Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 07-01-05

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Hasan Ercakica on the Ledra street checkpoint.

[02] The Turkish army is preventing the demolition of the bridge in the area of the Ledra Street; Talat is discussing the issue today with General Buyukanit and Abdullah Gul.

[03] Talat has reportedly called on the Turkish Cypriot holders of passports and identity cards of the Republic of Cyprus to give them back.

[04] Talat is to hold contacts in Ankara.

[05] Talat to attend the activities for the presentation of Turkey to Europe organized by the TAM Foundation in Germany.

[06] Ankara braces for new year's diplomacy season.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[07] Talat has reportedly told the army that he would resign in case the bridge in the area of Ledra Street is not removed.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Hasan Ercakica on the Ledra street checkpoint

(M/L)

[02] The Turkish army is preventing the demolition of the bridge in the area of the Ledra Street; Talat is discussing the issue today with General Buyukanit and Abdullah Gul

The dismantling works were not conducted yesterday, in spite of the fact that it had been announced that they would begin after the religious feast of the sacrifices.

According to the paper, the issue will be discussed today during a summit which will take place in Ankara, with the participation of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, the chief of the Turkish General Staff, General Yasar Buyukanit and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul. The paper notes also that yesterday Mr Talat discussed the issue with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul.

Furthermore, the paper notes that the leader of the National Unity Party, Tahsin Ertugruloglu criticized Mr Talat because of the decision to demolish the bridge and argued that this decision, which ignores the security, has been taken without establishing a sound dialogue.

According to KIBRIS, the leader of the Democratic Party, Serdar Denktas discussed yesterday the issue with the tradesmen at the Ledra Street area in the occupied part of Nicosia. Mr Denktas reiterated his view that demolishing the bridge is not right.

Meanwhile, the paper reports that the self-styled mayor of the occupied part of Nicosia, Cemal Bulutoglulari referred also to the issue yesterday and expressed the hope that as from now Mr Talat will give him the duty to deal with the issue.

We can carry on this duty and I believe that our possibility of securing a solution to this without being politicians is high, because in both sides there are mayors who exert efforts for the opening of the gate, he said in statements to KIBRIS TV.

Mr Bulutoglulari stated that the mayor of Nicosia, Ms Eleni Mavrou had asked from him a period of 10-15 days on the issue of the work to be done for the opening of the crossing point in Ledra Street. He said that this time should be given to Ms Mavrou and argued that they are waiting for Ms Mavrous call in order to begin the work for lifting the bridge.

He noted that if the bridge is demolished and the gate is not opened, this will be of no use. He alleged that the opening of the crossing point depends on the stance of the Greek Cypriot side.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (05.01.07) refers to the statements of Serdar Denktas and Tahsin Ertugruloglu under the title Attack for the bridge from the hawks. The paper reports that the nationalists in the occupied areas are attacking in order to prevent the demolition of the bridge.

The tradesmen in the area of Ledra Street in the occupied part of Nicosia will organize a gathering today and ask the Greek Cypriot side to pull down the wall. The entire nationalist front expressed support to the activity of the tradesmen today, notes AFRIKA.

Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (05.01.07) refers to the same issue under the title There is an activity today at the Lokmaci and adds: Let the Greek Cypriots demolish the wall and we shall lift the bridge.

Furthermore, Turkish Cypriot daily YENI DUZEN newspaper (05.01.07) refers to the issue under banner front page title Let the barricade be lifted, let the gate be opened and publishes statements by tradesmen from both sides who express their support to the opening of the crossing point in the area.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Talat has reportedly called on the Turkish Cypriot holders of passports and identity cards of the Republic of Cyprus to give them back

Mr Talat said that in case the Turkish Cypriots return the passports saying to the Greek Cypriots that I do not want your passport or identity card, this would be a very effective move. Talat alleged that if at that time Turkey had not given passports to the TRNC, the world would be obliged to open its doors to the Turkish Cypriots.

HALKIN SESI reports that in statements to THE NEW ANATOLIAN newspaper on 30 November 2005, Mr Talat had said that because of these passports the Turkish Cypriots can travel freely to the EU member countries and many other countries of the world and that their life became easier. Talat had told THE NEW ANATOLIAN that getting a passport of the Republic of Cyprus was a right that the Turkish Cypriots have and that this is a human right.

According to MILLIYET, in statements on a program of GENC TV Talat argued that the Greek Cypriots use the passports and identity cards they issued to the Turkish Cypriots as a material for propaganda and added that they conducted a research, the results of which they conveyed to all the EU Commissioners, noting that 40 thousand Turkish Cypriots are holders of passports of the Republic of Cyprus.

Mr Talat said that countries such as the US, Pakistan, Britain, France and Germany give visa to the holders of TRNC passports and added that when the Greek Cypriots are asked something about the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots, they answer: Thats absurd and that we give them passports and identity cards.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Talat is to hold contacts in Ankara

In line with his contacts, Mr Talat is expected to meet with the Turkish Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

Mr Talat is expected to return to the occupied areas on Friday following the completion of his contacts in the Turkish capital.

[05] Talat to attend the activities for the presentation of Turkey to Europe organized by the TAM Foundation in Germany

(M/L)

[06] Ankara braces for new year's diplomacy season

The diplomacy traffic season opens with the visit of Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit, who will visit the country in January as the official guest of his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. During the key visit, the two foreign ministers are expected to exchange views on efforts to revive the Middle East peace process and latest regional developments.

Following the visit by the Egyptian foreign minister, Ankara will host Poland's president and the Ukrainian and Italian premiers.

Italian Premier Romano Prodi, who is expected to visit Turkey later this month, will discuss Turkey's bid to join the European Union with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and will also participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Bolu Tunnel.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's long-awaited and previously postponed visit to Turkey is also expected to be made in March.

The diplomacy season will also be tough for Turkish officials, especially for Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Gul will open the season with a visit to Davos, Switzerland on January 24-28 in order to participate in the annual meting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He is also planning to visit Australia in February.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[07] Talat has reportedly told the army that he would resign in case the bridge in the area of Ledra Street is not removed

Mr Basaran Duzgun writes that the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Talat consulted with the commanders of the Turkish occupation forces and the security forces before taking the decision for lifting the bridge.

The military officials gave the message to Talat that they do not agree with the decision, but they will not prevent its implementation. Talat told them that this is a political issue and that the final decision should be taken by the politicians. He added: I will announce that the bridge will be lifted and if a contrary development takes place I will resign.

According to Mr Duzgun the issue has been discussed also at the General Staff in Ankara between the army and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Gul supported Talats decision and tried to persuade the General Staff that this is right, but these efforts had no result. Mr Duzgun refers to Mr Talats statement that the bridge would be removed and adds:

All the sides expected the dismantling works of the bridge to begin on Thursday, but these works could not start at all. Why? Because the army sent the message that I will arrest those who enter into the area. The bridge is a military zone and if the workers who will perform the dismantling work come, they will definitely be arrested.

The following was revealed with this message: The debates behind closed doors have not ended with reconciliation of the differences and the army showed its do not come, we shall arrest you stance by replying with the force of the arms to the political decision taken by the President of the Republic.

Very well, what did President Talat, who spoke in the manner that I am not a puppet and if necessary I will resign, do?

President Mehmet Ali Talat was in Istanbul during the feast holiday. The holiday was announced as a pretext to the public opinion, but Talat met in Istanbul with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The issue of the removal of the bridge, which has been turned into a tactful crisis which will cause Talats resignation, was discussed with all its details.

The Prime Minister assigned the duty to Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Gul to overcome the crisis and calling the Chief of the General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit suggested that the issue should be discussed at a three party meeting.

In this manner the bridge crisis was carried to the Ankara summit.

President Talat, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Gul and the Chief of the General Staff General Buyukanit will meet and try to overcome the bridge crisis. What will the result be?

As of this point there are two options in front of President Talat: Either he will remove the bridge or he will say I am not a puppet and resign. There are two ways in front of the army officials who object to the lifting of the bridge: Either they will say their objections and withdraw and approve the lifting of the bridge or they will face Talats resignation in the manner which will be officially registering its position of being an occupation army.

I believe, however, that there is a third way out. For their security the Turkish Cypriots have transferred a great part of their sovereignty to the army. The Council of Ministers will sit and take the area where the bridge at Lokmaci is out of the military zone. The area where the bridge is will enter into the control of the government and in this manner the dismantling works will be done.

The issue is fully related to the sovereignty. In the hands of the parliament and the government there are legal arguments, which will use the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots. We shall continue tomorrow on the issue.

(I/Ts.)

/SK

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