Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-04-22

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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 puppet regime announces that it would permit the free movement.

[02]Mr Mehmet Ali Talat calls the Greek Cypriots tricksters.

[03] The "Platform This Country is Ours" is having contacts in Ankara and Istanbul.

[04] Instead of abiding by the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Bulent Arinc advises recourse to the Court by the Vakif.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] Columnist in SABAH newspaper supports that "Cyprus is a lost case".

[06] A new rood map regarding Cyprus from Erdogan and Gul.

[07] Another source of dispute in the Middle-East water!

[08] Comments of the Turkish Cypriot Press on the announcement of the puppet regime regarding the free movement

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The puppet regime announces that it would permit the free movement

According to the decision of the regime, the Greek Cypriots could be visiting the occupied areas between 09:00 and 24:00 hours and could enter the pseudostate by presenting their passport. They would not have to fill any document or sign anything, continues KIBRIS adding that in the same way the occupation regime would permit the Turkish Cypriots to visit the free areas of Cyprus for 24 hours. The Turkish Cypriots who wish to do this would have to present their identity card and they would be allowed to carry with them only personal belongings.

Mr Denktas described these measures as a decision towards "normalization". In statements to KIBRIS he said: "The council of ministers examined today (yesterday) the situation and approved the normalization of the crossings between the South and the North.

Those who would come to the North from the South will be able to visit the North provided that they prove their identity by presenting their passport. Very naturally they will be applying our laws and rules. They will be able to cross over with their car as well. Therefore they will be making one-day car insurance. This will be done so that the police could find them in case of a car accident.

The citizens who will be crossing over from the North to the South will be registered by presenting their identity card or their passport. They will have to return back on the same day at 24:00 hours. This practice will be valid at Pergamos, at the 2.5 Mile-Point in Famagusta and at the Ledra Palace borders. At the Ledra Palace this will be applied immediately. At the 2.5 Mile-Point and at Pergamos it will enter into force as soon as the technical infrastructure there is completed".

Meanwhile, KIBRIS reports also that the so-called "council of ministers" is examining "regulations" regarding the trade between the occupied and the free areas of Cyprus. According to a decision taken by the "council" on 16 April the puppet regime will permit the free trade in Cyprus. The "council" is expected to complete the examination of the issue within the next few days.

[02] Mr Mehmet Ali Talat calls the Greek Cypriots tricksters

"The Republican Turkish Party (RTP) Chairman Mehmet Ali Talat, who is already certain to be the winner of the elections, which should be held next December in the `TRNC', conveyed his thoughts to the VATAN newspaper on the subject of the talks he realized the day before yesterday [Saturday, 19 April] with the Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis and the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in the Greek Cypriot section and the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Subtitle: The Greek Cypriots Cannot Resist

Mr Talat spoke by saying, "Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan should come here. We should sit at the negotiation table with the Greek Cypriots. The Greek Cypriots got the EU membership and put it into their pockets. But if we were to demand our own rights, then they could not resist too much. Ankara has followed a wrong policy, thanks to Mr. Denktas." Mr Talat claimed that the deep state and bureaucracy in Ankara misinformed the General staff and added: "We will convince Ankara".

Subtitle: I Can Solve the Problem

The RTP Chairman Mehmet Ali Talat drew attention that Ankara would listen to him and after winning the `elections' and becoming the `prime minister', he would explain the Cyprus problem to Ankara and spoke as follows: "I can solve the Cyprus problem. This problem should definitely be solved, both for the `TRNC' and for Turkey. Let me clearly state the following: Turkey cannot join the EU unless the Cyprus problem is solved. The Greek Cypriots are opposed to the Annan Plan. I will show that they are tricksters. In my plan, the Turkish Cypriots should have the Foreign Ministry or the Europe Ministry. Especially, it is absolutely necessary for the Foreign Ministry to be given to the Turkish Cypriots. If the `TRNC' would solve the Cyprus problem, then the unproductive economy here will be finished and everything will be done according to the EU standards".

[03] The "Platform This Country is Ours" is having contacts in Ankara and Istanbul

The delegation is composed, among others, of the General Secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer, the so-called Assembly member of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP), Mr Mehmet Emin Karagil, the Chairman and the member of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, Mr Ali Erel and Mr Mustafa Demdelen, the President of the Turkish Cypriot Secondary Schools Teachers' Trade Union, Mr Ahmet Barcin and the Chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Employers' Association, Mr Ozdil Nami.

The delegation yesterday met in Ankara with representatives of the Justice and Development Party and the Republican People's Party and with officials of the Union of Turkish Chambers and Stocks.

Today the delegation is going to Istanbul for talks with representatives of Trade Unions and Employers' organizations.

In statements on behalf of the delegation, Mr Ali Erel said that the visit's aim is to have talks on the issue of achieving a solution to the Cyprus problem until May 2004 on the basis of the Annan plan.

[04] Instead of abiding by the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Bulent Arinc advises recourse to the Court by the Vakif

Mr Arinc made the statements at Manisa, Western Turkey, during the opening ceremony of the local religious office.

Mr Arinc alleged that in Cyprus, which suffered for decades under Ottoman occupation, and since 1974 under the military occupation of Turkey, even today the Islamic civilization, called Vakif civilization is present in every corner of the island.

Mr Arinc went as far as to allege that the water Board that supplies water to Larnaca city was established by the Muslims and is a Vakif.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] Columnist in SABAH newspaper supports that "Cyprus is a lost case"

In short, instead of being rational, with 'alaturka' mentality Cyprus has been turned into a small Turkey. The kid followed into the steps of her mother. Just as Turkey collapsed economically, likewise the `TRNC' collapsed.

Most probably this is our destiny as Turks; get together and not direct our energy to development and progress.

Until 1974 there was Greek -Turkish conflict in Cyprus. When in 1974 Turkey occupied one third of the island and Cyprus was divided into two clear ethnic regions the conflict became economic.

Rauf Denktas and the people he gathered around him, people like Mumtaz Soysal, who still maintains 19th century mentality, never understood that the war was over and the Turkish side won the war. They were unable to realize that peace will be won by those who succeed in the economy. They do not know even the 'e' of the economy. Their very existence, their life is built on struggle, fight, hatred and blind nationalism.

Hundreds of millions of USD sent from Turkey were wasted. While the Greek Cypriots with per capita income of 15,000 USD are entering the EU the Turks still drill on 2,600 USD. And if Turkey cuts the aid this would drop to 600 USD.

There is a movement among the Turkish Cypriots who want to reach an agreement with the Greek Cypriots and this movement is gaining momentum. The Turkish Cypriots no more trust Denktas. When Denktas wants to talk he goes to Anatolia because he is unable to face his people.

The worsening of the situation in the `TRNC' will continue, because the political will to solve the Cyprus problem does not exist in Turkey. The Justice and Development Party (JDP) in the first days of its being government had a strong desire to solve the problem . However , at present the JDP gave up , it neither has something to do at the diplomatic arena nor has it a formula to put the economic problems into order in the north.

The world did not adopt the two state formulas that Turkey wants to see on the island. No state in the world recognized the `TRNC' and no one will recognize it-as the results of the JDP contacts with the Arab countries showed.

It is time to accept the realities and change the course."

[06] A new road map regarding Cyprus from Erdogan and Gul

"Interviewed on ATV last Sunday by daily Sabah's Muharrem Sarikaya and Okan Muderrisoglu, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan made curious remarks about a potential switch to a presidential or semi-presidential system.

Erdogan had raised that issue in the past as well. Obviously he still has that on his mind. He has not given up. He believes that the country can be governed better with such a system. Just like Ozal did.

It is obvious that Erdogan wants to "complete" certain policies Ozal had failed to bring to a conclusion. Erdogan insists a lot, for example, on privatization. He sees privatization as the most important instrument to be used to "rescue" the economy.

Subtitle: A new road map regarding Cyprus

Immediately after the prime minister was interviewed on ATV, Abdullah Gul took part in Cafe Siyaset, the program presented by Murat Yetkin and Mete Belovacikli on CNN TURK.

Both the prime minister and the deputy prime minister made interesting remarks on Cyprus.

After Erdogan made it clear that he sticks to what he had said about Denktas in the past and that he will maintain the same stance, Gul provided a more detailed road map.

As far as I can see Turkey will keep up its efforts for a solution until May 2004. The Foreign Ministry has two alternatives on its mind:

* If, by May 2004, a solution can be reached -- after rearranging certain parts of the Annan Plan, parts that have been found hazardous -- the Turkish Cypriot side will be able to switch to full membership in the European Union.

However, that would depend on another factor as well. In other words, that can be achieved only if the Greek Cypriots adopted a more flexible stance. Now that they have gotten what they wanted the Greek Cypriots are expected to adopt a different stance.

This alternative involves a big advantage. Since things would remain within the framework of the Annan Plan the Turkish side would gain significant advantages. It would govern itself, stand on its feet.

* If no solution can be reached by May 2004, the `TRNC' will have to wait until Turkey becomes a full member of the EU. In that case the `TRNC' would not be able to get as many advantages as it would under the Annan Plan. The `TRNC' would have to content itself with the EU's "acquis". In other words all it would get would be enhanced minority rights.

Furthermore, since the `TRNC' would have to wait for no less than 10 years for Turkey's full membership, there would be tension in the `TRNC'. Also the international courts may decide that the Turkish side should pay compensation. Those would be big sums.

Turkey had abandoned some time ago its policy of annexing the `TRNC'. Now it is putting pressure on the EU. It is telling the EU that they made a big mistake by admitting into their ranks a Cyprus that has not solved its problems, and that now they should force the Greek Cypriots to reach a solution. Both Erdogan and Gul insist on this point.

In this framework, we would be indicating that we do not trust the `TRNC' at all if we described as "an operation aimed at undermining the North" the proposals Greek Prime Minister Simitis made during his latest trip to Cyprus and the meeting he held with the Turkish Cypriot opposition.

On the contrary we can see this initiative as progress -- not forgetting about the ulterior motives. Indeed, by not reacting adversely the government has shown that it has a different interpretation of this development.

Let us wait and see to what extent the new Cyprus road will materialize."

[07] Another source of dispute in the Middle-East water!

The commentary is as follows:

It is my sincere belief that once "the Iraqi War" has opened Pandora's Box, problems in the Middle East will not be settled until many and many related issues are resolved starting with the "Palestinian Problem".

From the perspective of Turkey the source of uneasiness seems to be the "northern Iraq problem" but I believe that there is a more fundamental problem that can easily put Turkey into conflict with her neighbors in her southeast: Water!

Professor Yuksel Inan states that:

In the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, water resources such as the Nile, Jordan, Tigris and Euphrates rivers, are not rich enough to meet all the needs of the regional states. Water is indeed a scarce commodity in the region.

Two major rivers of the Middle East are the Euphrates and Tigris both of which originate in Turkey and flow through territories of Syria and Iraq.

During the construction of Ataturk Dam, Turkey planned to hold 48.5 billion cubic meters of water and promised Iraq in a protocol signed in Damascus on July 17, 1987 that it would release not less than 500 cubic meters per second on average per year. The annual flow released downstream in the years 1996, 1997 and 1998 was around 800 cubic meters per second.

On the other hand, Syria and Iraq in a bilateral agreement made in 1993 and relying on the 1987 protocol, shared the waters of the Euphrates on the ration of 42:58 and registered this document at the U.N.

The release of 500 cubic meters per second on average per year from the Euphrates amounts to a potential of 16 billion cubic meters of water per year. This means to release around 50 percent of the potential of the Euphrates since on average it annually carries 30-32 billion cubic meters of water on Turkish territory. For a decision on equitable utilization, Turkey's contribution of 89 percent to the waters of Euphrates within its own territory should also be underlined, while Syria, by tributaries originating from Turkey, contributes almost 4 billion cubic meters/year (11 percent) and Iraq none. That all amounts to approximately 36 billion cubic meters/year. Syria uses about 3 billion cubic meters of the water and Iraq about 9 billion cubic meters of the water per year, and the rest of the water (20 billion cubic meters/year) flows directly to the Gulf.

Turkey's contribution to the potential of the Tigris, which also rises in Turkey, is about 52 percent of the annual flow and this amounts to 23-25 billion cubic meters/year. Iraq contributes about 48 percent and Syria none to the annual potential of the Tigris (49 billion cubic meters/year). Iraq uses about 12 billion cubic meters of Tigris water and the rest, 28-30 billion cubic meters/year, directly flows to the Gulf.

Turkey, as stated above, contributes 30-32 billion cubic meters of water per year to the annual water potential of the Euphrates and 23-25 billion cubic meters of water per year to the annual water potential of the Tigris. In total, Turkey's annual contribution to both rivers is 53-57 billion cubic meters of water. Turkey's estimated need for the waters of those two rivers is approximately 25 billion cubic meters of water per year. In other words, Turkey intends to use approximately 45 per cent of its contribution to the waters of those two rivers. The lower riparian states are in conflict with the upper riparian states, Turkey, about the amount of water that will be utilized. In other words, the dispute concerns the material interests of the riparian states.

To display this in figures, Turkey's possible consumption target from the water of Euphrates is 18.42 billion cubic meters per year, while Syria's is 11.30 billion cubic meters per year and Iraq's is 23.00 billion cubic meters per year. They amount to a consumption of 52.92 billion cubic meters of water per year. This creates a water deficit of 17 billion cubic meters per year since on average the Euphrates carries 35 billion cubic meters of water each year.

The possible demands on the Tigris are as follows:

Turkey 6.87 billion cubic meters per year, Syria 2.6 billion cubic meters per year and Iraq 45 billion cubic meters per year. This amounts to 54.47 billion cubic meters of water per year and means a water deficit of 5.80 billion cubic meters of water per year since the Tigris's annual water potential is 48.67 billion cubic meters/year.

Turkey can only put into economic use an amount of 98 billion cubic meters of water per year of its surface runoff. In addition to this, it has an underground potential of 12 billion cubic meters of water. At present, it can use only 40 billion cubic meters of this water, and the rest, 70 billion cubic meters of water, is unused. The economy strongly needs this water and its future use is planned.

The water quantity per capita is another factor affecting the determination of equitable utilization. Turkey has 1,830 cubic meters of water per capita per year, which is less than Iraq (2,110), but more than Syria (1,420), Israel (300), Jordan (250) and Palestine (100).

No Middle East country is water rich i.e. none has over 10,000 cubic meters per year. Water may be a prime source of conflict in the area.

Turkey should adjust her "water-policies" according to these figures promptly.

[08] Comments of the Turkish Cypriot Press on the announcement of the puppet regime regarding the free movement

".I have always been against the obstacles to the rapprochement in Cyprus. I have always felt anger about the arbitrary behaviors regarding the crossings. Therefore, I feel very pleased about the decisions, which have been taken. After saying these, let us continue by putting a big 'BUT'.

This decision was taken by the NUP - DP government. In time, we shall see how sincere they are. It is sure that they took this decision within the many contradictions they were saying when the Annan plan was being discussed. How have those, who were exaggerating and their fear on the issue of the security reached the limit of the paranoia, managed to overcome their security worries when after this decision thousands of Turkish Cypriots will be crossing over to the South? And what about the 'fear' from the Greek Cypriots who will come among us? .

To what extend has the economic aspect of the issue been discussed? Crossing over to the South means that everybody could work there. Everybody knows the difference between the salaries in the North and the South. How would the employers in the North be able to keep here the working power, which under the current conditions will flee to the South? I wonder whether in parallel with this fleeing, the door for bringing illegal working power from Turkey be opened more widely. The Annan plan approached the issue of free movement by suggesting mutual measures as time goes by. What have our people done? They have taken a decision as if telling the Greek Cypriot side and those who support the free movement in Cyprus 'here it is, take it and do whatever you want with it'.

The decision is another example of the bankruptcy of those who rule the Turkish Cypriot community. The supporters of the status quo are being shaken. When a decision is applied, there should have been and must be some coordination if this decision concerns more than one sides. . The decision of the council of ministers of the `TRNC' and the decisions to be taken by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus could open new pages in our everyday life. If our people did not fill up the squares, such decisions would not be taken. I do not say that these decisions should not be applied. Let them be applied, but how could we not remember that such decisions remind firstly the period between 1963 - 74? .The Turkish Cypriots want an honorable peace. .".

Meanwhile, Sener Levent writes in AFRIKA (22.04.03), inter alia, the following on the same issue:

"The Turkish side which has rejected the Annan plan is now being prepared to put into force its own plan. They have been opposing to the free movement in the island for so many years. Now they are opening the gates of the pen. 29 years have passed. We are not pulling the wall down. They are! .This is the most serious step of the Turkish side in Cyprus since 1974. .

What will the Greek Cypriot side say to this? .Everybody is preparing his own package, its own proposals. All of them aim at satisfying the Turkish Cypriots. .

What do all these things show to us? It shows that Turkey does not want to leave Cyprus for many years. They have a long - term plan. Therefore, they do not behave fearfully like they did in the past. They are making more courageous steps.

Could you believe that those, who were saying that they do not want the Greek Cypriots to come among us and allowed no one to cross over the southern Cyprus, would open the doors like this? You are right. Perhaps there is something else in this. Perhaps there is a 'trap'. We are used to bad things, not to good ones, are we not? We expect nothing good from this administration, this government. Especially from Denktas we expect absolutely nothing. Will they do something, which is opposite to their interests? .Again, we are fine. Let us enjoy the non-solution, if we cannot enjoy the solution. Let us go around in our country. ..Especially let us get out of this pen.".

Furthermore, under the front-page banner title "The status quo is collapsing", ORTAM (22.04.03) writes, inter alia, the following:

"The Denktas regime did not neglect to behave in a stingy manner even when lifting the one of the embargos, which it has been applying for years on its own people. It has recognized to the Turkish Cypriots, who want to cross over to the southern Cyprus, 'limited freedom of movement' from 06:30 in the morning until 24:00. Only the Turks born in Cyprus would be able to benefit from this limited freedom of movement. By the rejection of the Annan plan, the `TRNC' citizens from Turkey have lost the opportunity to be EU citizens, while now they will not be able to benefit from this 'limited freedom of movement'.".

/SK

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