Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-06-29

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] European territory occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops is presented as separate state in the Islamic Conference

[02] The Turkish foreign Minister misleads the Islamic countries that the UN decisions calling on Turkey to end the occupation, the ethnic cleansing and the violation of all the human rights of the Cypriots are addressed to the victims of Turkey's atrocities.

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the OIC Foreign Ministers' Conference.

[04] Statements by Serdar Denktas at the OIC Conference.

[05] The Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry on the failure of the talks in Brussels.

[06] The excavations in the occupied Karavas village, where remains of Greek Cypriot missing are believed to be found, continued yesterday.

[07] Joint Turkey-pseudostate Committee is to meet tomorrow.

[08] Occupied area a heaven for illegal immigrants.

[09] The Deputy Home Secretary of Britain J. Ryan, to visit Cyprus with a view to extending support to the Turkish Cypriots.

[10] The Republican People's Party lost 22 seats since the November 2003 elections.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Columnist in RADIKAL argues that the withdrawal of Turkey´s occupation troops from Cyprus will be in the framework document to be announced by the EU on 3 October.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] European territory occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops is presented as separate state in the Islamic Conference

`TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister´ Serdar Denktas represents the `TRNC´ in the meeting. The name plate in front of Denktas says "Turkish Cypriot State".

In the 31st OIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Istanbul last year, it was decided that `TRNC´ would attend the meeting of the OIC as "Turkish Cypriot State".

[02] The Turkish foreign Minister misleads the Islamic countries that the UN decisions calling on Turkey to end the occupation, the ethnic cleansing and the violation of all the human rights of the Cypriots are addressed to the victims of Turkey´s atrocities

Gul said there was a long and difficult road in front of those countries which received damage from the clashes, occupations and embargoes and also many other Muslim countries including the Kashmirians, Azerbaijanis and Turkish Cypriots, "all of them need our continuous interest," he noted.

Mr Gul thanked all member countries over the support they extended during Turkey's OIC acting presidency, and expressed his belief that new acting president Yemen will have a successful period.

Referring to the Cyprus problem Mr Gul said: "The problem still remained unsolved as Greek Cypriots rejected international efforts despite the constructive diplomatic efforts of Turkey and the support expended by Turkish Cypriots to a peaceful solution."

The Turkish foreign Minister added: "The Greek Cypriot administration pretended not to see the calls of the UN Secretary-General, resolutions of European Council, and resolutions of the OIC to end the isolation and embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots."

Stating that Turkey appreciated the steps made by some countries on this issue, Gul said: "Islam countries should do more on this issue because continuation of the isolation further deepens the feeling of offence and lack of confidence of the Turkish Cypriots.

Ending the unjust isolation of Turkish Cypriots seemed to be the only way for all the parties to reach a comprehensive solution which Turkey supported for years. Turkey would maintain its positive stance to find a solution to Cyprus question and its cooperation with the UN Secretary-General."

Finally, the Turkish Foreign Minister alleged that "the Turkish minority in West Thrace was still facing restrictions to its religious rights; foundations and ethnical identities," Gul noted that "the OIC had been monitoring the situation of the Turkish minority in the region".

Gul concluded that the pressure on Greece to fulfil its responsibilities on this issue should be continued.

[03] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered the OIC Foreign Ministers' Conference

HALKIN SESI: "For the first time, we were represented as Turkish Cypriot State"

ORTAM: Under the title "Wonderful! (Masallah!)" and the subtitle "Congratulations, we became a state on a sign!" the paper reports that "after building an armoury for a solution, he (Talat) continues to be in the front as the leader of pro-solution, by using the father Denktas' strategy with Denktas' son. However, the citizens in the streets chant on world televisions that nothing has changed, "We struggled for Rauf Denktas to go, we demonstrated, but nothing has changed!"

YENIDUZEN: "Gul: the Turkish Cypriots live under occupation and embargo in the island"

VATAN: "The Turkish Cypriots live under occupation and embargo."

VOLKAN: "Cyprus is under the occupation of the Greek Cypriots"

CUMHURIYET: "Gul: the Turkish Cypriots live under occupation and embargo in the island"

AFRIKA: "This is something and occupation is another thing." The paper reports that Gul, who said that the Turkish Cypriots are under the occupation of the Greek Cypriot Administration, asked for the support of the state-members of the OIC for the Turkish Cypriots.

KIBRIS: "The first time of the 'Turkish Cypriot State'"

[04] Statements by Serdar Denktas at the OIC Conference

Mr Serdar Denktas noted that "if a party which represents the existing policy comes to power in the Greek Cypriot side after the February 2008 elections, there will be no need to expect anything from them. In such a case, Turkish Cypriot calls to the Greek Cypriot side will stop and efforts will be launched to end economic and political isolation of TRNC." Denktas said that yet the number one priority of the Turkish Cypriot side was settlement on the island.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side didn't also have any expectation from the EU about the issue, Mr Denktas said that the EU made a big mistake by making the Republic of Cyprus an EU member. "'Greek Cypriot side' is the only country within the EU which could not sort out its own problem," Mr Denktas said.

Mr Denktas said that he expected the United States to have a more active role in lifting the blockade on TRNC (occupied areas of Cyprus), adding: "But my hopes for that are also diminishing. Nevertheless, the U.S. can urge participation of TRNC in sportive activities or starting of commercial activities in Turkish Cypriot side."

Mr Denktas said that the Greek Cypriots had the sixth biggest fleet in the world, adding that "Greek Cypriots expected revenue of 2 billion dollars by opening of the Turkish ports to them." Permitting direct trade would only add 10 million dollars to "TRNC's" exports, Mr Denktas said adding that Greek Cypriots didn't even want that.

"The additional protocol of the customs union --which needs to be signed by Turkey-- was in fact a good means if it could be used well", Mr Denktas said and added: "Hopefully, Greek Cypriot businessmen--who are eager to earn 2 billion dollars- may urge their government to change their attitude in Cyprus."

When Serdar Denktas was reminded about the messages from Israel to "TRNC", he said: "Searches are underway on the issue. They buy property. I believe that if flights are to start to TRNC, this will be initiated by Israel. As they started to buy property, investments will also come."

Pointing to the draft resolution as regards to Cyprus presented in the OIC meeting, Mr Denktas said: "The draft resolution includes stronger expressions when compared with the last year's resolution and included clear calls for the OIC members to be more active."

Mr Denktas said the Greek Cypriot party had impeding initiatives, yet could not be influential, stating that, "positive relations are maintained with the countries which we have contacted last year."

Mr Denktas also said that representatives of Azerbaijan and Pakistan in their speeches delivered during the OIC meeting, made references to the Cyprus issue, and called on OIC members and other countries to make every kind of initiatives to end blockade of "TRNC".

Mr Denktas claimed that the Greek Cypriot side sent an envoy to Gambia and gave assurances for a 2 million USD trade guarantee following the statement of Gambia that it may recognize the "TRNC".

Noting that the Greek Cypriots also sent a representative to Gambia as the EU envoy, Mr Denktas said: "They put pressure on Gambia. They send letters to countries." He went on saying that Gambia started to say: "We are faithful to UN resolutions" following the trade guarantee of the Greek Cypriots.

[05] The Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry on the failure of the talks in Brussels

Answering a question from a journalist, Tan remarked that Turkey is not a party to the meetings taking place in Brussels between Turkish and Greek Cypriots upon an initiative of the EU term president Luxembourg.

"The meetings in Brussels, despite a positive approach from Turkish Cypriots, has ended without any result due to Greek Cypriot insistence on not letting free and direct trade take place in northern Cyprus," stressed Tan.

[06] The excavations in the occupied Karavas village, where remains of Greek Cypriot missing are believed to be found, continued yesterday

The paper notes that the Mr Ahmet Erdengiz, so-called Director of the political planning and political affairs of the "foreign ministry" and member of the Investigatory Committee on Missing Persons announced that "the remains will be kept under sterilized conditions until a DNA and Anthropology laboratory is being established".

Mr Erdengiz stated that the Turkish side has made excavations during the last year in places that were determined as grave places; however he did not give further information about the place of these graves. Noting that a mass grave is a place where at least five persons were buried, he stated that in the excavations conducted only few remains of persons were found. Mr Erdengiz also said that because these graves are located either in plots which are under construction or in the courtyard of some houses, it is urgent that the excavations be conducted soon.

[07] Joint Turkey-pseudostate Committee is to meet tomorrow

Mehmet Basel, the so-called Ministry of Finance and Tourism Under Secretary, and Ulker Guzel the deputy under secretary of Foreign Trade Under-secretariat of Turkey will head the delegations.

The Turkish delegation headed by Mr Ulker Guzel will arrive in the occupied area tomorrow.

During the two-day meeting, updating the goods´ list, "trading of goods made in the TRNC", Developments in the Foreign Trade Regime in the TRNC" and Investment and Production Projects", will be discussed.

The Turkish delegation will return to Turkey on 2nd July.

[08] Occupied area a heaven for illegal immigrants

The paper reports that the six Georgians were arrested when they entered into a "prohibited First Degree Military Area".

The paper does not give further information as regards the identity of the arrested Georgians.

[09] The Deputy Home Secretary of Britain J. Ryan, to visit Cyprus with a view to extending support to the Turkish Cypriots

As the paper writes Mrs Ryan stated that she will visit Cyprus with a view to extending support to the Turkish Cypriots. Mrs Ryan said that the fact that the Turkish Cypriots said "yes" in the referendum is a progress and noted that she will visit Cyprus the sooner possible.

[10] The Republican People´s Party lost 22 seats since the November 2003 elections

Guler said that in the two years and seven months since the general election he had not found the acceptance or warmth within the party that he received from the public. He also said that he was tired of self seeking policies and attitudes within the RPP.

With Guler's resignation, the balance of seats in the Turkish parliament is as follows: JDP, 356 deputies; RPP, 158; Motherland Party (MP), 14; True Path Party (TPP), four; Social Democratic People's Party (SDPP), four; People´s Ascendance Party (PAP), one; independent, 10. There are currently three seats vacant in the Grand National Assembly.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] Columnist in RADIKAL argues that the withdrawal of Turkey´s occupation troops from Cyprus will be in the framework document to be announced by the EU on 3 October

"The speech given by British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the European Parliament in Brussels yesterday has shown that the EU has seriously begun to settle accounts. In his address one day earlier, EU Commission Chairman Barroso used a balanced tone that surrendered to the course of the developments. This tone, however, was replaced with a stand that is ready to confront the point that has been reached and that wants to move forward.

Barroso, asserting that "the EU cannot ignore the signal that was sent by the electorate," concluded that "it is necessary to initiate a serious debate on Turkey's membership." Blair, on the other hand, did the right thing and he laid the responsibility for the fiasco that was experienced in France and in Holland as a result of the voting for the EU Constitution on the European leaders. He openly referred to the leadership problem within the EU and said: "If we correctly explain the truth to the people, they will understand and they will support us regarding [the EU's] expansion." There is no doubt that the speech was prepared by a very skilful writer. Despite the fact that the sentence "to carry out the Union's obligations to those like Turkey and Croatia" was openly included in one of the paragraphs of the speech, it was included in a way that would not cause any reactions. Ankara was merely interested in this phrase.

The Foreign Ministry dryly responded to the statement that was issued by Barroso the day before yesterday and that had the effect of cold shower. Barroso's statement was not important. Only the decisions mentioned in the 17 December document were important.

We should not forget however, that Prime Minister Erdogan asserted only last week that from his standpoint it is the statement of the EU Commission's chairman, rather than remarks of certain politicians, that is important. It is possible to day that it is as if Barroso fulfilled the duty of announcing what Erdogan avoided hearing. Furthermore, he did this after returning to the continent from the annual EU-United States meeting that he held with President Bush in Washington on 20 June. In a way, the statement that was issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry is very appropriate. So is the action taken by the ministry in question. There is no doubt that this is not the time to display emotional reactions or to question the promise that has been made to this country -- in other words to question the 17 December decisions.

Nevertheless, if the government also believes in what it is saying -- in other words, if it truly believes that there is nothing to be concerned about -- this means that the situation is very grave. After all, regardless of how you look at it, Ankara's EU journey will gradually become more difficult in the aftermath of the referendum that was held in France.

Still however, there are no visible legal obstacles before the commencement of the negotiations on 3 October. The unanimous decision of the 25 member countries are needed for withdrawing the 17 December decision and the speech given by Blair yesterday shows that this is not so easy. On the other hand, a sort of "madness of stoning Turkey" has begun in Europe with the referendum process in France. Certain right-wing politicians in particular are trying to give the impression that if Turkey is removed from the expansion and full membership equation, the EU's problems will be resolved.

This is not true, however. The EU has serious structural problems. Furthermore, it is currently undergoing a crisis. This "madness of stoning Turkey" will have political results.

For example, the framework document which is expected to be announced prior to 3 October may carry the traces of this madness. Certain EU countries have asked Brussels to demand from Turkey to accept that it conducted genocide against the Armenians, to announce that it diplomatically recognizes south Cyprus, to withdraw its troops from Cyprus, and to confirm that privileged partnership is an option in order to commence negotiations on the basis of this document. How many of these demands will be unanimously accepted? How many of them will be included in the document by the EU Administration during the term presidency of Britain? How firm will these demands be? We do not know the answer to these questions yet. However these are the issues that appear on the agenda in the behind the scenes in Europe and Ankara should be ready to take the necessary measures.

As for France, where the curtain for the last EU crisis has been raised, rational French people are aware that they are about to leave behind their happiest days in the EU. The remarks made by new rightist politicians such as Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy may postpone this for a little while longer. And the bad temper stems from this. Blair announced yesterday that it is not wise to continue with this system that is based on firm protectiveness.

Maybe Blair will become the person that will show the leadership qualities needed by the EU. Will he be able to put an end to the "madness of stoning Turkey"? Will Turkey be able to maintain its full membership perspective? Will Turkey pay a separate bill for this? Will the Erdogan government be able to carry this load together with the sensitive balances in domestic politics? We will all look for answers to these questions in the period ahead".

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