Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-11-30

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat assesses the new property draft-law.

[02] Talat explains that the pedestrian overpass is to facilitate the occupation army.

[03] Serdar Denktas: Our alternative is the Taiwan Model.

[04] Rauf Denktas´ statement that he suspects Volkan organization was established by the British draws strong reaction by its members.

[05] MILLIYET: Turkish Airspace to the Greek Cypriots.

[06] ZAMAN: Green light from ECHR on the road to recognize courts in the North Cyprus.

[07] The Turkish Negotiator with the EU stated that pressure will be exerted on the sides to sit at the negotiation table.

[08] Turkey is presented to be softening its veto card mentality towards Cyprus as a result of Cyprus´ increasing veto power.

[09] The two young who removed the No Entry-Restricted Military Area sign were British.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Has Turkey changed its policy over Northern Iraq?.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat assesses the new property draft-law

Mr Talat argued that the proprietorship regime will not change in general and added that due to the fact that the law provides for return of property as well, there might be some persons who will put it into practice.

We should not put obstacles before the political solution by exaggerating the dimension of the human rights regarding the properties, said Mr Talat and alleged: If there is a decision that everybody must return to his property, then the solution of the political problem will become impossible. The current situation does not permit the people to use their property rights. For this reason, we are trying to create domestic remedies. .

Recalling that the ECHR said that the property rights are not non-negotiable because the majority said no, Mr Talat noted that therefore the property law came onto the agenda in order to make an appropriate evaluation and that they could not act contrary to the human rights.

Mr Talat said:

We began to work thinking whether or not we could create domestic remedies in the direction that the ECHR has pointed out to us under the extra-ordinary conditions which continue to exist. When information leaked out from the closed door cessions of the assembly, we abstained from doing this, but we continued our work. Our jurists made a comprehensive work. We have gotten the opinion of international jurists as well. Our jurists worked on the law. They went to Strasbourg and discussed the first draft of the law with international jurists. It was rearranged. We even went to those who wrote the Annan Plan. This draft-law came up after our friends did all these meetings. .

Mr Talat reiterated his view that one of the ways to change the understanding in the ECHR that the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus are under Turkeys control is strengthening the institutions of the self-styled TRNC.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Talat explains that the pedestrian overpass is to facilitate the occupation army

In statements yesterday, Mr Talat said that the pedestrian overpass at Ledra Street area was planned so that no trouble is created for the military units in meeting their needs.

Mr Talat related the pedestrian overpass to the rebelliousness of the Turkish citizens and said:

I conveyed to the UN the message that in such a situation my citizens could be rebellious. That is, will the citizens stand and wait when the military vehicles pass from there? A fanatic person may make a rude remark to the army, he may throw a stone. A Greek Cypriot may make a rude remark as well. The soldiers may make a rude remark. Therefore, a problem may be created. This road is compulsory. And we considered making a pedestrian overpass appropriate The bridge is temporary and will be removed with the solution.

Commenting on the decision of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus not to allow the opening of the crossing point at Ledra Street area because of the violation of the buffer zone by the Turkish side, Mr Talat accused the Greek Cypriot supporters of the status quo of not wanting the rapprochement between the Greek and the Turkish Cypriots.

He added: Do not make the pedestrian overpass, they said. They are alleging that the army will control the Green Line. In fact his is the duty of the army. The military position which has been taken down will not be placed there. We will not do it. In case we do it we will come face to face with the UN. Changing the military status quo is dangerous in all the parts of the world.

Mr Talat expressed his worry about the close relations between the Greek Cypriot side and UN. Noting that they began expressing their disquiet on the issue he added: The Greek Cypriots are paying the salary of the UN. And the UN is staying in the Greek Cypriot side. Now, I began putting this onto the agenda. The doors are open now. Furthermore, here is cheaper. Let them come and stay in the north, not only the UN, but UNOPS and other institutions that will come and the INFORCE group. Some evaluations are made one--sided. .

(I/Ts.)

[03] Serdar Denktas: Our alternative is the Taiwan Model

Mr Serdar Denktas stated that in case they will not be able to reach an agreement with the Greek Cypriots they will make the world to accept them economically, without recognising them politically, as is the case of the Taiwan model. Mr Serdar stated that they will continue their road with their own administration and with the mechanism of a separate state which is EU neighbour. The recognition may not happen immediately. That is to say we can apply the Taiwan model. Taiwan as well has not been recognised, but economically the world has accepted it, Mr Serdar Denktas said. He also added that it should not be expected that anyone will abandon them with the assumption that they did not come into an agreement with the Greek Cypriots.

(C/S)

[04] Rauf Denktas´ statement that he suspects Volkan organization was established by the British draws strong reaction by its members

Under the subtitle Volkan and TMT the paper quotes Mr Rauf Denktas to have said recently that he has suspicions that the extremist-nationalist organization Volkan was established by the British and that those who offered services to the British have gone to Britain.

The first reaction came from the representative of Volkan in Famagusta, Mr Ramiz Manyera code-named Canbulat Bey, and the second from Mr Hilmi Refik, who had important role for the student nationalist movement of the time.

Mr Ramiz Manyera, who was taking part in the programme Talking time of private Turkish Cypriot Genç TV, said the following: Those who were on the payroll of the British and were putting the money in their pockets every month, cannot speak now about Volkan. During that period some were putting the money of the British in their pockets. In such a comfort. At the highest post. How could someone who is in the Mason Lodge speak about Canbulet Bey of Famagusta? How could he belittle me?

Mr Hilmi Refik intervened live on the programme and criticized Mr Rauf Denktas for his statements. He also sent a letter to the paper which is published in page four.

Inter alia Mr Refik says: The struggle of my generation started in the 1950´s when around 100 teachers visited Turkey. However, this struggle has its foundations in 1910´s, 1920´s and in 1928. At that time journalists Hasene Ilgaz and Iffet Halim Oruz, owners of Woman Newspaper started awakening the Turkish Cypriots.

He adds: No, Mr Denktas, your view that Volkan did nothing but organize rallies and shouting slogans is wrong, because this people´s movement had secured Turkey´s serious interest towards Cyprus. Even more, your doubts that this organization was established by the British is insulting to the history and to those who struggled and to our martyrs. I respectfully invite you to deny your statement.

(K/V)

[05] MILLIYET: Turkish Airspace to the Greek Cypriots

The EU, with a view to opening the Turkish air space to the Greek Cypriot airline companies´ planes took concrete steps. And it sent the draft Agreement between the EU and the Republic of Turkey regarding certain aspects of the Aviation Services to the EU General Secretariat. And the EU General Secretariat, in its turn, dispatched the draft to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. If it is approved, the agreement which will provide for the opening of the Turkish airspace and airports to the Greek Cypriot Airline companies, envisages annulement of all the bilateral air transport agreements that Turkey signed and concluding a single agreement with the EU which will be binding to flights to all the EU member states.

In the draft for the use of the Turkish air space no other condition than being EU member is mentioned and also it includes the following expression: `Turkey cannot treat unequally the airline carriers of the member states based on nationality´.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry put reservations on certain articles of the draft which envisage Airline Companies established in the EU member countries to establish airline companies in Turkey. In order to preclude the opening of the Turkish airspace to the Greek Cypriots certain articles of the draft were amended. The following expression is added: `Countries and their citizens which signed bilateral transport agreements with Turkey shall make use of the rights stipulated by the agreement´.

(MHY)

[06] ZAMAN: Green light from ECHR on the road to recognize courts in the North Cyprus

The paper, quoting unnamed the ECHR sources, reports that sources have said that the `TRNC´ courts could be officially recognized.

ZAMAN, referring to last week´s judgment by the ECHR regarding Kakoulli´s case, reports that the ECHR has announced that if the necessary legal reforms are carried out then domestic remedies of the `TRNC´ will be recognized.

The paper goes on and reports that the decision by the ECHR does not mean recognition of the `TRNC´, however, it is expected that it will sadden the Greek Cypriots. The Turkish diplomats branded the decision an important victory.

Informing our paper, the ECHR sources said: `The Kakoulli judgment is paving the way for the courts in the north of the island being recognized as courts on European standards´, Zaman concluded.

(MHY)

[07] The Turkish Negotiator with the EU stated that pressure will be exerted on the sides to sit at the negotiation table

Speaking to the Turkish news channel NTV, Mr Babacan also said that Turkey wont take any further steps towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem unless a comprehensive and lasting settlement is targeted.

Mr Babacan expressed the opinion that pressure from outside is necessary for the sides to sit round the negotiation table and assessed that pressure will be exerted within a period of time.

Mr Babacan also accused the Greek Cypriot side of benefiting from the continuation of the non-solution on the island and expressed the urgent need for the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the United States and the European Union to step up their efforts to re-launch the negotiations process aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus Problem.

Pointing to the fact that the Turkish Cypriot sides attitude towards a solution is clear, the Turkish Minister of State said that Turkey will not accept any solution to the Cyprus Problem except one found under the United Nations umbrella.

[08] Turkey is presented to be softening its veto card mentality towards Cyprus as a result of Cyprus´ increasing veto power

Greek Cypriot administration (the Republic of Cyprus) has become a real headache for Turkey since becoming full EU member last year both in Union and in other international organizations

Due to Greek Cypriots' veto card within EU, Ankara appears to be trying to soften its tough attitude towards Nicosia at NATO

FM Gul is expected to attend a dinner with his Greek Cypriot counterpart at an unofficial gathering related to NATO. Gul will attend unofficial dinner on December 7 hosted by Belgian FM, according to Turkish sources

Ankara plans to soften its hardliner reputation over Cyprus problem and open way for removal of Greek Cypriot veto of Turkish participation in European Defense Agency

After the Greek Cypriot administration became a thorn in Turkey's side after it was granted full member status in the European Union last year, now Ankara is trying to sidestep the Greek Cypriots´ "veto card" by using its leverage as a member of NATO.

As this first step of Ankara's new NATO-based tactic, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to for the first time sit at the same table as his Greek Cypriot counterpart at an unofficial gathering at a NATO-related organization.

According to Turkish sources, Gul accepted, with some reservations, participating in an unofficial dinner on December 7, hosted by the Belgian foreign minister as part of the NATO-EU cooperation process. The main condition for Gul's participation in the dinner was to get in advance the full agenda for the ministers´ discussions during the evening. Ankara also demanded that the host country emphasize the "unofficial character" of the dinner.

With this first step, Ankara plans to erase its hardliner image with respect to the Cyprus problem and to open the way for the removal of the Greek Cypriot veto of Turkish involvement in the European Defense Agency (EDA) according to the same sources.

Turkey does not recognize the Greek Cypriot administration as the sole representative of Cyprus. As a full member of NATO, Turkey has vetoed the participation of the Greek Cypriots on operational issues as part of NATO-EU cooperation. Ankara also prevents the Greek Cypriots from participating in the NATO-led Wassenaar and Zanger arrangements.

As a response to Ankara's attitude, the Greek Cypriots veto Turkey's participation, despite its being an EU candidate country, in the EDA which was established last year.

[09] The two young who removed the No Entry-Restricted Military Area sign were British

Turkish Cypriot VOLKAN newspaper yesterday reported that the young thieves were Greek Cypriots.

(K/V)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Has Turkey changed its policy over Northern Iraq?

The fact that the MIT [National Intelligence Organization] Under Secretary met with [Mas'ud] Barzani in Salah-al-Din at the end of October has led to the assumption that Turkey is changing its policy regarding northern Iraq.

Is Turkey actually changing its policy? We posed this question to Prof Ahmet Davutoglu, the prime minister's foreign policy adviser and one of the government's most influential names in international politics.

During the assessment meeting that focused on Turkey's foreign policy, Davutoglu answered this question by merely saying: "We have made adjustments after Talabani was elected president. We announced that we are pleased with these elections." Nonetheless, when we put his comments one after the other it is possible to understand the government's position.

According to Davutoglu, "it is possible to overcome the problems along our borders, including the problems faced by the Kurds in northern Iraq and in this region, through mutual cross-border economic dependencies."

Davutoglu said the following in order to explain this approach that may appear among the titles of [Turkey's] Iraqi policy in the period ahead:

"Germany's economic strength had a great impact on the disintegration of the Eastern Bloc. The Deutsche Mark did what the tanks were not able to do."

Stating that the assumption that the meeting with Barzani started with the MIT undersecretary, rather than with the politicians does not reflect reality, Davutoglu recalled that Turkey has close contacts with all the groups, including the Shiites in Iraq.

The relations between the Iraqi Kurds and Turkey are not new. Barham Salih, Iraqi minister of planning and one of the most influential figures among Kurdish politicians, was in Ankara a month ago. He was given messages regarding Ankara's approach.

What were the items that appeared on the agenda of the meeting with the MIT under secretary? We learned that other relevant issues, "including the PKK," appeared on the agenda of the meeting that was held between the MIT under secretary and Barzani at the end of October.

In addition to northern Iraq, the government also intends to establish a joint trade region with the north of Syria and to revive the relations between the peoples of the region. Nevertheless, there are certain conditions for this. The elections that will be held on 15 December constitute a critical threshold where entering a new era with the Kurds in Iraq is concerned.

If just elections are held in Iraq and if the Sunnis have realistic representation rights in the parliament, it will be possible to take the necessary steps for implementing the understanding that is based on "mutual dependencies with economies that cross borders." The establishment of stability in Iraq constitutes a priority issue for Turkey. The speculations to the effect that mental exercises are being conducted on the relations between Turkey and a possible Kurdish state are baseless.

The meeting at TESEV [Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation] also showed that Syria will constitute the most important item on the foreign policy agenda next year.

Syria is required to send the people whose names are mentioned in the al-Hariri investigation to Lebanon for questioning by 15 December. Damascus has rejected the proposal that was put forth by the Investigation Commission. Instead, it proposed to send the people to Golan. However, the commission is against this proposal. Speaking to Abdullah Gul in Bahrain, Jack Straw, foreign secretary of Britain which is the EU term president, as well as Solana who has assumed the role of the EU foreign secretary, have called on him "to take action." Having taken this call into consideration, Turkey is making efforts to this end during this process.

Davutoglu said: "We are exerting utmost efforts in order to ensure that the process does not reach a deadlock. We are in constant contact with Damascus and the United Nations."

Turkey is against imposing long-term embargos on Syria. When speaking to the United States, Ankara is saying: "This runs counter to our national interests. We cannot implement this."

Davutoglu believes that as we embark upon 2006, Turkey is gradually becoming a more influential country whose views are taken seriously in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki will come to Turkey next week. This visit, which is being conducted at a time when the pressure on Iran has intensified, is being viewed as yet another development that proves Turkey's influential position.

/SK

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