Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-04-11

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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 reiterates that the Annan plan is dead.

[02] Reference to Cyprus by the Turkish Foreign Minister during an interview with NTV television.

[03] Two new Turkish Cypriot newspapers went into circulation in the occupied areas.

[04] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister to visit the occupied areas for the signing of agreements and protocol after 16 April.

[05] So-called Council of Ministers meets at a special session to discuss crossing to the free areas.

[06] General Staff denies that Ozkok is unable to contain rising anti-western feeling among generals.

[07] Turkish intellectuals and artists don't want Turkey to be a strategic partner of the USA.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Turkish Cypriot columnist stresses that the Turkish Cypriots abandoned the government departments in 1963 after threats by the terrorist TMT organization.

[09] Mehmet Ali Birand analyses whether Turkey can enter Northern Iraq.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader reiterates that the Annan plan is dead

Talking at a conference at Istanbul's Dedeman Hotel, Mr Denktas noted that the basic legal structure in Cyprus is the 1960 agreements and alleged that the UN Secretary - General ignored the positions of the Turkish side in his plan. Mr Denktas argued, inter alia, the following:

"The Annan plan is full of thousands of tricks. It is not a plan that could be revived again. The stance that the Cyprus issue prevents Turkey's EU accession is wrong. A result could be achieved if Turkey extends enough support for the 1960 agreements.".

The Turkish Cypriot leader supported that acting with anxiety because of the Republic of Cyprus' accession to the EU on 16 April was wrong and reiterated his allegations that the EU could launch accession negotiations with his puppet regime because Cyprus has a geopolitical importance for the Union and the Europeans do not want a divided island.

Mr Denktas accused again the EU of trying to incite the Turkish Cypriots against him in a planned manner.

Meanwhile, talking at Turkey's Beykent University, Mr Denktas claimed that the world could not make the right diagnosis regarding the Cyprus problem and added, referring to Turkey's EU course in relation with Cyprus: "If they are going to take Turkey in the EU then why do they put forward the Cyprus issue? Their main plan is to take Cyprus first and cause Turkey a lot of trouble on other issues".

Mr Denktas argued also that the geopolitical importance of Cyprus for Turkey has increased and expressed his disagreement with some circles, which support the opposite. "If Cyprus is left to Greece then Turkey will not be a country open to the seas", he said.

[02] Reference to Cyprus by the Turkish Foreign Minister during an interview with NTV television

Following are Mr Gul's replies to questions on Cyprus and the EU:

Question: Let us move on to the Cyprus issue. Iraq is not our only problem given our geographic position. A quadripartite summit was held with the participation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, you, and your Greek counterparts. This is how I read the conclusion. Yes, let there be a solution. Both sides want a solution, but there is no progress as to the method. When will there be progress with regards to the method? What is your view? Are there any steps on this issue?

Answer: As you know, the Greek Cypriot side will accede to the EU on 16 April. This is not an issue that was decided on recently. It was decided at the Helsinki summit. Therefore, this process is continuing. Not everything ends on 16 April, however. We have once again confirmed that the doors are open. We have once again confirmed that we will mutually exert goodwill efforts toward a solution. I believe that progress will be made on this issue.

Question: Do you believe that a solution can be reached within a year, until the Greek Cypriot sector becomes an official member?

Answer: We will try very hard mutually to achieve that. We will work very hard to attain a result.

Question: The 16 April ceremony, in other words, the accession protocol of the new members, will be held in Athens. We are a candidate country. Are you considering attending this ceremony?

Answer: We will think about it.

Question: While you were in Cyprus on Saturday [5 April] NTV reported about a documentary broadcast on the Danish TV. In this documentary it could clearly be observed that the Danish premier and foreign minister aired their grievances about Germany, though Germany denied this. They talked about Fisher's demands to deceive--to use their terms--the Turks. What do you say? Is the EU trying to deceive us?

Answer: There might be some within the EU who wish to deceive Turkey for a while. They might have their own reasons. The reality is that this is a road of no return for both sides. Both for Turkey and the EU. It may be delayed for a while, but we will mutually advance on this path. We have said the following after the Copenhagen summit. From now on we will put pressure on the EU, not the EU on us. The EU will not come to us saying we should do this and that. We will be pressuring the EU from now on. Because we will fulfill whatever befalls us without anyone having the need to push us. Everyone can see that we are fulfilling our duties. If there is a party that will be pressured, it will be the EU. Certain countries were left lagging behind at the Copenhagen summit. That is in determining the date for the commencement of the negotiations. I, however, witnessed something there. German Foreign Minister Fischer exerted extra efforts to include sentences in favor of Turkey in that paragraph. I know that things happened through his efforts.

Question: Did you hold a meeting with Mr Fischer?

Answer: The sentences mentioning 2004 and the fact that the negotiations should begin without delay were included as a result of Fischer's efforts. We should believe what Mr. Fischer said. He has, in fact, denied the reports. He has said that they are not true. From that point of view, there is nothing more to say.

[03] Two new Turkish Cypriot newspapers went into circulation in the occupied areas

BIRLESHIK KIBRIS (United Cyprus) is a weekly political newspaper published by BIRLESHIK KIBRIS BASIN-YAYIN Ltd, (United Cyprus Press Publishing Ltd) and issued its first edition on Saturday 22 March 2003.

Among the columnists of the paper are Izzet Izcan, General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot "United Cyprus" political party, and Ozker Ozgur, one of the founders and Secretary for Foreign Relations of the "United Cyprus" party.

The editorial board of the paper are Zihni Uysal, Ozker Ozgur, Yalcin Okut and the cartoonist Huseyin Cakmak, whose cartoons are published by the paper.

In its inaugural editorial the paper calls on the patriot, peace-loving Turkish Cypriots to struggle for the rights of the workers, in a humane United Cyprus without exploitations, common country for everyone. The e-mail address of the paper is: bkp@birlesikkibris.com.

The second paper is YENI CIZGI (New Line) political daily published by the YENI CIZGI Matbaacilik (New Line Publishing Ltd) and its first edition was on 7 April 2003.

Under its logo the paper publishes the slogan "The Voice of Change" while in its main editorial the paper writes that it has deep faith in its state, it consciously accepts the nationalism not in words but in practice and it is not a treachery to search for a viable solution to the Cyprus problem.

In its inaugural message to its readers the paper stresses that in a period when more than ever before there is need for peace, love and solution some are trying to benefit politically causing great damage to the community. The paper promises to be the voice and ear of the people, the voice of change, and will respect the human rights in our area and the world.

The chief editor of YENI CIZGI is Mr Huseyin Kaba, who was the chief editor of YENI DEMOKRAT newspaper which stopped its publication since 12 November 2002.

YENI DEMOKRAT was the mouthpiece of the Turkish Cypriot "Democratic Party".

[04] Turkish Deputy Prime Minister to visit the occupied areas for the signing of agreements and protocol after 16 April

A delegation of Turkish technocrats will visit the occupied areas on 14 April in order to finalize the agreements and protocol to be signed on behalf of the Turkish Republic by Mr Abdullatif Sener.

High on the agenda of the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister's visit will be the economy of Turkey's puppet regime in occupied Cyprus, and, according to the paper, he will start his contacts on 17 April with a meeting with Mr Denktas.

On the same day he will meet with the puppet regime's so-called Prime Minister, Mr Dervis Eroglu, in the presence of the so-called Minister of Tourism, Mr Serdar Denktas, the so-called Economy Minister, Mr Salih Cosar and the so-called Minister of Finance, Mr Mehmet Bayram.

On the 18th of April Mr Sener will visit the commanders of the Turkish occupation army.

On the 19th of April, after the signing of the so-called agreements and protocol with Mr Eroglu, he will visit occupied Morphou, while on the 20th the fenced area of Famagusta, occupied Rizokarpasso and the illegal East Mediterranean University. He will leave the occupied areas on 21 April.

[05] So-called Council of Ministers meets at a special session to discuss crossing to the free areas

KIBRIS reports that at the meeting the issue of adopting Euro was not discussed.

On the other hand, the so-called Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Serdar Denktas, prior to the meeting, answered questions put to him by the journalists. When asked to comment on why the so-called passport legislation was withdrawn, Denktas said that they did so in order to preclude the dual nationality issue.

Moreover, YENIDUZEN newspaper (11.04.03), referring to yesterday's meeting, reports that the meeting took place at Eroglu's office in order to fend off criticism that was directed to the so -called government about the Turkish Envoy's taking part in the meetings. The paper also reports that they called it "Cabinet" meeting, instead of "Council of Ministers" meeting.

No statement was made at the end of the meeting.

[06] General Staff denies that Ozkok is unable to contain rising anti-western feeling among generals

The American Washington Post, as well as a couple of Turkish commentators, recently claimed that Ozkok was under pressure from senior commanders who want him to be more forceful with the United States regarding the northern Iraq issue.

The General Staff yesterday said in a statement, "The fact that these news stories and comments come at a time when Turkey is passing through a very critical period because of developments in Iraq, creates the kind of situation that gives food for thought."

The General Staff asked people not to pay attention to such false and distorted news and comments.

The Washington Post had said that if the Kurdish fighters control the Iraqi oil rich cities of Kirkuk and Mosul, Ozkok would face the most important decision of his 44-year military career: whether to order an invasion of northern Iraq that could lead to clashes between his troops and those of the United States and its Kurdish allies.

It was claimed that Ozkok's failure to endorse the U.S. proposal to open a northern front from Turkey has led some to question his willingness and ability to contain rising nationalist and anti-Western sentiment among his generals.

[07] Turkish intellectuals and artists don't want Turkey to be a strategic partner of the USA

The declaration was announced by painter Bedri Baykam and said the following: "We don't want to be mentioned as a strategic partner of the U.S. which blood-stains the world and ignores international law. We don't want to be the toy and colony of any imperialist country for financial aid. Turkey is strong enough to overcome all economic problems. We, Turkish citizens, don't want to be managed by governments which take political decisions for their financial interest."

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Turkish Cypriot columnist stresses that the Turkish Cypriots abandoned the government departments in 1963 after threats by the terrorist TMT organization

"Our RTP friends keep stressing on television and radio programs that the Republic of Cyprus died in 1963. Ferdi and Talat said that the flag of the Republic of Cyprus is a 'Greek Cypriot flag'. They embraced the Annan plan, which is essentially a partition plan. It is true that it could bring a better life to us, but .

Talat and his team were, like Denktas, in favour of our accession to the EU simultaneously with our occupier. This was behind the slogans 'First solution and afterwards EU'. This was one of their indispensable conditions.

Very well. Whom were we going to be saved from? The answer is from the bad economic situation. However, at the first stage the patriots should struggle for the end of the existing occupation. This is the status quo. The TRNC is the other name of the occupation. The TRNC is the status quo. Playing the game of being the government in this regime, means being servant of the status quo.

Deceiving the people for so many years was not enough and they are still trying to deceive them with their lies, as if the status quo is not the occupation, but the TRNC government.

Saying that the Republic of Cyprus was violently seized by the Greek Cypriots in 1963, means taking a side in the partition struggle. However, everybody knows the truth, which is that immediately after the 1963 incidents the leadership of TMT was threatening the Turks to abandon the government departments. It is true that the Greek Cypriots were ready for this. However, we have prepared the ground for them. In March 1964 we, with our signature, gave them the right to be considered as the legitimate government of Cyprus, because this suited Rauf, who gave an oath for the partition. This suited the British and the Americans too.

They are talking about minority rights. Those who, when the Annan plan is discussed, say that no minorities could exist within the EU evaluate as minority rights the rights which the Turkish Cypriots will be possessing in case they join the EU under the flag of the Republic of Cyprus. This could not happen! Could a minority exist within the EU?! Afterwards, everyone could accept it or could not accept it. Shouting and screaming is meaningless. Does boiling over with rage because you were given only a little from the inheritance that you had not supported and rejected, mean anything? Have you any rights in this land where the ambassador of Turkey and the generals rule? What are the rights of the Turkish Cypriots here and you say that their rights in the Republic of Cyprus are minority rights?

You have charted your way. You are searching for ways to accede to the EU together with your Motherland. We shall accede with the Republic of Cyprus. Our state will not be illegal. It will be under occupation. Even Hasan has realized this. He understood that we are ready to become MPs. Is it not our right? We desire to become MPs. .We desire to become MPs in the Republic of Cyprus. We are going to take instructions from our people, not from Ankara as you do! We are going to support our country and we are not going to hand it over to another country. We are not going to accept instructions from another country".

[09] Mehmet Ali Birand analyses whether Turkey can enter Northern Iraq

"Now our attention is being diverted to Northern Iraq.

While the South and Baghdad are controlled by the coalition partners to a great extent there are reports of resistance coming from Kerkuk-Mosul.

Until now Turkey has kept saying, "We would enter Northern Iraq if we deemed it necessary." For the first time on April 9 Turkey clarified the terms of intervention:

1. If Kurds attempt to attack Turkomans and bring about a population shift in the Kerkuk-Mosul region the Turkish Armed Forces will intervene.

2. If Kurds set up an administration in Kerkuk and Mosul and brought these cities under their control, that situation too would be considered grounds for an intervention.

However, at this spot now everything is in the USA's hands.

It has been seen clearly by now that there will be no mass migration of refugees in Northern Iraq. Worries to this effect have been allayed.

That leaves the Kurds' general approach.

And the Kurds' stance is dependent on the USA. If Washington flashes the green light Kurds can take Kerkuk. In fact, in that case, they can do whatever they like.

The scenes observed on April 9 indicated that Kurds were not exactly under control. These scenes upset Ankara.

Can Turkey stage a military intervention due to these scenes?

I must say that that would be very difficult if not downright impossible.

If they crossed into Northern Iraq Turkish troops would come face to face with the American army. Trying to drive the Kurds out of Kerkuk at the cost of clashing with the USA would amount to plunging this country into an extremely risky situation.

On the other hand, if Washington wants to have a long-term relationship with Turkey, Washington must be extremely careful about the Turkish sensitivities rather than trying to benefit from the fact that Turkey has come under strain."

/SK

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