Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-10-20

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] References to Cyprus by Erdogan during a press conference in Brussels

[02] Ultra nationalists attack a Turkish Cypriot journalist

[03] Akinci speaks the truth and tells Erdogan: "Stop interfering in our free will"

[04] Turkish Cypriot newspaper reports that the state Polish Television is preparing a program to promote the occupation regime to Europe

[05] Three right-wing Turkish Cypriot parties decided to joint forces for the forthcoming December "elections" of the pseudostate

[06] Senior JDP Official: "We consider the Annan Plan open for negotiation"

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] References to Cyprus by Erdogan during a press conference in Brussels

In reply to a question whether the Turkish Government will be able to do anything about the Cyprus problem by May 2004, Erdogan replied: "It would be wrong for us to say that we will succeed by 100 percent. We are trying to find a just and lasting solution. Our aim, what I can call our sine qua non aim, is to put an end to the lack of solution. As I always say, however, a solution cannot be reached by one of the sides only. We must look for a mutual solution. If the two sides want to solve the problem, then the problem will be solved. If one of the sides insists on a lack of solution, then there cannot be a solution. At the moment, as Mr. Verheugen said, we are not expecting much before the elections. Time must be put to good use after the elections. After December, you have a period of four to four and a half months. The profile of the new administration that will emerge after the elections may determine what can be done during that period".

Replying to another question about Cyprus, Mr Erdogan stated that the Cyprus problem has nothing do to with the Copenhagen political criteria, and that if the problem is not solved by May, this will not affect Turkey's membership process, because that depends only on the Copenhagen criteria. He added that "the Cyprus issue is a de facto situation, and a source of de facto pressure, nothing else."

A reporter asked: "There is a reality in the real world and it is that after 1 May 2004, Turkey will negotiate with the 25-member EU. Turkey does not recognize one of those 25 countries. Probably that is what you mean by the de facto situation, but don't you have a B Plan?"

Erdogan replied: "Whether it recognizes it or not, the decision will be reached by the relevant authority. What is certain is that, there is a problematic situation here. If you ask why, I will tell you openly: If admitted to the EU as a whole, Cyprus will not be a country that has solved its internal problems. Why? Because there are two communities with two different religions and languages in two different sectors. If the EU admits Cyprus with the two sectors, two religions, two languages, and problems, then it will be contradicting some of its demands from Turkey in connection with the Copenhagen criteria. If the EU admits Cyprus in this way, it will be contradicting itself because it will accept the problems in Cyprus as they are while it still expects Turkey to solve its similar problems."

[02] Ultra nationalists attack a Turkish Cypriot journalist

Under the banner front-page title "The ultra nationalists attacked", AFRIKA notes that the attack took place in front of the so-called police's eyes, that Murat Kanatli was hit on the head and the shoulders and that his camera was taken away from him while taking picture of the demonstration. The paper writes that the "police" simply watched the incident and when Mr Kanatli went to the "police" station in order to file a complaint he was told: "What have you been doing there? You should not have been taking pictures"!

The protestors have also been shouting in front of the headquarters of AFRIKA: "The Grey Wolves are here. Where are the traitors?" "We say no to the EU and just to be contrary we say Turan", "The Greeks are and will remain dogs" and "The army of the Grey Wolves is the fear of the traitors".

In statements after the incident Mr Kanatli said that the ultra nationalists attacked him in spite of the fact that he had spoken to no one of them and he had done nothing provocative.

Meanwhile, Kemal Darbaz, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Journalists Trade Union (BASIN - SEN), criticized the attack against Murat Kanatli and drew attention to the intensifying actions of violence during the last days against the forces, which support the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily ORTAM newspaper (20.10.03) reports that BASIN - SEN issued a written statement noting that they called on international organizations to protect the freedom of speech of the Turkish Cypriot journalists.

[03] Akinci speaks the truth and tells Erdogan: "Stop interfering in our free will"

Taking the floor after Erdogan, Mr Akinci said: "As a Cypriot it is not possible for me to approve of the fact that there was no word about Cyprus, in a conference where the agenda is the problems in the Mediterranean. I welcome the steps taken by Esteemed Prime Minister Erdogan towards democratization in Turkey. However, I cannot say the same thing for Cyprus .We have to find a solution to the Cyprus problem until May 2004. In this way, it will be possible for the Turkish Cypriots to enter into the EU next to the Greek Cypriots in a united Cyprus as well as for Turkey to get a date for starting accession negotiations by December 2004. In order to realize this, it is a must that the December elections in Cyprus should be free and democratic. Last March our right to hold referendum, that is our right to decide our own future, was usurped. Now the forthcoming December elections as well was facing the same danger ; Denktas and his supporters are every day issuing new "citizenship" to those coming from Turkey, thus changing the electoral structure. This way they are intervening in our free will."

Akinci then addressing Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan sitting in front of him said: "Esteemed prime minister, before this international community I call upon you to stop the issuing of citizenship as well as interfering in our free will .Otherwise, not only the future of the Turkish Cypriots will be threatened, Turkey's future in the EU will be under threat as well".

AFRIKA reports that following Akinci's speech Erdogan intervened, took the floor and said: "The elections should be carried out fairly and in a democratic manner. This is our expectation .What Greece does in the elections in south Cyprus we are doing just the same. We do not dispatch citizens there. This allegation is not true and I found it ugly. The Annan Plan should be evaluated as a whole .It is wrong to reject it completely. The sides should exhibit a positive approach."

[04] Turkish Cypriot paper reports that the state Polish Television is preparing a program to promote the occupation regime to Europe

As the paper writes, the Polish journalist Mr Letsav Skuza, visited Mr Denktas "at his office" and took the interview in the framework of a television program about the pseudostate' s tourism. The paper also stresses that the aim of the journalist's visit is "to destroy the unjust and one-sided view that exists in Europe about the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Republic of Turkey". Stressing that he is a "a friend of the Turks" himself, Mr Skuza stated that he likes very much "these two countries" and that he is upset because of this "one-sided" view.

Speaking about the program he is preparing, Mr Skuza said that it could be named "A view from the North". He also stressed that the program will be broadcast to Europe and that with this they will try to change the way these countries see the pseudostate. He also said that they will materialize the efforts to increase the number of Polish tourists who visit the pseudostate and added that with this the relations "between the two countries" which already exist will become stronger.

[05] Three right-wing Turkish Cypriot parties decided to join forces for the forthcoming December "elections" of the pseudostate

As the paper writes the Justice and Peace Party (JPP), the Nationalist Justice Party (NJP) and the Our Party (OP) will co-operate for the "elections" under the name "Justice Party". The leader of the new political movement will be Mr Ertugrul Hasipoglu, the leader of the JPP.

[06] Senior JDP Official: "We consider the Annan Plan open for negotiation"

He went on and said: "When you try to solve a problem, you can not solve it if you consider your own interests only; you have to take into consideration the other side's interests as well. For this reason we consider the Annan plan open to negotiation. We do think that we have to discuss it on the negotiation table. While doing this we have to balance the reconciliation with that of interests. Solution is possible not by maintaining the status-quo but going after it .We are doing this".

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