Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-11-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul: "The Greek Cypriot side is assuming a compromising attitude due to its EU full membership"

[02] The occupation regime files charges against two journalists of KIBRIS newspaper

[03] The occupation regime granted its "citizenship" to 1,563 persons in one day

[04] All Turkish Cypriot Parties announced their lists of "candidates" for the so-called elections of the pseudostate

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] Hurriyet Columnist: "Foreigners are asking who will win the elections."

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul: "The Greek Cypriot side is assuming a compromising attitude due to its EU full membership"

Talking at the Turkish Grand National Assembly during the discussion of the budget of his ministry, Mr Gul argued that there would not be any problems in fulfilling adjustment packages that were adopted for Turkey's EU process, adding that the Turkish government did not wish any problems on this issue.

Mr Gul said that draft of EU Progress Report, which would be announced in coming days, would open Turkey's membership path to EU. Referring to Turkey-EU relations, Mr Gul said that they have reached a turning point, claiming that Turkey made important progress on this issue during the last year.

Mr Gul said that his country adopt the adjustment packages to the EU for the Turkish people, not as EU wanted. Noting that the important thing was to fulfill those packages and adopting them was not enough, Mr Gul admitted that that there were some difficulties in fulfilling the adjustment packages.

Noting that the draft of the EU Progress Report was published in the Press, Mr Gul said that they "warned the EU officials about some mistakes". Mr Gul said that Turkey knew better than anyone else its deficiencies regarding fulfilling the EU criteria and added that they would not accept any other criteria except these.

Mr Gul argued that reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem was not a condition for Turkey's EU full membership and claimed that they were exerting efforts for a solution. The Cyprus problem was not a new issue and it had become chronic, said Mr Gul alleging that they did not consider non-solution as a solution, but they did never adopt the policy "give and get rid of it " as a solution.

Mr Gul reiterated that they favoured a bi-zonal solution in which "realities on the island were taken into consideration". "It should be an acceptable solution whatever its name is; be it Annan plan or any other name," he added.

Referring to the Republic of Cyprus's full EU membership on 1 May 2004, Mr Gul said that "the Greek Cypriot side will become an EU member unless a solution is found to Cyprus issue" until then.

Mr Gul added: "We can do nothing about this and we do not try to prevent this. The Greek Cypriot side is assuming a compromising attitude due to the EU full membership."

Pointing to the December "elections" in occupied Cyprus, Mr Gul said: "What is important for us is to prevent elections from being overshadowed. December elections will not be overshadowed."

The Turkish Minister described his country's policy in "a realistic policy" and added that they were warning third sides, which wanted to interfere with the internal affairs of Cyprus, to be realistic.

Alleging that the Turkish side has always supported and will continue to support the goodwill mission of the UN Secretary - General, Mr Gul claimed, inter alia, the following:

"As the parameters of a solution to be reached on the island, we aim to establish a new partnership state based on conciliation that will ensure the continuation of the current peaceful atmosphere in Cyprus and the effective and de facto guarantees of Turkey, that will protect the Turkish-Greek balance and that will accept the sovereign equality of the two sides on the island. Within this framework, we believe that the comprehensive proposals made by the honorable Denktas in a bid to overcome the existing confidence crisis between the sides on the island constitute a window of opportunity. We, as Turkey, enabled the Greek Cypriots to travel to Turkey after an interval of 40 years in order to contribute to this process. We expect the Greek Cypriot side to respond positively to these initiatives and to take determined and goodwill steps toward a historic conciliation. Given the recent speedy development of Turkish-Greek relations in line with a new understanding and the existence of quite a positive atmosphere on the island when compared with the past, we are hopeful that a solution will be reached."

[02] The occupation regime files charges against two journalists of KIBRIS newspaper

The paper writes that three charges are filed against Mr Hasturer with the demand of his imprisonment for eleven years for his article under the title "Democracy with sticks in Elia", published on 26 March 2003. Mr Hasturer is accused of "creating hatred against the state aiming at its destruction, humiliating the state, humiliating the officials of Turkey and publishing insults in the press".

Mr Duzgun is accused of insulting the "spiritual personality of the security forces" with his article of 27 March 2003 under the title "Whose guarantor". For this reason his imprisonment for ten years is demanded.

The two journalists were accused of yesterday after being called to the so-called "Nicosia Police Station" and testified.

According to KIBRIS, the charges against the two journalists had been filed by the "command of the security forces". The "trials" are expected to take place at the military "court" and the "district court" in occupied Nicosia.

[03] The occupation regime granted its "citizenship" to 1,563 persons in one day

The document is a forth line decision taken by the so-called Council of Ministers of the pseudostate. According to this document, on the 24th of September 2003, the so-called Council granted the pseudocitizenship to 1,563 persons in only one day, after it made all the necessary investigations and receiving all the certificates needed, as it was alleged. As it is written in the document the pseudocitizenship was granted to "TRNC originated businessmen, wives of people working in the field of tourism and others". As the paper writes, the decision was not published in the "official gazette" of the pseudostate.

[04] All Turkish Cypriot Parties announced their lists of "candidates" for the so-called elections of the pseudostate

Yesterday the Democratic Party of Serdar Denktas, the Nationalist Peace Party of Ertugrul Hasipoglu and Solution and EU Party of Ali Erel announced their parties' candidates for the "elections". The National Unity Party of Dervis Eroglu, The Republican Turkish Party of Mehmet Ali Talat and the Peace and Democracy Movement of Mustafa Akinci had announced their lists a few days ago.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] Hurriyet Columnist: "Foreigners are asking who will win the elections."

"I could say that recently the questions put forward by the foreign portfolio administrators are mainly centered on the Cyprus problem. I get the same impression when I talk to the economists and bankers who cooperate and work with these portfolio managers .They question who would win the elections in Cyprus, what would happen if this or that wins and how Turkey's negotiations with the EU would be effected.

If we look into the issue we see that the Justice and Development Party (JDP) government is expecting that the elections will be won by those parties that are against Denktas. This means that incase pro-Denktas parties win the government does not have an alternate plan that is; Plan B.

There are various views as regards the Cyprus problem. However, the most prevailing one is 'let us use Cyprus as the last trump card'. And this is the dominant view in the Turkish Foreign Ministry as well and they are trying to orient the NGOs, Non Governmental Organizations, towards this direction.

The Cyprus problem is gaining key importance for the future of Turkey, and when in May 2004 the Greek Cypriot side becomes full member of the EU then the problem will become more complex. And with the demand of the Greek Cypriot side the EU and Turkey could come face to face. And this could reach to the point that they could demand that '30 thousand Turkish troops should leave the EU territory'. Does the JDP Government calculate what would happen if they put before us after May 2004 a formula that would make us long for the Anna Plan? We do not know."

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