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

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader after the 12th day of talks for a solution to the problems created by the Turkish invasion and continuing occupation of EU territory.

[02] Encouraged by the non-punishment for their crimes in Cyprus for 30 years the occupiers of a small island accuse their victims of not wanting to shake off the yoke of brutal military occupation.

[03] After trampling upon the decisions of the UN Security Council on Cyprus for 30 years, Turkey threatens to recourse to the UN if the Greek Cypriots say "no" in a democratic referendum.

[04] Talat and Serdar Denktas favour a blackout of statements during the give and take process.

[05] Denktas said that the authority to determine the future of the Turkish Cypriots had been taken away from him because Turkey accepted it.

[06] The illegal settlers are against concessions in Cyprus and support Denktas.

[07] Akinci criticized Denktas and Bahceli for taking action against the referendum.

[08] The Turkish army is spying on Turkey´s citizens.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDIITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Columnist in AFRIKA criticizes Denktas and Ankara on the settlers issue. He says that with the Armed forces of Turkey and the support of US and Britain Denktas has turned Cyprus upside down.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader after the 12th day of talks for a solution to the problems created by the Turkish invasion and continuing occupation of EU territory

Following are Mr Denktas´ introductory statement and his replies to questions:

"There are constitutional obligations and difficulties on the referendum issue. We touched on these issues. Our Assembly should pass a law. What is the status of this law? Some friends and persons are under the impression that the `TRNC´ will continue to exist. The philosophy behind the Annan plan and the approach it displays, however, is as though the `TRNC´ has never existed. Naturally, it is constitutionally, legally, and politically impossible for us to accept such an approach. For this reason, the attorney-general is taking an interest in the issue. In other words, we tried to explain that we have some constitutional and legal difficulties. The easiest way to resolve this issue is to have the `TRNC´ equivalent to a founding state and that it should be a founding state with all its rights and assets. It could be so. We are looking into this. We said that we are faced with some difficulties.

According to de Soto, a new constitution should be drawn up. A committee worked day and night and prepared quite a bulky constitution. It is in Turkish, however, and it will take days to translate it. We had to submit the constitution to them, however, we have not yet seen it as I received it only this morning. In other words, there are difficulties. The issue of making us act quickly is continuing. I have said previously that haste makes waste and I repeat that the devil takes a hand in what is done in haste. The future of a community and people is to be determined here. We have problems with time, however.

We raised the issue of a transition period. We need time in order for us to adapt ourselves to the EU laws. A close cooperation with the EU is necessary. We said, for this reason, that it would be appropriate if a Turk is appointed to the position of EU commissioner because the changes between the Turkish Cypriot and the Greek Cypriots will be conducted by either the foreign minister or the minister in charge of the EU. We said that the EU commissioner, who will either be a Greek Cypriot or a Turkish Cypriot, should be a Turkish Cypriot first. We submitted our document in connection with this issue.

There is also the issue of the debts of the founding states. These are separate debts. The founding states should pay the sides that are slated to benefit from these debts. We expressed our view that it is meaningless to share these debts.

The Greek Cypriot approach to the security issue is very dangerous, totally unacceptable, and is a document that puts us under great danger. On the security issue, we are the side that should be satisfied because of our size and because we were not the side to have created the incidents since 1963. We cannot accept to grant the peace forces the right of enforcement along the lines of the Greek Cypriots' wish. We also talked about the number of the police forces. I believe that approximately 1,700 policemen is envisaged for our side at present. The prime minister claimed that this number is not enough for today's conditions and that it has to be increased. The Greek Cypriots, in turn, are fixed on the number 1,700 and say that this is how it should be. We said that this number should be increased, that this is an internal issue, and that it is our right to ask the reason for everybody meddling in our internal affairs. It was announced to hold mutual meetings on this issue.

It is interesting to note that we are envisaged to have 1,700 policemen while the Greek Cypriots 3,000. The United Nations, however, envisage to bring into Cyprus approximately 7,000 UN forces. Nowhere in the world is there foreign forces multiple the amount of regional police and security forces. In reply to our question the previous time on the reason for this, we were told that they expect tough incidents in the beginning. I do not understand what it is the meaning of dragging a country, which did not have any incidents for 30 years, to tough times in the name of peace. They tell us that caution is needed. Naturally, it is disconcerting and unacceptable to have UN forces way above the number of regional police forces deployed in the area and also give them the authority of enforcement.

On the issue of the European Security and Defense Policy, as you know the Greek Cypriots want to have Greek forces deployed within this framework as well. We seek to have our cooperation with this institution outside military participation. We accept to secure cooperation on issues not military and submitted our written modifications to this end.

We also submitted a document on the setting up and working of the supreme court. As you know, the Greek Cypriots seek to set up an initial court in order to prevent the Greek Cypriots to apply to our courts. We, in turn, want here to be done what is naturally done everywhere and submitted them our document to this end.

On the issue of aviation, we will convey our views this afternoon. It seems the Greek Cypriots also have documents to give us this afternoon. In this way, they will be using their right to respond to the documents we submitted today.

There will not be any meetings tomorrow. We learned that Mr De Soto will go to Greece. The next meeting will be on Friday at 10:00. Today's meeting was concluded in this manner. The Greek Cypriots will give a reply tomorrow. We, in turn, are carrying out a schematic study on what the Greek Cypriots want and what we want. We will make this public when we are ready.

Question: What are the constitutional difficulties on the issue of referendum?

Answer: According to us or to some of us, our parliament cannot allow for a referendum, which will remove our parliament and state. At least two thirds of our parliament should cast their votes for its approval because this means abolishing our Constitution. Our Constitution has some unchangeable and untouchable articles. That is, we are face to face with a legal situation. Mr De Soto's approach says that a process is under way and that the people will decide. He adds that, for this reason, we should present everything to the people and the people's decision will be adopted. What will the people know? Will they learn the contents of the Annan plan in three-four weeks? Will the people learn about the constitution drawn up for them? What will they learn? On what knowledge will they make a decision?

It seems some of our people want to dispel their uncertainties and know whether the houses they are in belong to them or whether the Greek Cypriots owners will ask for their homes. We, however, have to think about what will happen to us in the future not as individuals, but as people and as a state. What will be the status with which the Greek Cypriots seek to drag us to the EU? Why the haste? The EU is trying to give legitimacy and rectify its mistake, which was to accept the Greek Cypriot as the legitimate Cyprus government and belittle the importance of the Turks in full belief that they will run when the EU possibility is shown to them. They seek to accomplish this in great haste by pushing us for our signature. We call on them to be fair. We urge everybody to think about the impact of such an agreement on our people. We also want to have a rehabilitation program for people, who will have to migrate, and the funds to this end to be ready. We cannot play with and risk the future of our people. For this reason, people should not be troubled and, therefore, make a wrong decision under the influence of propaganda that the Greek Cypriots will come and throw them out of their own houses. The more we defend ourselves, the more we have to gain. Let us protect everything, including our deeds. The deeds will, naturally, loose their value if we say that they are invalid. Our deeds are valid similar to all the decisions of our state and we should be aware of this. I hope, consequently, that our people will be able to differentiate between right and wrong on these issues as they see the realities.

Question: A give-and-take process is expected to be launched on Friday. Does the Turkish Cypriot side determine a strategy with Ankara?

Answer: Ankara is here. A high-level delegation of Ankara is continuously here and we are constantly in contact. It goes without saying that we have determined.

Question: You are a jurist. Do you think that a parliament has the authority to annul itself?

Answer: Let our jurist think about this issue and give us his opinion if you do not want people to say that Denktas is posing obstacles once again. My view can be different from another jurist. There may be those who say that De Soto is right. Our people should be aware, however, that let alone that this exercise eliminates the `TRNC´, but it ignores it completely as though it never existed. In other words, there is no answer to all the decisions made, performances carried out, and laws enacted for 30 years. They also rejected our proposal to have our agreements with Turkey accepted. How then are we expected to accept the agreements they signed with Greece? That is, both sides should treat each other with more sincerity and transparency on these issues because we want from them almost exactly what they want from us. This takes us to our wish that our existence and quality be accepted. We will have to think about the outcome if they are already rejecting this and considering us nonexistent. As I said earlier, work is under way on a schematic study and we will make it public when it is ready.

Question: Was the issue of the cost of rehabilitation to the tune of $4 billion raised?

Answer: The amount of $4 billion is the result of a research conducted by one of our experts. It is not an official number and it can cost much more than this. Our friend carried out very nice work and we submitted the research as an official document. This served to one purpose and that is to show that our experts are trying to carry out work within the framework of the Annan plan and its timetable. The viability of this work depends on the funds. It cannot be done if there are no funds. In reply to our question on what we will do if there are no funds, the Greek Cypriots tell us that it will be done in time. What will happen if we cannot do? Are we expected to throw out people? Actually, this is almost what they want. They seek to grant this right to the United Nations and when the time comes to throw us into the street. The United Nations is giving this a lending ear. We believe that once they see that we are in the right, they will not insist on their previous stand. We will see.

Question: Will the United Nations launch an initiative with the sides on the give and take process?

Answer: Probably, probably. They must have listened to both sides and they will inform of their views. We will discuss these views. We have to determine who we are before we can engage in give-and-take. Who will give to whom and who will take from whom? Are we the landlords and the servant, or are we the equal owners of the house. All these should be determined. The things to be given and taken should also have the equal value.

Question: Did you talk about a 24-hour deadline for the constitutional difficulties."

Answer: No. We did not talk about this.

[02] Encouraged by the non-punishment for their crimes in Cyprus for 30 years the occupiers of a small island accuse their victims of not wanting to shake off the yoke of brutal military occupation

Only days before the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU, and after 30 years of sufferings as a result of the Turkish invasion and insistence that the Cyprus problem was solved in 1974, Turkey tries to appear with goodwill in order to prevent Cyprus´ accession and to destroy the Republic of Cyprus.

The dispatch is as follows:

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said, "the Greek Cypriot side has been acting with a contentment of becoming a member of the European Union (EU) on May 1, 2004. Therefore, it does not have any political will and desire to find a solution to the Cyprus issue."

Speaking at a weekly press conference, MFA Spokesman Namik Tan said on Wednesday, "three weeks have elapsed since the beginning of the negotiation process aiming to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue. Now, there are three weeks ahead of the sides. It is revealed that the Greek Cypriot side does not have any political will and desire to find a solution to the Cyprus issue."

Noting that the Greek Cypriot side had been acting with a contentment of becoming a member of the EU on May 1, 2004, Tan told reporters, "all limited and reasonable proposals of the Turkish Cypriot side were rejected without holding any discussions. On the other hand, the Greek Cypriot side put forward some proposals aiming to change the whole plan of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Their proposals do not take into consideration the basic principles and parameters of the Annan Plan."

Recalling that the sides would recess the negotiations on Thursday for a day, Tan said, "the United Nations will assess the give-and-take process."

Upon a question about news stories claiming that Greece would propose to postpone the quadrilateral conference, which is scheduled to be held between March 22 and 29, 2004, for a week, Tan said that he did not have any information about the allegations.

Replying to another question about possible contributions of the United States or the EU to the negotiation process in Cyprus, Tan said, "our most important expectation from the EU is to make the agreement to be reached at the end of the negotiation process a part of its basic law. During Turkey-the EU Troika meeting in Ankara, we conveyed our rightful views and concerns about the issue. The members of the EU Troika told us that technical and judicial studies had been continuing. We proposed that Turkish and EU jurists should meet and discuss the issue in detail. The jurists will meet in the coming days.

However, the date of their meeting has not been set yet."

[03] After trampling upon the decisions of the UN Security Council on Cyprus for 30 years, Turkey threatens to recourse to the UN if the Greek Cypriots say "no" in a democratic referendum

By decisions of the UN and the international bodies, the world community demands from the countries members of the UN to avoid co-operating with the occupation regime and this Turkey calls embargo.

Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (10.03.04) reports that Mr Abdullah Gul, the Foreign Minister of Turkey stated that if the Greek Cypriot side says "no" to the referendum, and the Turkish Cypriot side says "yes", then they will take the case to the UN Security Council and they will ask for the lifting of the 'embargo'. Mr Gul made these statements yesterday during an interview with the NTV television station.

Mr Gul stated that they cannot know the results of the referenda and that it is not certain that the Turkish side will say "yes". But if the Turkish Cypriot side says "yes", they will go to the UN Security Council.

[04] Talat and Serdar Denktas favour a blackout of statements during the give and take process

In statements at the occupied by Turkish troops Lefkoniko airport Mr Talat expressed the opinion that a blackout of statements should be applied as from tomorrow at the Cyprus talks, because the give and take process is expected to begin.

On the other hand, Mr Denktas said that it would be natural if a blackout was implemented during the give and take process.

Mr Talat noted that they felt the need to assess the situation with Ankara before the important give and take stage at which the talks reached.

Mr Talat said: "A give and take process will begin on Friday. I think that a working period is expecting us when the necessary blackout, which will make the give and take possible, should exist".

Meanwhile in statements on a television programme, Mr Talat noted that he was hopeful for a solution until 1 May and argued that the chance of reaching a solution was 80 %.

Mr Talat said that some circles are trying to make the Turkish Cypriots pessimistic on the issue of reaching an agreement and added: "This is very wrong. There is no need for being pessimistic. If there is no accident, this process will definitely end positively. I do not see a possibility for an accident, but as a person who is evaluating the situation I am very hopeful and at the end this process will lead us to success".

Explaining the reasons for his optimism, Mr Talat said that both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots would not live in a very peaceful environment in case of a non-solution.

[05] Denktas said that the authority to determine the future of the Turkish Cypriots had been taken away from him because Turkey accepted it

Mr Denktas said, inter alia, the following:

"If they (the people) make a mistake, if they decide taking into consideration only their personal interest or what they will gain in the near future, then all the people will be condemned. 'The authority has been taken away from us. Which authority? The authority to say no in the name of the people. Why was it taken away from us? Because the whole world told Turkey and us that we must conduct the referendum, according to the provisions of the Annan Plan. We have been forced to walk on this road because Turkey accepted it, because we stay nowhere without Turkey. When Turkey said that the Annan plan could be discussed, discussing the plan and trying to correct it became our duty. We are trying to correct it. If we could not what will happen? I am not the one that will give the answer to this question. I am not the one that will say that my people do not accept this, because the people will be asked. The people will give the answer".

[06] The illegal settlers are against concessions in Cyprus and support Denktas

In a written statement issued yesterday, the chairman of the illegal settlers association, Mr Hakan Yozcu said: "We are against giving as a concession even one span of our land, even one small stone".

[07] Akinci criticized Denktas and Bahceli for taking action against the referendum

Mr Akinci reacted strongly to some statements made recently by Mr Bahceli, who said that "our only salvation is to have a "no" taken out at the referendum", along with the "no to the referendum" campaign which was started by Mr Denktas during his last visit to Ankara.

Repeating that the PDM prefers the solution of the Cyprus problem than the non-solution, Mr Akinci said: "Think, Mr Denktas goes to Ankara and there he is welcomed by the grey wolfs, he makes his speech under the protection of the Chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce and he starts from Ankara a "no to the referendum" campaign. We of course prefer the solution to the non-solution and when the day comes we will vote for the solution, but we behave with caution in order not to pave the way to criticism like 'you weaken our hands in the negotiation table'. However, a serious "no" campaign has started and it so happens that efforts are made regarding this issue in villages and towns. I believe that in the end of the day, either in the north, or in the south, a solution will come about. However, for this and for the referendum that will be conducted, we must work until the midnight, without getting tired for the 'yes'".

[08] The Turkish army is spying on Turkey´s citizens

"In response to an initiative by the Turkish military to monitor and collect intelligence on a multitude of minorities and groups, the leaders of two major human rights organizations have both claimed this program is reminscent of the activities that instigated coups in 1980 and 1997.

The Turkish Land Forces Command (KKK) sent a letter to military centers and local governors in January asking them to collect information on certain minorities and groups in the society who carry out "divisive and destructive activities" in Turkey.

Along with the letter, the KKK also sent a text detailing the "Gathering Information Plan for 2004," which contained 96 questions to be answered on the potential suspects and groups.

These groups are minorities and those who consider themselves minorities (Circassians, Romans, Abkhasians, Albanians and Bosnians), high society groups, groups linked to artists, children of well-to-do families, individuals known to support the U.S. and the EU, religious orders, Satanists, Ku Klux Klan, Mason Lodges, internet groups, sex, drugs and meditation groups, etc.

The letter also asked the local governors to report on minorities' local language courses, radio-TV stations, those who carry out fundamentalist religious activities and those who have links with separatist parties. The report also asked the governors to pay attention to the pro-separatist TV stations such as Med TV, Mesopotamia TV and CTV.

Following this directive, the Istanbul Second Armed Brigade Command sent a letter to Kadikoy, Maltepe, Kartal and Sultanbeyli administrators and some army centers, asking them to register certain individuals and groups.

The KKK asked the local administrator and district army commanders to submit information every three months. The army wants these groups to be investigated, their associates and other linked groups to be known, their financial dealings and whether they had any intention of infiltrating the state or the army.

The KKK also asked local governors and the military centers to include authors and writers and philosophical groups whose aims are not determined clearly yet but that may be working against Turkey. Among the people who should be put in the intelligence report are those that are pro-EU and pro-U.S., people who see themselves being above and beyond national values, stated daily HURRIYET.

Talking to the Turkish Daily News, Husnu Ondul, president of the Human Rights Association (IHD), reacted harshly against this military intelligence gathering operation, stating that military directives like this have no place in a democracy.

"This way of seeing citizens as potential enemies is only seen in the militarist-autocratic systems. These kind of acts are planned and committed by a sector of the state that aims to halt the rapid democratization process taking place within the society and the state," stated Ondul.

"This is another way of revealing the will to repeat the infamous February 28 postmodern military coup in 1997. These apparatuses of state indeed are trying to divide its own citizens by ethnic background or political opinions while claiming that it's working for the unity of people and the state. Those people or bureaucrats see all of the democratic-minded people in Turkey as the enemy of the state. This is very wrong and dangerous for peace and harmony in Turkey."

"However, the Turkish people will overcome such problems. The Turkish people demand democracy with high standards, not democracy in this Turkish way. This kind of attempt, regardless of where it comes from, will result in failure," concluded Ondul.

Yilmaz Ensaroglu, the president of the Association of Human Rights and Solidarity for Oppressed People (MAZLUM-DER) reacted even more strongly than Ondul. Ensaroglu stated "that this is another shame for Turkey. This act proves once more that there are still some minds in the Turkish government that have the mentality of those who instigated the September 12, 1980, military coup. During that military coup thousands of innocent people were detained, tortured and finally forced to flee Turkey based on this kind of illegal registration by the military and intelligence."

"We cannot imagine such acts occurring while the country is on the right track for democratization and the EU process. Military officers and local governors have no legal rights to monitor innocent people and register them illegally as separatist or pro EU-U.S., or pro-religion and so on. Indeed, only the Chief of Staff or the Prime Minister should be responsible for such acts. They are the ones who should be blamed and held liable, because there cannot be such acts in a country that claims to cherish the rule of law and democracy," stated Ensaroglu.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDIITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Columnist in AFRIKA criticizes Denktas and Ankara on the settlers issue. He says that with the Armed forces of Turkey and relying on US and Britain Denktas has turned Cyprus upside down

"Denktas Bey tries to brief his people so that they should not commit, by accident, any mistake in the referendum and then regret it. Denktas Bey appears to brief the people, he says what he wants to say and those things that suit him. Immediately after that he adds his comments.

For example, during the live program under the arched shape wall of the Presidential Palace he has conveyed Mr Papadopoulos' views as regards the 'settlers' brought from Turkey as follows: `They are so rude that they are telling us that Turkey has committed international crime regarding the people settled here, as though it was Turkey which grabbed at people's ears and brought them here'.

Anyway, Let us put aside play-acting, and ask the following question to esteemed Denktas: Who, if not other than Turkey, brought after 20 July 1974, the people from Turkey and settled them in Cyprus? Are they dropped from the air by a basket? Or do the Greek boats transport these people to the north of Cyprus?

Let us elaborate on the people brought by Turkey to the north of Cyprus following the military operation of 20 July 1974.

Is this action an International crime or not? Instead of answering this question whether it is a crime or not, Esteemed Denktas says: 'They are so rude that they could say international crime is being committed'.

Is this briefing the people?

From whom would the people learn the truth?

Doesn't the great lawyer Denktas know that it is not permissible during a war for an occupation power to transfer into the territory it occupied its own population?

And if it does it commits a crime'

The last paragraph of Article 59 of the Geneva Convention stipulates that : "The occupying power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies"

What does this paragraph say? Doesn't it say that the occupation power cannot transfer and settle its own civilian population on the territories it occupies? Of course it says."

Arif Hasan Tahsin then refers to another statement by Denktas in which he said that: "If the changes that we want to introduce in the Annan plan are not realized then we will be thrown into the air, we will be winnowed", and says that if a community has strong roots it will not be thrown into the air under such condition. If this is the case, asks Tahsin, why then is Denktas worried? And he answers: "Because Denktas is aware of the fact that he had settled the Community on a faulty ground. And with the armed forces of Turkey and relying on the USA and Britain he turned the country upside down. And after 20 July 1974 he threw the deep rooted community into the air".

Arif Hasan Tahsin then refers to the 8 August 1974 Geneva meetings and asks why the other side´s demand for 48 hours to consult their government as regards Turkey's proposal to establish cantons was not given? Tahsin says that because the USA has told Turkey to advance forward, and the cantonal system was not carried out. Tahsin says that the cantonal system was much better than the Annan plan.

Tahsin concludes by saying: "The biggest misfortune of this community is, first Denktas and the other the officials of Turkey. The destruction Denktas has caused to the Community is obvious. It is not possible to be free before getting rid of Denktas"

/SK

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