Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-03-18

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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 insists on not allowing the Greek Cypriots to return to their homes and properties.

[02] Erdogan meets Gul and Ziyal.

[03] An international course for maritime personnel has started in the pseudostate.

[04] Lyn Parker: "The UN is willing to continue its Mission of Good Offices."

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] General Hilmi Ozkok said that if a Kurdish state is established Turkey will annex Cyprus.

[06] Mehmet Ali Birand stresses that by resisting the Annan Plan Turkey rejected a solution in Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader insists on not allowing the Greek Cypriots to return to their homes and properties

In statements to the press before the meeting Mr Denktas said: "Regarding the talks at the Hague there are things known and things which are not known. We shall discuss these. After this we shall examine the measures necessary for the prosperity of our people".

Strongly criticizing the Turkish Cypriot opposition for demanding a solution and repeating that if he accepted the Annan plan the Greek Cypriots would gain the right to return to their homes and properties, as if this inalienable right can ever be written off, Mr Denktas went on:

"They said we missed a great opportunity, although the plan would make Turkish Cypriots give territory from Morphou to Karpass, make 50,000-60,000 persons migrant in three years, end Turkey's guarantor status, and give Greek Cypriots the right to property as an individual right and come to "TRNC" for their properties. There had been strong lobbying undertaken to deceive our people, but it had not been successful.

We have overcome a stage. This was a very big test , and we have overturned the trick which they wanted to play. Naturally, the Greek Cypriot side helped us because they were not ready to accept the plan. They think they would enter the EU whether or not they accept the plan. Our resistance is to say `no' and act with Turkey against their views. They think they would be able to get Cyprus by saying ` we got Cyprus'. It is the duty of the Turkish Cypriots not to bow against this. This is the duty of all of us". In reply to a question whether he expects any initiatives and what will happen from now on, Mr Denktas said: "The initiative does not stop. However, if there will be initiatives they will not be in the form of `sit down and talk'. We have to determined our conditions well, put them forward and if these conditions are accepted start negotiating. In case the conditions are not accepted we should not waste time by those fantastic terminologies and plans which will be put forward by others. There is no meaning in losing time on the negotiating table. But initiatives will continue. Nobody will let this go. What are our plans and desires in the face of these initiatives? We have to put these forward in a firm and concrete manner. They are sovereignty and our state. If these are not accepted there will be no partnership. Because there will be no ground for establishing a partnership. As long as the other side brands you a minority and considers itself as your government this means that the conditions are not created for such a development".

On his part the so-called Prime Minister of the puppet regime, Mr Dervis Eroglu said that the economic package being prepared in co-operation with Turkey is at its final stage and that it will be discussed on Wednesday's meeting of the so-called cabinet.

Mr Eroglu was asked to reply to the following question posed by a journalist:

Question: The Greek Cypriot side has placed on the agenda the issue of taking economic and social measures towards the Turkish Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriot opposition is supporting this. How do you comment?

Answer: I cannot say anything about the relations of our opposition with the other side. I cannot say that we have accepted their support of such a package.

The "TRNC" people know well how to act in line with their own interests. I am sure they will not give attention to such political deceptions.

[02] Erdogan meets Gul and Ziyal

The paper reports that at the meeting the three men discussed to put into practice the decisions taken at the Cankaya Mansion, and a decree has been drafted for the USA demand of additional air corridors over Turkish territory.

[03] An international course for maritime personnel has started in the pseudostate

This is the certificate STCW-95 that is demanded by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for seamen. According to the paper, this certificate is obligatory for the maritime personnel who want to work on ships that sail in international waters.

As the paper reports this course will be given by the Faculty for Maritime of the illegal Near East University at the occupied Kyrenia harbour. The course started on the 3rd of March and will be completed on the 21st of March. Nineteen persons, personnel of the so-called Turkish Cypriot Coastal Security and Ship Rescue Company along with personnel of the so-called port authority of the Kyrenia Port will attend the course. According to the paper, personnel of the so-called port authorities of Kyrenia and the Famagusta Ports and personnel of the Power Station of the occupied Trapeza village will attend the course too.

Moreover, according to KIBRISLI, a cargo ship under the name "Asu Atun", which belongs to the A&S Atun Commerce Group started to travel under the so-called flag of the pseudostate.

The ship, which has a capacity of carrying 46 containers and a hold of 1650 DWT dry load, has carried out its firist trip between Antalya and occupied Famaugsta port.

[04] Lyn Parker: "The UN is willing to continue its Mission of Good Offices"

Despite this, the UN is willing to continue its Mission of Good Offices if there is movement on this side and unless this movement takes place the UN has very little to do.

British High Commissioner Lyn Parker made this statement when he met yesterday with the leader of the Republican Turkish Party Mehmet Ali Talat.

After the meeting Parker said that what happened in The Hague last week greatly disappointed his government in London. He said that the decision by the leadership in the north for not holding a referendum is a regrettable event.

In his turn Talat said that he shares the views of the High Commissioner regarding the Hague.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] General Hilmi Ozkok said that if a Kurdish state is established Turkey will annex Cyprus.

Cekirge writes that the General said this to him during a friendly conversation at the symposium organized by the War Academies on "Quest for Security".

"This conversation was important", says Cekirge, because he adds: "Most of the academicians, officers, ambassadors, generals and retired officers taking part in the symposium agree with General Ozkok's statement."

This is a general view from the point of the State of the Republic of Turkey.

In other words it is the irreversible 'national political decision' of the Turkish National Security Council meetings that are being held for years now.

For this reason I attach importance to General Ozkok's statement.

In one of my earlier articles I have conveyed the following observation of General Hilmi Ozkok who said: "Ten years ago the USA, with the application of the Hammer Force operation has created the ground in Northern Iraq for a Kurdish State. With the operation it will carry out now it will redesign this region up to Afghanistan. Iran as well is included in this . If need be Cyprus could be annexed."

Yes, now we have once more realized that Turkey is being squeezed by an inquisition pincer. One handgrip extends to the creation of the Kurdistan in Northern Iraq and the other handgrip of the inquisition pincer is extended to the annihilation project of the "TRNC" in East Mediterranean.

And General Ozkok with the following words replies to the Annan plan: "Turkey's guarantorship does not emanate from the EU but from agreements concluded earlier. Therefore, the EU cannot accuse Turkey of being an occupier in Cyprus", Cekirge concludes.

[06] Mehmet Ali Birand stresses that by resisting the Annan Plan Turkey rejected a solution in Cyprus

"Like so many other people I am wary of the way our country is going, generally speaking. Let us hope that our fears will not materialize. However, the current situation is grave enough for us to be stirred into action.

None of us want a war. Turkey will not fight. It is the USA that has taken the war decision and this war will take place with or without Turkey. The quarrel taking place on whether Turkey will give the support the USA seeks.

Here is another important point. Turkey does not have to accept everything. Ankara is not a capital city that says YES to every demand made by the external forces.

However, politics means calculating the "cost" well and producing alternative policies. That is what competence is all about. For example the Lausanne Treaty is not a good agreement for Turkey. It has restricted Turkey's sovereignty over the Straits. It has given the Dodecanese to Greece.

Ataturk accepted these conditions because he thought that the "alternative cost" would be too high. And, afterwards, he struck a balance to a certain extent with the Montreux agreement.

In Northern Cyprus is not the cost of a lack of solution and of the stalling of the "motion" issue, already in sight?

Will not this cost cause the Turkish people to become more impoverished?

Can a country preserve its independence and sovereignty if it remains poor? Now let us take a look at the cost to be paid for Cyprus and for the Motion.

Subtitle: In Cyprus we have blocked our own path

1. Resisting the Annan Plan, Turkey rejected a solution in Cyprus. Though its real intention may have been different it has given the impression that it wants to sit on the North of the island and that it does not want any solution.

This stance will block Turkey's path to the European Union.

The EU has announced that Turkey will be considered an invader on the island. It has embraced the idea that the full membership talks will not progress unless a solution is found in Cyprus. Brussels is angry at Ankara.

By December 2004 -- the date of the summit meeting where the decision to start accession talks with Turkey would be taken -- the Turkey-EU talks will turn into an "either EU or Cyprus" quarrel. Ankara will come under pressure from EU.

There will be an unprecedented clash between those circles who now reject the Annan Plan -- the General Staff, the RPP, the president, the Denktas team -- and those circles who see Turkey's future in the EU and who does not want Turkey to be left out of Europe. Turkey will be pushed into making a choice.

If the currently prevailing approach continues, Turkey will opt for keeping the North of the island in its hands, turning its back on the EU.

Subtitle: Strategic cooperation with the USA finished

2. While pushing its relations with the EU into a tight spot in this manner, Turkey has also damaged its relations with the USA, the world's sole super power, in a way that will take a long time to repair and will require big concessions.

The strategic cooperation from which it proudly got support all these years, is now over.

The USA, which always helped it in its relations with the IMF, sided up with Turkey in every international bottleneck, took the most important decision in the Kurdish problem and enabled Ocalan to be captured and to be handed over to Turkey's MIT, and was planning to push Turkey into the foreground as a model for the Islamic world, is no longer there.

Rightly or wrongly the Bush Administration feels that Turkey, the country it deemed the most reliable country in the region, has abandoned it halfway on the road. As Demirel says, the Bush Administration, which will obviously remain in power for at least six years, will not forget about this stance.

Washington will not give Turkey the cold shoulder entirely. However, for a long time to come, the White House will not respond to the calls placed by Ankara.

Subtitle: We cannot read the USA and the region correctly We have pushed ourselves into this spot.

If this is a policy, this is an extremely dangerous policy.

If this results from indecision or inexperience, this is something grave.

With this stance Turkey cannot be the leader of the region. It can never attain the "great state" status to which we keep referring in such a boastful manner.

Turkey is out on a limb and it is cutting off that very branch. It proves unable to take measures to repair the vulnerability of its economy. It is losing the Kurdish card in its hand.

Our country's rulers cannot read the world accurately. They cannot assess the regional developments properly. They cannot calculate the alternative costs in a realistic manner.

We are pushing our country -- with our own hands -- towards an historic crossroads, towards a quite different and dangerous path.

Judging by the quarrel over Cyprus and the Motion, Turkey is gradually distancing itself from Europe and America, the two legs of the Western world, falling into an inward-looking, too nationalist mood. What is at work is the Milosevic syndrome or a process of the Baath regime type.

This is the danger which should make all of us worried, even afraid.

Subtitle: Why does the JDP stall the motion?

Let us clarify, even to a little extent, the complex situation concerning the Motion. People close to the PM say that due to two reasons Tayyip Erdogan does not want to act in a hurry.

1. THE PARTY WOULD BE SPLIT

Erdogan's biggest worry is that if a new motion is submitted to Parliament without adequate preparation in the absence of any major developments on this issue -- in the absence, for example, of a new UN decision -- it may be rejected.

The National View proponents among the JDP deputies, especially those with a Welfare Party background and the deputies elected from the Southeastern provinces, are saying that this time too they would vote against the Motion. And, since he cannot trust those who say this time they will vote differently, Erdogan is taking his time so as not to meet with another negative result.

2. DON'T LET US BE THE ONE TO TRIGGER A WAR:

Another issue the JDP leadership is considering is the argument that if the green light were to be flashed for the USA at this stage the world might see that as pulling a trigger to start the war.

The JDP leadership has been affected by the suggestions to this effect -- coming from certain party figures and from the Islamic countries.

The Motion may be submitted after the vote of confidence, that is, next week. Erdogan's greatest expectation is, allegedly, the following scenario: War begins before Turkey flashes the green light and the Motion is pushed through Parliament with the argument, "What can we do beyond this point? There is now no other choice."

/SK

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