Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-06-03

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish side determines its strategy at meetings in Ankara.

[02] US Ambassador Edelman: Let us put aside skepticism and work together.

[03] NTV claims that Sir Kieran Prendercast submitted the Greek Cypriot proposals to the Turkish Cypriots.

[04] Premier Erdogan appointed three new State Ministers.

[05] Rauf Denktas stated that the Americans wrote and published article in the Washington Post and put Talat´s signature under it.

[06] Angolemli: The negotiation procedure must be connected very definitely with a time-table.

[07] EUPRO wrote an article in a magazine sent to British MPs about Britains promises over occupied Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish side determines its strategy at meetings in Ankara

The Turkish Cypriot delegation headed by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat, met with Prime Minister Erdogan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Gul. During the meetings, the framework of the message which will be given to the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan from Mr Erdogan on 9 June was decided.

According to the paper, the Turkish side will ask from the Secretary General for the approval of the Cyprus report submitted by Mr Annan to the UN Security Council, after the referenda, support to the steps made by the US congressmen delegation which illegally visited recently the occupied area of the island, the encouragement of similar steps by other countries, an initiative by the UN in the direction of the lifting of the so-called isolations imposed on the Turkish Cypriots and the beginning of direct flights to the occupied areas of the Cyprus.

Furthermore, the Turkish side will explain to Mr Annan its positive steps until today and the obstacles which the Greek Cypriot side and President Papadopoulos are putting before the solution.

The paper writes that sources of Turkeys Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the UN Secretary Generals permanent undersecretary for political affairs, Sir Kieran Prendergast has not submitted any written document to the Turkish side and declared false the information that Sir Prendergast gave the Turkish side the proposals of President Papadopoulos in writing.

The Turkish Cypriot and Turkish delegations decided during their meeting that the Greek Cypriot proposals leaked to the Greek Cypriot press are not to be taken seriously for the solution of the problem.

The delegations decided to convey to the UN Secretary General the determination of the Turkish side to continue making steps on the issue of reaching a solution to the Cyprus problem.

Meanwhile, in statements at Turkeys Esenboga Airport the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat alleged that the views of the Greek Cypriot side are changing the parameters of the Annan Plan. He added, though, that he has to study the proposals of President Papadopoulos and that he could not make any further comment at that moment.

Mr Talat said that during their meetings in Ankara they would harmonize their stance with Turkey on the Cyprus problem and that there is no meeting planed with President Sezer, because they have been to Turkey for a working visit.

Asked to comment on the recent illegal visit of the members of the American congress to the occupied areas of Cyprus, Mr Talat said that it was very positive and that it was important for more steps to follow this visit. We want an overall solution in Cyprus, but the Turkish Cypriots have to breathe. And this is the first step. We should not be content with it, he argued.

Responding to a question, Mr Talat noted that he had been briefed by the so-called minister of foreign affairs, Serdar Denktas on the issue of the recognition of the pseudostate by Gambia and that there is no such a thing for the time being. However, he added that they invited the head of state of Gambia to visit the occupied areas of Cyprus.

Furthermore, the editor-in-chief of KIBRIS, Basaran Duzgun writes in his commentary today that according to information he acquired from diplomatic sources regarding the proposals of President Papadopoulos to the Turkish side through Sir Kieran Prendergast, the President of the Republic has not changed only the name of the Annan Plan. The sources said: Prendergast asked Papadopoulos detailed questions, but refrained from making any comments and noted down the answers carefully. He conveyed the answers to Mehmet Ali Talat and sounded out on his feelings.

According to Mr Duzgun, Mr Talat explained to Sir Kieran Prendergast the real intention of President Papadopoulos and noted that the demanded changes are too much. The UN official told Mr Talat that President Papadopoulos is trying to keep high the cross-bar for the bargaining and pointed out that the Greek Cypriot people must be convinced, adds Mr Duzgun.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (03.06.05) reports that during their meeting in Ankara the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish delegations discussed also the issue of Turkey signing the protocol for expanding its customs union with the new members of the EU, including the Republic of Cyprus.

They agreed that Turkey will make no step that would mean that the Greek Cypriots have sovereignty over the whole Cyprus. Sources close to Turkeys Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the protocol could be signed within few weeks, but they will take all necessary measures so that the Turkish Cypriots are not unjustly treated after the signing of the protocol.

[02] US Ambassador Edelman: Let us put aside skepticism and work together

Following is the text of the interview:

Question: In the last two years, the Turkish-USA relations have their ups and downs. In fact they are yet to be on the right track. As a matter of fact, it is not completely clear what the problem is.

Answer: I was, before becoming a diplomat, a historian. It is very important to look into the events, without too much dramatization, from the historical perspective. In 1960s and 1970s there were difficult periods coupled with huge meetings and heavy criticism in the media. Turkey´s reaction to Vietnam war, like the Iraqi War, was the part of a more wider global reaction. That is, we are not for the first time experiencing this period of ups and downs. Here I had taken two lessons from this.

In order to come out of these situations both sides should have consistent leadership, and the leaders should explain the importance of the relation to the public opinion. The public opinion in present Turkey, it is more effective than in the 1960s. Therefore, the government has the responsibility to explain the importance of the relations with the USA to the public. We too should do the same.

Subtitle: Status quo shall change

Question: You have explained what is necessary to normalize the relation, but you have yet to say, what is the problem?

Answer: The ups and downs in the bilateral relations developed mainly on Iraq and the concern of the public regarding the war or of the misinformation. However, even though our tactics are different, in Iraq our strategic objectives are not that much different. Strategic objective politically, territorially integral, the natural resources under all Iraqi people, and an Iraq that could govern itself. We are already leading towards that direction. There is another issue however, put forward by President Bush: Forward Strategy in Freedom which is the process of developing the freedoms in the Greater Middle East and Africa.

As this process advances, it is possible that there could be instability and changes in the region. And it is natural that Turkey be anxious of this. It is possible to diminish future tensions, by organizing various conferences and continue to work together in the Greater Middle East and Africa. Once the President´s policy bares fruit and starts changing the region, differences in our point of views could surface. For this reason we have to work together.

Question: Could you say that the status quo in the region, from your point of views is an undesirable situation and because of this it could not continue?

Answer: After 11 September, the USA government within itself thought very much why these events happened. Simultaneously, the UNDP, within the UN body, has published a report prepared by a group of Arab intellectuals The Arab Human Development Report. In this report, although the Arab intellectuals at places have criticized the USA policy, their observations as regards the region, are not far away from that of the President Bush. That is, there are high unemployment, demographic imbalance, collapsed education system, authoritarian government, lack of transparency, freedom, information and inequality. Here it is all of these. It creates radicalization. The President thought that unless something is done, they (the terrorists Tr. Note) will continue to blow up buildings in New York, train stations in Madrid and Synagogue in Istanbul. The pathologies in the region, rendered the status quo impossible to prevail in the long term. This is the view of the Arab world as well.

Question: However, the Turkish officials do not look into this change favourably?

Answer: Yes, there is skepticism on the surface, `People, rightly ask where were you for 50 years? You have to transcend this. For example General Hilmi Ozkok (Tr. Note: Turkish Chief of the General Staff) during a speech delivered at the War Academies a few weeks ago has said that it would be to Turkey´s benefit if the region comprises of democracies that could govern themselves. A great deal of Turkish officials are of this view of course we could have difference in method. As stated by the Secretary of State Mrs. Rice, a generation later we could have a different stability compared to the present status quo.

Question: Did you take the statements made by General Ozkok as support to the Middle East Project?

Answer: I am saying that General Ozkok is taking up a serious proposal in a serious manner, and for this I am obliged to him. We have to overcome the skepticism. Some claim that our objective in Iraq is petrol or to create a Greater Israel. Had this been the case, the petrol station owner in America would have not paid that much at the station´s pump. Or Dr. Rice would have not been with the Palestinian leadership. You should not forget the following: Bush is the first USA President that supported the establishment of the Palestinian State.

[03] NTV claims that Sir Kieran Prendercast submitted the Greek Cypriot proposals to the Turkish Cypriots

The UN under-secretary General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast, met today Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and conveyed to him Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos´ proposal.

However, these proposals caused uneasiness to the Turkish side. According to the officials on the island, Mr Papadopoulos, pushes aside the Annan Plan and wants to create a solution formula according to his conditions, outside of the Annan Plan.

The details of the package of the proposals submitted by Mr Papadopoulos, to the UN mediator Sir Kieran Prendergast during their first meeting the other day, started to surface. These are considered rather negotiation conditions than proposals. Sir Kieran Prendergast has conveyed these to the Turkish side.

The details of the Papadopoulos´ proposals are as follows:

The Turkish army will completely leave the island, including the Greek troops. The island shall be demilitarized.

Turkey´s guarantorship rights shall end. Its right to intervention to the island shall be null and void. This shall also apply for the other guarantor powers, Greece and Britain.

In a possible agreement the UN Security Council shall replace the guarantor powers. In other words, the UN Security Council, shall be the guarantor of the possible agreement;

The immovable property left behind by the Greek Cypriots following the 1974 Peace Operation in the north, shall be returned wholly to their rightful owners, that is to the Greek Cypriots.

Those who came from Turkey and settled in the island shall be limited to 30 thousand even if their spouses are Cypriot. The rest shall return to Turkey.

In the common structure which is envisaged, sharing of authority shall be changed in favour of the Greek Cypriots. In the Annan Plan sharing of authority between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots was established. The Greek Cypriots´ demand is changing this in favour of the Central government. That is, extending of the authority of the Central Government. This means that in a possible agreement the Greek Cypriots shall have the say.

The arbitration authority of the UN Secretary-General, on the points of disputes, where agreement is not reached, shall be removed.

It shall be an open-ended negotiation and there shall be no timetable.

There shall be no linkage whatsoever between the Cyrpus negotiations and Turkey´s EU accession negotiations.

Meanwhile, the UN mediator, Kieran Prendergast as well made a very important statement. Prendergast said: Turning the Greek Cypriot 74 % no vote into a `yes´ is important for the solution. According to the observers here, with this expression Prendergast says in a covert manner that the UN wants courageous concessions from the Turkish side. It is noted that the Turkish side is feeling worried both from the conditions put forward by Papadopoulos and from this statement of the mediator of the UN. After his contacts in the Island, Prendergast will go to Ankara and Athens.

Subtitle: Strong support to Papadopoulos

The General Secretary of AKEL party, Demetris Christofias, who has always been supporting the solution until today or alleged that he supported the solution, said: Turkey has taken more than it had the right to take in the Annan Plan. Now it has to give it back.

[04] Premier Erdogan appointed three new State Ministers

Istanbul deputy Nimet Cubukcu was appointed in the place of Guldal Aksit as State Minister responsible for women; Trabzon deputy Faruk Nafiz Ozak in the place of Zeki Ergezen as Minister of Public Works and Diyarbakir deputy Mehmet Mehdi Eken in the place of Sami Guclu as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

Erdogan said that the new appointments will be published tomorrow in the official gazette after the approval of President Sezer.

When Mr Erdogan was asked whether the Ministers were dismissed he said: Our colleagues, let them be well, open our way! We used our judgment and our newly appointed colleagues will start their duties as of tomorrow.

Mr Erdogan also appointed journalist Akif Beki as his spokesman and Chief Advisor. Akif Beki, who will accompany Mr Erdogan to the US, was Kanal 7´s Ankara office chief until now.

[05] Rauf Denktas stated that the Americans wrote and published article in the Washington Post and put Talat´s signature under it

Writes the paper: After his article was published in the Washington Post Denktas said he spoke with Talat who told him: `I did not write this article. The Americans wrote it and they put my signature under it´. As it is known in the said article Talat was branding the USA as a `Liberty Lighthouse´ and was urging the United States to take a leading role in the Middle East peace.

[06] Angolemli: The negotiation procedure must be connected very definitely with a time-table

Mr Angolemli made these statements during a meeting he had with the Czech ambassador to Lefkosia Mr Martin Vavra.

Referring to the visit of Sir Kieran Prendergast, the United Nations Secretary Generals permanent undersecretary for political affairs to Cyprus, Mr Angolemli stated that it is related to the issue of the beginning of a new negotiation as regards the Cyprus problem and added that this negotiation must have a result because the Turkish Cypriots have not the luxury to lose more time.

Mr Angolemli also said that the visits paid in north Cyprus by various foreign diplomats give to the Turkish Cypriots the hope that the isolation can be lifted. However, he said that as long as the 541 and 550 resolutions of the UN Security Council are still in force, the lifting of the isolation is not possible. He said that in order for this resolution to be changed new conditions must be created and noted that only the Turkish Cypriots can create these new conditions.

[07] EUPRO wrote an article in a magazine sent to British MPs about Britains promises over occupied Cyprus

Following is the item published in CYPRUS TIMES about this issue:

A copy of the Parliamentary Brief which was sent to every MP and member of the British House of Lords this week. There is a new parliament now, and Donald Crawford, publishing Editor for Parliamentary Brief said he wants every member of the House to be reminded of what Britain has promised Northern Cyprus, Not in our words, he said, but in theirs. Parliamentary Brief is a highly-respected political analysis magazine which is distributed to both House of Parliament, senior civil servants, and political journalists in the national press and television. The Economist described it as, the magazine for the political in-crowd. The Times political editor Peter Riddell called it, Essential reading for people like me, and the Daily Telegraph said it was, required reading for people who need to be informed about politics. The article, entitled, The British Promise to North Cyprus, contains extracts from the Report on Cyprus of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee with replies from Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. It concludes with comments about direct aid, direct flights, and direct trade. EUPRO limited, representing the international community in the North, wrote the article as a reminder to the members of parliament of what Britain, the EU and the world-at-large promised the Turkish Cypriots.

/SK

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