Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-12-14

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] Erdogan receives Edelman; seeks concrete step about PKK 'soon'.

[02] Turkey's Assembly speaker comments on Kurdish advert in European Press.

[03] Statements by the Dutch and French Foreign Ministers on Cyprus and Turkey's EU accession process.

[04] Rauf Denktas claimed that both sides will be made to sit again at the negotiation table.

[05] Zbigniew Wlosowicz is the new special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus.

[06] Alevi foundation submitting 600,000 signature petition for recognition.

[07] "Turkish people: We have done everything".

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan receives Edelman; seeks concrete step about PKK 'soon'

Replying to questions put to him by reporters after the meeting, Edelman said he was grateful for Erdogan who received him despite his extremely busy schedule.

Edelman said he had had a very constructive and comprehensive meeting with Erdogan, stating that the EU summit and Turkey's getting a date from the EU to start full membership negotiations were discussed. Edelman noted they also discussed the situation in Iraq.

He pointed out that elections scheduled to take place in Iraq on January 30th, Iraq's self-administration, and progress on its democracy path were also taken up at the meeting.

Edelman who said importance of Turkish-U.S. relations was stressed at the meeting, thanked for the statements that the Turkish Foreign Ministry had made last week and statements that Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul made on Monday.

Replying to questions about news reports regarding discussions on ecumenicalism and the news reports that appeared after Erdogan did not give him an appointment for six weeks, Edelman said that the ecumenicalism issue and the status of Greek Orthodox patriarch were not discussed at the meeting.

U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman on Monday conveyed his views about a tripartite meeting with the participation of Turkey, United States and Iraq administration for "elimination of terrorist PKK/KONGRA-GEL organization from the north of Iraq".

Erdogan at the meeting conveyed Edelman Turkey's uneasiness against PKK/KONGRA GEL organization and stressed that Turkey's expectations from the United States regarding the issue continued.

Sources said Edelman in his part noted: "I know. We think it would be appropriate to have a tripartite meeting with the participation of Turkey, U.S., and Iraq administration to make a concrete step on this issue. Let us complete the preparations soon, hold the tripartite meeting, and make clear what kind of concrete steps can be taken."

[02] Turkey's Assembly speaker comments on Kurdish advert in European Press

Arinc described the advertisement as very wrong and unnecessary, and said that it contains ideas that run contrary to Turkey's realities, established order, and Constitution.

He said: "I think that under the influence of certain circles, certain people living outside Turkey came up with this advertisement in order to create difficulties for Turkey. Nevertheless, these demands and the people who signed these demands have now lost their credibility in Turkey. Those who try to create difficulties and obstacles in Turkey by means of such a statement will not achieve their aims. This will not have a positive impact on Turkey, on the established order in Turkey, or on the realities shared by 70 million people in Turkey. By means of the statement, those who undersigned it made it obvious that they are not sincere about their demands to have certain problems in Turkey solved in democratic ways. I have respect for the ideas of all those who commented on this issue. Surely, the idea behind placing this advertisement was to create an obstacle for Turkey and to provoke negative ideas about Turkey at this very critical time"

[03] Statements by the Dutch and French Foreign Ministers on Cyprus and Turkey's EU accession process

Noting that no agreement was reached yesterday on the issue of Turkey launching its accession talks with the EU, the paper writes that Mr Bot said that the efforts for reaching an agreement on the issue continue and that the Dutch Prime Minister, Mr Jan Peter Balkenende is having contacts in some EU member-countries.

Mr Bot noted that the decision on whether or not talks will start with Turkey, the time of the beginning of these talks and their form could be taken up at the EU Summit by the heads of states and governments. Mr Bot said that the 25 EU member-countries will reach an agreement and announce their conditions to Turkey, which could accept or refuse them

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Mr Bot noted that they discussed the way that will be followed on this issue and added that he is optimist. Mr Bot underlined that Turkey signing the Ankara protocol was very important and added that this would mean that Turkey will recognize the Republic of Cyprus. He pointed out that the Annan Plan is on the table and that they would discuss it with the sides.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily CUMHURIYET newspaper (14.12.04) reports that the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Barnier said that the beginning of Turkey's EU accession talks does not mean that Ankara will become a full member of the Union and that the European public opinion should realize this fact. Mr Barnier said they wished Turkey's EU accession talks to have a successful result, but in case this is not possible they want the strong bonds between Turkey and the EU to be continued.

[04] Rauf Denktas claimed that both sides will be made to sit again at the negotiation table

During the meeting, Mr Denktas said that the sides in Cyprus will sit at the negotiating table in the coming months again and added: "Thanks God that the Annan plan was removed from the negotiation table by the "no" vote of the Greek Cypriots. But, it seems that we will be made to sit again at the negotiating table. There is no end to this. We should determine very well the conditions when we will sit at the negotiation table, we should inform the world that we would not give up these conditions. In any case, these (conditions) are already known. We are discussing these (the conditions) with our government and with Turkey, as well. It would be a major mistake if we sit at the negotiation table again blindly because the USA and the UN wanted.

[05] Zbigniew Wlosowicz is the new special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus

Although Wlovowicz's appointment is not yet official Mr Brian Kelly the UN Spokesman in Cyprus, confirmed the news. The Polish diplomat was the acting special representative of the Secretary-General and UNFICYP Chief of mission.

According to KIBRIS, Mr Kelly confirmed indirectly the news about Mr Wlovowicz's new duties.

The last special envoy of the UN Secretary-General to Cyprus was Mr Alvaro de Soto who had this duty between October 1999 and May 2004.

[06] Alevi foundation submitting 600,000 signature petition for recognition

During the meeting Erden said: "We are not a religious or sectarian organization, but a democratic mass organization. When our organization is complete we can be influential in politics. The EU recognizes us but Turkey does not. We asked the foreign minister for a meeting on 26 August. There is still no reply. Our demand is that Cem Houses be recognized as Alevi centers of belief. Acceptance of this will mean recognition of Alevism."

[07] "Turkish people: We have done everything"

Poll conducted in four major cities

According to the results of the poll, conducted in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Bursa, the Turkish people are sure that Turkey will become a full EU member "in the end". Only 28 percent say, "We will never be EU members." Of the participants in the poll 78 percent gave full support for the government's EU policy. While 32 percent found the government's policies "totally correct" some 46 percent found them "partially correct". Some 14 percent did not find the government's policies to be correct.

"Turkish people have self-confidence"

The first question posed in the poll was: "Have the conditions necessary for accession to begin been fulfilled?" To this question 44 percent replied Yes, 10 percent said No, 34 percent said, "Partially" while 12 percent did not know. According to USAK experts these results show that the Turkish people have confidence in both Turkey and themselves during the EU process.

The second question in the poll was, "Is the EU treating Turkey fairly and sincerely?" While 55 percent replied No only 4 percent said Yes; 29 percent said, "Partially" and 12 percent did not know. In other words the overwhelming majority of the Turkish people find the European Union's policies towards Turkey prejudiced and bias.

The poll's third question was: "When do you think Turkey will become a full EU member?" Some 14 percent replied, "Within five-10 years" while 22 percent said, "Within 10-15 years" and 36 percent said, "Within 15-20 years." Around 28 percent replied, "Never." According to USAK experts the Turkish people are "realistic" when it comes to EU membership. The people believe that "in the end" Turkey will become a full EU member.

Support for government's policy

The fourth question in the poll was: "Do you find the government's EU policy correct?" While 32 percent replied Yes to the question some 14 percent said No, 36 percent said, "Partially" and 8 percent did not know.

France obstructing, Germany supporting

One question in the poll was, "Which three countries are the biggest obstacle to Turkey becoming a full EU member?" According to those who participated in the poll the country putting forward the most obstacles was France, while the country most supportive of Turkey was Germany. While 35.5 percent were in agreement that France was the biggest obstacle to Turkey's membership the second biggest obstacle was shown to be Austria, with Greece in third place followed by the Netherlands and the Greek Cypriots. Those who said that Germany was offering the greatest support also counted Italy, Britain and Spain.

/SK

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