Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-11-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs says that his country will not recognize the Republic of Cyprus.

[02] Rauf Denktas proposed a so-called broad-based government for the "elections".

[03] Mr Talat denied that he proposed talks on the Annan plan.

[04] YENIDUZEN publishes a public opinion poll.

[05] The occupation regime gives permission to another 26 foreigners to buy immovable property in the occupied area of Kyrenia.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Turkish Cypriot columnist sees President Bush as "friend of the Turks" and expects him to recognize the pseudostate in the occupied part of Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs says that his country will not recognize the Republic of Cyprus

In statements on his way to Lisbon yesterday, Mr Gul was asked to evaluate the Cyprus problem and the demand of the Republic of Cyprus for recognition. The Turkish Minister argued the following:

"We have done what we should do. We have developed a new policy on Cyprus. And the Turkish Cypriots said 'yes' to the Annan Plan. Cyprus is the issue on which we are at ease the most. The old situation on the international relations has completely ceased to exist".

Mr Gul expressed the opinion that the issue of recognizing the Republic of Cyprus could not be discussed under these conditions. Asked to comment on a possible second referendum on the Annan Plan in the Greek Cypriot side, Mr Gul noted:

"If the Greek Cypriot administration makes a re-evaluation and takes the Annan Plan again to referendum, then we shall see. If they consider it again, take the plan to referendum without re-negotiating it and get a 'yes' result, then we shall talk".

Mr Gul alleged that the new policy of the Turkish side and the 'yes' vote of the Turkish Cypriots to the Annan Plan shocked all the countries which considered the Turkish side responsible for the non-solution of the Cyprus problem. This changed the situation and the climate in favour of Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots, he argued. And this result was taken without Turkey to be forced to withdraw even one soldier from Cyprus or give even a square meter of land, he admitted.

[02] Rauf Denktas proposed a so-called broad-based government for the "elections"

Mr Denktas flew to Istanbul to address a conference at the Mimar Sinan University today. Speaking at the occupied airport of Tympou prior to his departure, he said that he had a telephone conversation with the so-called Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat to explain why he refrained from designating him to form a new "government". He noted that he was informed that the NUP would submit a motion to the so-called Republican Assembly calling for early "elections".

Mr Denktas asserted: "Let us see the outcome of the initiative. Will the NUP submit a motion for early elections? I will assess the situation when I return on Friday. Designating a new 'prime minister' will not be necessary if the motion is submitted. The 'Republican Assembly' can establish the 'election' date and then early 'elections' can be held. I will designate the new 'prime minister' if a motion is not submitted."

Stressing that he still believes that a so-called broad-based government can be established, Denktas said: "Since we are moving toward early 'elections', the two sides (NUP and RTP) can act with a spirit of reconciliation, agree on common denominators, and establish a broad-based 'election government'. I believe that 'elections' can be held in a comfortable atmosphere if they do so. However, I do not know what the political party leaders have in mind."

[03] Mr Talat denied that he proposed talks on the Annan plan

The paper reports that in statements to illegal Bayrak television Mr Talat, who said that he did not make any proposals to the effect of bringing the Annan plan again to the table, noted that he waits a proposal from President Papadopoulos and he did not say that he will not discuss the plan.

Mr Talat claimed that the statement he made to Greek Cypriot daily Phileleftheros newspaper to the effect that the Turkish Cypriot side is prepared to hold talks on changes in the Annan plan and submit proposals to have the document amended has been grossly exaggerated and misinterpreted. Recalling that he was asked during the interview to comment on how a solution can be found to the Cyprus problem, he noted that he did not respond by saying "bring the Annan plan to the table so that talks can be held on it."

Pointing out that there is not any proposal for re-negotiating the Annan plan, Mr Talat argued: "Saying let us come and negotiate the Annan plan means lack of respect to my people".

Alleging that no problem exists with Turkey regarding this issue, Mr Talat added: "In Turkey, there is a government that knows its interests in the EU". Indicating that he has the feeling that his interview in Phileleftheros newspaper created uneasiness in Turkey, Mr Talat concluded that if there is any uneasiness they could sit and talk on this.

[04] YENIDUZEN publishes a public opinion poll

According to the paper, 601 persons living in the occupied part of Nicosia (190), Famafusta (154), Kyrenia (107), Morfou (86) and Trikomo (64) participated in the poll.

Asked which party they would vote if "elections" were conducted next weekend, the participants in the poll answered as following:

Republican Turkish Party (RTP) 29.3 %

No Answer 20.2 %

National Unity Party (NUP) 14.3 %

I will not vote 13.2 %

Democratic Party (DP) 8.2 %

Peace and Democracy Movement (PDM) 4.8 %

Mix 4.2 %

Communal Liberation Party (CLP) 3.2 %

New Party (NP) 1.0 %

United Cyprus Party (UCP) 0.5 %

National Justice Party (NJP) 0.3 %

Cyprus Justice Party (CJP), Free Thought Party (FTP), Cyprus Socialist Party (CSP) and New Cyprus Party (NCP) take from 0.2 % each.

Asked which problem they considered the most important, the participants in the poll answered:

The Cyprus problem 29.3 %

Unemployment 23.7 %

Traffic accidents 12.2 %

Partisanship 7.3 %

Cost of living 7.2 %

Illegal workers 6.3 %

Isolations 5.5 %

Education 3.0 %

Taking the power from the army and giving it to the civilians 1.3 %

Democratization 1.0 %

[05] The occupation regime gives permission to another 26 foreigners to buy immovable property in the occupied area of Kyrenia

According to the decision, which was published in the so-called official gazette of the occupation regime, the majority of the foreigners who got permission to buy property in the occupied part of Cyprus are British.

Among the property bought by the foreigners are houses, fields, apartments and plots of vacant land, notes VATAN.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Turkish Cypriot columnist sees President Bush as "friend of the Turks" and expects him to recognize the pseudostate in the occupied part of Cyprus

Under the title "Experience won in the Presidential elections in the USA", Mr Guvenir, writes, inter alia, the following:

".Why shall I lie, from the point of view of Turkey's and our interests I sincerely and deeply wished and expected Bush to win. .Because Bush is a person that loves the Turkish nation. Turkish nation too loves him very much. It always looked at him with sympathy and love. .Anyway, what is done is done and the result we expected, even not officially, has become definite. The messages which the other candidate for presidency was giving that he would approve the disgraceful action of the Armenian genocide, had really deeply hurt the Turkish nation. .

The issues of Iraq, the disgrace of the Greek Cypriots named 'the Republic of Cyprus', the course of a powerful Turkey towards the EU, the fact that the Turkish Cypriots who said 'yes' to the Annan Plan are unjustly treated and are still isolated and fact that the Greek Cypriots who did not approve the plan, entered the EU and now they are threatening Turkey with a veto, will still be on Bush' table.

I believe that Bush will be a brand-new Bush. He will take more dynamic and courageous decisions on the Cyprus problem, based on principles. All our expectations from President Bush is to protect the national interests of his friend Turkey and put an end to the behaviour of the spoiled Greek Cypriots by acting based on the principle of equality. Our biggest expectation from him is to recognize the TRNC and close this wound. .".

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