Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-03-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader to visit Ankara on 5 March.

[02] Denktas tells the Turkish Cypriots not to hurry because the Annan plan will change again; He argues that in its present form the plan could not be submitted to referendum.

[03] Turkish diplomatic sources on the strategy to be adopted during Denktas' contacts in Ankara.

[04] The workshop and vehicle of active member in the rally for peace under attack in occupied Nicosia.

[05] "Why: `An inch of land could not be given' and why NO to Peace? Denktas' island".

[06] Dervis Eroglu stated that the pseudogovernment must decide before the pseudoassembly regarding the referendum.

[07] The majority of the Turkish Cypriot parties are reportedly positive to the 30 March referendum.

[08] The economic cuts in Turkey will affect the "TRNC" as well.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] "Denktas will not enter a game which he is going to lose", argues a columnist in AFRIKA.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader to visit Ankara on 5 March

Efforts will be exerted to determine a joint stand on Annan's latest proposal at the meetings Denktas will hold in Ankara.

Meanwhile, according to KIBRIS (04.03.03), during his visit Mr Denktas will be accompanied by the so-called prime minister Dervis Eroglu and the so-called deputy prime minister, Serdar Denktas.

[02] Denktas tells the Turkish Cypriots not to hurry because the Annan plan will change again; He argues that in its present form the plan could not be submitted to referendum

Denktas argued: "The Greek Cypriots will join the EU, even if they say `no' or `yes' to the plan and whatever the Turkish side does. Then what are we hurrying for? I also insist. This plan will change".

Noting that he would go to Ankara this week, Mr Denktas said: "Ankara is obliged to support the signature wanted from us with its own signature. Will Turkey go to the Hague and sign? Can it sign? Who has the authority to do this? Turkey will surely consider all these".

Mr Denktas described the UN plan for Cyprus as an "incomplete" plan and underlined that the so-called "government" of his puppet regime also opposes the plan, which "needs fundamental amendments".

Referring to the referendum issue, Mr Denktas claimed that the so-called "government" had the "constitutional responsibility" for it and added that if the plan is to be submitted to the people, it has to be accepted first. The Turkish Cypriot leader reiterated that neither the "administration" of the occupied areas nor he accept the plan and claimed that pressure and efforts are exerted in order to force him give a positive or a negative answer to the plan.

The Turkish Cypriot leader referred again to the aspects of the plan, which he could not accept and inter alia said that the Turkish army would be "very ineffective" in case the plan was accepted because they would need the permission of the UN to go out of their camps. "Even the military wing of Turkey does not accept this plan. Why should I accept it? Have I the right to do this?", he wondered.

Mr Denktas argued also that "there is no meaning in going to the Hague in order to say `no' to conducting a referendum on 30 March and added that he had written a letter to the UN Secretary - General, Kofi Annan. Noting that he is waiting for a reply from Mr Annan, Mr Denktas said that in the letter he asked the Secretary-General whether or not he wants the two leaders to go to the Hague irrespective of what their answer regarding a referendum on 30 March will be.

Mr Denktas said that the UN asked the sides to decide until today by 17:00 on the names of the three foreign judges who will be appointed to the Supreme Court of the common state to be created according to the Annan plan. He said that they had no sufficient information about these judges, that they were not able to answer, that hey gave an oral answer and they are about to send a letter on the issue. "Such a pressure and insistence was never seen before", he added.

Meanwhile, talking yesterday during one of his meetings with a delegation from London which had visited him to express support to his policy, Mr Denktas argued that there was not enough time until 25 or 30 March to complete the laws included in the plan and reiterated that in its present form the plan could not be submitted to referendum.

[03] Turkish diplomatic sources on the strategy to be adopted during Denktas' contacts in Ankara

Since Prime Minister Abdullah Gul's visit to Cyprus was postponed, it is being said that a summit meeting with a wide participation, in addition to the bilateral meetings, might be held during the visit Denktas is expected to make to Ankara this week. Diplomatic sources note that the essence of the changes made to the Annan plan envisage a process that might work against the Turkish side in the future, adding that Ankara shares Denktas' concerns with regard to the content of the plan. The sources recall that if Denktas signs the document to hold a referendum, then Turkey, as a guarantor country has to sign it as well, adding: This is tantamount to binding the votes of the Turkish Cypriots and the will of the Turkish people, thus creating a legal problem in practice because this is an issue that requires a parliamentary decision.

While both Denktas and Papadopoulos, the new Greek Cypriot leader, are expected to go to the Hague to reject the proposal to hold a referendum, the item on Ankara's agenda is to devise a strategy aimed at preventing claims that it was the Turkish side that rejected the proposal, NTV concludes.

[04] The workshop and vehicle of active member in the rally for peace under attack in occupied Nicosia

The hard glasses of the workshop were broken as a result of stones thrown on them while the vehicle in the parking place was set on fire, but the damage was curtailed thanks to the rainy weather.

According to the paper, Mr Yucener was active in the organization of the mass rally in favour of a solution to the Cyprus problem and accession to the EU on 27 February carrying posters and flags, but unknown persons took photos of him when he was carrying the posters and the flags to the rally.

Inhabitants of the area said that if the weather was not wet and rainy the whole area would suffer a great damage from the fire on Yucener's vehicle.

On his part, Mr. Yucener stated that he had suspected something when he was being photographed while carrying posters and flags for the rally, he called on the so-called police to arrest the perpetrators of the attack and concluded:

"Those against the solution, who think that their interests will be harmed by the demonstrations of the Turkish Cypriots in favour of peace, were seized with panic".

[05] "Why: `An inch of land could not be given' and why NO to Peace? Denktas' island"

The paper reports that in 1986 the occupation regime has started to distribute title deeds for the properties which belong to the Greek Cypriots. It reports that this has been done despite the fact that they knew that these title deeds, according to the international law, were not valid and that they would create major problems in the future.

The paper goes on and reports that "one of the first persons that received title deed was Rauf Raif Denktas. that is the President.the site for which he had received the title deed is a military area close to civilian settlement.that is the Snake Island. In 1986 it became 'The island of Denktas'. from that day on: "an inch of land could not be given" became of a slogan that is going on until now.

YENIDUZEN then gives the details of the title deed as follows:

Title deed no: 2431

Value of the points: 2374921

Name: Rauf Raif Denktas

Town/Village: Snake island location/ Templos- Kyrenia

Map No: XII -12.w.2

Parcel No: 2/2/2/22, 23, 24, 16 -2 Donums -1Plot for housing-two houses and courtyard. Date of issue: 14/07/1986

·	Five rooms in the ground and first floor
·	One guest room -one dining room
·	One kitchen
·	Two bathrooms
·	Two WCs
·	One store room
·	One garage
·	Veranda
·	One swimming pool
·	Courtyard

YENIDUZEN reports that it will continue to publish such title deeds.

[06] Dervis Eroglu stated that the pseudogovernment must decide before the pseudoassembly regarding the referendum

According to the paper, Mr Eroglu said that due to the fact that the issue of the referendum is important, the "government" must decide before the so-called assembly regarding its submission or not. He said that after the discussion of this matter, the "government" would send its evaluation to the political parties of the pseudostate to decide as well. He also said that there is plenty of time till the 30th of March, when the referendum may be held, for the so-called officials of the pseudostate to make their decision.

Moreover, as the same paper reports, during a meeting he had with some Trade Unions, Mr Eroglu expressed his disapproval regarding the UN plan. Mr Eroglu, who alleged that the UN Plan created instability in the puppet regime, said that the Annan Plan caused anxiety to the persons living in the pseudostate who wonder about their future and about the need to abandon their residences. He also claimed that the economic activity in the pseudostate was halted due to the UN Plan.

Mr Eroglu alleged that with this Plan "no Turk would be left in Cyprus in the near future" and that if thousands of people will have to leave their place, this agreement is impossible. He also called for unity and cooperation in order for the "national cause" to be secured.

[07] The majority of the Turkish Cypriot parties are reportedly positive to the 30 March referendum

According to Bayrak's correspondent, the leaders and representatives of the above-mentioned parties met today between 9:30 and 10:45 am. The illegal station reported that according to the conclusion one could reach by the statements of the leaders after the meeting, the Republican Turkish Party, the Communal Liberation Party, the Democratic Party and the Progressive Renewal Party "have a positive approach" to conducting a referendum on 30 March.

On the other hand, so-called "prime minister" Dervis Eroglu's National Unity Party, has not decided yet, as its organs are expected to convene today to discuss the issue.

Furthermore, the leaders of the parties are expected to meet again on Thursday in order to continue discussing the issue.

In the meantime, RTP and CLP have prepared a so-called "draft-law" regarding the referendum. This "draft-law" is expected to be discussed at the "assembly".

The "assembly" of the puppet regime is expected today in the afternoon to discuss the amendments on the Annan plan.

[08] The economic cuts in Turkey will affect the "TRNC" as well.

However, as KIBRIS reports, the measures which the Government announced in order to increase savings and revenues, will affect the life in "TRNC" because it is estimated that such savings from the appropriations of funds for the "TRNC" are estimated to be about 50 trillion TL.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] "Denktas will not enter a game which he is going to lose", argues a columnist in AFRIKA

".Unfortunately, the opposition parties do not know Denktas. He will not enter into a game he is going to lose. When he entered into a game, he had safeguarded beforehand that he would win and he did win. Until today he won despite the (will of the) people. .Now everybody is deeply occupied with the referendum. Will it be conducted or not? This is the last gaffe of the opposition parties, which behave as if they do not know who the voters will be in this referendum.

If tomorrow Denktas understands that he is at a deadlock, he could even resign. In such a case, neither a referendum nor a plan will remain. The constitution of the 'TRNC' will enter into force and within 45 days elections must be conducted.

This procedure will be like a medicine for Denktas. He will put his military boots on. He will take the army with his side. Those who are saying that 'Denktas is finished', will be dealt another blow and this issue will last for another 40 years.

The Turkish Cypriots will emigrate and be annihilated. Who cares about this? The Turkish Cypriots have increased a lot. They have gone beyond the limits. They have filled up the squares. Let them go away and let others take their place. This is what they want. Turks will go away and other Turks will come. Our opposition is still in the parliament. .".

/SK

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