Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-07-05

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mr Erdogan is leaving for the United States.

[02] The Spokesman of the Turkish government reaffirms Turkey´s determination to fulfil its EU obligations.

[03] Rauf Denktas sees a settlement within the European Union, but a two-states solution.

[04] Paper says: "Sezer will warn Talat".

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat: "Ankara was aware regarding returning of Varosha".

[06] In three days 6,042 Turks were sent back to Turkey.

[07] The so-called Minister of Economy and Tourism visited the occupied area of Karpasia.

[08] AFRIKA: "Greek Cypriot raid to the Turkish military post".

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mr Erdogan is leaving for the United States

According to the Press Center of the Turkish Prime Ministry, Erdogan's plane will take off from Ankara's Esenboga Airport Tuesday morning.

Erdogan will be the senior speaker at the ''Sun Valley Conferences'' in Sun Valley town of the state of Idaho. Erdogan will be at the conference on Wednesday, July 6th as well.

Erdogan is scheduled to attend the meeting of the ''World Affairs Council of Northern California'' and ''Commonwealth Club'' at the Fairmont Hotel on Thursday, July 7th.

Erdogan will hold a meeting with Turkish businessmen and representatives at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

[02] The Spokesman of the Turkish government reaffirms Turkey´s determination to fulfil its EU obligations

Following the Council of Ministers meeting, Cicek replied to the questions of reporters.

Asked about the EU draft text, Cicek said there was nothing in the text going beyond the expectations of Turkey.

Stating that the EU process was a difficult one, Cicek said Turkey would fulfil its obligations, stating that it was possible for Turkey to reduce the period of this process by maintaining its determination.

[03] Rauf Denktas sees a settlement within the European Union, but a two-states solution

"A settlement to the Cyprus problem could be possible within the European Union, said the former Turkish Cypriot leader.

Talking with the Turkish Daily News on the veranda of his modest "deniz evi" (sea home) abode overlooking the velvet-blue Mediterranean Sea, Denktas suggested that like the former Czechoslovakia, the two peoples of the island could separate first, become equal entities and re-unite under the roof of the European Union as two states that did not have any claim over the other.

Denktas said he always wanted to strike a just and lasting agreement to the Cyprus problem which would ensure the inalienable rights of the Turkish Cypriots, but somehow could not explain himself enough to the world, or the world did not want to understand him.

He said even in a recent book written by six former Greek ambassadors, it was stated that making the dividing line on Cyprus the international border was required for lasting peace on Cyprus because removing the international border would be extremely difficult.

"The other day, the Slovak foreign minister was here. He said: 'I was born in Czechoslovakia, knew myself as a Czechoslovakian. We were together, but why we were together, have no idea. Then, we parted of our own free will. Now, under the EU umbrella, we have reunited and have no problem.' They have sorted their border problem. They are independent, sovereign countries. Neither Czechs, nor the Slovaks can cross the border and make demands that could irritate the other. They are separate in their own states, but together in the EU. They have reunited within the EU, like all other members. That's a lasting settlement," said Denktas.

He said there was an international misconception regarding Cyprus and the international community that they were trying to solve the Cyprus issue without making a diagnosis in the first place. He said the Greek Cypriot aim was to make Turkish Cypriots a "partner" in the state in a manner reminiscent of the 1960 settlement that they tore down with use of arms while Turkish Cypriots want equality, partnership in sovereignty, bi-zonality, bi-communality and Turkey's continued effective guarantee.

He said the recent history of the island testifies to the Greek Cypriot endless ambition to make Turkish Cypriots a "minority" and stop the Turkish Cypriot struggle to defend their inalienable rights on the island. He said there existed two peoples and two states on Cyprus and the settlement ought to be built on that foundation if it wanted to be a lasting one.

The former president said all former Greek Cypriot leaders, as well as current Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos were on record stressing that the aim of the Greek Cypriot side was to protect the Turkish Cypriot-free state they have. Glafcos Clerides, he said, had once declared: "We do not have a Turkish Cypriot vice president, ministers or personnel. However, the world recognizes us as the legitimate government. Why should we make compromises. They will either accept our demands, or will go."

He said although the entire world kept on accusing him as "Mr. No" and "Mr. Intransigent" answering to a Greek Cypriot reporter in Glion a few years ago, Clerides himself had declared: "Our negotiation strategy is clear. Don't you know that we are attending these meetings for tactical reasons. Our strategy has become very successful. Our strategy has been to pretend as if we are negotiating and portray the Turkish Cypriot side as the intransigent side. We shall continue that."

Denktas said since 1964 the Turkish side has always demanded a just settlement but it was the Greek Cypriot preoccupation not to accept a settlement based on bi-zonality that prevented a resolution.

He said back in 1975 that Clerides had accepted -- while serving as acting president until the return of Archbishop Makarios to the island -- a bi-zonal federation, but it was because of the objections of Makarios that although a population exchange agreement was made as the first step of bi-zonal settlement, the process could not be completed. After Makarios returned to the island, he said, he agreed in 1977 to a federal bi-zonal settlement, but his death three months later did not allow a resolution. Since then, he said all Greek Cypriot leaders have opposed a bi-zonal federation, though for international public relations they did not say so publicly.

"After 42 years, didn't the U.S., Britain and others understand that it was not the intransigent people who have held a Cyprus resolution hostage? The reason is Greek Cypriots have achieved what they wanted: A Turkish Cypriot-free Cyprus administration. For them, since the U.N. declared the all-Greek Cypriot administration in Cyprus was the legitimate government, the Cyprus problem has ceased to exist for them. They lied to the world until 1974 that there was a Turkish Cypriot rebellion and they were trying to quell it. Now, some honorable Greek Cypriot writers are asking: Was there a rebellion that required you to do what you did to Turkish Cypriots? EOKA (the Greek Cypriot terror gang) still continues guiding Greek Cypriots. Doesn't the world see this?" he asked.

Denktas said a resolution of the Cyprus problem would only be possible when Greek Cypriots are told that they were not the government of the entire island or representing the entire population of the island of Cyprus.

Subtitle: Has Talat changed?

The veteran Turkish Cypriot politician, relieved of the hustle and bustle of the daily routine of the Turkish Cypriot presidency, was quite satisfied with the "change in attitude" of his successor since he became president after last April's election victory.

"They tell Talat that he has become a Denktas. He has not become a Denktas, but has realized that all through the Annan plan initiative, he was deceived by the Greek Cypriot side, particularly by (communist AKEL leader Demetris) Christofias," Denktas said stressing that Talat himself has conceded that he was deceived.

"Talat himself had disclosed that his people conducted a 'yes' campaign believing that AKEL would do likewise. They believed there would be a double 'yes' and not only the Cyprus problem would be solved but they would march into the EU on May 1 hand in hand with their (Greek Cypriot) comrades. AKEL making a spectacular U-turn and joining the 'no' flank was a great disillusionment for Talat," said Denktas.

The former Turkish Cypriot leader said when Talat started seeing the true face of the Greek Cypriot side on the one hand while on the other saw that the Cyprus struggle could not be continued by the Turkish Cypriot people without the support of Turkey.

"When he made statements defending the (Turkish Cypriot) state, equality of the Turkish Cypriot people, Greek Cypriots started complaining that Talat has become a Denktas. They started complaining that he was worse than Denktas. It was Talat who said recently that if they had the means the Greek Cypriots would deny even oxygen for Turkish Cypriots. What was the wrong of Denktas? He was continuing the struggle saying that without Turkey's and the Turkish nation's support the Cyprus cause cannot be maintained. After he sat on the seat (of the presidency) Talat realized also that without the support of the Turkish (mainland) public, he can achieve nothing," said Denktas.

Subtitle: Tassos Denktashopoulos:

Former Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas does not feel insulted hearing comments from the Greek Cypriot side accusing President Tassos Papadopoulos from southern Cyprus of becoming "Denktashopoulos."

"I have no idea who is calling Papadopoulos 'Denktashopoulos' but if by saying so they mean he was unwilling to give up the state that you know and like Denktas you are defending it, not giving up, that's no insult," he said.

He said Papadopoulos was just trying to defend the "sole legitimate government of Cyprus" title given to the Greek Cypriot government in 1964 by the Americans and guarantor (together with Greece and Turkey) power Britain in 1964 after the Greek Cypriot-Turkish Cypriot partnership government was occupied by force and Turkish Cypriots were expelled from government. He said the U.S., Britain and the international community since then have been turning a blind eye to Turkish Cypriot demands for equality, restoration of their inalienable rights while extending all out support to the Greek Cypriot side and declaring them the "sole legitimate government" on the island, encouraging them to join the EU with that status. "Papadopoulos is being encouraged not to compromise and firmly defend his state. That's what he is doing. All through the years, I defended my state, but could not explain why I defended it, or they just did not want to understand why I was defending it," said Denktas.

[04] Paper says: "Sezer will warn Talat"

The paper further reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry as well is critical of Mr Talat's initiative. Quoting a Turkish Foreign Ministry source, the paper reports that by offering Varosha, Mr.Talat had weakened the Turkish side's hand at the negotiation table. The same source further said that "in order not to give the impression that we have problems between us we are avoiding open criticism against Mr Talat. It was not a good thing to propose Varosha to the Greeks through personal initiative of Mr Talat. Even in Burgenstock, Varosha was not made a subject for negotiation".

[05] Mehmet Ali Talat: "Ankara was aware of the proposal regarding returning of Varosha"

Excerpts from the interview:

Question: "Esteemed President, you have declared that you have proposed Varosha to the Greek Cypriots, if the isolations are removed. Could you claim that Ankara, with all its units, had supported this proposal of yours? That is could you say that `I have done this proposal because it was discussed, debated and we have decided upon´? Or did it develop otherwise?

Answer: In fact it was mentioned several times. Ankara was aware of this proposal. However, I do not want to claim at this stage that `it was discussed, debated and together we have reached to a result´, because naturally our proposal was a serious proposal. I think this proposal was extremely serious proposal. Had it been realized it would have seriously paved the way for Turkey, as well as it would have been a remedy to the difficulties that the Turkish Cypriots had suffered so many years. In fact this proposal was doing away, completely with the isolation imposed on the Turkish Cypriots. The proposal was as follows:

The Greek Cypriot side in the years 1974-75 has declared all the airports and sea ports in the north Cyprus illegal and closed to traffic. The Greek Cypriot side was going to revoke this decision in such a way that it would not be able to re-impose it again. It was going to revoke and remove embargoes imposed on cultural and sports events. And in future the Greek Cypriot side was not going to take any action against this decision and against these Varosha was going to be returned. If you ask me, how the issue of returning Varosha had risen? It was included in the Makarios-Denktas High Level Agreement of 1979. In later years, not once but several times it was announced that Varosha could be returned on condition that the embargoes would be removed. If you noticed, despite the fact that we have political difference with Mr Denktas, Mr Denktas did not react to my proposal, because he too, made such a proposal. So, no one should consider that the issue was taken up without the knowledge of (Ankara) or mentioning first time".

[06] In three days 6,042 Turks were sent back to Turkey

The paper reports that the deadline for the implementation of the new "immigration law" ended on July 1st and from that date Turks from Turkey who entered the occupied areas only with identity card and continue to stay without being registered will pay a fine equal to two minimum salaries.

[07] The so-called Minister of Economy and Tourism visited the occupied area of Karpasia

Mr Deniz also visited the Golden Beach coast and expressed surprise when he found out that there were constructions with no permission. After this, he visited Apostolos Andreas Monastery, where he briefed about the restoration progress of the monastery. He also announced that if the Greek Cypriots do not proceed with the restoration they will bring experts and taken under their supervision the restoration.

[08] AFRIKA: "Greek Cypriot raid to the Turkish military post"

The paper alleges that the incident happened in Nicosia on the confrontation line and that the Turkish soldiers were badly beaten to the level that they are being hospitalised.

The report claims that people in Nicosia are worried and expect an announcement from the Turkish occupation forces to clarify the situation. AFRIKA reports that the raiders managed to escape without being caught.

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