Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-05-13

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas expresses hope that Mr Tomas Weston will not exert pressure during his forthcoming visit in Cyprus.

[02] Confusing statements from the Turkish side about withdrawal of the occupation troops after the "non-solution is not a solution" rhetoric.

[03] The supporters of the solution are still being threatened in the occupied areas.

[04] Erbakan was re-elected leader of the Felicity Party.

[05] Reference to Cyprus by the Italian Prime Minister during a press conference in Ankara.

[06] Mehmet Ali Talat called on the Turkish Cypriots to be aware of new provocations by Denktas.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Is Erbakan a threat to the JDP?

[08] Columnist in AFRIKA warns Greek Cypriots not to fall in Denktas' trap by applying to the occupation courts for their seized by force properties.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas expresses hope that Mr Tomas Weston will not exert pressure during his forthcoming visit in Cyprus

Responding to questions at the illegal Lefkoniko airport after he returned from Turkey, Mr Denktas noted that he had no official information about Mr Weston's visit and added: "Let him come. We shall tell him whatever we have been telling him for one and a half years and he will say the same things he has been saying during this period. We hope that he will not come to exert pressure, because the existing situation is not for exerting pressure. .When we opened the doors we wanted the two sides to meet each other and to accept the equality and the sovereignty of each other. We also wanted them to see that we were not about to be annihilated. I wish this to help in the creation of a healthy ground ".

Commenting on the information that the British Special Representative for Cyprus, Lord David Hanney would leave his duties, Mr Denktas said: "Probably, he has fulfilled his duty and a page has been closed. Let us hope for the best".

[02] Confusing statements from the Turkish side about withdrawal of the occupation troops after the "non-solution is not a solution" rhetoric

Replying to reporters' questions in Antalya, Denktas explained that an interview he granted to a Greek Cypriot newspaper was wrongly translated. Denktas underlined that the Turkish military presence in Cyprus is the necessary condition of being a guarantor country.

He said: "In the written response I submitted, there is no such thing. Turkey's effective and de facto guarantee is needed, not just its guarantee. Effective and de facto guarantee consists of the right to intervene, and consequently a continued military presence in Cyprus in order to undertake this."

Denktas also stated that unification in Cyprus can be possible only through the EU.

He said: "This application is not legal. It runs counter to the 1960 agreements, because Cyprus cannot join an organization in which Turkey is not also a member. The whole aim was to join the EU, of which Turkey is not a member, and complete by means of the EU what they failed to achieve through the use of force, and attain enosis indirectly."

Meanwhile Istanbul NTV Television (12.05.03) broadcast that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul supports the proposal of Rauf Denktas, that the Turkish occupation troops should gradually withdraw from the island if the Greek Cypriot side recognizes Turkey's guarantor status.

In a joint news conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Pasi in Sofia, Gul replied to reporters' questions on Cyprus. Gul was reminded by journalists about Denktas' remarks that the Turkish occupation troops can gradually withdraw from the island if the Greek Cypriot side recognizes Turkey's guarantor status. Gul said: "No doubt, when a lasting solution is reached on the island, the Turkish soldiers could gradually withdraw from Cyprus."

[03] The supporters of the solution are still being threatened in the occupied areas

[04] Erbakan was re-elected leader of the Felicity Party

Of the 1,153 registered delegates, 968 voted, and Erbakan received all of the valid votes -- 960. He became the leader of his fourth party today, after having led the NOP [National Order Party], the NSP [National Salvation Party], and the WP [Welfare Party], in that order.

The 50 members of the General Administrative Council were also elected at the Congress, as were the 11 members of the High Disciplinary Council.

[05] Reference to Cyprus by the Italian Prime Minister during a press conference in Ankara

Replying to a question on Cyprus, Mr Berlusconi, whose country will hold the EU chair in the second half of 2003, said they will exert any effort for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. He also added that he is ready to visit Cyprus together with Erdogan and Simitis for this purpose.

[06] Mehmet Ali Talat called on the Turkish Cypriots to be aware of new provocations by Denktas

Talat also called on the Turkish Cypriots who support peace and the democratic forces of Turkey and Europe to be vigilant of the "new provocations by Denktas".

Moreover, Talat said that the real blow is being dealt by Denktas, who does not hear the will of the Turkish Cypriots and denies the decision of the people and the "assembly" to carry out a referendum. He called on Denktas to open his cards and discuss the Cyprus problem openly to the people.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Is Erbakan a threat to the JDP?

So Turkey's father of political Islam is back in active politics after being elected chairman of the Felicity Party (FP) at a convention in Ankara.

We have deep respect for Mr Necmettin Erbakan who is not only a leader of high quality but a person who knows the state well and has always gone out of his way to protect it. Much has been said against him that we do not share.

At the age of 77 he is back in active politics and has already shown his teeth to the ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP) whose roots are based in the Islamic political movement. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was from Erbakan's stable just like Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minster Abdullah Gul. Most of the JDP people have some kind of association with Erbakan but they have all disapproved of the way he has run the political Islamic movement and feel religion should not be used for political aims.

They emerged as the reformists within the Erbakan movement and challenged him and his associates openly. Later, when the Virtue Party closed down they parted ways with Erbakan and set up the JDP which came to power only one and a half years after being established.

Now people are speculating that with Erbakan leading the FP it could split the JDP and attract some of its deputies.

Those making such statements seem to miss the fact that it was as much Erbakan who lost the elections in November as the FP. He attended most of its rallies as a "guest" but he was always the star figure who addressed the gatherings and lambasted the JDP . Erbakan specifically asked his followers to vote for FP and not for JDP. Despite his efforts the FP hardly won 2 percent of the national votes, which was a disaster for him and FP.

Most of the former supporters of Erbakan opted for the JDP in the elections. They are roughly about ten percent out of the 34 percent the JDP won in the polls.

So it would have been more advisable for Erbakan not to enter party politics and remain apolitical as the "one who knows" and who should be consulted whenever necessary. Demirel did this and now he is a respected personality by everyone.

But it seems Erbakan wants a challenge and is prepared for a fight. But can he really fight against JDP effectively?

The JDP is not a simple conservative democratic party. It has ended up in a de facto situation of representing the massive political movement that has its roots in the popular Democrat Party and the Justice Party. It represents all shades of the conservative movement with special emphasis on liberalism.

It is clear that Erbakan will have a sharp tongue and under his leadership the FP will support Islamist policies that the JDP will never do. The more the FP moves to radical statements and actions the more the people will be able to differentiate between them and JDP. Isn't this actually a blessing for the JDP?

If the JDP keeps it cool and does not panic, if it does not try to match some of the radical statements and actions of FP then there is nothing to threaten the party. JDP has an opportunity to distance itself from political Islam and prove its value.

If you were a deputy of a ruling party would you turn your back on the benefits of being in a dominant political movement and join a small party with no hope of ever coming to power? No, not even for Erbakan.

[08] Columnist in AFRIKA warns Greek Cypriots not to fall in Denktas' trap by applying to the occupation courts for their seized by force properties

"The Greek Cypriots apply the decisions of the regime in the north without raising any objections. .The fact that Denktas said to the Greek Cypriots 'the doors are open, come and file your charges here' is nothing but a cheap trap and considering the Greek Cypriots to be fools. I could not even think that the Greek Cypriots, who said 'yes' to all the practices of Denktas, would commit such a mistake. If they want to try the internal legal procedures before going to the European Court of Human Rights, if they have such an obligation (something for which I have my doubts), what are the courts of the Republic of Cyprus doing? Do you think that charges could be filed against Turkey at the Turkish Cypriot courts in northern Cyprus? Do you think that Turkey could be tried or could be found guilty there and be convicted?

If the Greek Cypriots keep falling into Denktas' traps, which he sets under the name of 'openings', then they would be further strengthening the division of the island. The aim of all the 'openings' after the free movement began, is to officially register the division of the island. You need to be neither extraordinary clever nor a soothsayer to understand this"

/SK

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