Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-06-28

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Under the guise of peace offensive Mr Mehmet Ali Talat continues to denigrate President Papadopoulos and the Greek Cypriots whose human rights are being flagrantly violated by the Turkish army for 31 years.

[02] Statements by Gul before leaving for OIC meeting in Yemen.

[03] Serdar Denktas is going to Yemen to ask for the support of the OIC as regards the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots- A draft document onto the agenda of the meeting may lead to the changing of the pseudostate´s status in the OIC.

[04] Corpses found in the occupied Karavas village are believed to belong to Greek Cypriot missing persons.

[05] Erdogan will visit US again.

[06] Turkey continues its Cyprus-style policy in Western Thrace. Onur Oymen compares the Greeks of Istanbul, who were annihilated, to the Muslims of Western Thrace who are increasing in numbers and prospering.

[07] World Tribunal on Iraq held in Istanbul ended with a call for boycott of US products.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in STAR newspaper assesses the World Tribunal on Iraq.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Under the guise of peace offensive Mr Mehmet Ali Talat continues to denigrate President Papadopoulos and the Greek Cypriots whose human rights are being flagrantly violated by the Turkish army for 31 years

In statements during a meeting with the press, the Turkish Cypriot leader said that the Turkish Cypriot side will complete the works for opening the crossing point in Zodhia area by the end of July and accused the President of the Republic and the Greek Cypriot side of preventing the opening of new crossing points. He claimed that after Zodhia is opened the Turkish Cypriot side is ready to open a crossing point at Ledra Street in Nicosia.

Mr Talat accused President Papadopoulos of avoiding to meet him because the President of the Republic is weak from the legal, political and moral point of view. He expressed the opinion that the Turkish Cypriots lived a great change and they changed the image they had internationally. Mr Talat alleged that President Papadopoulos avoids meeting him because his chances were very slim in view of this image and because he believes that the non-solution is the solution.

The Turkish Cypriot press publishes Talat´s statements under the following titles:

HALKIN SESI: The Greek Cypriots refused the proposal of Varosha in return of the isolation.

CUMHURIYET: President Talat to the Greek Cypriots: Open the ports and take Varosha.

VATAN: We gave Varosha and the Greek Cypriots did not want it (!).

VOLKAN: Varosha to the Greek Cypriots and the Famagusta port to the EU. In the subtitle the paper writes: Talat described the Greek Cypriot administration with the following adjectives: torturer, anachronistic, antidemocratic, intransigent, closed to dialogue, rejective, dominative, supporter of the non-solution.

YENI DUZEN: Varosha in return of the embargoes

GUNES: Talat keeps on giving!

[02] Statements by Gul before leaving for OIC meeting in Yemen

Mr Gul replied to journalists´ questions after a brief statement as follows:

Our President and Prime Minister have conveyed congratulatory messages to Iran. Naturally, the elections there are an internal affair of the Iranian people. The Iranian people have decided who their president will be. Undoubtedly, we congratulate him. Turkey has favorable relations with Iran and the other neighboring countries. Improving its relations with its neighbors is among Turkey's priorities. Undoubtedly, a new president has been elected in accordance with the Iranian people's decision. We wish him success.

Question: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Mehmet Ali Talat said that he offered Varosha to the Greek Cypriots in return for the lifting of the embargo on the Turkish Cypriots. He also said that his offer was rejected. Was the proposal shared by Ankara? Can you comment on its rejection?

Answer: It is common knowledge that we made a comprehensive statement some time ago. While, on the one hand, we expressed our opinion on the need for an effort to find a comprehensive solution [for Cyprus], on the other, we proposed the lifting of all restrictions on the island. We informed the United Nations, the EU, and all the foreign countries on our proposal. The EU documents became UN documents. So, we made comprehensive statements on the matter. Regarding your question, we are not fully informed of the matter. Our representatives there will fully inform us. I will then be able to comment. However, Turkey's viewpoint was disclosed a few weeks ago. A comprehensive statement was made on the lifting of all the restrictions.

Question: Reports say that the talks with the EU on 3 October, that is, the opening of the chapters might be postponed until 2006. Has Ankara been informed on that?

Answer: No, I read the reports in the newspapers. None of them is accurate. The disclosure the EU made even after its most troubled summit showed that it is committed to the decision it made on 17 December. Work is carried out within that framework. I held extensive talks with Oli Rehn, EU Commissioner Responsible for the Enlargement, in Brussels last week. Mr Ali Babacan and I have had many meetings with the EU officials. Everything is going on as planned.

Question: I think France's Sarkozy said that the EU expansion should be suspended or frozen.

Answer: There are many leaders and politicians in Europe. However, Mr Sarkozy is not the president of France at the present time. He is an important politician. He has the right to have a different viewpoint. But, the heads of state and governments reaffirmed their decision on 17 December. So, everything is progressing as planned. We are focused on the work we have to carry out. It is common knowledge that preparations are made for the framework of the negotiations. The EU Commission has started to work on it. Positive developments are taking place. The talks will start when the time comes.

Question: It has been reported that a disagreement emerged between the government and the military representatives on the Political Document on National Security during the last NSC [National Security Council] meeting. Can you comment?

Answer: Such reports are incorrect. They are based on imagination. It is common knowledge that the document was not taken up during the last meeting because of the time factor. It was decided earlier that the document would be taken up in the future. So, the reports on the matter are merely based on imagination.

[03] Serdar Denktas is going to Yemen to ask for the support of the OIC as regards the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots- A draft document onto the agenda of the meeting may lead to the changing of the pseudostate´s status in the OIC

As the paper writes Mr Serdar Denktas will deliver a speech in the conference and will informed the OIC about the latest developments as regards the Cyprus problem. He will also call on the Islamic nations to extend their support to the Turkish Cypriots´ just cause and to help remove the isolation. In the framework of the meeting Mr Denktas will meet the organisations Secretary General - Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

In addition, as illegal BAYRAK television broadcast (28.06.05) a draft document on Cyprus is on the agenda of the meeting. The document will envisage immediate steps to be taken by the international community towards the removal of the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, as BAYRAK broadcast.

It also refers to an earlier decision adopted by the OIC foreign ministers in Istanbul last year which approved a change in the name of the Muslim Community of Cyprus, by which the Turkish Cypriots are represented in the OIC, into the Turkish Cypriot State.

[04] Corpses found in the occupied Karavas village are believed to belong to Greek Cypriot missing persons

According to the paper, the corpses are believed to belong to Greek Cypriot missing persons who were killed 31 years ago, during the Turkish invasion of 1974, and were buried in this place.

The Investigatory Committee on Missing Persons determined the place about a month ago. The corpses were discovered under a tree in Karavas village in an excavation that was conducted yesterday at 10:30 in the morning by an experts team. The team took the corpses from the ground and put them in bags.

Mr Rustem Tatar, the representative of the Turkish Cypriot side in the Investigatory Committee did not comment on the issue. He noted that it was decided that the excavations would be conducted secretly and added that statements as regards the subject will be made next Thursday.

[05] Erdogan will visit US again

Mr Erdogan will be attending the Sun Valley Conference and be the honorary guest of the meeting known as the American Davos.

The Turkish Prime Minister will be giving an address on democracy, Islam and the Turkey model as well as holding meetings with leading US companies such as Coca Cola and Sony.

[06] Turkey continues its Cyprus-style policy in Western Thrace. Onur Oymen compares the Greeks of Istanbul, who were annihilated, to the Muslims of Western Thrace who are increasing in numbers and prospering

Onur Oymen, deputy chairman of Turkey-European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentarians Committee, has indicated today that the Turkish minority in Western Thrace has problems needing urgent attention.

Oymen is in Komotini with members of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Committee to study the status of the Turkish minority there.

''What we saw in Western Thrace is not at European standards. There is no minority in Europe that faces obstacles as much as the Turkish minority in Western Thrace does,'' said Mr Oymen.

Mr Oymen added that the removal of the name ''Turkish'' from Turkish associations and foundations in Western Thrace is against all European norms. ''There are serious concerns and problems facing schools and foundations of Turks in Western Thrace,'' said Oymen.

Oymen remarked that the present situation of Western Thrace is totally sad. ''We hope that the Greek authorities will help the situation,'' said Oymen.

According to Oymen, Turkey closely studies the problems of Greek people living in Istanbul. ''We have not seen any development in Western Thrace. Once the Western Thrace Turks' living standards are brought to the same level of the Greek people living in Istanbul, a great development would have taken place. We wish the Greek government to give its Turkish citizens the rights they deserve. We will keep working on the matter,'' stressed Oymen.

[07] World Tribunal on Iraq held in Istanbul ended with a call for boycott of US products

The culminating session of the "World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI)" ended in Istanbul's historical building of Darphane-i Amire on Sunday.

On the third day of the tribunal, the issues of "Cultural Heritage, Environment and World Resources" and "Global Security Environment and Future Alternatives" were discussed.

Making the closing speech on behalf of the Panel of Advocates, UNESCO peace prize holder Prof. Richard Falk said that if state institutions remained mute against the war and its consequences, the Tribunal's target should be to put forward immorality and unlawfulness of the Iraq war.

He said that speakers of the culminating session made very important recommendations including boycott of U.S. products, Prof. Falk said that both states and individuals should respond to that call.

Claiming that U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and their collaborators were criminals of war, Prof. Falk defended that they should be tried and punished. He said that the WTI did not have such an authority, but they had the authority to propose it to the legitimate bodies of the world.

Prof. Falk said that the WTI would re-activate the international law.

He added that they convened in Istanbul to condemn shameless efforts of those who were trying to hide truths.

The Jury of Conscience of the WTI will make public its verdict today.

On 24 June, 2005 NTV television broadcast the following on the issue:

A World Tribunal on Iraq is to be convened in Istanbul to symbolically try the American President and British Prime Minister on charges of committing crimes against humanity.

The World Tribunal on Iraq was inspired by the Russell Courthouse hearings in the US during the Vietnam War.

The tribunal will consist of three days of hearings investigating various issues related to the war in Iraq, such as the legality of the war, the role of the United Nations, alleged war crimes and the role of the media.

In addition, the tribunal will hear evidence on the destruction of cultural sites and the environment that have occurred during the coalitions occupation of Iraq.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[08] Columnist in STAR newspaper assesses the World Tribunal on Iraq

The Iraq World Tribunal began in Istanbul yesterday. Of course, it is a symbolic court that cannot impose sentences. That is fine. But, from the point of view of showing how the illegitimacy of the Iraq War and the United States occupation of Iraq, and showing how international law was trampled upon it is an extremely important civilian backlash.

Despite all the disinformation efforts being made by the United States, which is the only superpower on the planet, various international civilian spokesmen united on a common platform to stand up for humanitarian values that have been trampled underfoot.

Can anyone actually talk of the legitimacy of the US occupation of Iraq? Can it be considered normal in the 21st century for an advanced superpower to intervene in an underdeveloped country for this or that reason? There is usually only one reply to these questions: No!

Back to the issue of the day: Despite all the dictatorial imbalances appropriate to the part of the world he lived in, Saddam was going by his own country's criteria, a successful statesman. The fact that 97 percent of his people supported him is indicative of this.

The United States and its unwavering comrades first of all started a systematic smear campaign against him. All notion of sympathy in people's minds was erased by the Secret Weapons in Iraq ploy.

Just you try occupying North Korea!

Can the occupation of a developing country by an advanced country ever be justified in this day and age? It was. The UN Constitution says, "Borders are fixed." They changed.

The lassitude experienced within the Muslim world over the past 100 years is well known. This situation has served the globe's dominant power. Thanks to a capitulation that kissed the boots of the invading soldiers an occupation fueled by false truths was begun.

Let us look at other US interventions. They ended in disaster. When they fled North Korea they left 75 batteries behind. The Seventh and Eighth Army fronts collapsed. The American Army retreated to Seoul on the 38th meridian.

And what should be said about the situation in Vietnam? It was there with an army of 650,000 soldiers. Furthermore, it had the backing of Marine Artillery all along the coast. The imperialist forces could not escape their destiny. The North Vietnamese commander in Hanoi came up with brilliant plans. These high level strategic plans prepared the end of the American Army. Who was their architect, you ask? The most adept strategist in history, who is around 80 years of age today, Nguyen Van Giap.

US expansion into the Far East ended in defeat.

I had written about this before. You will recall General Macarthur. He commanded the US forces in the Pacific during World War Two. He was the one who called on the Japanese to surrender and who accepted their surrender. He knew Ataturk and was praised by him. He had heard direct from Ataturk himself with astonishment and respect his prediction that World War Two would begin.

As this great soldier was drawing his last breath in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel he said, "My parting gift to my country is to tell them never to get involved in a land war in Asia." The outcome of both the Korea and Vietnam wars proved him right.

Just what is going to happen in Iraq is not yet clear. The United States wants to expand the front to include Syria. Meanwhile, bombs explode and dozens of people die every day.

The drama being played out cannot of course be fixed through a symbolic court as if it were only a legal problem. But at the very least it proves that the consciences of the world's people cannot be silenced.

I hope that the true solution will come from Iraq's self-sacrificing and patriotic citizens whose awakening might be helped by this kind of outcry.

/SK

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