Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-09-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul discussed the Cyprus problem with Kofi Annan in New York. He denies that they talked about a new initiative on Cyprus

[02] Revised list of the new appointment of Turkish Ambassadors to various countries

[03] Serdar Denktas reiterates his demand regarding the recognition of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime; He is going to visit London

[04] "Denktas: RTP is going well"

[05] Arif Mustafa claims that he receives threats against his life

[06] Mehmet Ali Talat is a nominee by the newspaper European Voice

[07] The passports of the Greek Cypriots, who were arrested by the occupation regime, were confiscated

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in Afrika calls on Turkey to hand over to the Turkish Cypriots the administration of occupied Cyprus

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul discussed the Cyprus problem with Kofi Annan in New York. He denies that they talked about a new initiative on Cyprus

Sources quoted Gul as saying to the Secretary-General: "A great opportunity for the solution of the Cyprus problem that you initiated was missed. The Greek Cypriot administration called Greek Cypriots to vote 'no' to the plan. In fact, this plan was a UN plan supported by the European Union, the United States and many countries. Although this plan did not make us happy fully, we approved it. The other side did not."

Thanking Annan "for his fair report on Cyprus", Gul alleged: "However, we reached a point that when persons who voted in favor of the plan are punished, the side which assumed a negative attitude is honored. This situation disappoints Turkish Cypriots. We expect a concrete step on this issue."

When Annan asked about the latest developments on the financial regulations to be prepared by the EU, Gul said that there was not any progress on this issue "due to hindrance made by the Greek Cypriot side", as he alleged and said: "If those regulations are not passed, it will be a second punishment for the Turkish Cypriot side." Gul told Annan that if he puts emphasis on this issue by keeping it on the agenda, it will have positive effects on ending the 'isolation' of the Turkish Cypriots, revival of trade and starting of non-stop flights to occupied Cyprus. Annan said that everyone knew his position on this issue and his report on Cyprus makes it obvious.

In addition, speaking later in a press conference, Mr Gul denied that he discussed with Mr Annan about a new initiative on Cyprus. Replying to a question, Mr Gul said that Greek Cypriot press reports saying that Annan would undertake a new initiative on Cyprus were not discussed during the meeting.

"On the contrary, I told him that we support his plan. Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of it. Turkish Cypriots said yes, while the other side said no. I told him 'thus, the Turkish Cypriot side should be rewarded now', noting that we expect him to lead on this issue. He said that he mentioned clearly those things in his report and he will do what is necessary."

Moreover, addressing a dinner organized by the American-Turkish Society (ATS) and the National Committee for American Foreign Policy, Mr Gul stated that a chance for solution was missed in Cyprus "because of negative stance of Greek Cypriots". He also said that efforts were under way to increase confidence building measures between Turkey and Greece. Replying to a question about the continuous Turkish military existence in Cyprus, Mr Gul alleged that it continues "because of Greek Cypriots' attitude against solution". He assumed that there would have been only 600 Turkish soldiers, not thousands of them if Greek Cypriots had accepted Annan plan.

[02] Revised list of the new appointment of Turkish Ambassadors to various countries

Here is the list of Turkey's newly-appointed ambassadors:

TURKMENISTAN: Hakki Akil, who is an expert in energy-related issues, was born in Kargi in 1953. He graduated from Bordeaux University in France. He worked in Turkish diplomatic missions in Damascus, Paris, and Geneva. He served as Deputy Director General in charge of issues related to energy and water in the last four years.

UZBEKISTAN: Kemal Asya, who worked for intelligence agencies in the early years of his career, was born in Ankara in 1951. He received his BA degree from the Faculty of Political Sciences. He was posted to Mainz, Damascus, Tripoli, and Vienna. He served as the minister in the Turkish Embassy in Luxembourg. The official title of his last job was Deputy Director General for intelligence in the Foreign Ministry's headquarters.

TAJIKISTAN: Altay Cengizer, who served as the Turkish Consul in Chicago, was born in Istanbul in 1954 and graduated from Bogazici University. Following his assignments to Turkey's diplomatic missions in Kuwait, London, and Brussels, he served as the Turkish Consul in Chicago. He was appointed Turkey's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations four years ago.

SYRIA: Halit Cevik, who was an adviser to Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Ugur Ziyal before his appointment, was born in Golcuk in 1955. He was graduated from the Political Sciences Faculty. He was posted to Khartoum, Stuttgart, Zurich, and Beijing during his diplomatic career. He was an adviser to Ziyal in the last two years in the Foreign Ministry's headquarters.

STOCKHOLM: Necip Eguz, who is experienced in the Cyprus question, was born in Ankara in 1951 and graduated from Middle East Technical University (ODTU). He was posted to Turkey's diplomatic missions in Brussels, Addis Ababa, Washington as well as the UN Geneva Office. He was responsible for handling issues related to the Cyprus question in the last four years in his capacity as Head of Department and then Deputy Director General.

ALBANIA: F. Suphan Erkula was born in Gonen in 1956. He received his BA degree from the Political Sciences College and was posted to Baghdad, Geneva, Sofia, and Roma during his years in the Foreign Ministry. He served as Deputy Director General for the Balkans in the Ministry's headquarters in the last years.

KUWAIT: Sakir Fakili, who is an expert in trade-related issues, was born in Gaziantep in 1953. He also graduated from the Political Sciences College. He worked for the Ministry of Trade for two years before he had joined the Foreign Ministry. He served as Deputy Director General for economic affairs in the last three years.

BRAZIL: Ahmet Gurkan was born in Ankara in 1944 and received his BA degree from the Political Sciences College. He served as an adviser to the Secretary General of the National Security Council in Ankara in the past two years. Ambassador Gurkan was posted to Brazil as the third secretary of the Turkish Embassy 33 years ago.

NIGERIA: Hakan Okcal was born in Istanbul in 1954 and graduated from the Political Sciences College. After his years in the Turkish diplomatic missions in Benghazi, Munster, Rome and Komotini, he was appointed secretary in the Turkish Embassy in Berlin. He served as Deputy Director General for researches in the Foreign Ministry's headquarters in the last three years.

QATAR: Naci Saribas was born in Ankara in 1949. He joined the Foreign Ministry after working for the Ministry of Trade for seven years. He closely followed very critical developments in Turkish-US relations while serving as the minister in the Turkish Embassy in Washington in the past four years.

YEMEN: Fuat Tanlay was born in Aydin in 1951 and graduated from the Political Sciences College. He was posted to Beijing and Tokyo before he was appointed Turkey's Consul-general in New York. He was fully responsible for making official arrangements related to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's state visits in the last two years.

GEORGIA: Ertan Tezgor, a captain turned diplomat, was born in Eskisehir in 1948. He graduated from the Air Force Academy. He resigned as captain after receiving his BA degree from the Political Sciences College. He served as the Turkish Consul-general in Thessaloniki and Haleppo. We was responsible for handling issues related to the Caucasia in the Foreign Ministry's headquarters in the last two years. There are two female diplomats in the list:

KIRGYZSTAN: Serpil Alpman, who was born in Erzurum in 1950, and graduated from Uskudar American High School and the Political Sciences College. She was posted to San Francisco, Kuwait, Milano, and Tel Aviv as well as NATO headquarters. She also served as Turkey's Consul-general in Rotterdam. She was the head of the Protocol Department in the headquarters prior to her appointment as ambassador. She will be the first female Turkish diplomat to serve as Turkey's ambassador in a Central Asian Republic.

BELARUS: Born in Ankara in 1955, Birnur Fertekligil graduated from Edgar Quintet High School in France and then the Political Sciences College of Ankara University. She was posted to Paris and Damascus in addition to her assignments to the Turkish delegation to the United Nations and the EU. She served as Deputy General Director for West Europe in the Foreign Ministry's headquarters in the past three years.

[03] Serdar Denktas reiterates his demand regarding the recognition of the illegal Turkish Cypriot regime; He is going to visit London

In statements in New York, Mr Denktas demanded from the United Nations to "take a specific decision regarding the international status" of the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" and alleged that the time came for the lifting of the provision that the pseudostate should not be recognized by anyone.

Mr Denktas alleged that there was no need now for the existence of the United Nations' Peace Keeping Force (UNFICYP) on the island and added: "There is no duty left for the Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus".

Mr Denktas argued that the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots would not be lifted if the direct flights from and to the occupied areas of Cyprus did not begin and noted that the Turkish Cypriots wanted their rights and the promises given to them by the international community before the 24 April referendums to be kept.

Responding to a question regarding the forum planned to take place in Istanbul on 4 and 5 October between the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the European Union, Mr Denktas described as "unacceptable" the demand of the EU regarding the Turkish Cypriots' not using the name "Turkish Cypriot State" at the forum and reminded that OIC had taken a certain decision during its last meeting in Istanbul.

Mr Denktas concluded: "During the bilateral contacts we had, we saw that the OIC member countries are supporting their decision. Therefore, I do not think that there will be a problem".

Meanwhile, according to KIBRIS Mr Denktas will be visiting London after his contacts in New York. In the British capital he is expected to meet with Turkish Cypriots living there, participate in a program of London's Turkish Radio and have some other contacts. He will be returning to the occupied areas of Cyprus on Sunday.

[04] "Denktas: RTP is going well"

Responding to a question, Mr Denktas said he knew nothing regarding the establishment of a "coalition" between the RTP, the Peace and Democracy Movement (PDM) of Mr Mustafa Akinci and the Democratic Party of his son, Serdar Denktas. He noted that the only thing he wanted was the establishment of a "national government" that supports the principle "my state, my sovereignty, my Turkey".

Asked to comment on Mr Akinci's party, he wondered: "Do you mean the side that wants us to enter into the framework of the Greek Cypriots"?

[05] Arif Mustafa claims that he receives threats against his life

Mr Mustafa stated to the paper that he would continue to live in the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus. "Let them say whatever they want. I will continue to live in the Greek Cypriot side. I will continue to struggle for my house. If necessary I will go to the European Court", he said.

Mr Arif claimed that pressure is exerted on Greek Cypriot lawyers as well, and therefore "they are afraid of working with us". "For this reason, the Greek Cypriot lawyers support us from the backstage", he noted.

The paper notes that the Greek Cypriot refugee named Despina who lives in Mr Mustafa's house at Episkopi, said that she was sad about the decision of the Court and asked for her house at occupied Agia Irini village, in Kerynia, where she used to live before the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, to be retuned to her.

[06] Mehmet Ali Talat is a nominee by the newspaper European Voice

[07] The passports of the Greek Cypriots, who were arrested by the occupation regime, were confiscated

The two Greek Cypriots, Andreas Violaris and his daughter Niki Violari, were released on bail yesterday, but with the condition that they cannot cross to the government-controlled areas. The illegal court ordered that the accused must pay 5 billion TL each as a deposit and that they must remain in the occupied areas until the trial be completed. Meanwhile, their passports were confiscated.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in Afrika calls on Turkey to hand over to the Turkish Cypriots the administration of occupied Cyprus

Referring to the so-called government crisis and the "attempts" to solve it, Hasan Tahsin says that it is not possible to overcome the difficulties and establish a real government in north Cyprus which is under the sovereignty of the Turkish Armed Forces. He says that unless permission and approval is secured from the Turkish Army no one could do anything. Therefore, he says, first one has to solve the issue of administrating of the north of Cyprus and for this "the administration of the north Cyprus should be handed over to the Cypriots". He urges the Turkish Cypriot leaders to demand from Turkey to hand over the administration of the north Cyprus. He goes on and suggests: "If Turkey refuses this handing over then a struggle should be waged both at home and abroad to realize this. You will win because the conditions are in your favors. Unless you realize this it is not possible for you either as political party or as non-governmental organizations to support the struggle waged by the Community to acquire its rights.

The naked reality is that it is funny to claim that we are a government, unless we put an end to the forceful administration of Turkey through its armed forces, it is not only funny but it is further than that. It is tantamount to giving approval to the slavery of the Community, to the occupation of Turkey and of the Colonial administration established by Turkey. And when the administration in the north is handed over to the Community then the Cyprus problem will enter into the settlement course. And the Cypriots will themselves find the solution. One has to realize that it is not possible any more to reach a settlement in Cyprus with an Anglo- American plans or Greco-Turkish balance. Also the Cyprus problem could not be settled without taking into consideration the international law. The Cyprus problem could not be settled with plans like the Annan plan that tramples upon the human rights. It is realized that the Annan plan could not settle the property issue because it tried to solve it through political decision contrary to the international law.

For example the Annan plan could not settle the settlers issue brought from Turkey to the north Cyprus in violation of the international law as well.So, for the solution in Cyprus, for the existence, welfare and the well being of the community in Cyprus, the administration of the north should speedily be handed over to the Community and the Community should speedily take over the administration from Turkey".

/MD

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