Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-07-16

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will pay a three-day illegal visit to occupied Cyprus in order to participate in the celebrations for the Turkish invasion.

[02] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader on the issue of the closed area of occupied Famagusta.

[03] PUM appealed to the ECHR against the right of the Turkish settlers to vote in December "elections"; Denktas says he could permit people who live abroad to vote.

[04] The Czech Ambassador met with the leaders of RTP and UCP.

[05] News reports that the Turkish intelligence has infiltrated Pentagon.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] 'Turkish imperialism', EU and US.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will pay a three-day illegal visit to occupied Cyprus in order to participate in the celebrations for the Turkish invasion

The paper writes that Mr Erdogan will visit occupied Cyprus on the 18th of July and stay for three days. He will be in the island on the 20th of July and will participate in the celebrations for the anniversary of the Turkish invasion of 1974. "In the speech he will give on the 20th of July celebrations, Mr Erdogan will send peaceful messages to Greek Cypriot administration and to the Greek Cypriot people", writes the paper. Mr Erdogan is expected to express support for Mr Denktas' approach regarding the Cyprus problem and will make supporting statements regarding the Varosha Issue and the issue of the exchange of properties.

During his visit Mr Erdogan will have meetings with Mr Rauf Denktas, Mr Dervis Eroglu and with the leaders of the Turkish Cypriot political Parties, concludes the paper.

In addition, Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper KIBRIS (16.07.03) reports that the acrobat team of the Turkish Air Force, named "Turkish stars", will perform a display over occupied Kyrenia on the 20th of July in the framework of the celebrations for the Turkish invasion of 1974.

[02] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader on the issue of the closed area of occupied Famagusta

"I have not yet received a response. Now, allow me to explain the situation of Varosha to you. After the peace operation in 1974, Turkey disclosed that those who owned property in Varosha could return. But, no one came back. I made calls to that effect at least four or five times. I urged the third country citizens to do so. However, they were obstructed. They were informed that they might jeopardize their interests in Greece and south Cyprus. And, the UN Security Council, acting on a statement by Ankara, adopted a resolution that said that Turkey is responsible for the area, the former property owners have the right to return, and the property is untouchable. We respected the resolution. We decided to convert two hotels in the area into student hostels for our university students. However, we were invited to the UN Security Council in New York to be asked to explain what right we had to use the two buildings. We said that we decided to do so in accordance with human rights. We had many students. We would repair the buildings before the students moved in. The students would not carry them on their shoulders to Turkey. Many buildings would have been repaired by the time an agreement was reached in the future. However, we were informed that we had no right to touch the buildings. So, we complied with what they said and did not touch them. But, look at what has happened. The buildings are wearing down because of the time factor. We proposed to have the Nicosia Airport and a part of Varosha opened. Naturally, I do not know how they [Greek Cypriot side] will respond. But it seems that they will not agree. I hope they agree to my proposal. What can we do if they fail to do so? Shall we wait with our hands tied? Shall we wait for the buildings to wear down? Or, shall we take the necessary measures to restore the buildings for resettlement and activate the area? I believe that we should take the necessary measures. We are working to that effect. However, our colleagues have not yet decided on the matter. So, I do not want to enter into details. But, if they believe that we will wait and merely look at the buildings, they are wrong. We will not give them an opportunity to complain. We will not give them an opportunity to say look at what the Turks have done to the area. We have to revive Varosha."

Question: Would the Turkish side open Varosha before the proposals are accepted? Has any work been done to that effect?

Answer: I have opened a window. You are asking me to open the door as well. If we are to open the area, it will be after we discuss the matter with our colleagues. That is my viewpoint. We have to discuss the matter with the government to realize it.

Mr Denktas also said that the building that was used by the former Communal Council has been prepared for the Turkish Cypriots who own property in the free areas of Cyprus to file lawsuits and noted that the institution will be supervised by the so-called chief prosecutor's office. He said that the work to establish the institution to which the Greek Cypriots will apply in accordance with the "law" that was passed with the contribution made by the EU is in its final stages. Noting that Turkish Cypriots can apply to the institution in connection with their property in south Cyprus and that a "law" can be passed to that effect later, Denktas said that the "Republican Assembly" might be called to hold an extraordinary session if necessary.

[03] PUM appealed to the ECHR against the right of the Turkish settlers to vote in December "elections"; Denktas says he could permit people who live abroad to vote

The paper publishes a written statement issued yesterday by the press office of PUM, which notes that the party asked from ECHR the realization of a population census aiming at conducting "elections" under the observation of the Council of Europe with the participation of Turkish Cypriots only. The party stressed that Turkey should be held responsible for distributing "citizenship" to settlers and drew attention to the Vienna Agreement, asking the Court to announce that the settlers could not be granted citizenship before a solution in Cyprus is reached.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (16.07.03) writes that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas said yesterday that "legal" arrangements could be made in order for the Turkish Cypriots who live abroad to acquire the right to vote and be elected.

In statements during a meeting with the newly elected chairman of the Nationalist Justice Party (NJP) Ali Riza Gorgun, Mr Denktas said that Mr Gorgun had made some suggestions on this issue, adding that limitations could be applied for persons who "had no relation with the country" and "do not pay taxes".

Mr Denktas added: "This right is there and it could be given. A legal situation has to be ensured. Especially this right could be given to people who had served their military service, posses property here and pay taxes for it. However, restrictions could be applied for those who had left and paid no taxes".

Furthermore, Mr Denktas asked Mr Gorgun who is a lawyer to continue his work on the Annan Plan and inform the people about the traps in it. "People who follow you can see the traps and the irrationalism in this plan", claimed Denktas and accused the Turkish Cypriot opposition of cooperating with the Greek Cypriot side in order for this plan to be accepted.

Meanwhile, KIBRIS writes also that according to the "official gazette" of the pseudostate (9 July 2003), another 23 persons have been granted the "citizenship" of the regime, as a result of the 15 May decision of the "council of ministers". These people are businessmen, people working in the field of tourism, industrialists and married to "citizens" of the pseudostate.

[04] The Czech Ambassador met with the leaders of RTP and UCP

After meeting Mr Vavra, the leader of RTP Mr Mehmet Ali Talat commented on Denktas' proposal on the Confidence Building measures saying that this proposal cannot replace in any way the solution of the Cyprus problem and added that this proposal doesn't provide equality to the Turkish Cypriots.

The Czech Ambassador, during the meeting with the leader of the UCP, Izzet Izcan, said that it is the first time that he met with Mr Izcan and added that he is interested in the objectives and the works of his party. He also added that the aim of his visit is to exchange views on the forthcoming "elections" of December and on the latest developments in the island.

On his part, Mr Izcan explained that they work towards a solution before May 2004 and added that the coming "elections" are carrying a great importance. He noted that if they win the "elections" then they will appoint a committee to continue the role of the negotiator instead of Denktas.

Mr Izcan also said that his party wants a solution on the basis of the Annan plan and that the talks must resume in a short period. Commenting on the latest proposal of the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, Mr Izcan said that the talks must be conducted within the framework of the Annan plan and they support any initiative that will contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Finally, the leader of UCP said that Mr Denktas is applying delaying tactics.

[05] News reports that the Turkish intelligence has infiltrated Pentagon

"A Turkish origined American translator dismissed from the American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) claimed on Tuesday that Turkish intelligence units infiltrated the U.S. State Department and the Pentagon.

Sibel Edmonds, who started to work for the FBI after the September 11 attacks and was dismissed one year ago, said on American CBS television that Turkey has moles in the most strategic institutions of the United States.

Edmonds also claimed that another Turkish origined female translator Jan Dickerson, who was working for Turkish intelligence, threatened her and wanted her to work for Turkish intelligence.

She said Dickerson, who lives in Belgium, is still a girlfriend of a Turkish intelligence official working in Washington.

Edmonds had filed a suit against the FBI to return her to her former post in the American intelligence service but the case hasn't ended yet.

Edmonds also said that the translation department of the FBI is full of people not doing their job effectively."

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] 'Turkish imperialism', EU and US

"The U.S. Occupying Authority in Iraq does not take into consideration Turkomen's rights. This was how the governor of Kirkuk was elected. Now, the same stance is in place in regard to the election of the interim governing council. There is only one Turkoman in the 25-seat council and she is there because she does not actually represent Turkomen.

The American Occupying Authority is uneasy over Turkey's dealing with Turkomen's rights. It interprets our defending Turkomen as provocation or even a revolt against the American Occupying Authority. Some influential American columnists have already said that Turkey wanted to achieve its historical goals in northern Iraq by inflating the Turkomen population and even that Turkey has coveted the oil reserves in the region. According to them, Turkey is against Iraqi Kurds' rights for these reasons and uses Turkomen to that effect. We see the traces of this American approach not only in Sulaymaniya but also in the earlier event of the "capture" of one of our military convoys while carrying guns to Turkomen.

In the same way, the European Union has noisily protested the possibility of the Turkish military's entry alongside the invasion of Iraq and reiterated its "otherwise I will not make you a member" blackmail.

On June 25, the Council of Europe urged Turkey, in a resolution it approved, not to "colonize" the north of Cyprus and, in a report that constituted the basis for that resolution, Turkey was accused of continually (?) sending immigrants and changing the demographic structure of the north Cyprus.

Having said this, one can say that the United States and the EU infer the following outcome: Turkey, under the pretext of the rights of Turks living out of its borders, pursues imperialist goals in Cyprus and northern Iraq. In this, the Turkish Armed Forces plays a master role. We can make Turkey give up on that adventure by bringing the Turkish Armed Forces into line. Then, both the Cyprus problem can be resolved, Turkish soldiers can be withdrawn from northern Iraq and Kurdish rights can be improved.

It is not a coincidence that the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, on a visit to Istanbul on Monday, also said that there could not be so many Turkish soldiers deployed in Cyprus, after pointing to the "big problem" that the role played by the Turkish army creates for the Turkish politics.

Though the issues of northern Iraq and Cyprus are quite different from each other, we may need to make some changes, especially in terms of rhetoric, to our policy in the light of this U.S. and EU attitude.

In the 1932 Declaration that made Iraq an independent country, Turkomen and Kurds were in the same legal status. In 1971, the Baath regime that granted the founding of nation status to Kurds, relegated Turkomen to status of minority. Turkomen were oppressed especially during the Saddam Hussein regime. Kurds, too, attacked and killed Turkomen at times. This was how the demographic structure in Kirkuk has changed against Turkomen.

It can be said that Turkomen would be safe under the new Iraqi regime, since the necessary measures will be taken to prevent the central authority from oppressing any ethnic or religious groups. But the attitude of Kurdish leaders Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani towards Turkomen, a considerable part of whom live together with Kurds, is not promising so far.

If the United States happens to ignore Turkomen's rights now to take revenge at Turkey's not allowing in U.S. troops during the Iraq war, it would sow the seeds of a big problem that could branch out in the future. But granting Turkomen rights is easier than assumed. A census can be carried out on the basis of which the weight of ethnic and religious groups could be reflected on the new Iraqi regime. Since they are not concentrated in a certain area, Turkomen would not constitute a threat against the territorial integrity of Iraq as well. Together with the solution of the PKK problem, a promise for a census would be enough for Turkish soldiers to withdraw.

It is not the Turkish military's concern with the maintenance of its presence in the island that prevents a solution in Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot administration's beginning of accession talks with the European Union on behalf of the entire island has created, in a fashionable expression, a change of paradigm in Cyprus. In this way, a solution has come to be linked to Turkey's EU membership, going beyond features of the Annan plan. Turkey, according to the "most favored nation" clause, cannot relinquish its right to become as close as Greece and Britain to Cyprus.

EU enlargement commissioner Guenter Verheugen, who disclosed the secret that there were hypocrites in the EU towards us, says in the same interview that he does not believe in our membership, and then he denies this.

In whom shall we trust and withdraw our soldiers by accepting the Annan plan?»

/SK

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