Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-11-16

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader addressed the ceremony for the 21st anniversary of UDI.

[02] Turkish Cypriot paper sees a new scenario for the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey.

[03] Serdar Denktas: "The Annan Plan cannot be discussed"

[04] AFRIKA: "Has anyone seen Christakis?".

[05] Turkish Cypriot newspaper writes that the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the EP proposed direct trade and financial aid for the Turkish Cypriots.

[06] The nature in occupied Karpass peninsula is being destroyed in order to earn easy money.

[07] EU Commission Enlargement Director Fabrizio Barbasso: "You have to implement the reforms, you should recognize Cyprus and then get a date".

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader addressed the ceremony for the 21st anniversary of UDI

Denktas started his speech by stressing the importance of having Turkey represented at the ceremony. He warned the Turkish Cypriots not to think that independence can be negotiated and went on: "Years went by. New generations grew. These generations, like you, upheld the flag, the country, and the state. The world, however, was not on our side and it is not on our side today. The world is making the grave mistake of seeing Cyprus as a single state. The world accepts Cyprus as the land of a single people." Reiterating that the world considers the government of the Republic of Cyprus as the legitimate government of Cyprus Denktas added: "For us to be able to change this view, you, my people who emerged from the past disasters erect, must shout to the whole world, in unity and solidarity, that you will protect your state and nation, your independence and sovereignty, that you will not place these concepts on the negotiating table, that you will never allow the bones of our martyrs be trampled upon, that you will never give up your flag or state. You cannot speak the language of the world by surrendering. The language of the world is the language of independence. It is the language of unity, but a unity of independent and sovereign entities."

Denktas then said: "Certain circles ask why we cannot unite with the Greek Cypriots when France and Germany, which fought for years, united in the end. Let me answer them. It is true that France and Germany fought for years but in order to unite, they recognized each other's independence and sovereignty. We are ready to unite with the Greek Cypriots, but on the basis of the `TRNC´, not by having our sovereignty or independence eliminated, and not as a patch on the Greek Cypriot side. May God never show us such days, my brothers.

We must shout and make the world hear that there are two `peoples´ in Cyprus . Had this not been the case, why were two separate referenda held? Neither the EU nor the UN Security Council have the right to strip the Turkish Cypriots of their rights, freedom, independence, or state. Today, once again, we learned from our brother who represents the Turkish Government that our motherland will not allow them to achieve their goals by pressuring Turkey, or by using Turkey's EU membership as an opportunity, or by means of lies and propaganda, or by means of false promises, and by always considering the `Greek Cypriot Administration´ as the legitimate Cyprus government. We are relieved with this knowledge. It is our national debt and duty to advance along this path together.

Nevertheless, I would like to reiterate that certain ploys are under way outside Cyprus to deceive our people. Money is being given to further this cause. New steps have been taken to bring the Annan plan back to life. Our people are being told to implement parts of the plan and that the Greek Cypriots will eventually come and unite with us. Thank God most of our brothers who had believed these lies and voted yes in the referendum are now beginning to see the light, and they are beginning to see the true face of the Greek Cypriots. We hope that they will not have a part in this new play. We hope that they will dismantle this scene. We must have the spirit to be able to say that we exist on the basis of the `TRNC´, and that we are ready for peace, conciliation, unity, and EU membership on the basis of the `TRNC´, but never if our independence and our state are going to be eliminated. It is our debt to our grandchildren, to history, and to our martyrs to be able to say that."

The Turkish Cypriot leader then recalled how the people trusted and supported him ever since 1958, adding: "With your confidence and faith in me, I listened to my conscience, and considered it my duty to do the right thing. I believe in what I did. These are the last months of that duty. Nobody should tell you that Denktas is abandoning you. Denktas is returning to be among his people, because his powers as `president´ do not allow him to fulfill his duty by listening to his conscience, and because a people who voted in favor of the Annan plan have certain things to tidy up and organize. It is their right to do that. I would not stand as an obstacle before that. Nevertheless, I want to say the following to those who voted in favor of the plan: Certain circles interpret your vote to mean that you are ready to give up your state, your independence, and your sovereignty. You must resist that and raise your voices. You must say, as you did in the years from 1963 to 1974, that you exist and will continue to exist. I am going to return to my people who are going to say that. We will wage this struggle together with you. We will support the next president who will take the oath to protect our state and sovereignty, whoever he is, and we will back him so he will not give up the state or our independence in the face of pressure. We will wage this honorable struggle together with you, once again.

Nobody should tell you that we are at the end of the road. No matter what conciliatory steps we take, we cannot get anywhere unless the Greek Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot leadership apologize for the damage they inflicted on the Turkish Cypriots and for their evil deeds and crimes from 1963 until 1974. We cannot get anywhere if the Greek Cypriots continue to lie and say, like Papadopoulos, that the Cyprus problem is a problem of invasion that began in 1974."

Denktas then pointed out that neither he nor the late Fazil Kucuk were after state positions. We fought for liberation and against becoming a Greek colony, he said, and we had nothing but faith and national fervor. He went on: "My dear brothers, where is that national fervor today? It is with you. It is time for you to awake and protect this state. Whenever I ran for a position I ran to serve. I am at peace with myself for having served the way I served. If I made any mistakes, forgive them. Nevertheless, it is difficult for me to accept the statements by my brothers who lost in every election and who now tell the people that if Denktas ran now he would not win. That is not gentlemanly behavior. It is not politically correct and our people do not deserve that kind of behavior. People should not try to force me -- by defying me -- to do something I have decided not to do, because I am not going to do it.

I served my people for 52 years. They deserve it and I do not begrudge them for it. The martyrs must also feel that they deserve it. We do not have the right to make our martyrs feel that they fell for nothing." Denktas urged all, once again, to uphold the "state" and independence, and concluded his speech by saying: "May the shadow of the motherland be always upon us. Nobody should be hostile to the motherland. May the Turkish soldiers never leave our side. May nobody try to take away our freedom and sovereignty. How happy is the person who can say he is a Turk."

[02]Turkish Cypriot paper sees a new scenario for the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey

"According to the EU scenario which began to be formulated recently, Turkey will first be given a date for accession negotiations on 17 December. Afterwards the direct trade relations between Northern Cyprus and the EU and the direct flights will begin. The third step will be Turkey recognizing Cyprus and sitting at the negotiating table. Thus, the recognition of the Greek Cypriots will be realized in conjunction with the lifting of the isolations on the Turkish Cypriots. Political observers note that the EU is knowingly postponing the issues regarding the direct trade with Northern Cyprus for the period after December.

According to diplomatic circles, within the 10-12 month period between the 17 December and the launching of the accession talks, in order to recognize (Cyprus) Turkey will wait for the lifting of the isolations on the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ and the starting of the direct trade and flights. In case progress is made on the issues of the direct trade and flights, Turkey recognizing the Greek Cypriots will be facilitated and become an ordinary event.

Reliable sources are noting that Turkey is already putting forward the demand of the lifting the isolation applied to the Turkish Cypriots in return of recognition. Recently the demands of Turkey regarding the lifting of the isolations in return of recognition are discussed in the Greek Cypriot press".

[03] Serdar Denktas: "The Annan Plan cannot be discussed"

In statements to KIBRIS Mr Denktas said the following on the issue: "The Annan Plan cannot any more be a solution plan that will be discussed, because we have taken it to referendum, approved it and accepted it. There is a line there. The proposals that will be brought should not be taking us behind this line. Will a new solution plan come or not? It could come in the future, but this will not be the Annan Plan. Will the Annan Plan constitute the basis? It is an overall plan that came to surface until today. And this plan includes extracts from the Ghali Set of ideas and the De Cuellar Document. Therefore, in the following period a new plan will come which will be starting from this plan".

[04] AFRIKA: "Has anyone seen Christakis?"

The paper writes that Christakis, the five-year-old son of Myrofora has been missing since the second phase of the Turkish invasion. He was wounded from the bullets of the soldiers who entered his house in occupied Palekythro village. He was taken to a temporary hospital of the Turkish army at occupied Dhikomo village with his mother. His mother fainted and after she came to her senses she did not find her son, who is missing since then.

According to the paper, the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas told Mr Glafcos Clerides, who was replacing then President Makarios, that the boy was in Turkey and that he would be sent to his mother within three days. However, he is still missing in spite of the fact that 30 years passed since then.

[05] Turkish Cypriot newspaper writes that the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the EP proposed direct trade and financial aid for the Turkish Cypriots

The proposals are as follows:

1) The European Development Agency will extend the financial aid directly to the Turkish Cypriots.

2) Trade relations will start the sooner with the Turkish Cypriot community.

The paper writes that the first proposal is important because the European Development Agency has been helping states until today. However, in this case, making an exception the financial aid will be conveyed directly to the Turkish Cypriot community by-passing the Republic of Cyprus. As regards the second proposal, it is also important because the confirmation of Cyprus being a whole and united is asked to be brought to the agenda of the European Parliament.

The proposals will be presented in the European Parliament later today.

[06] The nature in occupied Karpass peninsula is being destroyed in order to earn easy money

The Chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Hunting Federation, Mr Harper Orhon, stated that some persons who are not the original owners of the land in the area of Karpass peninsula, thinking that they will leave this place and will live in another country under better conditions, tried to make easily profit. Therefore they destroyed the nature, setting on fire small forests with various trees that existed in the area in order to sell the land for building villas.

[07] EU Commission Enlargement Director Fabrizio Barbasso: "You have to implement the reforms, you should recognize Cyprus and then get a date"

"However", he said, "before giving a date the Turkish Penal code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, and The Criminal Execution Law should not be on the paper, and of course recognition of Cyprus is a must'"

In the interview published in VATAN newspaper (15.11.04) the EU official further says that prior to giving a definite negotiation date, there is a possible scenario that Turkey has to wait a few more months. "The reason for this is: There are two problems yet to be solved. One is: Ankara is yet to recognize Cyprus as state and, the second: the need to inform the EU public regarding Turkey", Barbasso stressed.

When asked to comment on the atmosphere existing in Brussels prior to the critical period of 17 December, Barbasso said:

"The atmosphere in Brussels depends on several factors. Of course the most optimistic scenario is to give a definite date to Ankara at the 17 December Summit. However, I am afraid that prior to giving a definite date, the other scenarios that there will be need to wait few more months are possible. Few factors affect this situation. One of the factors is: Turkey is yet to recognize Cyprus as state. You are already aware how sensitive the Greek Cypriots are on this issue. Secondly, time is needed to explain to the EU public what it means to start negotiations with Turkey".

When asked to comment on the settlement of these two problems, that is, Cyprus´s recognition and the EU public´s enlightment, prior to accession negotiations, Fabrizio Barbasso said: "The briefing of the EU public opinion will take a little bit more time. I do expect that the recognition issue of Cyprus, will be settled earlier. The most optimistic scenario on this issue is that recognition issue will be settled on 17 December. Otherwise, it should be settled prior to sitting around the negotiation table".

When asked: "What do you think of the fact that for the time being Ankara does not do much towards recognition of the Greek Cypriot Administration?", the EU official said: "Basically this is a political issue. It is difficult to conceive a candidate country conducting accession negotiations without recognizing one of the member countries in the 25 member EU. However, it is a fact that recently Turkey is helping UN peace efforts for a solution. In the light of these developments, we do believe that Turkey, including Cyprus´s recognition will continue to be active". When asked what would happen if the recognition is not realized? "I do believe that Turkey will continue its stable policy. If this policy means to turn its face against the EU then Cyprus too is included in the EU," Barbasso replied.

As regards "most favoured partnership" possibility, the EU official said: "This is a possibility. But do not see this as a proposal coming from the EU side only. This could come from the Turkish side as well, because Turkey by entering the EU, will be forced to share most of its sovereignty. Eighty percent of the legislation regarding economic issues will be drawn up in Brussels. And this means that the Turkish Grand National Assembly from now on, when making legislation could not act alone. It is possible that Turkey might not want this".

Finally, Barbasso predicted that accession negotiations will last a decade and Turkey will become EU member in 2015.

/SK

Constantia Soteriou

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article