his views on Karpass peninsula, Mr Erdogan claimed:

"I am preserving my sensitivity on the issue of Karpass. I am preserving it for the following reason: Karpass has no relation with the South. If we try to unify it with the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus, because there are four Greek Cypriot villages there, we cannot realize the understanding of island of peace. Then of course there are villages in southern Cyprus where Turkish Cypriots live. Will you be able to establish connection with them too? .The Annan plan says what the administrations there could do in case of a disagreement after ten years. If necessary they could withdrawn into their own territories and they could become two different states in the European Union. .We say that if there is something, which influences the percentage, let it be overcome from another place. .".

Asked about the issues, which are sine qua nons for him regarding the Cyprus problem, Erdogan replied: "There are three things that I consider as sine qua nons at the moment. The first is the sovereignty issue and the partnership state based on two peoples. The second is that we have to draw a line with not many zigzags on the map and we have to accept now the 29 % plus, given that there has been a reference in the past for a percentage about 29 % and that the Turks at the moment control the 35 % - 36 % of the territory. The third is the guarantees of Greece and Turkey".

[08] Only 28.5 % of the so-called MP's support the policy of Rauf Denktas on the Cyprus problem

The 50 "seats" in the illegal "assembly" are distributed as follows: National Unity Party (NUP) 20, Democratic Party (DP) 13, Communal Liberation Party (CLP) 5, Republican Turkish Party (RTP) 5, Reformist Progressive Party (RPP) 3, independent 2 and empty 2.

The poll was started in December 2002 and was concluded on 4 February with the participation of 42 "MP's", out of 48. Six "MP's" were abroad.

Asked whether they believe that an agreement in Cyprus will be reached until 28 February, the "MP's" answered as follows:

33.3 % Yes I do believe. 64.3 % No I do not. 2.4 % No answer, no opinion.

During an opinion poll conducted in December the Turkish Cypriots responded as follows to the same question: Yes 50.4%, No 46.4 % and No answer no opinion 3.2 %.

Asked whether or not they would accept or not the Annan plan as it is if a referendum was made next Sunday 45.2 % said yes, 50 % said no and 4.8 % gave no answer. The Turkish Cypriots answered the same question as follows: yes 65.4 %, no 28.2 % and no answer no opinion 6.4 %.

Asked when they believe that the occupied part of Cyprus should join the EU, 71.4 % of the "MP's" said after the Cyprus problem is solved and 28.6 % answered after the Cyprus problem is solved and after Turkey joins the Union. The Turkish Cypriots answered the same question as follows: 74.2 % after the Cyprus problem is solved and 21.4 % after the Cyprus problem is solved and after Turkey joins the Union.

Responding to the question "according to you how right or wrong is the policy applied by Rauf Denktas", the "MP's" answered:

28.5 % Denktas' policy is right 31 % Denktas' policy is partly right 40 % Denktas' policy is wrong.

The Turkish Cypriots answered the same question as follows:

27.1 % Denktas' policy is right 26.8 % Denktas' policy is partly right 44.1 % Denktas' policy is wrong 2 % no answer, no opinion

Asked about the situation of the Turkish Cypriots in case a solution is not reached until 28 February the "MP's" answered:

50 % it will be worse 33.3 % it will remain the same 16.7 % it will be better

Asked about the policy they support on the Annan plan the "MP's" said:

71.4 %: Efforts must be exerted for changes on the Annan plan and the result must be submitted to referendum. The result of the referendum must be decisive. 28.6 %: Efforts must be exerted for changes on the plan and if this is not achieved then the plan must be cast off.

Responding to another question 47.6 % of the "MP's" expressed the opinion that the illegal "assembly" had no contribution to the procedure of the Annan plan, 35.7 % said that it contributed partly and 16.7 % said that it has undertaken an initiative and contributed to the process.

/SK

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