Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-04-07

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] RTP decides to vote "yes" to the Annan Plan at the referendum; Talat to submit a 45 thousand person list of Turkish settlers to the UN Secretary - General.

[02] Erdogan addressed his Party´s parliamentary faction about the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

[03] Gul addressed the parliamentary faction of the Justice and Development Party on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem.

[04] Rauf Denktas met in Ankara with Turkish President Sezer and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan.

[05] Turkish Foreign Ministry Study Submitted to the National Security Council: the "1960 Cyprus Republic Will End".

[06] National Unity Party is pleased from the Turkish National Security Council's statement as regards the final version of the Annan Plan.

[07] The Turkish Motherland Party supports the procedure for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] RTP decides to vote "yes" to the Annan Plan at the referendum; Talat to submit a 45 thousand person list of Turkish settlers to the UN Secretary - General

The decision was taken yesterday during an extraordinary general assembly in occupied Nicosia, organized under the slogan "The world is waiting for us".

Addressing the meeting, the chairman of the party, Mehmet Ali Talat said that they had created a plan for which the Turkish Cypriots could easily vote "yes" and supported that they did not achieve a victory, but the result is reconciliation.

Mr Talat said: "It is in our hands to meet with the world for the future of our people. We shall say "yes" in order not to stay isolated for another 40 years. We shall say "yes" not only for Cyprus, but for Turkey as well. This plan is guaranteeing the political equality and the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people".

Meanwhile, in statements after one of his meetings yesterday, Mr Talat noted that today or tomorrow the Turkish Cypriot side would submit to the United Nations a list with the names of the Turkish settlers who had become citizens of the pseudostate.

Mr Talat supported that there would be no problem for those persons to stay in Cyprus after the agreement as citizens of the Turkish Cypriot constituent state. Mr Talat said that the plan provides for a list of 45 thousand persons from Turkey to stay in Cyprus after the solution and noted that the number of the Turkish settlers living in the occupied areas at the moment is approximately equal to this.

Mr Talat added: "This list includes almost all the people from Turkey, Bulgaria and Turkmenistan who live in the north. There is no problem in this. I do not accept people who live in this country to be sent away. According to this plan, a list of persons who became citizens after 1974 will be prepared. Both we and the south will submit this list to the UN Secretary-General. This will not be a list we give for these persons to become citizens. This is an announcement that 'these are the persons we have made citizens after 1974'. '".

Furthermore according to KIBRIS, Mr Talat will have a meeting today with the UN Secretary-General's Special Adviser, Alvaro de Soto. The meeting will take place upon request of Mr De Soto.

[02] Erdogan addressed his Party´s parliamentary faction about the latest developments in the Cyprus problem

"We won't be deterred by blusters of marginal circles who try to show efforts for a solution as a 'give and get rid of' effort with a rude and imprudent approach, lacking good will", Erdogan said and added that there were many circles who were negatively approaching the Cyprus issue despite Turkey's steps aiming at a settlement of the issue.

Noting that there were some deficiencies in the plan, Erdogan said: "Has anybody seen that everything is 100 percent settled in international negotiations? When you look at the history, you will see how important this agreement is." He also stated that the Cyprus issue should be solved and therefore, Turkey had taken steps seriously and carefully. "I think that our kinsmen in 'TRNC' will share our good will. We will respect the result of the referendum to be held in 'TRNC'. Our sine qua nons and priorities have been reflected in the final Annan plan," Erdogan said.

Erdogan went on saying: "We want to conclude this issue but this solution should be for the benefit of the two sides. Therefore, we have continued our efforts on the basis of win-win principle. We have never condoned dilution of our national policy and national cause. It is not possible to make dilution of our national policy and national cause a matter of discussion. I would like to once more state that we will respect the will of Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot peoples and the decision to be taken by the Turkish parliament."

Wishing that the positive and constructive atmosphere in relations with Greece would help settlement of fair and lasting peace in the island, Erdogan expected that the other side would exert good-willed and constructive efforts as the Turkish side. Erdogan stressed that it was obligatory for the two sides to reach a compromise in order to ensure peace and stability in the East Mediterranean and said: "We are still optimistic that a solution which will be in favor of all parties."

Responding to criticisms that the Annan plan comprised of 9 thousand pages could not be explained to Turkish Cypriots till the simultaneous referenda to be held on April 24, Erdogan said: "We shouldn't deceive ourselves. This is not an issue having a one-day, one-month or one-year past. This is a 30-year process. Why haven't you spoken for 30 years and taken the necessary steps? Neither the Turkish nor the `TRNC´ people can lose time."

[03] Gul addressed the parliamentary faction of the Justice and Development Party on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem

Gul alleged that the government feared that, given the plans for the Greek Cypriots to accede to the EU alone, "many difficulties would emerge in terms of Turkey, and a much more difficult period would begin for the Turkish Cypriots" and added that the Turkish government believed that the Turkish Cypriots would grow considerably weaker than the Greek Cypriots who would join the EU. Consequently, Gul recounted, the government took steps for the resumption of the Cyprus talks.

Gul went on to outline in detail the main points of the final version of the Annan Plan that will be submitted to a referendum in Cyprus on 24 April. He denied that a total of 100,000 Greek Cypriots will cross into the Turkish side, noting that the Greek Cypriots will only obtain the value of their property under specific conditions. Gul noted that the plan provides for the dismissal of the cases pending against Turkey with regard to Cyprus in the European Court of Human Rights and stressed that the 45,000 Turkish citizens who settled in north Cyprus after 1974 would gain Cypriot citizenship under the agreement. Another point stressed by Gul is the incorporation of the guarantee and alliance agreements into the new plan.

The Foreign Minister of Turkey summarized some of the points gained in the final version of the plan as follows: "It is clearly stated that the new partnership will be bizonal. It is accepted that the two sides will recognize the separate identity and integrity of one another. It is clearly written that the sides will respect each other's cultural, religious, political, social, and linguistic identities. The concept of one side establishing hegemony over the other is rejected.

"As you know, we were very insistent on the subject of sovereignty. However, given that the perpetuation of the united Cyprus state was the main goal of the plan, we did not receive full sovereignty, but the Greek Cypriot side's sovereignty, which was recognized by the whole world, was also rescinded. In other words, the Turkish Cypriot side cannot exercise any authority over the Greek Cypriot side, and the Greek Cypriot side, in turn, cannot exercise any authority or pressure over the Turkish Cypriot side."

In conclusion, Gul declares: "Now, we have two alternatives. Undoubtedly, the decision will be made by the citizens in the 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'. We will respect their decision, whatever it is, because this was accepted from the outset. The important point, however, is that this referendum be conducted in a very open, transparent, and orderly manner.

There are two options in front of us. If the outcome is positive, this will affect Turkey as well and we will have responsibilities. In such an event, we will discuss that again in this forum. One, to maintain the status quo, as was done by governments before us. This is an option. We must examine the consequences if we adopt this alternative. If this option is adopted, we will face the following possible scenarios: First, can we get the world to recognize the `TRNC´, given that the Greek Cypriots have acceded to the EU and we are maintaining the status quo?

The second option is to annex the 'TRNC' into Turkey. I do not view this option as a realistic one either, because this would also change many things in the overall global balances. We are left with the option of maintaining the status quo, which consists of the current situation, including the embargoes. This second option may have its advantages, because when the proposed plan is implemented it will inevitably cause certain problems. I am speaking openly here. Its implementation will not be easy; it will make us work hard. It will also mean financial responsibilities for us.

This option should be weighed against the alternative of the united Cyprus republic and becoming a citizen of its component, the Turkish Cypriot state which will emerge as a result of the new agreement I have been outlining to you here. This is a decision that everyone should examine carefully. We all have responsibilities in this regard -- those living in Cyprus as well as us", he said.

[04] Rauf Denktas met in Ankara with Turkish President Sezer and Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan

Hosted in a talk show on TV 8, Mr Denktas discussed his contacts in Ankara and the Cyprus process. He said: "I explained our concern regarding the Cyprus problem, and why we will not vote in favour of the plan at the referendum". He also said that he has not received an invitation to address the Turkish Grand National Assembly and added: "If I receive an invitation, however, it is my duty to go. Furthermore, it would be useful for Cyprus. The need to invite me has not been felt at the moment. I am not insisting on going anyway", he noted.

Mr Denktas pointed out that the Turkish Cypriots will determine their fate on 24 April and stressed: "We hope that the Turkish Cypriots will consider the past as well as the deficiencies in the plan and decide in a cool-headed manner".

In addition as Ankara Anatolia news agency reports, (06.04.04) asked about the undertaking Turkey must give to the United Nations as a guarantor state, Mr Denktas said that this is an issue that Turkey must resolve itself, and added: "We cannot tell the Turkish Government what to do and what not to do. Nevertheless, it is our duty to point out that once this process begins, there will not be any Turks left in Cyprus in five to 10 years".

[05] Turkish Foreign Ministry Study Submitted to the National Security Council: the "1960 Cyprus Republic Will End"

In the study it is said that the "Turkish side is making sacrifices regarding troop withdrawals and returning territory, on the other hand a new founding state under the name of the Turkish State of Cyprus is being established and the 1960 Republic represented by the Greek Cypriots will cease from existing".

The study is a comparison between "the new order to be established by the Annan Plan to that of the order established in 1960".

[06] The National Unity Party is pleased with the Turkish National Security Council's statement as regards the final version of the Annan Plan

In a written statement issued yesterday, the Party stressed that the NSC shared the concerns of the NUP on the Annan plan and reminded that the Council's desire that a settlement should be included in the EU's Primary Law showed that there are some concerns on the issue. The NUP also stated that the Turkish side's proposals on the map, resettlement, bi-zonality and immovable properties were eroded in the last version of the plan.

[07] The Turkish Motherland Party supports the procedure for the solution of the Cyprus problem

The Party's leader Mrs Nesrin Nas stressed in a written statement that the latest version of the Annan Plan approaches Turkey's positions, in this way ensures the political equality and brings closer the solution of the problem. Mrs Nas also stated that the door opened for a permanent and fair solution in Cyprus.

/SK

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