Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-02-28

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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 a joint meeting in the buffer zone with President Clerides, President elect Papadopoulos and the UN Seecretary-General.

[02] Mr Rauf Denktas says he will not sign the Annan plan. He is only concerned with keeping the properties seized by force from the Greek Cypriots who lived on the island for millenniums.

[03] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader at the end of the talks with the UN Secretary-General.

[04] Denktas met with the "council of ministers" of his puppet regime. The recent developments in the Cyprus problem were assessed.

[05] HURRIYET: "Operation to by-pass Denktas".

[06] Erdogan will not hurry to replace Gul.

[07] 55.5% of the Turkish Cypriot youth will migrate if a solution of the Cyprus problem will not be found.

[08] Mass rally held in occupied Nicosia. Two bombs found at Inonu square before the rally started. How the Press saw the rally.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Ertugrul Ozkok: "So the National Security Council is useful to everybody".

[10] Turkish Cypriot columnist argues that the "war of nerves" between Ankara and Denktas will be "decisive" for the developments in the Cyprus problem.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader after a joint meeting in the buffer zone with President Clerides, President elect Papadopoulos and the UN Seecretary-General

In a statement after returning to the occupied areas, Mr Rauf Denktas disclosed that the UN Secretary-General wants the acceptance of the plan almost as it is. Pointing out to Annan's statement that there cannot be a better plan than this, Denktas said he and Papadopoulos did not express any opinions at the meeting, only listened to the Secretary-General.

Stating that they listened to an assessment made by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at this familiarization meeting, Rauf Denktas said they will meet again tomorrow.

Following are Mr Denktas' short statement and his replies to reporters' questions:

"Today, Clerides , Papadopoulos, I, and the Secretary-General and his aides held a familiarization meeting, at which we listened to an assessment of the Secretary- General. We will meet again tomorrow morning."

Question: The meeting was shorter than expected, though.

Answer: Because the second sitting was not held. We will meet again tomorrow morning, when we will see what really lies ahead of us.

Question: Was there any discussion on the plan?

Answer: No.

Question: What is the position of the Secretary-General?

Answer: The Secretary-General said that this was the second modification to the plan, that the endorsement of the two sides' demands fully would be counterproductive and as such this has been a compromise of the views of the two sides, that this should be accepted, that a referendum should be held on 30 March and if we were ready to hold the referendum and endorse the plan or not, and that we should come to a decision on these issues in the next ten days at most.

Question: Does he expect a reply before leaving?

Answer: No. After he leaves, we will again be contacted, when we will give our reply.

Question: Is he willing to make changes to the plan?

Answer: Upon a question from Papadopoulos, he said that changes could be made, but if one asks for a change the other would demand something in return, and as such the sides should avoid seeking drastic changes.

Question: The Secretary-General wants its acceptance in its present form, isn't it?

Answer: More or less yes. He says it cannot be better than this.

Question: What is your reaction to that?

Answer: Our side did not express any opinion, only listened to him. Papadopoulos too did the same. We took notes. We will talk tomorrow.

Question: You had said that the acceptance of the plan is impossible without a change to its philosophy. Is there a possibility of changing its philosophy?

Answer: No. I understand that it is not possible.

Question: Is there a surprise for the Turkish side in the plan? Is there anything new to satisfy the Turkish side, to meet its expectations?

Answer: There is only deception in it. It says it is ceding Karpass, yet at the same time sends back all the former inhabitants of Karpass, some 25,000 people in all. What sort of concession is that? All these is a trickery.

Question: Is there a possibility of you holding a referendum after 7 March. That is, holding a referendum on whether to hold a referendum [on 30 March]?

Answer: I will discuss all that with my colleagues.

[02] Mr Rauf Denktas says he will not sign the Annan plan. He is only concerned with keeping the properties seized by force from the Greek Cypriots who lived on the island for milleniums

In a statement made during the meeting with the delegation headed by Yialousa mukhtar, Mrs Vehibe Ozkasirga, Rauf Denktas said that the referendum issue came up on the agenda during his meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan yesterday. Noting that there was a request to hold a referendum even if the agreement is not signed, Denktas said that such a thing is impossible, and added:

"When the first version of the plan came, certain [opposition] leaders assembled some people into the streets, saying the plan was excellent and should be signed. We objected, saying it has parts to be corrected. Upon that came the second. It means that we were justified in not signing the first. We looked at the second and saw that it too had many parts to amend. We argued our case. The opposition did not listen to us, despite the fact that the Greek Cypriots on their part totally rejected the plan. These leaders again massed the people into the streets, demanding its immediate endorsement and signature, saying again it was an excellent plan. But our conscience could not have accepted the displacement of some 50,000 or 60,000 of our people and the return of an equal amount of Greek Cypriots amid us causing further displacement of yet another 50,000 or 60,000 Turks. That is why we could not have signed it, that is why we did not sign and endorse it. We resisted. Now the third plan has come. We are working on the third one. What does this show? That at such a bargaining touching on our fate, if they [the opposition leaders] ask us to immediately accept the plan blindly and hastily for a few sweets found there, then our bargaining power at the table will considerably diminish.

Now that Annan is here, they [the opposition leaders] are going to hold a big rally. And what message they want Annan to get? That the Turkish Cypriots are divided and that they are accepting my plan and therefore Denktas' resistance is in vain and I could go on doing what I know best. This is not the way to conduct talks. The opposition is inadvertently sawing off the branch it is sitting on.

From your perspective, the plan implies the return of the Greek Cypriots and your displacement. I ask them [the authors of the plan] where would they resettle you. They have no plan and program for this. They will build a 50-square-meter of house for a two-member family, 75-square-meter for a three-member family, and 100-square-meter for a four-member family. Apparently they are going to be apartments. What about the groves, gardens, and livestock of these people? There is no plan and program for that either.

From humanistic and human rights perspective, when massive population movements take place as a result of war, then such displacements cannot be resolved by creating new displacements. Each person's property right is met through compensation and exchange, allowing them to stay where they are. There was a reason for our causing a population exchange in 1975 and concluding a bizonal agreement with Makarios in 1977. What was the reason? We could not live together, that is why. There is danger in living together. As you noted, there could be terrorism etc. These people [Greek Cypriots] have still not renounced their plan to Hellenize the island. They claim the existence of one people in Cyprus. Where is this people? As you can see there are two peoples: one Turk and the other Greek. No, they say, there is one people but two communities. What they could not achieve through arms they are trying to achieve by deceiving the world through such tricks and masquerades, by talking about unification and EU membership. This is what we are struggling against.

Our struggle at the table as your representative is a difficult one, but we are doing all we can to achieve an agreement you deserve. What is the struggle that you deserve? It is a struggle for an agreement that would safeguard your freedom, sovereignty, separate and free existence, and continuation of the Turkish guarantorship. That is why the bizonality was accepted back in 1977. This is why the population exchange was made in 1975. They were made so that we can live comfortably like human beings without fears and conflicts, so that no one, no mother, be she Turk or Greek, cry anymore. But this plan is undermining all that endeavour. They say, yes it is undermining but only through goodwill. I do not care about its intention, I look at what it is offering. And what it offers cannot satisfy you, will greatly disturb you, will create new problems and so on. It is argued that the youth is unemployed. If so, we have to find a remedy to that. But we cannot give up the state, sovereignty, and bizonality because we have not found a remedy to it. We cannot gamble thinking that the Greek Cypriots have changed for the better and can therefore come among us. That is why, your message today will be heard by Annan, he must have already heard about it. I already told him last night how difficult, how impossible a thing is this [agreement]. I'll meet him again today. You come from a region that has created an epic with its bravery and resistance. You sacrificed your young years to this struggle. Now you have your own children. If we do not want them too to go through the same struggle, we must be a bit patient with the current hardships and stand up for the state with the awareness that these hardships are passing things. This is what you have already been doing, and I thank you for that. God bless you all."

[03] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader at the end of the talks with the UN Secretary-General

When asked whether he will visit Ankara, Denktas, said: "There is reason now to visit Ankara and most probably I will go".

Regarding the 10 March visit to the Hague, he said that he will go there.

He further said: "At the Hague Greece and Turkey as well will put their signatures, under this document, therefore we have to confere with Turkey to know whether Ankara will or will not sign this document. We have to take a decision between us".

[04] Denktas met with the "council of ministers" of his puppet regime. The recent developments in the Cyprus problem were assessed

Before the meeting Mr Denktas told the reporters that the UN Secretary - General asked the sides to think for ten days and answer him whether or not they accept to submit his plan to referenda. Mr Denktas added: "They want to create such a situation that even if I do not say `yes', to submit the plan to referendum before the government say `yes', before the parliament says `yes'. Even the lawyers have difficulties when they read it (the plan). We are trying to explain it for so long and it has still deficiencies. There is a lot, which has not been said. It will be unjust for the people to say `yes' or `no' to something they do not know..".

The Turkish Cypriot leader wondered whether or not by wanting to leave out all the "institutions" of his puppet regime, there was an effort to prove that there is no state in occupied Cyprus. Mr Denktas described this as "a big mistake".

Meanwhile, talking after the meeting Mr Dervis Eroglu, so-called "prime minister" of the puppet regime, said that Mr Denktas read to them the passage read by the UN Secretary-General to the leaders and added that they would evaluate Mr Annan's demand for referendum. Asked about the third Annan plan, Mr Eroglu said that there are only small changes and the UN tried not to change the balance between the sides.

[05] HURRIYET: "Operation to by-pass Denktas"

HURRIYET further reports that after yesterday's meeting with the president elect Tassos Papadopoulos and Kofi Annan, the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas declared that there will be no referendum on 30 March. Denktas went on and said: "The Secretary-General has realized that we will not sign this plan in its present form, so for this reason he wants us to put the Plan to referendum without signing it. One cannot submit an unsigned document to referendum. Neither the government nor the Parliament could do this".

[06] Erdogan will not hurry to replace Gul

The interview is as follows:

Question: Are there things you have not managed to accomplish during the first 100 days of government? Things you regret you have not achieved?

Answer: We have not achieved our promise that we would look into all the public associations and foundations, and based on their revenues, that we would retain only those that were beneficial, and allot them special revenues and expenses. We had promised to achieve that in the first three months.

We had also promised that the economic administration would be consolidated under one roof. We have not been able to do that either. Another issue concerns our steps to fight corruption. They are all at the stage of compiling information and documents at the moment.

Question: Surely, if Turkey's economy was up to par, your negotiations with the United States and the negotiations in Cyprus would have been different.

Answer: Very different. The whole thing is power, power, and power. Isn't that what makes Germany speak? Isn't that what makes France speak? Isn't that what makes Russia and China speak?

Question: So Turkey is paying the bill for its economic helplessness?

Answer: To a certain extent, yes.

Question: You are going to take part in the elections in Siirt. After being elected, will you immediately take over the post of prime minister, or will you let Abdullah Gul remain in the post for a while longer? What are your plans?

Answer: We have no such problems with the honourable prime minister. We have no such difficulty or problem, we are in no haste. Both the honorable prime minister and our other colleagues have been saying that the current conditions are abnormal. The Siirt elections must be held first. After that, we will assess the situation among ourselves, and take the steps to change the abnormal situation into a normal one.

Question: You are saying that it is preferable for the prime minister to remain in office during this war.

Answer: We will assess all that among ourselves.

Question: You are saying that you do not feel the need to hurry.

Answer: Yes, we are in no haste.

Question: You mean that the prime minister will remain in office for a while, if needed.

Answer: We do not feel the need to hurry. We are relaxed about that.

[07] 55.5% of the Turkish Cypriot youth will migrate if a solution of the Cyprus problem will not be found

According to the results of the poll, in the question "What will your preferences be If there is no solution for the Cyprus problem", 46.1% said that they will continue their lives, 32.2% said that they would migrate, 19.5% said they have not decided yet and a percentage of 1.2% did not give an answer. However, among those who will migrate there are the 55.5% of the young Turkish Cypriots, between the age of 18-24 and 37.5% of the young people between 25-34.

Higher age groups would choose migration, but in fewer percentages. For example 32.7% of the people of the age 35-44, 29.9% of the people of the age 45-54 and only 14.1% from the ages 45-54 said that would migrate as well.

Regarding the persons of professional groups that would migrate if there is no solution, the results were the following: 63.25% of the unemployed people, 56% of the students, 48% of the merchants, 40% of the teachers, and 33.7% from the tradesman would migrate.

To the question "How will the way of living be if there is no solution", 62% answered "worse", 27.7% answered, "the same", 7.2% answered "better" and a percentage of 3.1% did not give an answer. As the paper reports the age groups of 18-24, 35-44 and 45-54 were among those who answered that life in occupied Cyprus will be worse than the present without a solution.

[08] Mass rally held in occupied Nicosia. Two bombs found at Inonu square before the rally started. How the Press saw the rally

The so-called "police" found two explosives in the area prior to the rally. Wide-ranging security measures were taken. The rally ended without an incident.

The Turkish Cypriot Secondary Education Teachers' Trade Union held a strike at the schools in Kokkina and Lefka from 08:35 to 13:00, Morphou, Kyrenia, and Famagusta from 09:15 to 13:00, and Nicosia from 10:00 to 13:00.

The so-called "police" searched the area prior to the rally and found two bombs. According to a "police" disclosure later, the municipal workers discovered a suspicious package at the Inonu square and informed the police. The "police" units later established that it contained a home-made bomb that was ready to explode. The police searched the area and found another bomb. The two explosives were rendered ineffective.

The rally began after the "police" took security measures at 11:00. The majority of the participants were students. Republican Turkish Party Chairman, Mehmet Ali Talat was the first to address the rally. He said that the people who filled the squares decided in favour of the EU and noted that no one would be able to undermine the process of unity. Stressing that a solution will be found in Cyprus and peace will be established sooner or later, Talat criticized Rauf Denktas' statements on the Annan plan and accused him that he does not tell the truth to the people.

Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Ali Erel addressed the rally after Talat. He said that the solution of the Cyprus problem was very close and that the people filled the squares to determine their future.

Next to address the rally was the mainland Turkey Freedom and Solidarity Party leader, Hayri Kozanoglu. Stressing that unity and solidarity will lead to victory, he asserted that the Turkish Cypriots would definitely be able to achieve peace. Kozanoglu said that an agreement in Cyprus would clear the way for Turkey.

Speaking on behalf of the Operation to Save the Future, Dogus Derya assured that the young people would maintain their effort to contribute towards peace in Cyprus.

Communal Liberation Party so-called "deputy", Mustafa Akinci was the last to address the rally. He said that the people were making an effort to determine their future and expressed this conviction that the determination of the people will definitely lead to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

A draft communique, dated 27 February, was read. It called for the solution of the Cyprus problem in accordance with the Annan plan. It said that the final modified version of the plan should be accepted and all the necessary democratic initiatives should be undertaken for a referendum on 30 March.

Meanwhile, NTV MSNBC (27.02.03) describes the rally as "massive pro-reunification demo" and adds that it "was the largest rally" in the history of the Turkish Cypriots, as "nearly one third of the population" of the occupied areas took part in it. NTV notes that up to 70,000 Turkish Cypriots took part in the demonstration.

Furthermore, the Turkish Cypriot press (28.02.03) covers the rally as follows:

KIBRIS publishes a big picture of the rally on its front page and detailed reportage on other pages. The title used on the front page is: "The people reiterated their decision. Solution and EU". Above the title the paper writes that in spite of the threats by unknown persons and the fact that bombs with high demolition power had been found at the rally place, nothing could prevent tens of thousands of people from gathering at Inonu Square.

Under the banner front-page title "They could not silence us", YENI DUZEN refers to the bomb incident and publishes a letter sent prior to the rally to those who intented to participate in it. The letter called on "those who under the name of a rally are selling the territories, which we made our home" to come to their senses and adds that they would be asked to give account. "Come to the rally and enter your name into the black list", continued the letter.

Under the banner front-page title "Rehearsal for a mass crime", AFRIKA notes that the square would be shed with blood if the bombs exploded. The paper publishes also big pictures from the rally.

Under the banner front-page title "Even the bombs were not enough", ORTAM notes that ignoring the bomb incident tens of thousands of Turkish Cypriots gathered and shouted once more that they want solution of the Cyprus problem, peace and joining the EU.

KIBRISLI covers the rally under the banner front-page title "The people will solve it" and adds: "Yesterday the master of the country was at the squares".

VATAN publishes a picture from the rally on its front page and a reportage in its inside pages.

BIRLIK publishes a small reportage and two pictures from the rally in its second page.

VOLKAN is the only paper, which has no reference to the event. Under the banner front-page title "40 thousand hencoops to 145 thousand refugees", the paper refers to statements made by Mr Rauf Denktas regarding the houses, which, according to the Annan plan, will be built for those Turkish Cypriots who will return the Greek Cypriot houses they are living in to their legal owners.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Ertugrul Ozkok: "So the National Security Council is useful to everybody"

He says, however, that this dilemma is not an innocent dilemma. It is premeditated, deliberate and intentional.

Subtitle: "So the National Security Council is useful to everybody" "Most of the people who are engaged in politics in the ranks of the Justice and Development Party (JDP) have supported the view that the National Security Council (NSC) is not a democratic institution.

For years they directed the harshest criticism to this institution.

People who considered themselves liberals and democrats have done everything possible to belittle the NSC.

When Kemal Dervis raised his voice and said that 'institutions like the NSC, and countries like Turkey need such establishments' these liberal and democratic circles almost crucified him.

But just look at the point that we have arrived at today.

And when taking a difficult and historic decision is in question all the previously said statements were forgotten and the ball is thrown to the NSC court. Even a party that holds the majority in the Parliament that has the power to change the Constitution feels the need of getting the support of the NSC for taking this decision.

In my view they are right, they are not doing something wrong.

But, with this action they have acknowledged, besides the constitutional legitimacy, the 'political legitimacy 'of the NSC.

From now on nobody should come forward and question the legitimacy of this institution.

At least if they are not double faced people", Ertugrul Ozkok concludes.

[10] Turkish Cypriot columnist argues that the "war of nerves" between Ankara and Denktas will be "decisive" for the developments in the Cyprus problem

".Will Denktas give a positive answer today to the Secretary - General? Will he approve the time - table regarding the referendum? According to Denktas' advisor, Mutaz Soysal the answer to all these questions is `no'. .Denktas yesterday met with the `council of minister' and heard similar views from Eroglu. . Therefore Denktas will not give a `yes' or `no' answer today to Annan. He will ask for time as he usually does. He will try to gain time and in fact he will try to get rid of the referendum, which he fears a lot. The officials of the National Unity Party will be part of this scenario. .

Very well, will the UN Secretary - General Annan return to New York empty handed? According to diplomatic sources, before coming to Cyprus, the UN Secretary-General Annan has ensured that nothing would go wrong this time. According to circles close to Annan, going to referenda before signing was in details discussed in Ankara. Annan secured guarantees from the government in Ankara regarding the referenda. Greece has also approved this. And thus he came to Cyprus having these guarantees in his pocket.

Information we acquired yesterday by sources close to Justice and Development Party, are confirming this. It is said that these guarantees lie under the disagreement through the media between Denktas and JDP leader Erdogan. Denktas is said to have proposed a referendum before 30 march in order to prevent the guarantee given to Annan. .

Very well, what will happen now? .A procedure extended to next week will start for the referendum. The war of nerves between Ankara and Denktas will be decisive in this procedure. .".

/SK

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