Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 08-05-22

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Avci accuses President Christofias of being double faced and that his aim is not to find a solution to the Cyprus problem

[02] European Parliament adopts report on Turkey. Calls for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army

[03] UBP Chairman calls the Turkish Cypriot leader to be careful in the Cyprus problem since strong winds started blowing

[04] Taner Etkin argues that the the existence of the TRNC will not given up

[05] MVK makes a call for an independent and sovereign TRNC and argues that Talat should raise his voice

[06] Poll on Turkish Cypriot parties power conducted in occupied Cyprus

[07] Turkish Cypriot delegation is holding contacts with members of the EP

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[08] To give Cyprus away

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Avci accuses President Christofias of being double faced and that his aim is not to find a solution to the Cyprus problem

(MHY)

[02] European Parliament adopts report on Turkey. Calls for the withdrawal of the Turkish occupation army

The European Parliament (EP) adopted on Wednesday a report on Turkey urging the government to accelerate reforms.

In a plenary session the EP debated and voted the report, prepared by Dutch parliamentarian Ria Oomen-Ruijten. The report is a non-binding and recommendatory one.

The parliament rejected amendments to the report regarding the incidents of 1915 submitted by a group of French MEPs trying to support Armenian allegations against Turkey.

However, the amendment on EP's concerns about news reports regarding Turkish riot police's disproportional use of force during May Day celebrations was accepted.

The amendment also said that the changes made in article 301 of Turkish Penal Code were not enough and urged Turkish parliament to revise the article and completely remove other restrictive stipulations.

The report, adopted last month by the European Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, expressed concern about the potential consequences of the recent dissolution case filed against Turkeys ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party.

Another amendment to the report said the EP expected Turkish Constitutional Court to act in accordance with the Venice Commission guidelines and European standards on the prohibition of political parties.

It also called on the Turkish government to respect pluralism, secularism and democracy while carrying out reforms and to reach a compromise with political parties and urged the political parties to distance themselves from violence and terrorist organizations.

The report says the parliament takes note of the process underway to prepare a new, civilian constitution; regards it as a key opportunity to place the protection of human rights and freedoms at the core of the constitution and underlines the need for a broad involvement of civil society in this process.

The report also says the parliament 'welcomes the commitment of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that 2008 is going to be the year of reforms; urges the Turkish government to make use of its strong parliamentary majority to resolutely pursue reforms that are crucial for Turkey's transformation into a modern democratic and prosperous society.'

It says '(the parliament) encourages the Turkish government to make further systematic efforts to ensure that the democratically elected political leadership bears full responsibility for formulation of domestic, foreign and security policy and that the armed forces respect this civilian responsibility; points out, in particular, the need to establish full parliamentary oversight of military and defence policy and all related expenditure.'

The report also urges the Turkish government and the parliament to abolish immediately article 301 of the Penal Code as a symbolic and substantive step towards full respect of freedom of expression in the country and underlines that, once the urgently needed abolition of article 301 has been carried out, further legislative and implementation steps will be required in order to ensure that Turkey fully guarantees freedom of expression and press freedom in line with ECHR and European democratic standards.

It says the parliament encourages the Turkish authorities to resolutely pursue investigations into the Ergenekon affair, 'to fully uncover its networks reaching into the state structures and to bring those involved to justice.'

The report welcomes the recent adoption by the Turkish Parliament of the Law on Foundations and says 'the European Commission should analyze whether the Law addresses all shortcomings faced by non-Muslim religious communities with regard to property management and acquisition, including expropriated property sold to third parties.'

The report also calls upon the Democratic Society Party (DTP), its members at the parliament and mayors 'to engage constructively in the quest for a political solution to the Kurdish issue within the democratic Turkish state.' It strongly condemns the violence perpetrated by the terrorist organization PKK and reiterates European Parliament's solidarity with Turkey in its fight against terrorism. The report urges the Iraqi government and the regional Kurdish administration not to allow Iraqi territory to be used as a base for terrorist acts against Turkey.

The report stresses the need to arrive at a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question within the UN framework, claiming that 'the withdrawal of Turkish forces would facilitate the negotiation of a settlement.'

Oomen-Ruijten's report also calls on the European Commission and the Turkish government to start negotiations on an agreement to ease granting of visas to Turkish nationals.

[03] UBP Chairman calls the Turkish Cypriot leader to be careful in the Cyprus problem since strong winds started blowing

In his statement Tahsin Ertugruloglu, urged the Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat to be very careful on vital issues in the Cyprus problem and before taking any steps that could cause irreparable damages to consult with them and take into consideration their views and their concerns.

(MHY)

[04] Taner Etkin argues that the the existence of the TRNC will not given up

The paper reports that Taner Etkin held a press conference yesterday and said: One in no uncertain term should put forward that, it is out of the question to give up the absolute equality in sovereignty, Turkeys effective and actual guarantorship, Turkish peoples rights and interests in Cyprus and in East Mediterranean and the existence of the TRNC. Mr. Etkin went on and claimed that the ultimate objective of the Greek Cypriots and Greece is to own the whole of Cyprus.

(MHY)

[05] MVK makes a call for an independent and sovereign TRNC and argues that Talat should raise his voice

Bi-zonal bi-communal federation is not Turkish Cypriot peoples vision. Our peoples vision as shown in all the polls is INDEPENDENT, SOVEREIGN TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS which will live forever and if an agreement is going to be signed with the Greek Cypriots this should include the provision of the right to secession based on two states confederation.

The core issues of the Cyprus problem cannot be discussed only in the working groups made up of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) members and the CTP sympathizers. At the same time the issue of guaranties in no way could be discussed neither in the working groups nor in the TalatChristofias meeting. It cannot be brought to the negotiation table.

The TRNC population in no way could be subject to negotiation at the negotiating table.

Christofias repeated attacks against the Motherland Turkey and against the Turkish army and urging exerting pressure on Turkey is unacceptable. On this issue Mr. Talat has to raise his voice.

Unless the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots are removed, unless hostile activities against Turkey and the TRNC are stopped, unless the Greek Cypriot administration declares that it is not the legitimate government of whole Cyprus and does not represent the Turkish Cypriot people, unless it stops insulting the president, the parliament, the Prime Minister and the Government of the TRNC by branding them illegal and so-called, unless they withdraw the six cases opened against the TRNC at the EU Court of Justice in order to stop the investment in the TRNC, unless they repeal the ENOSIS decision taken at the Greek Cypriot assembly in 1967, Talat should inform Mr. Christofias that he will not sit at the negotiation table for comprehensive negotiations

We declare that we will not recognize, if President Talat turns a blind eye to these issues and brings us face to face with a new wrong and new fait accomplish which will be contrary to the national interests and will put into difficulty our people in defending the Cyprus cause.

(MHY)

[06] Poll on Turkish Cypriot parties power conducted in occupied Cyprus Turkish Cypriot daily Yeni Volkan newspaper (22.05.08) publishes a poll carried out by the Turkish Cypriot Social Movement Association. According to the poll results, if there was an election today in the breakaway regime, the parties will get following percentage of votes:

CTP (Republican Turkish Party): 28.79%

DP (Democrat Party): 12.21%

OP (Freedom and Reform Party): 8.8%

TDP (Social Democrat Party): 4.79%

HIS (Politics for the People Party): 1.39%

BKP (United Cyprus Party): 0.77%

HP (Peoples Party): 0.30%

(MHY)

[07] Turkish Cypriot delegation is holding contacts with members of the EP

Two Turkish Cypriot deputies Salih Izbul and Hasan Tacoy are in Strasbourg for contacts with members of the European Parliament.

The Republican Turkish Party deputy (CTP) Salih Izbul said they have informed the European Parliament MPs on the new process that started in Cyprus.

Mr Izbul said that during their discussions, they complained of the unconstructive statements issued by the Greek Cypriot Leadership concerning the work being carried out by working groups and technical committees, but added that contrary to such statements, the two sides narrowed the gap between them on some issues being discussed by the committees.

We asked the MEPs to take concrete steps on the Cyprus issue and we discussed ways of encouraging the Greek Cypriot Side to sit at the negotiations table Mr Izbul said, adding that they reached consensus with Euro-MPs on the need to avoid from issuing statements and taking steps that could undermine the new process.

For his part, the National Unity Party (UBP) deputy Tacoy told BRT that during their contacts, they underlined the need for the EU to take the necessary legal steps to make Turkish as an official EU language and to give the right to Turkish Cypriots to fill two of the six seats allocated for Cyprus at the European Parliament.

[B] Commentaries, Editorials and Analysis

[08] To give Cyprus away

It seems as if it is not on the agenda, but this is the place where the vital point of the whole dispute is located: North Cyprus. The turban and the rest is the folkloric aspect of the issue. For six years now a deep fear exists in the bureaucracy that this man will give Cyprus away.

However, to give something away it means that you must have taken it before. Have we gone to Cyprus to bring peace and democracy and this kind of things to the island, or have we taken this place completely? Externally the first is valid, but in reality is the second.

Cyprus is a hump stuck for 35 five years on our back as a result of the unbelievable historical and political carelessness of the late Ecevit. (I said carelessness to avoid saying stupidity.) He could not know the place where he should have stopped, or the place he should have moved forward or withdrawn. (In fact, when has he known anything?)

However, we always looked at Cyprus as if it was ours. We have shed our blood, we have died, we have killed and now it became ours. Or speaking more honestly, it came back to us. THIS IS AN OTTOMAN REFLECTION. Even if we do not want to accept it and we never want to say it, the Ottoman defeat, which continues to live in our subconscious, stopped for the first time, even though it has not ended.

SINCE 1699 WE HAVE BEEN CONTINUOUSLY GIVING LAND AWAY AND IN 1974 WE SUCCEDED TO TAKE BACK EVEN A SMALL PART OF THESE LANDS FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Sorry, I will never do it again, this was the second time. The first was Hatay in 1939. We were not able to uproot it in Mosul and Kirkuk and preferred to pass the sponge over without agitating the issue too much. However, this opportunity came up now.

We could not even confess the issue between ourselves. We made up a cover saying we are saving people from our own race. And we have led the issue to the non-solution completely, because we did not want a solution. That place had become ours now and we never had the intention to let it go. It was enough to give something apart from land. However, Cyprus was not included in the National Pact of 1920! That is, we were not playing the game, the rules of which we ourselves have set! Have they not called this exploiting the situation for ones own interests? When we were not powerful [we said] peace at home, peace in the world and when we considered it to be appropriate [we said] disorder at home, landing of troops in the world.

Obviously, in 1939 and 1974 we ourselves were violating again the lines we had established in 1920 and consolidated in 1923. When the world remained silent for the first one, we felt happy and when it opposed the second one, we got angry and mad.

Let us ask the people from Cyprus of our own race, how they evaluate the fact that they have been taken and they were not saved and what kind of feelings they have for us?

The issue is so simple. Strategy and the rest is the sauce of the matter: if we join the European Union, why shall Greece come and strike our abdomen? What is the meaning, the benefit or the harm of one member state surrounding another member state not only from the west, but from the south as well? A war between Turkey and Greece is no longer possible. These are calculations made thirty five years ago. (If I am wrong, I want to ask why the Aegean Army has been dissolved.)

These are the reasons why Turkey will never withdraw from Cyprus. And it could never join the European Union. Two times two makes four.

In order for the matter to be solved either a war is necessary and a defeat- which is something that I do not even want to think about- or a state administrator who will be equipped with extraordinary powers and the authorities of whose will not be absolutely indisputable.

Let me interpret this: Either the sultan or Ataturk can take and give away a place! No politician or an imaginary coup détat maker in our days could acquire this absolute power.

If you want, let us return to the first option: if we enter a war and we are defeated or lose much of our power, neither Cyprus will be left nor the Southeast.

Come on, if you want attack Iran together with America, in order to appear good to America, and afterwards you will see what will happen.

(I/Ts.)

ES/

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