Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-03-10

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] Five candidacies have been announced until today for the so-called presidential elections

[02] Denktas threatens to "break the ballot boxes" in case the Annan Plan is put again in referendum in the occupied areas of Cyprus

[03] SABAH supports that Ahmet Sezer postponed his visit to Finland in order not to shake hands with the Cypriot ambassador-MILLIYET supports that he feared reactions after the violence against Turkish women

[04] Mehmet Agar: "The Cyprus issue is virtually moving from the UN platform towards the EU platform"

[05] Turkey says parties of possible Cyprus talks are "TRNC" and Greek Cypriot side

[06] Erk is in Austria having various contacts in the framework of his participation in an international conference of the EcoProfit

[07] A project of a Europe Language Development Dossier

[08] Turkey is formulating a strategy on the Armenian genocide issue. No word about the mass graves of innocent Greek Cypriots massacred by the Turkish army in occupied Cyprus

[09] Mumcu has said conditional yes to ANAP´s proposal

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Five candidacies have been announced until today for the so-called presidential elections

The paper writes that the National Unity Party and the Democratic Party are communicating only through the telephone in order to exchange views on this issue.

According to information acquired from the political back-stage, the DP suggested the names of Hakki Atun, Ergun Olgun, Atay Ahmegt Rasit and Gunay Cerkez as common candidate, while NUP gave the name of Kenan Atakol. The organs of both parties discussed the situation yesterday without reaching any result. Both parties are expected today to announce their own candidates, says KIBRIS arguing that the NUP will either enter the "elections" with his chairman Mr Dervis Eroglu as candidate or it will call on its supporters to vote for whom ever they like.

As far as the DP is concerned, it is expected to announce its own candidate. The name of Ertugrul Hasipoglu has the most chances, argues KIBRIS.

Meanwhile, the Communal Liberation Party (CLP) announced yesterday that his candidate for the "elections" will be its chairman, Huseyin Angolemli. In its decision RTP accused Mr Talat of supporting "the heritage" of the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and of taking instructions from the Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Furthermore, the paper also reports that the Cyprus Socialist Party (CSP) announced yesterday that it will support the candidacy of Mrs Zehra Cengiz in the so-called presidential elections.

In statements at a press conference announcing the candidacy of Mrs Cengiz, the General Secretary of CSP, Kazim Ongen said that the rights of all guarantor powers in Cyprus must be annulled. Otherwise the Turkish Cypriots will not be able to reach peace, he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper writes that until now there are five candidates for the so-called presidential elections and all five of them belong to the front that supported the Annan Plan. The five candidates are Mehmet Ali Talat (Republican Turkish Party), Nuri Cevikel (New Party), Zeki Besiktepeli (independent), Huseyin Angolemli (CLP) and Zehra Cengiz (CSP).

[02] Denktas threatens to "break the ballot boxes" in case the Annan Plan is put again in referendum in the occupied areas of Cyprus

Speaking yesterday in occupied Morfou at a ceremony in the memory of the so-called Turkish Cypriot resistance in Pafos, Mr Denktas said: "It is the struggle for not accepting even a line of it, in case the independence is not taken as basis. It is (the struggle) of breaking the ballot boxes when they put it again before us for referendum in spite of this and of not accepting to bargain our independence. We shall do this together, together with you. That is why I am joining you. That is why I am leaving my post".

Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (10.03.05) reports that replying to the above-mentioned statement of Mr Denktas, Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party and the so-called prime minister of the occupation regime, said yesterday that "Mr Denktas has called the other time as well on breaking the ballot boxes, but the people did not listen to him". Mr Talat argued that acting outside the will of the people is wrong.

Commenting on the issue, AFRIKA says that Mr Denktas, who will leave the post of the so-called president of the occupation regime, is prepared for actions of violence.

The statements of Mr Denktas are also commented by daily KIBRISLI newspaper (10.03.05), which under the banner headlines "Quo Vadis Denktas?" writes that this is the "sad story of a separation" and argues that Mr Denktas got angry because the candidate he suggested for the so-called presidential elections has not been accepted.

[03] SABAH supports that Ahmet Sezer postponed his visit to Finland in order not to shake hands with the Cypriot ambassador-MILLIYET supports that he feared reactions after the violence against Turkish women

According to the paper, the reason behind Mr Sezer's surprise decision to postpone his travel to Finland between the 14-16 of March became clear. The Finish President Taria Halonen had invited the ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus Mrs Loria Markides to the lunch to be given in honour of Mr Sezer during his visit, however, when the latter found out about this invitation, he did not accept it. Mr Sezer sent a message to Finland saying "Take back the invitation from the ambassador", but Finland answered that "This is Impossible". Therefore Sezer decided not visit the country this time.

The paper writes that it created uneasiness to the EU the "Cyprus crisis" with Finland, which is one of the countries that support Turkey's EU membership. The paper writes that EU officials who are visiting Turkey criticise the fact that the visit was postponed for this reason without mentioning Sezer's name. This approach came also from the British for the EU Dennis Mac Shane. The issue created a discussion in Ankara as well. Some EU and Turkish sources reminded that Turkey sat at the same table in various international meetings with the Republic of Cyprus and noted that the postponing of the visit for this reason is contrary to Turkey's policy in Cyprus.

Commenting on the issue the Cypriot Ambassador Mrs Markides stated that she feels sorry that Sezer postponed his visit for this reason and stated that she was pleased to receive the invitation. "We can be good partners in the EU with Mr Sezer and the Turkish diplomats. I thought that this invitation was a good chance for us to talk", she said. Besides, as Turkish MILLIYET (09.03.05) reports, Mr Sezer´s decision to postpone his visit mainly resulted from strong European reactions to brutal treatment of protesters attending a demonstration organized on the occasion of the International Women's Day.

According to rumours in political circles, the official visit was put off shortly after the European capitals expressed sharp criticisms about the scenes of violence witnessed in Istanbul. Sezer's request for postponement of the visit was conveyed to Maria Serenius, the Finnish Ambassador two days ago. It was speculated that the decision resulted from angry backlash from Finland together with other European countries following the excessive use of force by the police against protestors and that Sezer had made that decision in order to ensure that those incidents did not overshadow his visit.

[04] Mehmet Agar: "The Cyprus issue is virtually moving from the UN platform towards the EU platform"

In remarks he made on receiving them, Mr Agar stated that the Association's services were needed more than ever before. Noting that the Association has organized activities to benefit Turkey through preserving the identities of those who years ago had settled in the United States, Mr Agar said that he thanked them for this.

Agar also said, with regard to the Troika meeting held yesterday, that "It is becoming clear that, on account of the government's weak stance, the continual impositions [by foreigners] are going to continue to increase." Stating that these impositions bother people a great deal, Agar spoke as follows:

"The Cyprus issue is virtually moving from the UN platform toward the EU platform. And the weak stance of the government is facilitating this. I want to make plain here the concern that Turkey's rights are not being sufficiently defended.

"The stances that were displayed yesterday, both in terms of the joke on "doping", and in terms of the delay in the meeting... A number of images of Turkey's being taken lightly were displayed. And no serious stance against these things was taken. The stances taken on Turkey's internal affairs, and on the Armenian issue, have begun to become unacceptable.

"The government is today being squeezed in this area, and it has narrowed its own area of manoeuvrability. With its appeasing and incomprehensible stances, it is taking Turkey straight toward a crisis. It is being seen that, as long as the government does not change, these policies are likewise not going to change, and Turkey cannot be represented in the way it deserves."

Agar, asserting that it is impossible for Turkey to get anywhere with these policies of the government, said that, if things should continue in this way, there will be a need for a change in government in order to overcome the crises. Agar noted that the nation would bring this about through an election.

Mehmet Agar claimed that Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul had been unable to say at the table to the EU representatives the things that he had said ten days earlier.

[05] Turkey says parties of possible Cyprus talks are "TRNC" and Greek Cypriot side

Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Mr Namik Tan held a press conference on Wednesday. Upon a question about Ankara's view towards the role which the EU wants to undertake in Cyprus talks that may resume, Tan said: "We have been informed that the EU would support talks if such new process emerges, and we welcome it."

"However, the important thing is the activities carried out within framework of the good offices mission of the United Nations, only through which we think a comprehensive solution would be possible," added Mr Tan.

Regarding the role of the EU within the Cyprus negotiations process, Mr Tan said: "Parties of the issue are the 'TRNC' and the Greek Cypriot side.''

When asked whether Turkish Prime Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan during his visit to Madrid that will start tomorrow (Thursday), Mr Tan said that such a meeting has been scheduled.

In the meantime, the Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is heading for London next week for talks that will also include the Cyprus issue.

[06] Erk is in Austria having various contacts in the framework of his participation in an international conference of the EcoProfit

Mr Erk is also having various contacts in Austria in the framework of his participation in the conference.

Mr Erk had a meeting yesterday with Mr August Wegner, the mayor of Traofaiach, which is in the Alps, where the belief that Mr Wegner's municipality along with the municipality of occupied Lefkosia can cooperate in various areas, was expressed. Mr Erk briefed Mr Wegner about the Cyprus problem and stated that the international contacts are a necessity for the lifting of the "isolation" of the Turkish Cypriots.

[07] A project of a Europe Language Development Dossier

Mr Scharer said that "North Cyprus" should gain the right of official representation and the Turkish Cypriots should seize the abundance of the language quality in Europe.

He also said that with the so-called National Education and Culture Ministry, they are promotıng a project 'The language Development Dossier in Europe', adding that it is not clear when the EU will confirm or not this project, which will be operated in five schools in the occupied areas of Cyprus. He also said that he will do whatever he can in order for this project to be approved by the EU, stressing that the Greek Cypriots have already made an application for this dossier of Language Development but it has not been approved yet by the EU due to technical deficiencies.

[08] Turkey is formulating a strategy on the Armenian genocide issue. No word about the mass graves of innocent Greek Cypriots massacred by the Turkish army in occupied Cyprus

Tan told a weekly press conference that the ministry was taking measures against those increasing allegations but did not elaborate.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Deniz Baykal, the leader of the (main opposition) Republican People's Party (RPP) held a meeting yesterday (Tuesday) in which they had agreed on a joint stance against Armenian genocide allegations.

On the same issue Istanbul NTV television (09/03/05) broadcast that the Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan rejected the proposal for a joint deliberation of the Armenian genocide allegations by the historians of the two countries.

He considered as groundless Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposal that the historians of the two countries conduct joint work on the issue. Oskanyan said that they [the Armenians] have been frequently expressing their own position on the issue. Declaring that the historians have said what they had to say a long time ago, Oskanyan added that Turkey has to put forward its own position, as historians can do nothing more.

[09] Mumcu has said conditional yes to ANAP´s proposal

Mumcu said that if ANAP accepts his conditions, that are "Principles and Identity" which were the reasons for his resignation from ANAP, then he could return to the party.

Mumcu demanded that his project regarding the Identity of the ANAP and opening to the people should be put into practice without any omission.

Moreover SABAH newspaper (10/03/05) reports that Mumcu might be a candidate for the ANAP Chairmanship, during the party´s General Congress to be held between 2-3 April.

EG/

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