Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-11-18

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Conflicts regarding the ^Ócitizenship^Ô granted in an arbitrary manner continue.

[02] Denktas to be honored as the ^Ódiplomat of the year^Ô in Turkey.

[03] Demirel and Ecevit describe as ^Ópositive^Ô the speech of Erdogan during the UDI celebrations.

[04] Akinci, Talat and Erel will visit Strasbourg and will ask from the European parliament guarantees for a date of accession for Turkey.

[05] Two ancient tombs dating back to the Iron Age were discovered at the occupied Livadia village.

[06] A new weekly has gone into circulation in the occupied areas.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] HURRIYET columnist says the Justice and Development Party is charting a three-stage Cyprus policy.

[08] Mehmet Ali Birand assesses Erdogan´s visit to occupied Cyprus.

[09] Commentary in Turkish Daily News supports that Mr Erdogan showed another face when he visited occupied Cyprus last Saturday.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Conflicts regarding the ^Ócitizenship^Ô granted in an arbitrary manner continue

Mr Denktas argued that it was the duty of Mr Akinci to do this. The statement of Mr Denktas is the following:

^ÓThe chairman of the PDM, Mustafa Akinci has given a file to Turkey^Òs Prime Minister, esteemed Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding cases of granting the citizenship. They are claiming that this will shadow the elections and they are spreading (this allegation) to the world. There are many people who from now are trying to shadow the elections. They do not understand that they are accusing Turkey more than they are accusing their own state. The duty of Mr Akinci, who has turned accusing Turkey everywhere into a profession, is to give this list to the Supreme Electoral Council, which is the competent authority on this issue^Ô.

Meanwhile, under the front-page title ^ÓForgery^Ô, KIBRIS reports also that the mukhtars of the occupied villages Davlos and Aheritou were arrested yesterday because their signature had been found on false residence documents. The paper writes that the ^Ópolice^Ô of the occupation regime are expected to arrest also some members of the local ^Óauthorities^Ô of the above-mentioned villages. Commenting on the issue, KIBRIS notes that ^Óthe will of the people for a transparent and democratic election has been violated^Ô.

[02] Denktas to be honoured as the ^Ódiplomat of the year^Ô in Turkey

On Thursday night Istanbul Journalists^Ò Union will grand Mr Denktas the price of the ^Ódiplomat of the year^Ô.

[03] Demirel and Ecevit describe as ^Ópositive^Ô the speech of Erdogan during the UDI celebrations

In statements during a reception given by Zeki Bulunc, the so-called ambassador of the pseudostate to Ankara, Mr Demirel said that putting Cyprus as a condition in Turkey^Òs relations with the EU was not acceptable and alleged that Turkey has rights in Cyprus, which could not be ignored.

Mr Demirel said he found positive the statements of Mr Erdogan in occupied Cyprus and added that the Prime Minister had delivered a good speech. Mr Demirel argued: ^ÓTurkey cannot abandon and leave Cyprus. Cyprus is not different for Turkey than Hakkari and Sirnak. It is as if the things asked for Edirne and Hakkari, are also asked for Cyprus as well^Ô.

Meanwhile, in his statements Mr Ecevit praised Mr Erdogan^Òs speech noting: ^ÓThere was a positive climate yesterday in Cyprus. The speech of the Prime Minister was very good^Ô.

Asked to comment on the reasons for Mr Erdogan^Òs speech, Ecevit said: ^ÓThe Turkish public opinion has taken its will in its own hands^Ô.

[04] Akinci, Talat and Erel will visit Strasbourg and will ask from the European parliament guarantees for a date of accession for Turkey

The three political leaders of the opposition will ask from the EP to give guarantees for a date of accession for Turkey to the European Union. As the paper writes the three men are prepared to say to the EP: ^ÓWe are ready for talks and for an agreement on the basis of the Annan Plan on one condition^Å You will give guarantees for a date for Turkey^Ô.

In addition Akinci, Talat and Erel will hold contacts in Strasbourg with the chairman of the European Parliament Mr Pat Cox and the Commissioner for EU enlargement Mr Gunter Verheugen. Mr Talat will also go to Paris where he will hold various contacts.

[05] Two ancient tombs dating back to the Iron Age were discovered at the occupied Livadia village

The tombs, which are 15 metres long, were discovered accidentally in the area where the excavations are conducted at the village. Some earthenware water jags and some ceramic objects were found in the area as well.

Mr Serdar Denktas, the leader of the Democratic Party, visited the occupied Livadia village in the framework of his ^Óelection^Ô campaign and paid a visit to the area where the archaeological excavations are illegally being carried out.

[06] A new weekly has gone into circulation in the occupied areas

Owners of the paper are ^ÓHaberci Newspaper and Publishing Ltd^Ô and its chief Editor is Mr Levent Ozadam.

In its main editorial the paper calls on the Turkish Cypriots, both rightists and leftists, to defend the pseudostate, while in other columns it attacks the Annan Plan.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] HURRIYET columnist says the Justice and Development Party is charting a three-stage Cyprus policy

^ÓI am afraid of Cyprus towards the elections! Cyprus today is a Cyprus I have never seen before. An election atmosphere has been prevailing which I have never seen.

I wonder, am I under the influence of the terrorist attack in Istanbul? No. A feeling that unpleasant things would happen in Cyprus gains weight. A merciless election campaign is being waged! Everyone accusing everyone but the content of these accusations goes beyond the election arguments. As though some people are playing their last trump card in Cyprus.

The most authoritative persons in Ankara tell me: ^ÑCertain Americans go around the villages in Cyprus and engage in propaganda in favour of accepting the Annan Plan! In turn we have warned the Americans!^Ò

The Annan plan is dividing the island ` and this division is reflected on the parties and on the elections. Power is in the mouth of the Annan plan! And the Plan is like the lion^Òs mouth.

Going around the villages creates reaction among the people. Those who are in favor of the plan in the face of this pressure , change side .

And on the other hand, the deep state!

While walking in the streets one has the impression that everyone watches everyone.

There are numerous claims going around and in the meantime some of them were put on the paper.

For example, the leader of the Peace and Democracy Movement Mustafa Akinci has written two letters, one for the Turkish Prime Minister and the other to the Foreign Minister Gul. In his letter to Erdogan , Akinci complains about giving arbitrary citizenship and says that between the years 1998^×2003, 24 thousand voters were registered and only on 24 September 1563 persons had received Cyprus citizenship. The new voters will vote in favor of the ruling parties. What kind of transparent and honest election is this election?

In his letter to Gul , Akinci writes: ^Ó In order to direct the public the Civilian Affairs Unit of the Cyprus Turkish Security Forces carries out intensive work against the Annan Plan and against those who support it, waging a smearing campaign against those who support the peace and EU membership.

In the Cyprus elections Turkish security units came face to face with the USA in Cyprus^ÅThe First Annan War^Å

The Justice and Development Party in its turn are charting a three-stage Cyprus policy. The first stage is to wait until the elections. The second stage is between the elections, the date when the Greek Cypriot side^Òs full membership will be realized. The time to press for a settlement is .the last stage, the period between May 2004 and December 2004. That is the turning point in Turkey^Òs EU destination. Definitely to find a solution in that period^Ô.

[02] Mehmet Ali Birand assesses Erdogan´s visit to occupied Cyprus

The excerpt on Cyprus in his commentary under the title ^ÓTurkey experiences its own September11^Ô, is as follows:

^ÓPrime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Cyprus has been "lost" amid the fallout from the Saturday massacre. It took place at an extremely critical time and it was expected that significant messages would abound during the visit. That was not exactly the case. The PM took care not to say anything that could affect the outcome of the `TRNC´ elections. On the solution issue he contented himself with giving clues.

Significantly, Erdogan did not praise Denktas to the sky. On the other hand he did not seem to be very close to the opposition leaders either. He preferred to keep a certain distance from both sides.

That was the right thing to do.

The newspaper headlines, which said that Erdogan would cross into the Greek section, were not correct. During the preparations this option was reportedly discussed, but no decision was made. The news was leaked to the press prematurely and that prevented the "gesture" from being made.

Erdogan's statements reflect some of his solution options:

* Ankara will launch a new initiative for a solution by May 1. The Annan plan will be taken as a basis and certain concepts in that plan will be further clarified.

* New proposals will be put forth on issues such as the `TRNC's^Ô sovereignty, bizonality, guarantees, distribution of land and refugees.

* When Turkey makes that move, adopting a new approach, Greece, on one hand, and the U.S.-EU duo on the other, must exert the pressure required on the Greek Cypriots. Turkey is not planning to adopt a "give away and get rid of the problem" kind of stance.

Until the Turkish side's proposals are known, we will not know whether this is an attempt to bring about a solution or an attempt to pull the wool over our eyes. If the Annan plan is turned inside out, then we will have obviously taken a futile tactical step and, naturally, we will not be able to explain that to anybody.^Ô

[03] Commentary in Turkish Daily News supports that Mr Erdogan showed another face when he visited occupied Cyprus last Saturday

^ÓOnce again, a flurry of paradoxes comes in abundance. But is it any surprise in the Crescent and Star, so full of absurdities, if the Imam-turned-premier preaches on the merits of Ataturk's secular thinking, or if the powers to crack down on bank fraud should be transferred to a Cabinet minister who has escaped charges for tax evasion thanks to an amnesty he legislated himself?

Lately, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, usually the champion peace activist for Cyprus, showed another face. "We'll never let you down," he told the Turkish Cypriots on the 20th anniversary of their breakaway state.

"We'll be with you under any circumstances." Now, get this: "Bi-zonality must be preserved." Well, which Mr. Erdogan says that? The pro-Annan plan Mr Erdogan, or the pro-establishment one?

Or, this: "Stop trying to do through the EU what you couldn't with tanks and artillery!" This must be the staunchly secular, deeply conservative, pro-military Mr Erdogan. How about his hopes to celebrate the centennial? "Today's it's 20 years, and I hope we'll celebrate the 100th together, too." Even the generals must have regretted not having thought of this before!

The interlinked issues of Cyprus and EU membership are like time bombs in the hands of Mr Erdogan. He's a smart man and a survivor. His European friends should not be surprised if he makes a U-turn from his pro-EU policies when he thinks that playing the patriot against the evil Europeans will make him better off at home.

Never mind, even terrorists have confused minds in this country. Two powerful car bombs that struck the Neve Shalom and Beth Israel synagogues have left at least 23 dead, more than 300 injured, wrecked buildings and cars over wide areas surrounding the synagogues and many question marks.^Ô

/SK

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