Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-08-13

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas says he does not recognize the passport of the Republic of Cyprus

[02] TUSIAD: "Customs Union framework with the 'TRNC' to adversely affect ties with EU, and created disillusion"

[03] Talat on the "compensations committee" for the Greek Cypriot properties

[04] Akinci criticizes the policy of Rauf Denktas and the "hawks in Turkey"

[05] The platform "This Country is Ours" describes the passport restriction to the Turkish Cypriots as a treatment similar with Hitler's behaviour against the Jewish people

[06] The National People's Movement undertakes an initiative for the cooperation of the right-wing forces during the December "elections"

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Sener Levent: "Guardian of Hostages"

[08] Columnist in VATAN: "Is it a new plot?"

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Rauf Denktas says he does not recognize the passport of the Republic of Cyprus

Talking during a meeting with Mr Fikri Sahin, the newly appointed social insurances and work consultant of the Turkish envoy to occupied Nicosia, Mr Denktas claimed that the Republic of Cyprus stopped to exist in 1963 and added: "Our citizens could take the (Greek Cypriot) passport. They could say: 'it is my right from the past and I want it, I may use it later'. However, entering and exiting from the 'TRNC' with this passport is not possible".

Mr Denktas described as "a shame" the fact that some people in the occupied areas are allegedly using the issue of the passports as "a master card" against the government of Turkey and the pseudostate.

"Someone who exits the 'TRNC' and enters Turkey with the 'TRNC' passport cannot suddenly take out of his pocket another passport and say 'I will exit with this passport'", continued Mr Denktas and criticized those who describe the occupied areas of Cyprus as "sheep pen".

Mr Denktas alleged also, inter alia, the following: "Those who call this republic, this state a 'sheep pen' will not live in it, if they are human beings. They will go to the Greek Cypriot side, which they call free areas. Some people say the pen has closed and no one can go out. Do they call the 'TRNC' a 'pen'? They have to think about this. This is a shame.They are taking (the passport of the Cyprus Republic) because of their right in a Republic really existed in the past. We say nothing about it because we have no law against it. A Turk citizen of 'TRNC' could easily travel everywhere in the world with the passport of the Republic of Turkey, as 70 million people do. This is a great blessing, a great facility."

[02] TUSIAD: "Customs Union framework with the 'TRNC' to adversely affect ties with EU, and created disillusion"

A statement issued by TUSIAD said that Turkey took important steps that will secure the launching of the negotiations with the EU. The statement remarked that the signing of the "customs union framework agreement" with the occupied areas of Cyprus adversely affects these positive developments, raises doubts with regard to Turkey's intentions and creates disillusions. The TUSIAD statement noted: "In regulating its relations with the 'TRNC', Turkey should act in light of its international commitments, especially its commitments vis-a-vis the EU within the scope of the Customs Union."

TUSIAD statement went on and said: "As TUSIAD, we continue to stress in every platform that in the settlement of the Cyprus problem, the Annan plan should be taken as basis".

[03] Talat on the "compensations committee" for the Greek Cypriot properties

Talking on a radio programme, Mr Talat said that "Denktas does not do the reasonable thing" and described as "a tragedy" the statement that the Turkish Cypriots could appeal to courts of the Republic of Cyprus for their properties. "They want to leave the Turkish Cypriot community without property", he argued.

Mr Talat called on Mr Denktas to explain why the 18 Greek Cypriot applications were made to him and not to the "compensations committee". He also argued that this "is contrary to the credibility and reliability of the committee".

[04] Akinci criticizes the policy of Rauf Denktas and the "hawks in Turkey"

In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Akinci noted that as a result of this policy the Turkish Cypriots participate only as observers in international organizations such as the UN, the EU and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Turkey will have to sign a Customs Union agreement with the Republic of Cyprus after May 2004, said Mr Akinci and the Turkish Cypriots "will observe this from far away".

[05] The platform "This Country is Ours" describes the passport restriction to the Turkish Cypriots as a treatment similar with Hitler's behaviour against the Jewish people

"We will continue to struggle against the mentality of those who want to use the Turkish Cypriots in this process as 'hostages' and 'tools' (of closing Turkey's way towards the EU). We are strongly against this racial discrimination; we call upon the Turkish government officials to lift immediately this wrong application and we want to remind that the Turkish Cypriots travellers are not without alternative.

We believe that this slanting application, which is supported by Denktas and the anti-EU representatives of the deep-state in Turkey, is an effort to prevent Turkey from joining the EU."

[06] The National People's Movement undertakes an initiative for the cooperation of the right-wing forces during the December "elections"

The NPM, which was established by the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas' adviser, Mr Taner Etkin, with the former blessing has begun a "rescue operation" of NUP and DP, the paper supports.

According to information by the Press Office of the so-called Prime Ministry, Mr Taner Etkin, general coordinator of NPM, met yesterday with the so-called Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, where the Coordinator of NPM, Taner Etkin called on all the political parties that support the "national cause" to join their forces and cooperate during the December "elections".

Mr Eroglu noted that those who are leaving from one political party and establish another are serving to the Republican Turkish Party and the Communal Liberation Party. (Tr. note: Eroglu implies the new political party of Hasipoglu)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Sener Levent: "Guardian of Hostages"

- The 'TRNC' citizens cannot use the passports of the Cyprus Republic to leave Turkey for foreign countries!

The reason for its statement was:

- The Turkish Cypriots must leave Turkey with the passports they use when they arrive.

The 'TRNC' Foreign Ministry also issued a statement in connection with the problem of passports yesterday. It said that the press reports were wrong and that the Turkish Cypriots can use the 'TRNC' passports to leave Turkey. No change has been effected in the standing procedure, it said. So, we have to ask:

- Since 'TRNC' passports can be used, then why was Mustafa Malyali unable to leave Turkey?

Malyali is the deputy chief of staff at the Burhan Nalbatoglu hospital. Was he not on his way to represent the state at an international meeting? Why was he turned back when he submitted his passport at the airport in Istanbul? He was informed by the chief of police (at the airport) that his passport was not valid. Is that not true? Furthermore, is it not true that the chief of police insulted him by saying: 'Nor are you a valid person.'

Turkey does not change its policy, no matter who might come to power in north Cyprus. In fact, it has begun to harden its position. It pursues a heedless policy, which conflicts with international law.

But, it seems that we deserve such an approach. What else can we expect if we have an opposition that has ignored the need to save the community and vowed to clear the way for Turkey? They (opposition party leaders) fragmented the unity of the opposition because of their personal ambition for power. They destroyed the unity of the people in the city squares. They undermined the platform that defended the view that this country belongs to us. They planned to win the elections by flattering the authorities in Turkey. They only planned to come to power, not administer the country. They forced the people who struggled in the streets to go back to their homes and described those who opposed Turkey's heedless policies towards our community as 'provocateurs' and 'agents'.

Considering our shameless situation, do we not deserve what we have now?

Let us thank God if we are not detained and sent to the torture room at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul in the future.

It will be a pity if our community fails to penalize the irresponsible opposition groups, which have created such a situation for us, when elections are held.

Turkey drew up its strategy on Cyprus in 1974. It can be outlined as follows: 'The opposition to Turkey in north Cyprus must never be allowed to be stronger than the opposition against Rauf Denktas and his administration in that country. The opposition must target only Denktas or his administration, not Turkey'.

The Turkish officials were shocked for the first time when we were arrested as a result of a conspiracy drawn up by a general and Denktas three years ago. That was because the opposition against Turkey was stronger than the opposition to Denktas for the first time. The slogan 'General to Urfa' became a symbol.

However, the officials quickly pulled themselves together after the meeting on 18 July 2000. Their objective was to divert the opposition to Turkey against Denktas. They used the Republican Turkish Party (RTP) administration on a wide scale to achieve their objective. They drew back and moved the RTP administration against the opposition groups. Since then, RTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat and his supporters have been describing those who opposed Turkey as 'provocateurs' and 'agents'. They now expect Ankara to help them come to power in return for what they have done. They want to be the guardians of the hostages.

Do we not deserve the situation we are in now? Yes, we do."

[08] Columnist in VATAN: "Is it a new plot?"

"The Cyprus problem is the last key in Turkey's EU membership. It is illusion to expect to open Turkey's EU path if a settlement is not reached in Cyprus within the Republic of Cyprus structure.

Two games, in two weeks time were played as regards Cyprus. The first one is the decision taken at the Turkey -'TRNC' Association Council to conclude 'customs union'. This 'association' is a body that has been established 'to reach financial and economic integration between the two countries'.

A solution in Cyprus, within the framework of the Republic of Cyprus is the absolute condition for EU membership. Recently the USA as well, extended full support to the 'Annan Plan' that carries Secretary-General's name.

At a time when there were expectations towards a settlement, Turkey's concluding a 'customs union' agreement with the TRNC has other motives. Even the very name of the 'customs union' demonstrates that this step has totally other aims because there is no customs between the TRNC and the Republic of Turkey.

Subtitle: The passport issue.

A week before this step a decision was taken that the Turkish Cypriots who were carrying the passports of the Republic of Cyprus which is an EU member will not be valid within Turkey. When the Greek Cypriot side became EU member a lot of Turkish Cypriots (real Turkish Cypriots and not the ones send from here afterwards), (Tr., note: this is the expression used by the author) wanted to acquire this passport and they got it.

If this decision carries an 'emotional' and 'honour' character then again there is something wrong in it, because the Turkish Cypriots (real Turkish Cypriots and not the ones send from here afterwards) have the right to acquire British passports because Republic of Cyprus is a member of the British Commonwealth organization and they were fully exercising this right. Why then those who now make the EU passport an issue of 'honour' remained silent for forty years to the British passports? The British passports as well were given to the citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and not to the Citizens of the 'TRNC'. As a matter of fact the only country that accepts the 'TRNC' passport is Turkey. Apart from Turkey, no one recognizes the 'TRNC' passport and it seems that no one will recognize it in the future as well. For this reason Turkey was issuing Turkish passports to the 'TRNC' citizens.

Subtitle: Is Cyprus selected as obstacle?

A very serious question mark arises when these two events come one after another. The Turkish government that took these decisions regarding Cyprus has claimed that it was very serious and sincere as regards the EU membership. And it is not possible that members of this government are unaware of the fact that unless progress is scored in the Cyprus problem there will be no progress in Turkey's EU membership.

Then it is very natural to think: is there a 'fine plot' being staged? Do those who are staging this plot want Turkey's EU membership be stuck somewhere? And have they chosen Cyprus to be this obstacle?

If the government of Justice and Development Party want to preclude Turkey's EU path with such 'fine' plot, it can do away with for two years with rhetoric but after that it will be very difficult for it to find a hiding place."

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