Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-05-18

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Soyer sees the organized crime behind the robbery in the so-called Migration Department.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot Businessmen´s Association stated that the lawsuits against the Turkish Cypriots is a dangerous development which will lead Cyprus in the old disastrous days.

[03] The Retired `Security Forces´ and `Police´ Association requested the control of the police to be turned over to the pseudogovernment.

[04] Hans Jörg Kretschmer: Cyprus is not obstacle for the negotiations.

[05] Turkey threatened to veto the Council of Europe summit. Erdogan´s address of the summit.

[06] Female PKK expert was reportedly appointed to head the Intelligence Directorate.

[07] The mayor of the German city of Waldkirchen visits the so-called ministry of youth and sports of the occupation regime.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in CYPRUS TIMES argues that Mr Talat is in a stage of formulating a new comprehensive strategy.

[09] Columnist in AFRIKA argues that Mr Talat and his party are doing exactly the opposite of what they used to say in the past.

[10] Message from Denktas to the Government.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Soyer sees the organized crime behind the robbery in the so-called Migration Department

In statements yesterday during a meeting with the Administrative Council of the Association for Remembering and Keeping the Martyrs Alive, Mr Soyer noted: These incidents that happen one after the other is an effort by the organized crime to show that it is stronger than the state. The Turkish Cypriots, its government and state cannot accept that there is an organized crime stronger than itself. .

Mr Soyer pointed out that everyday work had been done with the stolen computers and that the robbers acquired no secret state information. He declared the information according to which the list submitted to the United Nations with the names of the 40 thousand Turkish settlers who had become citizens of the pseudostate was stolen during the robbery, to be false.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot Businessmen´s Association stated that the lawsuits against the Turkish Cypriots is a dangerous development which will lead Cyprus in the old disastrous days

As the paper writes the Businessmen´s Association called on the European Union and the states of the world to stop this development and stated that the Greek Cypriot administration was filing court cases against Turkish Cypriots with the aim of destroying the property regime in the pseudostate and doing away with the bi-zonal and bi-communal structure envisaged in the Annan Plan.

The Businessmen´s Association also stated that the Turkish side approved the Annan Plan at lasts years referendum and noted that this plan had proposed solution of the property issue through exchange and partial return as well as compensation. It also added that such attempts by the Greek Cypriot side did not contribute to confidence building between the two sides and hindered attempts aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

In addition, as Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper writes, Mr Rasih Keskiner, the chairman of the Turkish Cypriot New Cyprus Party, stated that in case the crossing points are closed down, the people will rush into the streets. Mr Keskiner also criticised the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat who stated recently, inter alia, that if the situation continues like this with the lawsuits the crossing points will be closed down and that in case new crossing points are opened the arrests of the Turkish Cypriots will be made more easily. As Mr Keskiner stated, the new Turkish Cypriot leadership tries to sow discords among the two communities in Cyprus.

[03] The Retired `Security Forces´ and `Police´ Association requested the control of the police to be turned over to the pseudogovernment

Presidents of the four associations, Huseyin Ozbudak, Esen Omurlu, Nedret Tumkan and Mehmet Salih Director, issued a joint statement yesterday stating that the `Security Forces´ Command and the ´Police force´ are being, unwittingly or deliberately tarnished as a result of statements made by various institutions and establishments concerning recent criminal events.

In the written statement, all four association presidents requested that control of the police force be turned over to the so-called government, citing the following reasons for their request.

1. To put an end to arguments concerning this matter and prevent the degradation of the `Security Forces´ Command and the `Police Force´.

2. To help put an end to rulings in international courts against Turkey, based on the pretext of the `police´ being controlled by the `Security Forces´ Command.`

3. To encourage the accomplishment of a western civilization style administration

4. To make the `police force´ accountable to the people.

The police force at present, is controlled by the Security Forces Command and is not accountable to the civilian authority.

[04] Hans Jörg Kretschmer: Cyprus is not obstacle for the negotiations

Noting that they are hopeful as regards the settlement of the problem (Cyprus Tr. Note) Kretschmer stressed: Whatever the case we are going to sit around the negotiation table with the Cyprus problem settled. Because until that day the Customs Union Protocol is going to be signed. After that, no other effort will be able to preclude the negotiation process.

Subtitle: We had already agreed on 17 December

Kretschmer has evaluated Turkey´s 3rd October preparations and the latest developments in the Ankara-Brussels line as follows:

Regarding the settlement of the Cyprus problem, a new initiative by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is in question. We do expect that this initiative will be, in a way, effective on the Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos. We will altogether see what will be the result. However, one thing is clear: On 17 December, the day negotiation date for accession was given to Turkey, Ankara and the EU had reached an agreement. This agreement committed Turkey to sign the protocol that will extend the customs union agreement to all member countries including Cyprus. Against this the EU took responsibility in this process. So, both sides fulfill their responsibilities. The protocol soon is going to be signed and thus we are going to sit around the negotiation table having untied the knot. After that, it will be wrong to see the Cyprus issue as obstacle for the negotiations.

The EU official went on and said that the calendar for the 3rd October is progressing in a normal way and that during this time the same procedure shall be implemented to Turkey, as in the case of all the other candidate countries.

Noting that Turkey got rid of several taboos, the EU official said that the reform activities were not tied up to the negotiations.

He concluded by saying that as EU they hope that, the new Turkish Penal code will be put into force as of 1 June, that Turkey is not that much weak country so that it will compromise the principles of the freedom of expression and the rule of Law. We do expect that a good Foundation law will be passed.

[05] Turkey threatened to veto the Council of Europe summit. Erdogan´s address of the summit

It has emerged that Turkey threatened to bloc the Council of Europe [CoE] summit in Warsaw over a final communique article which linked terrorism to international human rights law. The crisis was avoided when Poland, the term president, took Turkey's objections into consideration.

Turkey strongly reacted to a human rights phrase Poland initially wanted to place in the article on fighting terrorism. The article would have said that persons tried on charges of terrorism should be treated in line with international human rights. Turkey objected to that, saying that such an article would lead to the treatment of persons charged with terrorism as prisoners of war or as war criminals. On Monday night [ 16 May], Ankara told the Polish officials that it would not sign the final communique unless the wording of the article was changed. Not wanting the summit to end with a diplomatic crisis, Poland took Ankara's objection into consideration and changed the wording of the sentence that linked international human rights to the fight on terrorism.

Addressing the summit Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the working spheres of the European Union and the Council of Europe should be based on cooperation, not duplication.

During the Council of Europe leaders summit session on the Architecture of Europe, Erdogan criticized the countries that adopted Armenian genocide resolutions.

He said: I certainly do not find it right, both in terms of human rights and in terms of the supremacy of the law, that interested or uninterested parliaments adopt such resolutions through some simple lobbying activities without basing themselves on documents or information.

Recounting that Turkey has opened its archives, Erdogan called on Armenia and third countries to do the same.

He said: `Turkey has opened all its state archives. We are now opening our military archives as well. Similarly, Armenia should also open all its archives´.

Expressing support for the summit declaration, which includes a pledge to preserve and develop the unity of Europe, the prime minister stressed that the activities of the EU and the Council of Europe should be based on cooperation, not duplication. Erdogan also stated that the expansion of the EU should not create new divide lines.

[06] Female PKK expert was reportedly appointed to head the Intelligence Directorate

A female MIT [National Intelligence Organization] officer who interrogated [Workers' Party of Kurdistan - PKK - leader Abdullah] Ocalan at Imrali is being assigned to head the Intelligence Directorate, one of the most important components of MIT.

After Undersecretary Senkal Atasagun applied for retirement, changes have begun in the MIT hierarchy. The female MIT Regional Chief who questioned Ocalan at Imrali has been assigned as Intelligence Director.

Following the departure of National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Undersecretary Senkal Atasagun, new changes have also begun in the Undersecretary's office. In the event of MIT Deputy Undersecretary Emre Taner being appointed as Undersecretary, two Deputy Undersecretary positions will become vacant. And the 54-year-old female MIT officer who questioned Abdullah Ocalan at Imrali is being made the head of the Intelligence Directorate, one of the most important components of MIT.

Subtitle: Name secret

With the position of the Deputy Undersecretary responsible for Intelligence becoming empty through retirement, the person currently serving as Intelligence Director is being appointed to that Deputy Undersecretary position. In accordance with the law, these names cannot be revealed, and even their being written in initials causes reaction within the organization. It is being looked upon as certain that the female chief who is currently serving as Regional Chief in an important province, who has experience particularly in the area of the PKK, Kurdish separatism, and subversive organizations, will be assigned to the position, which will become vacant due to the [current] Intelligence Director's being assigned to the position of Deputy Undersecretary of MIT.

Subtitle: Political sciences faculty graduate

In recent years, female intelligence officers have been assigned to important positions in foreign intelligence services as well. The most recent example of this was in Great Britain. It is reported that there are currently three women in important positions at MIT, and that the most important of these is serving as a Regional Chief. It is also noteworthy that the new Intelligence Director, described as a graduate of the [Ankara University] Political Sciences Faculty (SBF), and an expert on separatist groups, is also an excellent shot.

Subtitle: Bargaining with Damascus

It is also stated, by an official who was present, that this same female officer, who went to meetings on behalf of MIT during the period when Ocalan was in Syria, told Syria's primary intelligence service official Ghazi Kanaan that "You say he [referring to Ocalan] is not here, but here are the photographs showing that Abdullah Ocalan is in Syria, and here are the addresses and photographs of the houses where he stays, as well as the telephone numbers."

[07] The mayor of the German city of Waldkirchen visits the so-called ministry of youth and sports of the occupation regime

The paper writes that the German mayor visits the occupied areas with a team which will be participating in a beach volley tournament on 20 May 2005.

Mr Bruner has reportedly invited football and volleyball teams from the occupied areas of Cyprus as well as the Turkish Cypriot mountain climbing association to visit Germany and participate in tournaments.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in CYPRUS TIMES argues that Mr Talat is in a stage of formulating a new comprehensive strategy

Talat has maintained his silence for a long while every time he has been approached about the recent legal campaign launched by the Greek Cypriots

His prolonged reticence on this issue has been a cause of concern among the Turkish Cypriots

There have even been rumours that the new president was falling short of satisfying the expectations of the people

The active policy pursued by Rauf Denktas and Serdar Denktas has put Talat even more in the shade

The only reason Talat gave in his statements to justify his having kept in the background was that he had not yet determined a policy on the concerned issue

This aroused disappointment amongst our people

Hence, their hopes shattered that their leader would pursue an active policy against the recent battle launched by the Greek Cypriots, many Turkish Cypriots stood up to protest and express their disappointment over the fact that their president had not even yet determined a clear stance on such a matter of crucial importance.

An impression was created by certain people that something was going on in the presidential palace

But nobody knew what this was

Was it really true that there was something going on?

Or was this a false impression created to console people?

In the past, the entire policy of Denktas was based on secrecy

But now, the public wants to see a more transparent administration

They do not only want to see more transparency in the government but want to participate in the discussions concerning their destiny.

The public no longer wishes to see policies being secretly made up by politicians behind the palace doors without their own consent and participation.

Policies founded on secrecy and the monopolization of access to information was one of the main distinguishing aspects of the status quo

People no longer desire this

Talat made a very interesting statement to the POLITIS newspaper

I believe this might be just the visible part of the iceberg

In other words, the statement Talat issued to the POLITIS newspaper might be a sign of a comprehensive strategy Talat has in his head

What Talat said in his statement is very clear:

I am not merely the president of the `TRNC´. I am also the vice president of the Republic of Cyprus. This is a legal status according to the criteria set by your own government

Talat gave this reply when he was asked, Where can the Greek Cypriot politicians meet you to talk?

We had never heard such a statement issued by Denktas in the past! Why?

Because Denktas had pushed aside our partnership rights at the Republic of Cyprus and totally forgotten about them

In fact, he had abandoned those rights

The Greek Cypriots used this opportunity to declare themselves as the only legal government on the entire island, therefore creating many of the problems we have today

What will happen if Talat announces to the world that we represent the legal state as much as the Greek Cypriots do. This is because I am the vice-president of the Republic of Cyprus

How will the world and the Greek Cypriots react to this? Perhaps, it may be possible in this way to overcome the procedural barriers to lift the embargoes imposed on us Why not?

The vice-president of the Republic of Cyprus is as legal as the president of the Republic of Cyprus! Maybe this is Talat´s new strategy Doesn´t the world want a solution?

Isn´t Cyprus already moving towards a solution? Isn´t the Republic of Cyprus government acknowledged as the only legal government on the island until there is a settlement?

Why not accept this policy if it is going to help us gain a legal status until a settlement is achieved on the island? Why not accept this policy and make it easier for the EU and the UN? Why not?

[09] Columnist in AFRIKA argues that Mr Talat and his party are doing exactly the opposite of what they used to say in the past

If Turkey wants a certain party to receive a certain amount of votes in northern Cyprus, is it capable of achieving this goal? Yes it is.

Is Turkey capable of turning the Democratic Party into the first party, if it wants to?

Yes it is.

Is Turkey capable of making Serdar Denktas prime minister, if it wants to? Yes, it is.

Is it capable of making him president? Yes, it is capable of making him president as well.

Is Turkey capable of dissolving this government, if it wants to? Yes, it is.

If Turkey asks Serdar "to withdraw," will he withdraw? Yes, he will.

And what will happen if Turkey says that it is necessary to hold new elections? New elections will be held.

Just look around.

Who appears on the stage most of the time? Is it not Serdar Denktas? Who is in favor of the reinforcement of the military? Serdar!

Who has given the Greek Cypriots two years time for finding a solution? Serdar!

And who is the person who returns the health bills that arrive from the south without showing them to anyone? Serdar!

Who is the person who travels abroad more than anyone else and who represents us everywhere he goes? Serdar!

I have to admit that he is working quite well with six deputies. It is as if he is not the minor partner. It is almost as if his party has more seats than his coalition partner.

He has said to us "the second Denktas era has begun" and we did not believe him.

He was right. We do not miss Denktas senior at all.

This is because we do not feel the presence of those who claim that they have destroyed the status quo. They are busy feeding their spouses, friends, relatives, bodyguards. They are busy turning unemployed persons into managers, counsellors, coordinators, and advisers.

Issues related to the country are referred to Serdar.

And issues related to the distribution of the seats are referred to the RTP [Republican Turkish Party].

And what about Talat?

He is grafting lemons without seeds in the [presidential] palace. We may not resolve our problems related to electricity, but we will soon get rid of the lemon seeds that fall into our salad and vegetables. Talat is not a farmer, however. He is an electrical engineer!

As soon as it came to power, the RTP forgot about the promises that it had made when it was in the opposition. In fact it is doing exactly the opposite of the things that it used to say in the past. What will the RTP do if it once again becomes the opposition party one day? Will it go out to the rally grounds and will it say: No to entrance with the identity card! Will it carry banners that read that they will not allow fascism when workers on strike are hit with truncheons?

In other words, when it once again become an opposition party, will the RTP forget the things that it used to do in the past and will it assume the role that has currently been assumed by Dervis Eroglu, who is asking others to render accounts for the things that he was asked in the past?

How do they describe us in the reports that are being submitted to Turkey regarding the Turkish Cypriots?

Give a Cypriot a seat and take his soul! They have found the way to train and to tame us. They have discovered our weaknesses. Every time someone acts stubbornly toward them, they give him a seat.

Here everyone engages in opposition in order to win the grand prize which is also described as "hush money." And when he comfortably occupies the seat and when he starts driving an official car, the world immediately changes. And after he changes his hairstyle and his glasses, everything becomes perfect.

Later Serdar will take care of it. He will take care of the matters. And the truth is that they are not so uncomfortable with this. If each and every difficulty has a prize, each and every moment of tranquillity has a price.

The RTP has received the prize and the others have paid the price for the time being. And tomorrow the RTP will pay the price.

[10] Message from Denktas to the Government

Mr Turenc writes that Mrs Kathie Clerides and Mr Serdar Denktas, took part in a conference Road to Peace in Cyprus organized by the Rotary Club, during which Mrs Clerides, being a guest, and out of courtesy Did not express her views fully, and in a polite manner she implicitly said that Turkey was an occupying power and should withdraw her troops.

Mrs Clerides did not reveal anything new, anything interesting in the solution of the Cyprus problem. Turenc claimed.

Turenc went on and wrote: Then Serdar Denktas took the floor and have conveyed clear and open solution messages more than I was expecting.

In fact these messages were directed to the government and very impressive. Serdar said: `The Cyprus problem cannot be solved among the EU-Turkey and Greece. If that is the case where am I standing in Cyprus? Where the Turks are standing in Cyprus? These countries could only help to find a solution. The Cyprus problem could only be solved between Greek and Turkish Cypriots´.

Denktas has criticized the meeting between the Prime Minister Erdogan, the UN Secretary-General and the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration Mr Papadopoulos in Moscow. He said: If Papadopoulos meets Erdogan why should he meet Talat and me? If you do not take the Turkish Cypriots as your interlocutor then you could not settle the Cyprus problem´.

Erdogan´s meeting in Moscow, as pointed out by Denktas, is a diplomatic mistake. Turenc claims and quotes Serdar Denktas that the Turkish Cypriots will continue the efforts for a settlement for two more years and then `we will choose a different method for a different solution´.

/SK

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