Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-04-13

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas was invited by Arinc to address the Turkish Parliament on the 15th of April.

[02] Denktas says that Erdogan was deceived on Cyprus. Erdogan describes his remarks as "ugly assumption.

[03] Talat opposes the postponement of referendum and says that Serdar Denktas´ decision on the issue is important for the future of the pseudogovernment.

[04] Ankara alleges that AKEL's request to postpone the referendum is an attempt for unilateral accession.

[05] Soysal launched a campaign of signatures against the Annan Plan in Ankara. He will file suit against Erdogan for `exceeding authorities on Cyprus´.

[06] MILLIYET: "Foreign Companies Want to Invest in Cyprus in Airlines and Tourism Sectors".

[07] Interview by the Turkish Foreign Minister in TERCUMAN.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas was invited by Arinc to address the Turkish Parliament on the 15th of April

After several non-governmental organizations and political parties in Turkey invited Mr Denktas to address their general assemblies, Mr Arinc telephoned Mr Denktas and informed him on the parliamentary by-law and the established practices.

"Mr Denktas' name has an esteem beyond parties and associations. Therefore, his name's being used as a tool of domestic politics will distress us. We think that Mr Denktas' addressing the general assembly of an association or political party will not conform to his esteem. If he wants, Mr Denktas can address the parliament,'' Mr Arinc said.

In response, Mr Denktas said that he wanted to deliver a final speech at the Turkish parliament about the Cyprus issue. ''This may mean a farewell speech. I want to explain my views and inform Turkish parliamentarians for the last time,'' Mr Denktas added.

In addition as illegal Bayrak television station (12.04.04) broadcast, Mr Denktas said that he accepted the invitation of Mr Arinc and commented on the issue of the so-called referendum law.

Asked by a journalist if he will address the Turkish Grand National Assemly, Denktas said: "Yes, Mr Arinc has invited me to do so. I will address the general assembly session. I was informed that I should address the session on 15 April. I am trying to have the date confirmed because there is confusion on it. As far as we are concerned, 15 April will be better for us."

Asked if he has signed the so-called Referendum Law, Denktas said: "I am still studying it. That is because the referendum will remove our state and sovereignty. The decision the `Constitutional Court´ made on whether or not the `law´ complies with the `Constitution´ is vague. I cannot deal with that by myself. I might have to ask another question. That might take some time. So, I will make my final decision today or tomorrow."

Asked if the referendum can be postponed, Denktas said that this is out of question.

"No, as far as we are concerned, the postponement of the referendum is out of the question. In fact, the dates in the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's letter and invitation were almost outlined as sacred dates. In other words, they created the impression that everything will be disrupted if the referendum is not held on the established date. I do not know what will happen. The Greek Cypriot side, that is, AKEL has called for the postponement of the referendum. I do not know what will happen. However, our colleagues maintain their work."

[02] Denktas says that Erdogan was deceived on Cyprus. Erdogan describes his remarks as "ugly assumption

Pointing out that as soon as it assumed power, the government in Ankara put the blame of a lack of Cyprus solution on him, Denktas remarked that there was a diversion from the previously outlined national policy. Denktas stated: "Greece wants Turkey to surrender. Is Turkey obliged to do everything Greece wants in order to accede to the EU? This is not Turkey's official policy. In my opinion, the prime minister was deceived with regard to the Cyprus issue."

Commenting on Denktas´ remarks, Mr Erdogan, who is on a visit in Japan, said these were very wrong. "This is a very ugly assumption. This was what I had feared from the very beginning. Engaging in politics in Cyprus or following this issue to its conclusion. This has been our request all along. You started this issue, you have to bring it to its conclusion. We especially requested him to do that. During our last meeting, he asked me and Mr. Gul: Are you going to come to Cyprus? No we will not. Then will you send your deputies? No we will not. But he had come during the elections. No he will not come. He will not come, you should know that. At that moment, I forgot to ask him the following: `Will you come to Turkey´?" Mr Edogan said.

Following this statement, Mr Denktas charged that Erdogan made such a statement because of the stand of the media officials. "This argument is not true. I am confident that media officials pressured Mr Erdogan while abroad on the plane. They tired him, angered him. He was forced to say something, and he did. It seems to me that there is no need for me to say more on this issue, and I will not be saying more," he said.

[03] Talat opposes the postponement of referendum and says that Serdar Denktas´ decision on the issue is important for the future of the pseudogovernment

"In view of that, the members of the team acting in a conflicting way on the referendum is out of the question. As the `Prime Minister´, I want to reiterate that the referendums on the two sides should be held on 24 April. That is the Turkish side's official stand. The esteemed President and the esteemed Foreign Minister do not maintain a differing approach. In other words, neither the esteemed President nor the esteemed Foreign Minister has supported the postponement of the referendum. The Turkish side's approach on the matter is quite clear. Holding a referendum on 24 April is essential for us. We are working to comply with all the UN requirements. It is true that the process is difficult. We hold talks on various issues. We argue on various points. However, in the end, we fulfil all the promises we made to the United Nations without exception. So, we do not have a problem on the matter at the present time."

Commenting on the list of the settlers that the Turkish Cypriot side will give to the UN, he said: "The list of those who became citizens after 1974 is an example. The Turkish and the Greek Cypriot sides had to inform the United Nations on those who became citizens after 1974. In other words, the `TRNC´ and south Cyprus are not taking up the question of those who became citizens after 1974 separately. The two sides are expected to submit their own lists. The process is a notification. We have submitted our list to the United Nations. I want to say that all those who live in north Cyprus´, that is, all those who have become citizens of the `TRNC´ are included in the list. No one has been excluded from it."

In addition, as NTV television (12.04.04) broadcast, Mr Talat stated that the decision that Mr Serdar Denktas, Democratic Party [DP] chairman will be making with regards to the referendum is quite important from the viewpoint of the continuation of the pseudo-government. Expressing the belief that Serdar Denktas will not say "no" Talat said that otherwise a division might be experienced in the pseudogovernment.

[04] Ankara alleges that AKEL's request to postpone the referendum is an attempt for unilateral accession

As NTV broadcast the Turkish diplomatic officials expect a 'yes' to emerge from the referenda "despite the fact that Rauf Denktas and President Papadopoulos have launched a "no" campaign".

In addition as mainland MILLIYET newspaper (13.04.04) reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Mr Ugur Ziyal held a telephone conversation with Mr Alvaro De Soto and told him that he wants the procedure as regards the referenda to continue. Mr Ziyal told Mr De Soto that the Greek Cypriot side did not make any preparations as regards the referendum and added: "The responsibility of this issue lies on the United Nations. You must make sure that the referenda will be conducted on normal time", he said.

[05] Soysal launched a campaign of signatures against the Annan Plan in Ankara. He will file suit against Erdogan for `exceeding authorities on Cyprus´

"Naturally, we will discuss it in Turkey. We are not marginal". He further noted that he will file a suit against Erdogan at the State Council."

Soysal launched his "no" campaign in Ankara's Yuksel Boulevard on Monday. Recalling that the plan will be submitted to the TGNA, Soysal responded to Erdogan who told Denktas to make his speeches in Cyprus.

"Cyprus is the problem of the whole of Turkey. Mr Denktas should explain certain points in Turkey. Therefore, Denktas, I, and you have the right here to shout against giving Cyprus away," he said.

Soysal further noted that he will file a suit against Erdogan at the State Council. He noted that Erdogan exceeded his authorities with the written undertaking he sent to the United Nations, adding: "This is against the Constitution".

[06] MILLIYET: "Foreign Companies Want to Invest in Cyprus in Airlines and Tourism Sectors"

The paper's occupied area correspondent Tarik Yilmaz, reporting from occupied Kyrenia, says that the Merrill Lynch which is an international investment bank has organized a teleconference with so-called Prime Minister of the pseudo-state Mehmet Ali Talat during which more than 150 foreign investors took part. The so-called undersecretary to the Prime Minister's office Esref Vaiz said that the Merrill Lynch is interested in establishing a private airlines company in the occupied area.

Talat said that the interest in the teleconference with the Merrill Lynch was very high and that most of them showed interest in Banking and Tourism.

Talat further said that he had a meeting with the Barclay's Bank representative during which the Bank´s representative tired to find answers to political possibilities such as "will there be a solution? Will the outcome of the referendum be "yes"? What will happen if the result is "no" "?

In his turn Esref Vaiz said that in both meetings the people asked questions how they could invest in banking and tourism sectors. They also inquired about whether they could invest in Cyprus as of 1 May.

[07] Interview by the Turkish Foreign Minister in TERCUMAN

Following are Mr Gul´s replies to questions on Cyprus:

Question: - Can it be said that "There were other things [i.e., concessions] that could have been won, but were not"? Were there indeed any other things?

Answer: This is not the "best possible" for Turkey nor for the Cypriots. The "best possible" thing for Turkey would be independence, while for the Greek Cypriots the "best possible" thing would be to make the Turks there a minority. Neither one of these materialized. So in my opinion, whatever it was possible to obtain was indeed obtained. When the latest Annan Plan was being filled in, since we were insistent on the things that we would get, and since the Greek Cypriots tried to thwart this, [UN Secretary-General Kofi] Annan, when filling in the empty spaces in the plan, filled it in along the lines of our demands.

Question: - The Prime Minister said something, however, along the lines that "We were unable to get the necessary guarantees that we wanted in terms of the derogations, that is, the exceptions." What does this mean?

Answer: We want a double layer of armor here. In other words, first with a document of adaptation, and second in terms of this being "Primary Law" [of the EU]. In order for it to become "Primary Law", there is time until 1 May. The parliaments of the member states have to approve it. If the negotiations that we have been conducting now had been done a year ago, and the things that we have gotten today had been gotten then, there would have been sufficient time, and all of these things would have been ratified in the parliaments of Europe by 1 May.

I say it clearly: Why will this not be possible by 1 May? The parliaments of 15 countries cannot do this by 1 May. At least a year will be needed for this. And for this reason, we do not see the document of adaptation as being a sufficient guarantee. In order to put a second layer of armor onto this, we want the process of making this into "Primary Law" to start, and to continue. And something like the following has happened here. One of the points in which the latest Annan Plan differs from the Third Annan Plan is as follows: These exceptions were previously permanent, and were contrary to EU law. Here they have been made temporary. Consequently, they have been made more congruent with EU law. As I said, there are pluses and minuses.

Question: - The leaders of the two communities, both Papadopoulos and Denktas, are saying that this is extremely unwise. What do you say? How do you evaluate this?

Answer: Papadopoulos said what I had said. I had said that "Sovereignty will be taken away from a state that is recognized by the world, and its flag will be lowered." Naturally, I, and all of us, have made the cause of [Turkish] Cyprus our own. There is no doubt but that Mr Denktas has become a symbol. From the very start. Now everyone will make their analyses within the framework that I have described, and will make their decision accordingly.

Question: - When Denktas came most recently, what did you talk about?

Answer: When he came most recently, we talked about these very things. He said that "The guarantees have been watered down a bit." "No, they have not been watered down," I said. He said "The Turkish troops may be withdrawn." "No," I said, "they will remain forever." He said "If the Turkish government wants it, they will withdraw." If the Turkish government wants to, it will indeed withdraw its troops, but if it does not want to, the Turkish troops will stay there forever.

Question - In your most recent speech in the National Assembly, you said that "There could be some difficulties in the settlement, and in the current agreement."

Answer: Naturally; no matter how much this is not a migration plan, but a property plan, we have to see in the end that all of these people may move from where they are now. They may stay where they are if they want to, but we have to give consideration to situations like them all leaving. And preparations have to be made accordingly. Consequently, for people to leave the places they are living and go and live somewhere else, even if they won't move without being given a place to go to, are matters rife with problems. If you note, I hid nothing in my address in the Assembly. I did not get up to sell something to people blindly. I laid out everything openly. And afterwards, I made this appeal: Let everyone make his own analysis carefully. I say it now, that everyone, without demagogy and without blustering, should examine the issue rationally and intelligently. If people conclude that "We will be better off in the long run, regardless of whether or not the Greek Cypriots get into the EU; we will be better off in the end, and will be more developed", then let them act accordingly.

Question: - Fine; there is going to be a referendum. There are those who plan to vote "no". They say the opposite of what you are saying. Are you angry at them?

Answer: No. Not at all. Could such a thing be possible? In terms of both those who vote "yes" and those who vote "no", if they are making these decisions based on careful thought, and after studying the matter, I will be respectful towards their decisions, whatever those decisions might be.

Question: - This is what I am getting at. Are you saying that "The people will decide, and whatever the result may be, we will do what is required"?

Answer: Whatever happens, we will always stand behind Cyprus.

Question: - There is a point being made in the speeches of the opposition. Why is the method currently being applied on Cyprus not being implemented in the Middle East conflict, in the Azerbaijani-Armenian dispute, and in the Kashmir dispute? The criticism is being made that this is a method that is only being applied to Turkey.

Answer: If the Israel problem could be resolved with such a method, or with some other method that has never been tried before, and if a Palestinian state could be established, and Israel could be safe there... But look at the essentials.

Question: - The question is being put as to whether you really read the 9,000-page document. In addition, it is being said that the "TRNC" will not have a single meter of coastline that it will be able to utilize of its own free will.

Answer:The entire population is, as I understand, 720 thousand, of which 220 thousand are ours [referring to Turkish Cypriots]. 52 percent of the coastline will belong to the Cypriot Turkish state.

Question: - Denktas says that "The island will be a Greek Cypriot island twenty years from now."

Answer: Why?

Question: - That's what I am asking you. Is there something that we don't know but that Denktas does know?

Answer: Let us open a separate section here. I have not been governing Cyprus for the past 30 years. There has been no peace, but a sort of ceasefire, for the past 30 years. To develop and keep alive the national and religious consciousness of the [Turkish] Cypriot people... Whose responsibility is that? Turkey has given every sort of assistance. It has made great sacrifices. And it will continue to do so. No matter how ideal the agreements may be, if people do not have the requisite spirit, the agreement will not work out.

Question: - In other words, can we draw the following conclusion from this? Are you saying that "The policies that were applied on Cyprus brought the people to this point in the end, and we are doing what we need to"?

Answer: I am saying that they should continue. After this agreement, they should show even more care. They should strengthen the religious, national, and moral consciousness of the Turkish Cypriots, along with modern values. They have neglected this to date.

Question: - Does Turkey have a "Plan B" for use in case there is any problem encountered with the implementation of what is currently being carried out?

Answer: The plan will be monitored each step of the way. If someone doesn't do what is required, then you don't either. Turkey is a guarantor for a piece of EU territory. Turkey is a guarantor of this piece of EU territory, of the United Cyprus Republic. And the EU is also going to approve this. It will be UN law as well. And the Council of Europe will approve it.

Question: - You are saying that "This was all that was possible." So why, in your view, is Denktas resisting? Why is he reacting so strongly? There has to be an explanation. Either he hasn't understood the matter, or else he is right, or else he has another plan. Which of these three is it?

Answer: I do not want to be dragged into polemics. I respect him, and that is all. I will not fall into the situation that I criticized a bit earlier.

Question: - Well, then, what happened to our sine qua non conditions?

Answer: One thing that didn't happen was the map. We were going to make the map straight [i.e., straighten the boundary between the two sides of the island]. This was our intent, as Turkey. The representatives of the `TRNC´ , Mehmet Ali Talat and Serdar Denktas, opposed this. Because in straightening out the line, we would be giving some land and getting some. But they said that "We will absolutely not give up villages that were historic centers of Turkish resistance."

Question: - If we can come to the communiqué of the NSC [National Security Council]. Certainly it is the government, as the executive power, which bears responsibility for the policy. But why was the need felt to underscore this once again in the communiqué? In contrast to the optimism of the government, the President [Ahmet Necdet Sezer] and the Armed Forces are more cautious and are maintaining their reserved stance. Is this the way it really is?

Answer: It may be. What can I say?..

Question: - You must know more than just that "It may be".

Answer: I am involved in it, after all.

Question: - "It may be" thus means "This is true"... You acknowledge it, in other words. The way the government brings it up is clear, and the way it came out of the Council of Ministers is clear... But in the NSC there is an attitude that "We are not getting involved. It is within the responsibility of the government. We do not want to take on the responsibility before history."

Answer: In a democratic atmosphere, all sorts of evaluations can be made.

Question: - Is it possible to say that "History will evaluate this"? There is so much controversy over it. But it will become clear a few years from now...

Answer: Certainly... In any event...

Question: - If some mistake has been made in this, the mistake will come out, and if proper things have been done, these things will also come out. History will in any event pass its judgment on this.

Answer: Look: Our judgment, as the government, was this: "We could, in the future, be in a weaker position in defending Cyprus, and standing up for the rights of the Cypriots." This was the fear. Thus we did everything that could be done. In Switzerland, and Lucerne, why did the Greek Cypriot side fall apart so much? At all of the international conferences, the Greek and Greek Cypriot side had always been favored. This was the first time that it did not happen this way. The Greek Cypriots were unable to deal with this. They were the only ones who tried to undermine it. For instance, we handed in our latest "short list" of priorities. They, despite all our insistence, did not provide theirs. Finally, they provided a text of 44 pages. But in the end, we got what we wanted.

Question: - Are you saying that "yes" [in the referendum vote] will be more beneficial?

Answer: We have given our speeches. The Prime Minister spoke as well. I have already said what I had to say.

Question: - The opposing side has gone on the offensive for a result of "no". Are you going to do anything for a "yes"?

Answer: We have expressed our ideas, and have done what we could do. We did everything that we could do in an open and above-board manner. But presumably no one is expecting me to go to Cyprus and travel around [in a campaign effort].

Question: - If a "no" result comes out, will there be problems on Turkey's path to the EU?

Answer: No. From this point on, no one can say anything to Turkey when it is a matter of the EU. Turkey in fact opened the way for the referendum.

Question: - Has Turkey then won, regardless of what the results are?

Answer: No one can say anything to us in terms of our relations with the EU.

Question: - Would the best result, from our standpoint, be for a "yes" vote to come out on the Turkish side and a "no" on the other side?

Answer: I don't know. I don't want to say anything more than this.

Question: - If we look at relations with the EU, why did the French Foreign Minister make the statement that "Turkey does not conform to the EU's conditions. Under the current circumstances, we oppose Turkey's membership"?

Answer: France's new Foreign Minister is a person who is very supportive of Turkey. He served as a commissioner in the EU, and is a person well acquainted with the realities of Turkey. There is a response that he made in the Parliament to a conservative deputy. There is also a statement that he made afterwards. If you look at the statement, what he says is "We are going to look at the Progress Report." And this is the right thing. They will look at the Progress Report. Are we not calling for the same thing? We have to be very open in this affair. What we are saying is that there is an agreement between ourselves and the EU: The political criteria have to be met.

In terms of the political criteria, we are saying that we are going to do various things. We have made great progress along this road. There are still things that we have to do. We are still going to make certain Constitutional amendments, and pass certain laws. If we don't do these things, we won't meet the political criteria. If we go as we are, without having done these things, then the Progress Report will not come out the way we want it to. These are the things that we are going to accomplish within this timeframe. We expect, after these things have been done, an objective Progress Report. We have devoted all our efforts to this report. I believe that this report will in fact be an objective report.

/SK

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