Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-02-13

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Yakis and Babacan are expected to discuss Cyprus in the United States.

[02] YENI DUZEN: "Denktas is negative once more; he is always negative".

[03] Verheugen: "Turkish Cypriots are a perishing community".

[04] Erdogan : "You cannot remain insensitive when a rally is organized by 30-40 thousand people".

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat criticized Denktas for the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

[06] Statements by Dervis Eroglu to Ankara TRT 2 Television.

[07] Statements by the Turkish deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir.

[08] Ecevit: "It is beneficial if the Cyprus problem is kept pending".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Sener Levent calls on the Turkish Cypriots to return to the Republic of Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Yakis and Babacan are expected to discuss Cyprus in the United States

The Turkish Parliament is expected to discuss the issue of permitting the American soldiers to be stationed in Turkey during their operation against Iraq. During their visit, which, began yesterday, the two Turkish ministers will meet with the US Secretary of State, Collin Powell and other US officials.

"According to information acquired, the ground for a possible visit of Prime Minster Gul to Washington has been examined, while the 18th of February is coming closer", continues KIBRIS, adding that the contacts of the two ministers began yesterday and will be continuing today.

[02] YENI DUZEN: "Denktas is negative once more; he is always negative"

The paper writes that on the above-mentioned programme, Mr Denktas claimed that the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who is reportedly expected to visit Cyprus at the end of February, is coming "for a last and unacceptable pressure".

YENI DUZEN writes also that Mr Denktas rejected the Annan plan by describing it as "more difficult and complicated than the 1960 agreements" and by claiming that "the Greek Cypriots will violate that too".

[03] Verheugen: "Turkish Cypriots are a perishing community"

Branding Denktas a "political opportunist", Verheugen said that Denktas is exploiting the "grey policy" created as a result of difference of views existing between the Army and the Turkish government in Ankara.

[04] Erdogan : "You cannot remain insensitive when a rally is organized by 30-40 thousand people"

He went on and said that when 30-40 thousand people turn to the streets for the solution of the Cyprus problem in Cyprus one should not remain insensitive to this call. "My wish is that until 28 February this problem will be settled. And in Cyprus a different atmosphere prevails. It is not possible to consider not existing the EU process. However, if we consider the process not existing then Turkey has to measure its steps more carefully on this issue. I do still think that a solution of the Cyprus problem would speed up Turkey's EU process. It is wrong to use expressions like "Cyprus would be sacrificed for the sake of EU membership".

The JDP leader went on and said: "Cyprus is a problem going on for the last 40 years. During this time the administrations in Turkey and in north Cyprus were unable or they did not want to solve the problem."

Criticizing the statements made by Turkish politicians who had responsibilities in the past regarding Cyprus that `Is there a problem that we should solve?' Erdogan answered: "Is there not a problem in Cyprus, when 30 thousand people are holding a mass rally? When in a place like Cyprus around 25-30 thousand people hold a rally this is tantamount to one million people holding a rally in Turkey and you can not consider this unimportant and put it aside", Erdogan declared.

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat criticized Denktas for the latest developments in the Cyprus problem

Mr Talat said that it will not be the "end of the world" if there is no solution for the Cyprus problem by the 28th of February but, as he stressed, this development will strengthen the position of the Greek Cypriot side and it will make it more difficult for the Turkish Cypriots to ask for their rights.

Mr Talat said that the elections in the free areas of Cyprus as well as the illness of Mr Denktas were a misfortune for the procedure of the Cyprus talks. He also accused the Turkish Cypriot leader for preventing the UN from presenting a new solution plan for Cyprus and stated that due to this setback both the solution of the Cyprus problem and the EU membership for the Turkish Cypriots are also delayed.

The chairman of the Republican Turkish Party once more invited Rauf Denktas and the so-called Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu for an open discussion in front of the Turkish Cypriots.

[06] Statements by Dervis Eroglu to Ankara TRT 2 Television

Speaking about the elections in the free areas of Cyprus, Mr Eroglu stated that the Cyprus talks should have been interrupted for a small period because of the presidential elections and stressed that until now the procedure in election periods was to stop for 1-2 months and then continue with the talks. He also said that he doesn't think that a solution is possible by the 28th of February and stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side has put all its suggestions in the negotiation table.

Commenting on the various rallies that took place in the occupied areas, Mr Eroglu tried to underestimate the events. He questioned the numbers of the participants in the rallies saying that it is not possible among a population of 200 thousand persons, a number of 70 thousand to participate in a rally. He also claimed that the Inonu square, where one of the biggest rallies took place, is too small for this number of persons. Mr Eroglu also accused the "Platform This Country is Ours" for its actions and alleged that only the persons who participate in similar actions ever thought that Turkey should leave the island. He also expressed the wish that these activities will become weaker.

Referring to a potential visit of Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, to Cyprus, Mr Eroglu stressed that he hopes that Mr Annan will see "the existing realities of Cyprus."

Mr Eroglu also said that the so-called Council of Minister which met a few days ago in the pseudostate, has prepared an economic package with the financial needs of the puppet regime and sent it in to Ankara.

[07] Statements by the Turkish deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir

Mr Yalcinbayir said that for Turkey non-solution is not a solution, however, this does not mean that the country has changed its political views regarding Cyprus. He also said that Turkey protects the island because it is an important place both for Turkish Cypriots and for Turkey.

8. Ecevit: "It is beneficial if the Cyprus problem is kept pending" According to KIBRIS newspaper (13.02.03), the leader of the Democratic Left Party in Turkey and the Prime Minister of Turkey in 1974 who ordered the Turkish invasion and the occupation of part of Cyprus, Bulent Ecevit, commenting on the Iraqi crisis and the disagreement between NATO allies, has said that this is like "stones moved from their places".

He suggested that Turkey should not take any step regarding Cyprus. He said: "I am of the view that keeping the Cyprus problem pending will be beneficial".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Sener Levent calls on the Turkish Cypriots to return to the Republic of Cyprus

"I support the Republic of Cyprus. When they ask me which I prefer between the Republic of Cyprus and the Annan plan, I say the Republic of Cyprus. However, this does not mean that I am against the Annan plan.

I support the Annan plan because it will save us from the present status quo and will open new horizons for us. I do not support it because it is not the ideal solution. This document must be signed until 28 February. However, if it is not signed it will not be the end of the world for me. The Republic of Cyprus is joining the EU not as a half island, but as a whole. In reality, this event is the most vivid proof of the fact that the Cyprus problem is now a solved problem.

Ankara and Denktas are still playing the perpetuation game. Let them play. It does not matter. Europe, which annexed the whole of the island to its territory, will sooner or later be obliged to unify the two sides. How long can Turkey endure being an occupier on EU territories? How can Denktas take back this territory from the EU? Is this possible? It is not.

Those, who say that it would be a disaster for us if a solution is not reached until 28 February, do not tell people the truth. It will not be a disaster. Even if the Annan plan is withdrawn from the negotiating table, it will not be a disaster. The Republic of Cyprus will join the EU, will it not? Are we, as Turkish Cypriots, not a partner in this Republic? Then, what is there to be sad for? As long as our rights in the Republic of Cyprus are maintained, what is the need for worrying? It is enough that we stand for these rights, which Ankara and Denktas reject for so many years.

Let us fill up the 24 seats in the House of Representatives, which still remain empty for us. We had a Vice-President. Let us elect one and let him take his place. In fact, these are things, which we should have done since a long time. We did not do them and we spent time in vain, calling the Republic of Cyprus 'a Greek Cypriot Republic'.

This plan (translator's note: the Annan plan), which has been formed according to the military operation in 1974 and the present status quo, may seem to us as a chance because we long very much for a solution. However, it is not perfect. The Annan plan is divisive, while the Republic of Cyprus is unifying. In the Annan plan there are two regions, which are divided with borders. In the Republic of Cyprus there are no borders or similar things. The Annan plan increases a lot the Turkish and Greek military forces on the island, while in the Republic of Cyprus Greece had the right to station only 950 soldiers in Cyprus and Turkey only 650.

Two regions, which are divided by borders, cannot serve the lasting peace on the island. Lasting peace is possible only by living in the same neighborhoods and in the same villages. Peace cannot come by being isolated in separate places. The Cypriots are condemned to learn to live together in order for lasting peace to come. If the Turks are still afraid of being attacked and the Greeks are dreaming of annihilating the Turks one day, in this case no solution is of any use.

I support living together by doing the utmost for lasting peace. That is why I support the Republic of Cyprus. However, I am not against the Annan plan. I wish that those who support the Annan plan do not disregard the Republic of Cyprus".

/SK

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article