Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-02-27

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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 after meeting the UN Secretary-General.

[02] Rauf Denktas says that there is some "sugaring" in the new UN plan for Cyprus.

[03] Erdogan argues that in the third Annan plan for Cyprus there are more positive elements than in the previous two.

[04] Bulent Arinc met with a delegation of occupied Morphou.

[05] Turkish Prime Minister Gul is to visit the occupied area.

[06] Opposition in Turkey strongly against Annan's plan and critical of Gul's Government.

[07] Four parties' candidates to run in Siirt by-elections.

[08] The Democratic Party is against the "We are ready for solution and the EU" rally.

[09] The Turkish Grand National Assembly approved agreements with the puppet regime in the fields of maritime and civil aviation.

[10] 37.8 % of the Turkish Cypriot community has emigrated during the last decade.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader after meeting the UN Secretary-General

When asked if he had received Kofi Annan's plan, which is said to have been drawn up to facilitate his work, Denktas replied:

"Kofi Annan's duty is to see to it that progress is achieved. Our duty is to secure our rights."

When asked to comment on his meeting with Annan, Dnektas said:

"We held talks in a friendly atmosphere. We informed him on the realities and explained the difficulties. We explained the realities. We asked whether or not a plan that will displace half of our community can be accepted. We informed him that we have not been satisfied enough on matters related to our status."

To question if Kofi Annan has submitted his third plan to the sides, Denktas answered: "Yes, he has submitted it to us."

To another question about the content of the proposal, Denktas said: "I have not yet looked at it. Here is the plan in my hand. I did not have an opportunity to look at it. Of course, the file contains the supplements that have been added to the old plan. Various parts have been marked. We will have to study them."

When asked whether Annan set a deadline, Denktas said: "No, he agrees that the process cannot be finalized by 28 February." To question whether Mr Annan said anything about 7 March, Denktas replied: "He has not mentioned that. However, he believes that we should try to establish whether a result can be achieved without wasting too much time. He informed us that he will depart on Friday. So, that means that we will maintain the process with Alvaro de Soto."

To another question about Turkish Cypriot demands, the Turkish Cypriot leader anwered: "We did not discuss the details of the plan. I informed him on what does not exist in the essence of the plan. For example, why do we focus on the word people? The Greek Cypriot side tries to avoid that word. However, we insist on it because the Greek Cypriots have claimed during the past 40 years that they represent the legal government and that we are a minority community. So, while holding talks with the Greek Cypriot side, which created the impression in the world that they, as the government, are negotiating with a minority community, we want to emphasize that two national peoples exist in Cyprus. That is important for us. But, the Greek Cypriot side does not agree to that. It insists on talking about communities. It wants to maintain the impression it created 40 years ago."

When asked whether Kofi Annan has said regarding the plan, that they have to take it or leave it, Denktas answered: "He did not adopt such an approach."

When recalled that reports said that Denktas might hold a referendum prior to the one that will be held on 30 March, Denktas said: "I mentioned that earlier. I said that we can hold a referendum if necessary. But, let us look at the plan before we make a decision. Various circles said that it is a very good and acceptable document. We can decide what we should do if that is the case. Yes, a referendum can be held. Of course, if we are to hold a referendum, then we should do so as soon as possible. That is all. Thank you."

[02] Rauf Denktas says that there is some "sugaring" in the new UN plan for Cyprus

Answering questions late last night after a meeting he had with a delegation of the inhabitants of the occupied Morphou area who had earlier returned to the occupied areas from Turkey where they met with officials in Ankara, Mr Denktas noted that "the basis, the philosophy of the plan has not changed".

"There is some sugaring in it, in general nothing has changed", argued the Turkish Cypriot leader adding that the plan is different than the one submitted on Sunday. Mr Denktas claimed that according to the plan, Karpass peninsula is left under Turkish Cypriot administration, but "it will fill up with Greek Cypriots".

[03] Erdogan argues that in the third Annan plan for Cyprus there are more positive elements than in the previous two

Talking yesterday on CNN-TURK television, Mr Erdogan said that there are "positive developments" on the issues of Karpass, Morphou, the number of the troops and the refugees.

Mr Erdogan expressed also the opinion that "a great distance" towards reaching an agreement, was covered because of the use of the expression "constituent states" in the new plan.

Responding to a question, Mr Erdogan said that "in politics one side cannot take all it wants". Furthermore, Mr Erdogan added: "We could never say (for Cyprus) that we support the understanding of 'give it away to get rid of it'".

Asked whether or not he agrees with a referendum in the occupied areas regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr Erdogan supported that such a thing would be useful, but he added that he did not think conducting a referendum for the sake of it is right.

[04] Bulent Arinc met with a delegation of occupied Morphou

Arinc received the so-called Mayor of Morphou Namik Ozcinar, accompanying "deputies" and chairmen of associations.

Ozcinar said that they went to Turkey to thank for Arinc's visit to the occupied area. He added that Morphou should remain within the borders of the occupied area in case of a possible agreement and it should never be a concession matter.

Arinc said that they believed that all rights and interests of the occupied area should be protected.

Noting that they supported the efforts of Rauf Denktas to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots, Arinc said that Turkey would struggle together with the Turkish Cypriots against every initiative which would harm the occupied area/s rights and interests.

Arinc said that negotiations on Annan Plan was continuing and added that United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan was holding contacts in Greece and Cyprus after his visit in Turkey. He said: ``We all wish reaching a peaceful solution on this issue in the near future.``

[05] Turkish Prime Minister Gul is to visit the occupied area

[06] Opposition in Turkey strongly against Annan's plan and critical of Gul's Government

Batu expressed these views while receiving a delegation from the occupied Morphou area headed by the so-called mayor of the town. The delegation also visited the True Path Party (TPP) chairman Mehmet Agar, the Motherland Party (MP) leader Ali Talip Ozdemir, Felicity Party leader Recai Kutan and Democratic Left Party leader Bulent Ecevit.

During the meeting Ecevit repeated his known views that the Cyprus problem was solved with the Turkish invasion and occupation of 1974 adding that the Annan plan will make the situation in Cyprus more complicated. Ecevit further said that the Turkish Army as well is against the plan, claiming that in case of accepting the plan the Turkish Army will not be able to fulfill its duty as the army of a guarantor state in Cyprus. He said that Turkish armed forces/ presence in Cyprus should be rendered permanent. Ecevit was also critical of those Turkish Cypriots that want peace and EU membership. "They are the real danger in our midst", Ecevit declared.

[07] Four parties' candidates to run in Siirt by-elections

Results of the November elections in Siirt were canceled after the election board found evidence that a ballot box had been tampered with.

Erdogan had been barred from running in November elections because of a criminal conviction for reading a poem that courts said incited religious hatred.

But Erdogan's JDP won an overwhelming victory in November, and a parliament dominated by the party subsequently changed Turkey's election laws, making Erdogan eligible to run.

Supreme Election Board/s (SEB) final candidate lists for the Siirt elections were published in the Official Gazette on Wednesday.

Accordingly, JDP candidates Erdogan, Oner Gulyesil, Oner Ergenc, opposition Republican People's Party (RPP) candidates Ekrem Bilek, Abdulhalim Cinar and Abdurrahman Kaysi, Workers' Party (WP) candidates Zeki Karahan, Yusuf Celik and Bayram Yurtcicek and Turkish Communist Party (TCP) candidates Muharrem Mirik, Emine Renda and Deniz Unver will run in the elections.

According to SEB decisions, all 18 parties which attended the November 3 polls are eligible to take part in the by-elections but only those that surpassed the 10 percent national election threshold in November 3 polls could win Siirt's seats in Parliament, which means only JDP and RPP will win seats.

Meanwhile, Erdogan will visit Siirt on Friday in order to meet his followers in the Party office in this province. He will be accompanied by some ministers and deputies during his visit. He is reported to visit Siirt once more before the by-elections. JDP decided to carry out a simple election campaign in Siirt.

Siirt sent three deputies to Parliament at the November 3 polls; JDP's Mervan Gul, RPP's Ekrem Bilek and independent lawmaker Fadil Akgunduz.

However, these deputies lost their posts after the elections were canceled in Siirt. Akgunduz was imprisoned because a warrant for his arrest was issued against him for corruption. Gul withdrew his candidacy in order to pave the way for his leader Erdogan to run in this election.

[08] The Democratic Party is against the "We are ready for solution and the EU" rally

In a written statement issued yesterday, the party called on the organizers of the rally to re-estimate the issue and to realize the difference between becoming a citizen of the world as an individual and being able to take your place in the new world order as a people.

[09] The Turkish Grand National Assembly approved agreements with the puppet regime in the fields of maritime and civil aviation

[10] 37.8 % of the Turkish Cypriot community has emigrated during the last decade

Asked whether or not they are thinking of emigrating 51.4 % answered that did not think of emigrating, 28 % said that they sometimes think of emigrating, 19.2 % said that they are seriously thinking of emigrating and 1.2 % gave no answer.

/SK

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