Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-06-14

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan rounds up his visit to the US. Statements upon his return.

[02] Serdar Denktas continues the campaign to partition Cyprus.

[03] Rauf Denktas considers the holding of referenda as "Separate self determination rights of two separate people".

[04] Talat wants early "elections" and calls on Turkey to have minimum ties with the Republic of Cyprus. He goes hand in hand with Ankara on Cyprus being a hostage to Turkey.

[05] Mr Gul informed the Turkish Parliament that Premier Karamanlis told Turkey not to worry about the veto of the Republic of Cyprus.

[06] Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan : "For the EU we could withdraw troops".

[07] AFRIKA's journalists to be brought in front of "court" today facing hundreds of charges.

[08] Mehmet Hasguler, the only Turkish Cypriot candidate in the European elections received 681 votes.

[09] The Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Village Affairs is visiting occupied Cyprus.

[10] KIBRIS: The graves at Vounos necropolis have been destroyed for the sake of constructing villas.

[11] "Quagmire of drags".

[12] MIT admits taping telephone conversations of foreign diplomats in Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan rounds up his visit to the US. Statements upon his return

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met separately with Clinton and former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.

Sources noted that Erdogan and Clinton exchanged views on Turkey's EU membership and regional issues in the meeting.

Clinton told Erdogan that he did very important jobs. Clinton said that he wished that Erdogan would have been the prime minister of Turkey when he was the President of the United States and added that Erdogan and he could have done significant things for the region.

In regard to the Cyprus issue, Clinton said that Greek Cypriots had used ''Turkey as an excuse'' for years and noted that the trump card was taken away from Greek Cypriots with steps on Cyprus which have been taken by Turkey recently.

Stating that personally he attached great importance to Turkey's EU membership process, Clinton said that he would visit European countries soon for his book. Clinton said that he would lobby for Turkey's EU membership and added that Turkey should be accepted to the Union even if it had not been such an important and powerful country.

Following his meeting with Clinton, Erdogan had a meeting with Peres.

Sources said that Erdogan and Peres discussed the Middle East issue in the meeting.

Sources quoted Peres as saying that they were following Turkey and noted that Peres thanked Erdogan for his offer for being mediator in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Ankara TRT 2 Television (13.06.04) broadcast a live news conference by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, on his return from his visit to the United States.

Erdogan points out that the main aim of his visit was to participate in the G8 summit, but that he also had the opportunity to meet world leaders. At a working dinner with the leaders of certain Middle Eastern and North African countries, he says, he had the opportunity to discuss the contributions Turkey can make to "the political, economic, commercial, and cultural development" of those countries. He goes on to say: "Of course, one of our priority issues was terrorism in those regions. We discussed what can be done against terrorism. We asserted that terrorism is a result, that we must establish the reasons for terrorism well. We pointed out that the process began not because of this or that reason, but ever since 9/11. We stressed that we must well assess the developments in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and lately the Israeli-Palestinian developments, and that the rich countries must protect and support the needy ones. We emphasized that poverty is one of the major reasons for terrorism. We pointed out that terrorists are persuaded to kill and to die, and that certain capitalist circles and even certain rich and powerful countries support that. We said that these issues must be studied and discussed at length."

The Turkish prime minister points out that for democracy to come to the Middle East and to North Africa, the necessary infrastructure must be built well. He stresses that other democracies cannot impose their own kind of democracy to these countries, because the latter have their own traditions and infrastructure. The reaction of the people in the latter countries must be taken into consideration, he adds.

Listing the personalities he met during his visit, Erdogan states that he invited the speaker of the US Congress to Turkey, and that he met former President Clinton, and former Israeli Prime Ministers Peres and Barak, among others.

A reporter asks: "DEHAP [People's Democracy Party] Chairman Tuncer Bakirhan has said that despite all the steps being taken, the administration is not moving toward a just and democratic solution, and that DEHAP expects a general amnesty. Is the government going to take any steps in that direction?"

Erdogan replied as follows: "Look, the government has been taking all the steps within its program. If certain circles are finding it difficult to grasp our sincerity in taking these steps, I have nothing to say. If they find it difficult to understand while the people and the world speak of our steps with appreciation, I am sorry. The current government has taken steps that were never taken in the history of the republic. We must be able to realize that. Despite everything, our government bravely took all those steps within the framework of the Copenhagen political criteria. It took those steps aware of all the risks. Given this situation, we are sorry to see that certain circles are still talking about problems. Furthermore, Turkey is not a country whose problems can be solved in one minute. It is a country with many problems. Some of these problems will be resolved in time. You realize that babies are not born in a minute; they need nine months and ten days. If a baby is born prematurely, it is not very healthy. We are trying to do things in a healthy way. The current government is showing its political will by showing the full half of the glass in Turkey. The process will go on exactly in this way, by looking at the positive side of things."

Asked if he would receive Leyla Zana and her friends if they asked to meet with him, Erdogan replies: "There is no reason why we should not. I would meet with them just as my minister met with them. My minister received them as deputy prime minister and foreign minister. When I was away, he met with them in his capacity as acting prime minister. This is a very important stage in Turkey. Everybody should realize that."

To the third and last question which is on Turkish-Israeli relations, Erdogan replies: "We have always said that we view the Israeli people as our friends. We always uphold the interests of all the Jews in the world. We are saying that the Israeli Administration is taking certain wrong steps. We have been saying that on every platform. We are saying the same thing now. We said the same thing during our meetings in the United States too. This would never hurt our relations with Israel. We are continuing with our military, political, economic, and commercial ties with Israel exactly as they are. Nevertheless, continuing with our relations with Israel does not mean that we are severing our relations with Palestine. We continue to have our relations with Palestine too, and with Iran, and with other countries. Circles outside us cannot determine the kind of relations we will conduct with what countries. Only we determine that. While determining that, however, we go by the win-win principle. The steps we take are in line with that principle. And that is the way it is going to be from now on too. Especially in the Middle East, we do not want to see peace and friendship threatened. On the contrary, we are looking into the ways of contributing to peace and friendship. I believe that the Israeli Administration must realize that too."

[02] Serdar Denktas continues the campaign to partition Cyprus

Denktas and accompanying delegation will attend the 31st Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Istanbul which will start on Monday.

Before he left for Istanbul, Denktas told reporters that he hoped to get positive signals for the position of the Turkish Cypriots in the meeting.

Denktas said that he was going to Istanbul early to meet with the foreign ministers of three countries and noted that he would evaluate the recent situation in Cyprus in his meetings.

Mr Serdar Denktas is expected to deliver a speech at the conference. Besides meeting with his "counterparts" in the conference, Denktas will also have meetings with representatives of Islam Development Bank, Economic Cooperation Organization and Chamber of Commerce of Islam Countries.

Denktas and accompanying delegation will return to the occupied areas on Thursday.

[03] Rauf Denktas considers the holding of referenda as "Separate self determination rights of two separate people"

Denktas said: ''Our name in the OIC has been identified as 'Cyprus Islam Community'. This was not a definition emphasizing presence, name and sovereignty of our people.''

We want the name of `TRNC´ to be accepted and Turkish Cypriots to be a full member of the OIC. `In the meeting in Jeddah they have announced that they could adopt the name 'Cyprus Turkish State'. We expect our Moslem brothers to accept the name of Northern Cyprus Turkish Republic and make it a full member of OIC. They do not recognize us and even do not use our name, this is injustice.''

Denktas said the twin referenda held in Cyprus underlined that there were two separate peoples, two separate self determination rights and that one of the peoples could not represent the other.

[04] Talat wants early "elections" and calls on Turkey to have minimum ties with the Republic of Cyprus. He goes hand in hand with Ankara on Cyprus being a hostage to Turkey

Mr Talat, who went to Istanbul after completing his contacts in Brussels and Strasbourg, held a press conference at the Ataturk Airport. Talat drew attention to the fact that the existing situation in the "Republican Assembly" runs counter to the results of the referendum and emphasized that holding early "elections" is the best way to resolve the problems related to the "government".

Also recalling that he is working on a new coalition, he explained that he hopes that the problems related to the "government" will be resolved in the days ahead.

Referring to the issue of Turkey´s refusing to extend its Customs Union Agreement with the Republic of Cyprus Mr Talat, said: ''Turkey should establish relations with the Greek Cypriot side as the Republic of Cyprus in the minimum level at this moment.

There has been such a relationship in the minimum level. That is, there were some relations in international meetings and sports events. After the Republic of Cyprus joined the European Union (EU), these relations will further develop.''

Talat noted that the development of relations between Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus was unavoidable and added: ''Because, the Greek Cypriot side is an EU member with the title 'Republic of Cyprus.' Turkey has signed customs union deal with the EU. It is an EU candidate and expecting a date to start negotiations with the EU. What is right is to take sensible steps which won't harm our interests and rights in Cyprus. Therefore, it is obvious that Turkey should take steps. There is no other alternative because, Turkey is a world state. And, a world state should comply with the world law.''

In Brussels and Strasbourg Mr Talat met with EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) President Luzius Wildhaber and Council of Europe (COE) representatives.

[05] Mr Gul informed the Turkish Parliament that Premier Karamanlis told Turkey not to worry about the veto of the Republic of Cyprus

"Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has briefed the TGNA [Turkish Grand National Assembly] Foreign Affairs Committee and responded to the questions of committee members Onur Oymen, Emin Koc, Hasim Oral and Sukru Elekdag on the DP [Democracy Party] case, the EU, the Greater Middle East Project and the Incirlik Air Base. The main points of the information that Gul gave are as follows:

UN force in Iraq: We expect some developments on Iraq and Cyprus in the process ahead. The influence of the UN will increase. A UN force will be formed in Iraq. The coalition forces are expected to assume the status of a UN force. Other countries too may then be asked to provide troops. We too will reconsider our policy on Iraq.

The NATO summit: We are preparing for the summit. US President George W. Bush will come to Turkey one day before the summit. The US is coming with a 1,000-member delegation. The passing through the Dardanelles will stop in the duration of the meeting. Although contrary to the Montreux Agreement, this has been accepted within the framework of friendship.

EU Preparations: Our preparations are of the kind that will amaze the entire Europe. The critical phase is over. The French Socialist Party's approach on the Armenians has disturbed us. Our position with [President] Jacques Chirac is good. There is nothing to worry about. We are carrying out this work together. I thank the RPP [Republican People's Party] members too. The work will speed up as the date draws closer, and we shall engage in doping. If they make a mistake on this issue,very serious problems will arise, and Europe will be affected adversely. We definitely do not have B or C plans in connection with the EU. We would be weakening the A plan if we make any other plans. I presume that full membership will materialize in about ten years.

Northern Iraq: The PKK [Workers' Party of Kurdistan] still has an armed group of a few thousand men. We are making warnings. We are engaged in talks with the US officials. There is toleration, though. We provided great support, even money, for the Kurdish groups there. We keep up our talks with [Kurdistan Democratic Party-KDP Leader Mas'ud] Barzani and [Patriotic Union of Kurdistan-KUB Leader Jalal] Talabani. One of our representatives met with Barzani yesterday. We also invited Talabani to Turkey. We created a Turkoman platform there.

Cyprus: We are making no effort at this stage for the recognition of the `TRNC´. The Greek Cypriot veto right would not create a problem regarding our EU membership. Our contacts with Greece continue. [Greek Prime Minister Konstandinos] Karamanlis has told us: Do not worry. We shall prevent the veto of the Greek Cypriots. We shall twist their arm.

Greater Middle East Project: We are no part of a plan of any country. A meeting will be held in the United States for the countries to be trained. Turkey will not take part in the photograph of the countries to be trained. We are not students.

Incirlik: The United States is making new power relocation. It has suggestions about the Incirlik base.

Release of the DP members: We are satisfied with the decision. As a matter of fact, we should not have come to this stage in the past. We ourselves created heroes. The statements that they have made give me the impression, however, that they will be more careful from now on. Europe too will be more careful."

[06] Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan : "For the EU we could withdraw troops"

The paper reports that it was learned that during their surprise meeting in Istanbul on 6th June, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mehmet Ali Talat discussed measures that would facilitate Turkey's getting a date from the EU. The two have exchanged views on the strategy that also envisages troop withdrawal from Cyprus. The two men reached identity of views as regards the steps that would facilitate Turkey's getting a date from the EU. The measures included among others troop withdrawals.

Subtitle: Two Alternatives

The alternatives discussed behind the closed doors of Ankara are as follows:

* Following the good atmosphere created by the referendum, announcing of a 5-thousand troops withdrawal will make getting a date from the EU definite. Turkey could bring this on the agenda during the last stage of the negotiation with the EU, that is in the October-December period.

* "Withdrawal of troop" in the wake of the referendum victory could be interpreted as "we are ready to make concession." And if the EU takes the decision to start negotiations with us as a positive reaction we could withdraw troops.

The paper reports that Talat prior to his meeting with Erdogan a day earlier had a meeting with Denktas and discussed the steps that are under consideration.

[07] AFRIKA's journalists to be brought in front of "court" today facing hundreds of charges

As the paper writes, the hundreds of 'lawsuits' that the paper faces must register a world record. It writes that it faced charges in a 'civil' and a 'military court' and stresses that it is presenting the case to the United Nations, the European Council and the European Parliament "in order to see what kind of order exists in north Cyprus and in order to understand that nothing has changed after the 'yes' answer at the referendum".

The paper also writes that tomorrow the journalists are again invited to the 'court' and they are curious to find out if they will face more 'charges'. It writes that the so-called Prime Minister of the pseudostate Mr Mehmet Ali Talat has promised that they will not have any more 'lawsuits' against them and that they will see tomorrow whether these charges will be new or old.

[08] Mehmet Hasguler, the only Turkish Cypriot candidate in the European elections received 681 votes

[09] The Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Village Affairs is visiting occupied Cyprus

[10] KIBRIS: The graves at Vounos necropolis have been destroyed for the sake of constructing villas

The paper notes that the tourists who visit the area are surprised and that the issue came up after they informed the so-called "Antiquities Department". The majority of the 140 graves which are of great archeological value, continues KIBRIS, have been destroyed by the above-mentioned company.

The former director of the so-called Antiquities and Museums Department, llkay Feridun said that they were informed about the situation only four days after the intervention and that they were able to save only a very small part of the graveyard. Mr Feridun avoided giving the name of the company and added that they are still investigating whether or not this piece of land legally belonged to the Turkish community

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (13.06.04) reports that the director of Sercem Constructions Ltd, Cemal Bulutogullari has said that his company has taken all necessary permissions for constructing villas at Vounos area and that they have done nothing illegal.

Commenting on statements by llkay Feridun, former director of the so-called Antiquities and Museums Department, which were published in English language daily Cyprus Mail newspaper on 11 June 2004 and in KIBRIS on 12 June 2004, Mr Bulutoglulari said that the archeological site at Vounos was sold to his company on 17 February 2004.

Mr Bulutogullari noted that after they were informed that in the "official gazette" of 27 May 2004 this site was named as archeological site they have applied to the so-called "Higher Council of Immovable Antiquities and Monuments" and that their application is still pending.

Mr Bulutogullari accused Mr Feridun of making false and groundless statements in a period when their application is being examined.

[11] "Quagmire of drags"

The first scientific research on the issue was conducted in 1996 by Dr. Mehmet Cakici, who had found out that 5.5 % of the Turkish Cypriot youths used narcotics. In a study conducted three years later, this percentage increased to 8.3 %, notes KIBRIS.

[12] MIT admits taping telephone conversations of foreign diplomats in Turkey

In his book Mr Bila published seven documents one of which concerns a telephone conversation between the British Ambassador to Ankara, Mr Peter Westmacott and European Union official Mr Michael Leigh.

According to the paper, MIT has admitted that the top secret document is a MIT document. After this news, a crisis was created in Ankara and MIT director, Mr Senkal Atasagun, met yesterday with Foreign Minister Gul for 45 minutes.

The news caused difficulty within the government as well, concludes RADIKAL.

/SK

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