Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-10-22

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Report in Milliyet on Mr Weston's contacts in Ankara

[02] Reference to Cyprus by Erdogan during statements on his way to Kyrgyzstan

[03] Rauf Denktas pleased after contacts with the military in Turkey

[04] The leaders of the Turkish Cypriot opposition have decided to undertake joint action on the issue of the arbitrarily granted "citizenship"

[05] Two warships of the Turkish Navy will illegally visit the sea of occupied Kyrenia

[06] Deniz Baykal: "The Annan Plan is a trap for Turkey"

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Columnist in Hurriyet supports that the Turkish government wants to gain time until the so-called elections in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Report in Milliyet on Mr Weston's contacts in Ankara

"The United States has intensified the pressure it put on Ankara prior to the elections in the TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus] in December. It has called for elections in a "free and fair atmosphere." The call by US State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Weston has made Ankara uneasy. The Turkish officials reacted by saying, "Do not create the impression that Turkey and Rauf Denktas are intervening in the elections. We are careful on the matter. You, too, must be careful."

Weston began his talks on the Cyprus problem with the sides concerned in Ankara yesterday. He met with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. Weston asked to be informed on Turkey's views on the solution of the Cyprus problem. He was informed on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement in Brussels and Mallorca: "Ankara supports the solution of the Cyprus problem. We must wait for the outcome of the elections in the TRNC for new initiatives."

Weston said that they, too, are waiting for the outcome of the elections to launch new initiatives and noted the importance of elections in a free and fair atmosphere. Ziyal explained that the demand, which was frequently put forward by Ambassador Eric Edelmen earlier, made Ankara uneasy. He said that Ankara's position is to avoid intervening in the elections and urged the Western countries, particularly the United States, to refrain from making such demands. Stressing that "not only us but also everyone else must be careful," Ziyal indirectly criticized the United States and the EU for allegedly supporting the anti-Denktas groups in north Cyprus.

Weston also met with Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoglu, who is Prime Minister Erdogan's chief advisor. He did not make a statement to the press later. However, it has been reported that he will change his practice of not making statements to the press and allow the media organs to interview him prior to the elections in the TRNC, he will give interviews on the solution of the problem".

[02] Reference to Cyprus by Erdogan during statements on his way to Kyrgyzstan

In reply to a question, the prime minister said: "I will be going to the reception."

A reporter asked him to comment on Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas' remarks that Ankara should adopt a clearer stand on Cyprus. Alluding to Denktas, Erdogan replied: "There are people who have not been able to solve this problem in 40 years. It is not fair to expect our government to solve it after a mere 11 months in power." Erdogan also said that the constant rejection of the Annan plan will not solve the problem.

[03] Rauf Denktas pleased after contacts with the military in Turkey

In statements at illegal Lefconiko airport Mr Denktas said: "You are aware that I visited Istanbul at the invitation of the Turkish War Academies. I addressed a conference on Cyprus. What does the Annan plan mean for the Greeks and Greek Cypriots? To say it clearly, it means indirect ENOSIS [union of Cyprus with Greece] to them. It means the displacement of the Turkish Cypriots in a way that would not allow them to resettle. It means the prevention of the Turkish Cypriots from effectively establishing themselves in areas where they might resettle. Furthermore, it means to force Turkey to withdraw from Cyprus and to have a common constitution that would force the Turkish Cypriots to accept Greek Cypriot domination. I explained all that. Everyone carefully heard what I had to say. I observed that the young officers enthusiastically followed the Cyprus problem and that they debate the problem in detail in their academies. There was a moving atmosphere. I have returned very satisfied from what I observed.

I had an opportunity to meet Chief of the General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok for about 30 minutes. The retired chiefs of the General Staff and former commanders, including those who served in Cyprus, attended the conference. All of them conveyed their greetings. None of them is worried. They said: We know the Turkish Cypriots. They will not make a mistake.

I promised them that we will not make a mistake. Meanwhile, I was interviewed by two of the Turkish television networks, Kanal-6 and Kanal-7. I outlined similar views and conveyed the Turkish Cypriot people's greetings to the Turkish people. I asked the people not to worry because the Turkish Cypriots have a strong personality. I said that they will never allow Greece to take over Cyprus through indirect ENOSIS -- that is, either through the attachment of the island to the map of Greece or through the EU.

We are waging a struggle for freedom and the survival of our state. Everyone is gradually realizing that. I explained several times that the elections will be important because they will be related to the protection of the state and the obstruction of the effort made to attach Cyprus to the Greek flag.

I am very satisfied with my visit. It was exhausting but it was worth it."

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS (22.10.03) reports that the Turkish Cypriot leader will leave today for Turkey, as quest of the Zonguldak lawers' association for a lecture.

[04] The leaders of the Turkish Cypriot opposition have decided to undertake joint action on the issue of the arbitrarily granted "citizenship"

Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party -New Forces (RTP), Mustafa Akinci, leader of the Peace and Democracy Movement (PDM) and Ali Erel, leader of the Solution and European Union Party (SEUP) reiterated their decision to act in common until and after the so-called elections aiming at "solution, peace and the EU". According to KIBRIS, on the issue of the "citizenship", the leaders will undertake an initiative in the direction of the "Supreme Electoral Council" ("SEC") in order to prevent from "voting" persons from Turkey who had recently been granted the puppet regime's citizenship.

Reminding that on the issue of the "citizenship" RTP and PDM have already appealed to the "court", SEUP leader, Mr Erel noted, inter alia, the following: ".In the meeting we agreed, we as SEUP and I as chairman of the SEUP, to file charges in a manner which to include the whole period. Our advocates have launched initiative on this issue. We decided that, if necessary, these cases will be joint or will be handled together. We agreed on the issue of our cooperation after the elections and of our making a coalition. The three parties had positive approach on this. Our protocol remains intact .".

In his statements Mr Talat said that they had exchanged views on the issue of the "citizenship" and added: "There is something we agreed upon. We will appeal to the Supreme Electoral Council so that it is accepted and finalized that only those who became 18 years old between the June 2002 local elections and 14 December 2003 are added to the electoral lists and have the right to vote. .".

Referring to the period after 14 December, Mr Talat said: "There are some allegations on this issue which are not true. We discussed these allegations. We confirmed that our protocol for cooperation before and after the elections is valid. From this point of view, it was a very useful meeting".

In his statements, Mr Akinci said that the issue of the arbitrarily granted "citizenship" has legal and political aspects and noted that they are determined to do everything so that the "elections" are not "blotted".

Mr Akinci said: "The dimensions of the issue are much bigger. There are things we will do together and things, which we will do separately. .We wish that the issue would not be confirmed to its legal aspect. We think that this should as much as possible be reflected to the international public opinion. We think that on this issue we should give the message that Turkey's officials are also in this equation. However, this does not mean that these three parties will not act together on other issues. There is work that our advocates will do together. However, we should define correctly the issue. We agreed to have a limited cooperation. Our cooperation until the elections will be limited. However, as we mentioned in our protocol, after the election in which we will participate separately, we shall create a new negotiating team after having ensured the majority in the parliament. With this negotiating team we shall reach a solution until May 2004 and ensure the accession of a United Cyprus into the EU.".

[05] Two warships of the Turkish Navy will illegally visit the sea of occupied Kyrenia

The paper notes that the warships will be anchored in the open sea of Kyrenia between 24 and 26 of October. People who want to visit them will be carried onto them with boats belonging to the so-called Coast Security Command of the occupation regime.

[06] Deniz Baykal: "The Annan Plan is a trap for Turkey"

Responding to a question, Mr Baykal said that his party objected to the Annan Plan. He also stressed that RPP wants peace in Cyprus based on the current de facto situation which exists on the island. "No models, which aim to change, ruin and distort the present order, should be proposed", he said. He pointed out that the bizonallity and the existence of two "people" in Cyprus are the current conditions in the island.

Mr Baykal said that the Annan Plan envisages that 60 thousand Greek Cypriots will be established in northern Cyprus and claimed that this will change the homogeneity of the population in the north, while this will not take place in the south. Referring to the property issue, he said that it is a separate issue and can be solved.

Commenting on the opinion adopted by many that by solving the Cyprus problem Turkey will head towards the EU, Mr Baykal stated that Cyprus is not among the Criteria of Helsinki. Mr Baykal also claimed that the Annan Plan was prepared in order to serve the interests of the Greek Cypriot side.

Commenting on Mr Baykal's statements, local daily AFRIKA (22.10.03) publishes the following short article: "The leader of the Republic People's Party Deniz Baykal, who is fading in politics as time goes by and who cannot even perform his opposition duties in Turkey, finally spoke about Cyprus. He said: 'The Annan Plan is a trap for Turkey'. Take notice, he did not say the plan is a trap for the Turkish Cypriots, for Turkey it is a trap he said".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Columnist in Hurriyet supports that the Turkish government wants to gain time until the so-called elections in the occupied areas of Cyprus

"Let us first look at the statement issued by our foreign minister regarding Cyprus and let us later look at our prime minister's statement on the same issue:

"In its current form, the Annan plan has many deficiencies. It should at least ensure equality between the Turkish and the Greek Cypriots. If we say that the problem is resolved and if we later experience security problems, this will be a real disaster. Cyprus is of strategic importance."

(A statement that has recently been issued by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in New York).

"A response has not been given to the steps taken by the TRNC [Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus]. We do not adopt policies that are based on non-solution. On the contrary, as a country, we are always ready to sit at the table for finding a solution. I do not accept an understanding that totally rejects the Annan plan, either. A new period might start after the elections in December. This new administration might have a different viewpoint."

(A statement issued by Prime Minister Erdogan in Spain.)

I wonder which statement actually reflects Turkey's Cyprus policy.

Is the Annan plan negotiable or might it lead to a disaster?

Which one is true?

We are running out of time. What kind of a stand will Turkey adopt?

As far as I understand, the government wants to gain time until the elections in December. Until then the government does not intend to pursue a policy with regard to Cyprus. Evidently, it will merely issue contradictory messages that will confuse everyone.

Look at the pathetic stand adopted by the JDP [Justice and Development Party] government in the face of a national cause which is of vital importance for Turkey.

Evidently, the government is desperate and it merely hopes that the opposition will win the elections in Cyprus. It is possible to see this in the prime minister's statement.

The government is making the following calculations:

The opposition front (those who oppose Denktas) led by Mehmet Ali Talat will win the elections. By putting Denktas aside, this front will immediately sit at the table in order to negotiate the Annan plan. After making minor changes the plan will be accepted and an agreement will be signed.

And the JDP will relax.

If there is opposition at home, Mr. Tayyip will say:

"What can we do? Democratic elections were held and the [Turkish] Cypriots voted in favor of such a solution. We cannot intervene in this."

Mehmet Ali Talat believes that the Annan plan is in line with the demands of the Turkish Cypriots -- with the exception of one or two points. He notes that this opportunity should not be missed (as expected by Mr. Tayyip). In this regard, Mehmet Ali Talat notes that if they come to power -- and he believes that they will -- a solution will be found in Cyprus.

Mehmet Ali Talat is only concerned that the JDP government might leave him alone at the table.

He says: "When I sit at the table, Turkey has to be on my side.The JDP, however, has not adopted such a stand so far.This is why I will demand that a Turkish official sit with me at the table."

I do not believe that the JDP will comply with Talat's demand. After all, Mr. Recep and his colleagues want Talat to assume full responsibility in order to avoid criticism to the effect that that "they are selling Cyprus."

Being aware of this, Talat is saying: "We will have to make concessions for a solution. In this regard, Turkey has to be on my side. The government should also assume responsibility."

The Cyprus issue constitutes a national cause. A 50-year war has been waged and blood has been shed for this cause.

It is impossible to resolve such a sacred national cause by wrestling illegally."

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