Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-06-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey now wants a binding resolution to promote its expansionist policy against the Republic of Cyprus.

[02] Talat alleges that the referendum was an act of self-determination and that the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus could not be amended.

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the Annan report on Cyprus.

[04] "'Armenian criteria' from France".

[05] Three-party coalition in the occupied areas.

[06] Turkey expects the Islamic countries to accept the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus as Turkish Cypriot state in the organization of Islamic countries.

[07] Foreign Minister of Egypt: The Islamic Conference Organization recognizes one state in Cyprus.

[08] Cicek seeks support from China for its Cyprus policy.

[09] Erdogan alleged that Turkey´s European friends promised him proper action against the Greek Cypriots if they rejected the Annan plan.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Mehmet Ali Birand supports that the UN report is in favour of the Turkish side and that Cyprus is lost for the Greeks after this report.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey now wants a binding resolution to promote its expansionist policy against the Republic of Cyprus

The assessment of the report by a high-ranking Turkish diplomatic source, as broadcast by NTV television on June the 3rd is as follows:

"The Cyprus report UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has submitted to the UN Security Council has satisfied Turkey. The report was assessed as follows: The fact that an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots was requested in the report has, for the first time, confirmed that we are not the party responsible for the nonsolution. According to Ankara, the fact that the Greek Cypriot administration was criticized in a clear language shows that the Cyprus picture has been presented truthfully in the Annan report. Now Ankara wants the United Nations to adopt a binding resolution.

A high-ranking diplomatic source has said: The UN resolution, which we want adopted in line with the report, is important from the viewpoint of making a future projection on Cyprus. The same source noted that Ankara is now exerting efforts to ensure that a negative amendment -- through Greek Cypriot pressure -- is not made in the time it takes for this report to be turned into a resolution.

The government is continuing its multilateral diplomatic contacts in a bid to end the isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots. After Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul's visit to Saudi Arabia, Deputy Foreign Minister Abdullatif Sener is expected to begin a tour of African countries today. Sener, who will visit Senegal and Nigeria, will seek support for ending the isolation and for the OIC Secretariat General elections. Sener will be accompanied by Ahmet Davutoglu, the chief foreign policy adviser of the prime minister.

Ankara's other expectation is for the EU and the United States to take concrete steps with regard to the `TRNC´. The European Commission is expected to announce a comprehensive package. Prime Minister Erdogan is personally conducting the contacts on the EU front. The fact that Annan, in his report, has noted that he expects all countries and especially the EU to take steps toward ending the isolation has strengthened Turkey's position."

[02] Talat alleges that the referendum was an act of self-determination and that the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus could not be amended

In the letter which was sent on 1 June 2004, Mr Talat supports that the Turkish Cypriots feel that they are Europeans and claims that the Greek Cypriots who participate in the organs of the EU do not represent the Turkish Cypriots. "The Turkish Cypriots should not be treated as a patch onto the Republic of Cyprus, which fully consists of Greek Cypriots", he alleged.

In his letter to Mr Cox, Mr Talat asked him to undertake an initiative so that the Turkish Cypriots are represented in the European Parliament. Noting that on 24 April 2004, the Turkish Cypriots used their separate self-determination right, Mr Talat alleged that the "representation of the Turkish Cypriot people in the European Parliament must be accepted" and that the Turkish Cypriots should have two seats in the Parliament.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN (04.06.04), in statements yesterday Mr Talat alleged, responding to a question, that the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus could not be amended without the approval by the Turkish Cypriot side. Mr Talat said that there were some "rumors" regarding the Greek Cypriots intending to amend the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus, to conform with the acquis communautaire but there was nothing official yet. However, he claimed, the constitution could not be amended because this would not be legal. Noting that the amendment could be done with the approval of the Turkish Cypriots he added: "If they want let us sit and talk. If we consider it necessary we could amend it".

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covers the Annan report on Cyprus

KIBRIS, under the banner front-page title "The report is realistic, as the plan", publishes statements by Mehmet Ali Talat who said that the report was a very important step because for the first time it is very positive for the Turkish Cypriots and gives them the opportunity to make some steps. An the same time, he added, it calls on the international community to end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Mr Talat alleged that the report would be decisive for the next 3-5 years in case of the continuation of the non-solution in Cyprus, but also in case of a solution because this solution must be within the framework of the report.

YENI DUZEN, under the banner front-page title "The two of them again", supports that only the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and President Papadopoulos are not pleased with the report. According to Anatolia news agency, notes the paper, Turkish diplomatic sources consider the report to be objective by 99 %.

AFRIKA writes that "Denktas is sad, Talat is pleased" with the report.

HALKIN SESI supports that the fact that it had published the report before it was officially announced, spoiled the plans of the Greek Cypriots. The paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas said that the Greek Cypriots "won the match" with the report.

In its inside pages KIBRISLI publishes the statements of Mr Talat under the title "it is exactly as we wanted it to be" and writes that Talat is satisfied with the report whereas Rauf Denktas is very angry with it.

VOLKAN alleges that the Turkish Cypriots were insulted with the report, because it says that by voting YES at the 24 April referendum they showed that they do not want recognition of their so-called state.

[04] "'Armenian criteria' from France"

Mr Hollande met yesterday at his party headquarters with the chairman of the Armenian Tasnak Party, Murat Papazyan. The two leaders noted that Turkey in addition to the Copenhagen Criteria must apply the 18 June 1987 decision of the European Parliament before getting a date. They reminded that the above-mentioned decision provided for Turkey to officially recognize the Armenian genocide, withdraw its occupation troops from Cyprus and respect the human rights of the minorities.

[05] Three-party coalition in the occupied areas

The efforts to set up a new government after the RTP-DP [Republican Turkish Party-Democratic Party] coalition became a minority at the Assembly with only 23 seats bore fruit today. The new coalition will be composed of Talat's RTP, the DP, and Akinci's PDM.

Talat said: "As the prime minister of a government that became a minority in the Assembly, I had to act." He went on to say that he resorted to this new formula in order to make his government have the majority in parliament.

Akinci asserted that he and Talat had reached an agreement, and that he would meet with DP leader Serdar Denktas. Akinci added: "We will set up the new government before long."

The RTP has 18 seats and the DP has five seats at the 50-member so-called Assembly. With the addition of the PDM, the coalition will have 27 seats.

[06] Turkey expects the Islamic countries to accept the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus as Turkish Cypriot state in the organization of Islamic countries

These 110 issues, including Palestine, Iraq, Cyprus, international terrorism, Greater Middle East Initiative and restructuring of the OIC Secretariat, will be discussed in the General Session and committee meetings that will be held simultaneously.

Meanwhile, the sixth meeting of Iraq's neighboring countries will also be held under the three-day OIC meeting.

Sources said on Thursday that security measures for the OIC foreign ministers' meeting were similar to those for the NATO summit in Istanbul between June 28-29.

Foreign ministers of 57 countries, representative of observer nations, Turkey's guests and representatives of several international organizations will attend the OIC meeting that will formally start with remarks of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

Candidacy to OIC Secretariat General and the Cyprus issue will be the main issues of the OIC meeting.

Turkey, Malaysia and Bangladesh fielded candidates for the post of the OIC Secretary General.

Turkey expects the OIC to take steps to end the so-called isolation of the occupation regime in the areas of Cyprus under Turkish military control.

A decision on participation of the occupation regime in OIC meetings as ''Turkish Cypriot State'' is expected to be made at the OIC meeting. The occupation regime previously attended OIC meetings as ''Turkish Cypriot community''.

Sources added that Turkey's expectations about the occupation regime were not limited only to ''title'' and it especially expected OIC member nations to take concrete steps toward lifting of the so-called economic, social and cultural isolation of Turkish Cypriots.

[07] Foreign Minister of Egypt: The Islamic Conference Organization recognizes one state in Cyprus

Maher told A.A. correspondent that Turkey had always tried to preserve the interests of the Middle East and not to contradict the interests of Arab countries.

Maher recalled that Turkey had relations with not only Israel and Palestine, but also Arab countries and that Ankara could undertake a more active role for peace and cooperate among all the parties, Maher added.

"Turkey and Egypt shared the same views on Iraq", the Egyptian Foreign Minster said.

Maher told A.A. correspondent that the meeting of countries neighbour to Iraq would be held in Cairo but the exact date of the meeting had not been set yet.

His country wanted the Iraqi administration to be transferred to the Iraqi people as soon as possible, Maher said. Mr Maher added that his country was ready to cooperate in Iraq with neigbouring countries, Maher added.

On Cyprus the Egyptian Foreign Minister said on Wednesday that Turkish and Greek Cypriots should be represented equally under the roof of the same state.

Maher told A.A. correspondent that Egypt´s attitude towards Cyprus was clear and said that Egypt favoured reunification of the Turkish and Greek Cypriots.

The Egyptian Foreign Minister said that he was against the division of countries and stressed that nations should intermingle and ethnic differences should not obstruct this intermingling.

Mr Maher also stated that efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue should continue although the simultaneous referenda failed in the island on April 24.

"The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) recognized one state in Cyprus", Maher said.

Maher recalled that Egypt had an ambassador in Cyprus and said that the embassy had relations with the whole of Cyprus, not only one group.

[08] Cicek seeks support from China for its Cyprus policy

The two ministers stated that improvement of bilateral relations would not only be beneficial to both countries, but also contribute to the regional and world peace.

Cicek said that Turkey had only one China policy and reiterated that Turkey considered the People's Republic of China as the only legal representative of China.

The Turkish Justice Minister asked China to solve the problems of Turkish businessmen in acquiring and extending period of visas.

Cicek suggested that the two countries should make joint investments in third countries, particularly in Iraq.

Countering terrorism was one of fields in which Turkey and China could cooperate, Cicek said.

Cicek asked for China's support to end the so-called isolation of Turkish Cypriots as a country which had esteem in international community and role in the United Nations (UN).

Zhang, in his part, said that the two countries had a common stance on the fight against terrorism.

The Chinese Justice Minister Zhang noted that he would convey Turkey's demands about visa procedures to the concerned ministry.

Zhang recalled that the two countries continued deliberations to sign an agreement on extradition of criminals, adding that he wished to sign the agreement when he visited Turkey.

[09] Erdogan alleged that Turkey´s European friends promised him proper action against the Greek Cypriots if they rejected the Annan plan

Under the subtitle: "Blockade on TRNC will be lifted," the paper quotes Mr Erdogan to have said the following on Cyprus:

"Erdogan declined to respond to a question as to whether there was a plan B that could be put into action if the EU refused to set a timetable for starting accession talks with Turkey in its crucial meeting in December. Nevertheless, he noted that Turkey had done more than its part, which he described as a major advantage that could be used to Turkey´s benefit.

Erdogan added that they had received strong signals indicating that the international isolation of the `TRNC´ was about to end. Erodgan, who has been invited to the G-8 summit to be held next week, said that the United States and the European countries attending the summit could issue a joint statement stating that they could lift the econmic embargo on the `TRNC´. Erdogan said: "We told our European friends that the `TRNC´ was expected to say yes to the Annan plan and asked how they would respond if the Greek Cypriot side rejected it. They replied that they would take proper action against the Greek Cypriots if that proved to be the case. If you ask what they have done so far, I can say that they have done nothing yet. Nevertheless, the United States and the EU plan to lift the economic embargo on the `TRNC´. The issue will be discussed this week".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Mehmet Ali Birand supports that the UN report is in favour of the Turkish side and that Cyprus is lost for the Greeks after this report

"The Cyprus report sent by the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the U.N. Security Council paves the way for a very different start.

Greek Cypriots may not have noticed, but by letting themselves being swept by their excitable President Tassos Papadopoulos and voting no, they single-handedly changed the future of the island. I am pretty sure, every passing day they see how their decision has ruined their hopes for the future.

Subtitle: 30 years, Greek Cypriots were aiming for a single objective

A new regime would be founded, the island would partly return to how it was before 1974 and the Greek Cypriot majority would govern the island. The Turkish minority would be granted wider rights, compared to the past, most of the Greek Cypriot refugees would return back, a portion of their lands would be handed over and the Turkish army would leave the island.

This was what the Greek Cypriot dream entailed. They thought European Union membership would make it easier for them to realize this dream.

They single-handedly ruined this 30-year-old dream by rejecting the Annan plan.

The report submitted by Annan to the Security Council is only an announcement of this fact to the international community.

Annan stressed the fact that Greek Cypriots did not really want unification of the island. He said Turks had turned their back on their traditional separatist stance, while Greek Cypriots supported separatism.

Never before has such a report by a U.N. Secretary-General that sides with the Turkish side and calls for efforts to be directed at eliminating the international isolation of the citizens of the `TRNC´ been published.

This report can be described as the beginning of an era of positive developments for the Turkish side and the loss of northern Cyprus for the Greek Cypriot side.

Subtitle: What will happen now?

Annan's report will be assessed by the U.N. Security Council member countries, before the council takes a new stance.

This new attitude could be a Security Council resolution, a statement or shelving of the report.

The decision that would please Ankara would be for a U.N. decision calling for the end of embargoes on the `TRNC¨. This is highly unlikely. Especially Russia's support for Greek Cypriots is enough to prevent this outcome.

No matter what the Security Council does, Turkey can benefit significantly from the U.N. Secretary-General's report. The comments in this report are so forceful that Ankara can easily use it to eliminate `TRNC's´ international isolation and increase investment. Some of us are complaining about how slow the international community is to act and lift the embargoes on the `TRNC´.

If you ask me, the international community continues to follow new developments at its usual leisurely way. The point we have reached now is a problem for Greek Cypriots, not us.

Subtitle: Greek Cypriots have only themselves to blame

If you examine the history of Cyprus, you will see that the mistake committed by Greek Cypriots significantly contributes to where we stand now. All through history, Greek Cypriots lost, due to their excessive self confidence based on the belief that they could make Turks accept anything, because the West supported them.

Subtitle: Between 1950 and 1960, they completely ignored the Turkish community

Between 1960 and 1965, while they were canceling the London-Zurich treaties, they believed Turks were too weak to react.

Between 1965 and 1974, they thought they could scare the Turkish community into submission and that Ankara would never intervene militarily.

In 1974, again ignoring the Turkish community, they tried to topple Makarios and realize enosis (unification of Greece and Cyprus). Throughout this period they believed Greece would support them. They thought Athens could stop Turkey.

Now, they committed their latest mistake by trusting in what experienced politician Papadopoulos told them during the referendum. Consequently, after years of committing mistakes, they have lost Cyprus."

/SK

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