Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-12-23

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Article in RADIKAL analyses how Turkey will use the military occupation of part of the Republic of Cyprus to express reservations in the signing of the Customs Union Protocol.

[02] Denktas puts again preconditions in order to negotiate the Cyprus problem.

[03] TGNA Speaker criticizes Denktas.

[04] RADIKAL argues that Russia will be convinced to support the post-referendum UN report. Erdogan to vist Moscow 11-12 January.

[05] Fishing boat with illegal immigrants was found empty off the coast of Kyrenia

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Columnist in Turkish paper criticizes and warns America over the war in Iraq.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Article in RADIKAL analyses how Turkey will use the military occupation of part of the Republic of Cyprus to express reservations in the signing of the Customs Union Protocol

"In accordance with the decisions made in Brussels at the 17 December summit in order for accession talks to begin on 3 October 2005, Turkey has to sign the Customs Union Protocol in such a way as to incorporate the Greek Cypriot administration, and is working to bring both the United States and the United Kingdom into play to solve the problem. It is being asserted that once Turkey signs this protocol it will have recognized the Republic of Cyprus. Ankara for its part is going to adopt the method of "noting its reservations" when signing the protocol as it did when signing the Helsinki Document in 1975. The objection to be filed will say: "The EU acquis is only valid in southern Cyprus. For Turkey to recognize the Greek Cypriot administration, which does not apply the acquis in northern Cyprus, would be against international law."

Request for "annotation" rejected

During the summit in Brussels Turkey reportedly wanted to have a written annotation stating: "Turkey maintains that it will make no changes whatsoever to its legal and political standpoint on Cyprus. It notes that this does not amount to recognition. It is clear that the Greek Cypriot administration cannot represent the Turkish Cypriots" added to Paragraph 19 of the final declaration, which covers Cyprus. This request was reportedly rejected. This annotation, which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly was unable to have incorporated into the summit's decision, was verbally conveyed to term President Prime Minister Balkanende of The Netherlands. After Erdogan's remarks Balkanende announced that signature of the protocol did not mean that Turkey recognized Cyprus.

Using EU documents to corner (the Republic of Cyprus)

Emphasizing that the Customs Union Adaptation Protocol will not be deliberated with the Greek Cypriot part of Cyprus but with the EU's executive organ, the European Commission, diplomatic sources pointed out that during these deliberations Turkey was going to ask for a comprehensive settlement on Cyprus. One source, pointing out that in the tenth protocol signed during the enlargement process it was stressed that the EU acquis was only valid south of the Green Line, maintained that the state Turkey was talking about in the protocol could only be the state south of the Green Line as mentioned in the EU document. One official said, "How could a Greek Cypriot administration that does not apply the EU acquis north of Ledra Palace, possibly represent the whole of Cyprus? Unless and until the Greek Cypriots take steps towards a comprehensive settlement they are only representing the south. We, however, do not recognize even this representation." As a result if Ankara has to sign the protocol by 3 October 2005 it will put the "annotation" that it does not recognize the Greek Cypriot sector.

Talks will start in 2006

Furthermore, Ankara is expecting the European Commission to initiate the screening process on 3 October 2005 and believes that the actual opening of the talks will be put off until early 2006. It is expected that the Commission will publish a framework document stating how the talks with Turkey are to be conducted. It is also envisaged that the Commission will publish an accession partnership document in April 2006 after the progress report it is going to draw up at the end of 2005".

[02] Denktas puts again preconditions in order to negotiate the Cyprus problem

Addressing a panel in Istanbul, Mr Denktas noted that time would show whether or not the accusations against the Turkish government that it has "sold out Cyprus" are right or wrong. "However, the Turkish people will not allow this", he added.

Responding to a question on the Annan Plan, Mr Denktas alleged the following:

"There is no such plan named Annan Plan now. They want to revive it. Until now Turkey was saying that it will not accept this. Now it is not a matter of existence or non-existence (of the plan). There are many things that the Turkish Cypriots, who said yes, like in the Annan Plan. I have put them in it during the negotiations. This is equality, this or that, but the plan is not complete, it has deficiencies. We had no sovereignty, our state was not accepted and Turkey was removed. Therefore, if they put before us a plan now and tell us to discuss it, we must not accept it, we must definitely reject it. What shall we discuss? First let us bargain the criteria. The criteria are the existence of two people, the two states and two sovereignties and the necessity of the continuation of the existing system of guarantees until Turkey enters the European Union. 'Therefore, before the beginning of the talks the Greek Cypriots must stop putting forward the allegation that they are our government. '".

[03] TGNA Speaker criticizes Denktas

Speaking at a ceremony organized by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ACC), Mr Arinc said, inter alia, the following referring to the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas, without mentioning his name:

"I am talking as Speaker of the Parliament. Sometimes I cannot control my self, but let me not give names. You there are representing a community imprisoned in some points. For the first time the doors are opened. For the first time they shake your hand. For the first time they are taking you seriously. For the first time they are forced to listen to you as representative of a powerful country. 'I have seen the reality of Cyprus. I have also pointed out to the negative things there. I saw the injustice against persons who gave their lives to this country. However, I saw another thing as well. There is a reality there. The grandfathers are saying some things in Cyprus, as they have been saying for years. Their grandsons, however, are waiting in the line for passports in order to pass in the south. I saw this painful reality as well. Let us think and try for a solution. We are doing these at the doors of Europe".

[04] RADIKAL argues that Russia will be convinced to support the post-referendum UN report. Erdogan to vist Moscow 11-12 January

The paper says that earlier Russia and China did not support the initiative because they said that the UN Secretary-General did not inform them about the peace process and they felt they were kept out of that peace process. This time, says paper, the two permanent members of the Security Council, Russia and China, will be included in the process.

Subtitle: First target Moscow

The paper goes on and reports that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will visit Moscow between 11-12 January and during his visit he will meet President Putin and he will try to secure Russiaīs support as regards the Secretary-Generalīs Cyprus report, compiled after the 24 April referendum in Cyprus. It is also expected that Erdogan will inform President Putin on the recent Brussels Summit.

[05] Fishing boat with illegal immigrants was found empty off the coast of Kyrenia

The fishing boat with the name "Kucuk Suleyman" (Small Suleyman) was found by the team of the so-called TRNC Coast Security Commandership off the coast of Vasilia-Lapethos sea area.

The boat was reportedly carrying 15 illegal immigrants who disappeared. Only two members of the boat crew, one of whom the Captain, were left inside. Both of them were brought to the so-called Kyrenia Police Headquarters.

According to the paper, the "officials" said that it is possible that the illegal immigrants escaped by being transferred to another fishing boat. The press spokesman of the occupation police Mufettis Niyazi confirmed the incident, but said that he cannot make any detailed statements, because the interrogations are still continuing.

According to the paper the fishing boat was lost due to a mechanical breakdown and not because of an accident.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Columnist in Turkish paper criticizes and warns America over the war in Iraq

"The EU did not say "no" in a way that everyone would understand, but it did hit us with an elbow and failed to make good on its commitments; it is clear that it intends to play for time by dragging out the whole affair.

It is unknown whether or not we will ever be able to join the EU, and whether we will be a full member even if we should get in. Even so, we are still keeping our hopes, and we are proceeding with sure steps along the path that we believe to be the correct one, without declaring the EU our enemy...

With the self confidence that "Things will work out even if we do not get membership..." By putting "the fatherland first" in our concerns... We are continuing to make progress, by defending our honor and standing up for our values.

Then, just at this point, a crushing report from Iraq:

- Five Turkish security officials martyred!

Thereafter came the statement from the First Army Commander, General Hursit Tolon, which chilled us.

Hursit Pasha, following the bloodthirsty killing of the five Turkish security officers and referring to [Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party - KDP - leader Mas'ud] Barzani, said:

"Feed the crow, and it will pick out your eyes" [a proverbial expression used when someone returns evil for good].

He then added: "It is extremely distressing that this incident took place in a region under the control of a country which we consider a friend and ally. We are taking note of this!"

Then, as we were laying our martyrs to rest, an insolent voice from Washington, as if in response: "A comical and absurd stance"!

The height of insolence, and the United States continued to become even more insolent: "1,200 of our troops have died to date in Iraq."

Look, friend: You went there to occupy the place and you are fighting a war there, and people die in wars. The war was your choice.

It is not always going to be you that kills and carries out massacres, so why do you get so upset when some US soldiers die, in addition to the thousands of Iraqis?

But Turkey is not in this war, yet we have given more "martyrs" than Great Britain, which is in it! Is it so difficult to understand Turkey? What indifference, what shamelessness this is. In short... The insolence of the United States is almost at its peak... We are aware of the fact that America is "the world's only superpower". We are not putting on heroic airs; we are very sad, but we are still rational... We have seen, over years of experience, just how merciless the United States can be.

Knowing all of these things, one hopes that the actual reality that is causing the United States to get angry and become so insolent is not Turkey's effort to "stand tall"!

You put sacks over the heads of our soldiers, and we put up with it!

We have lost close to 80 Turkish lives in the region of Iraq controlled by the United States, and we have put up with it!

You have bought, with even more money, crows like Barzani, whom until [virtually] yesterday we had nourished, and you have applauded them as they pick out our eyes, and we have put up with it!

Five Turkish security officials were lured into an ambush and slain just before your noses, and we put up with it!

But no more! From now on, we do not, will not, and cannot, put up with it! Do not be deceived by those "true blue pro-Americans" in our midst that you have bought!

For the Turks come at the head of those nations who realize that no amount of wealth is more precious than the honor of a society.

The entire world, and especially the United States, should realize this truth, and should indeed inscribe it in its memory. We will endure debts, poverty, deprivation, and every sort of difficulty, God willing!

But you should now be aware, America, that we are no longer going to put up with the things you do!"

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