Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 10-12-01

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu briefed the political parties on the Cyprus talks

[02] Talat alleges that no gesture by Turkey could change the Greek Cypriot stance

[03] Statements by Cakici on the Cyprus problem and the new working hours

[04] CTP delegation to visit Warsaw

[05] New working hours for "TRNC public sector"; reaction by Trade Unions

[06] "TRNC" budget for 2011 is 1.57 billion Euros

[07] Illegal construction at occupied Vokolida

[08] Illegal Near East University to host the "Islamist Civilization Conference in the Mediterranean"

[09] Eight Ghananian dancers missing in occupied Cyprus

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] Gul comments on Wikileaks documents

[11] Turkey and Uganda signed economic cooperation protocol

[12] Highlights

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS

[01] Eroglu briefed the political parties on the Cyprus talks

In statements after the meeting, Mehmet Cakici, leader of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), said the Cyprus problem is heading towards a solution. "Perhaps in a few years, perhaps in ten years, but it is heading towards a solution", he argued. Cakici noted that the Cyprus problem is related with Turkey's accession course to the EU and added: "All the world demands solution in Cyprus in order for Turkey to be able to walk this road".

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot side should put forward a plan which will solve the points of disagreement before the meeting in Geneva, Cakici said that important progress has been achieved in the negotiations on the chapter of Governance and Power Sharing and that the present deadlock is related with the property issue. Cakici expressed his party's readiness to contribute towards an early solution in Cyprus.

Ferdi Sabit Soyer, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), described as positive the report submitted by the UN Secretary-General to the UN Security Council. He pointed out that the report notes that the solution in Cyprus could be a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, single international identity, single sovereignty and single citizenship on the basis of the agreements of 23 May and 1 July. Soyer expressed the view that "the UN Secretary-General should support the process by broadening his initiative".

Moreover, Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democratic Party (DP), expressed the view that the Cyprus problem "entered a serious process". He alleged that the issues of single sovereignty and cross-voting are still vague and noted that his party's stance on these issues has not changed. He said that the DP is ready to assist Eroglu and his team as much as possible before the meeting in Geneva and added: "This is a serious process. Perhaps the 50-year long Cyprus problem will cease to exist, but there is the danger of a new Cyprus problem emerging on the agenda again". Denktas said the DP will submit a detailed report to Eroglu within the next two months. He noted that we are not at a point where we could say that we are heading towards a solution. "We have a two-month process in front of us which will be frightening, difficult and crucial", he argued.

Furthermore, Turgay Avci, leader of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), said the meeting in New York was the beginning of a "very serious process" and argued that "the demand of the UN Secretary-General for a meeting in Geneva in January is a timetable even if this is not official". He noted that the meeting in Geneva could be in the form of "close door meeting" like in Burgenstock in 2004. He further noted that during the meeting the ORP expressed the view that Ban Ki-moon might turn the meeting in Geneva into a close session which will produce a plan to be submitted to a referendum, and that the UN might withdraw its support from the process in case of an unsolvable disagreement.

Irsen Kucuk, leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) made no statement because he had to leave the meeting earlier.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Talat alleges that no gesture by Turkey could change the Greek Cypriot stance

In statements during a press conference yesterday organized by German Friedrich Ebert Foundation's representation in Brussels, Talat claimed that the negotiations in Cyprus are about to enter a dead-end because of the "rigid and contrary to the international approach" attitude of the Greek Cypriot side on the "property sharing". He said that no one should expect a solution without involvement by the UN and arbitration.

He noted that the EU has the power to force the Greek Cypriots for a solution and reiterated the Turkish view that the Greek Cypriots will be "encouraged" for a solution if the "isolation" on the "TRNC" which said "yes" to the Annan Plan is lifted as promised, and the Direct Trade Regulation is immediately approved and implemented.

Talat alleged that President Christofias was "afraid" of announcing that the two sides came very close to reconciliation on the issue of Governance and Power Sharing and this was decisive in the recent "elections" in the occupied areas of Cyprus when Talat lost from Eroglu.

Asked on the possibility of Turkey making a gesture in Cyprus which could force the Greek Cypriots to change their stance, Talat replied: "Absolutely no gesture will force the Greek Cypriots to change their stance. This is not possible".

Talat said that the problem in Cyprus is political and expressed the view that confidence building measures, which could be useful in conflicts such as those between India and Pakistan and Israel and Palestine, could not be beneficial in Cyprus. "From this point of view, the EU call for confidence building measures from the sides is irrelevant [with the issue]. We do not have a confidence problem. We only have a political problem", he argued.

Talat expressed the view that the solution of the Cyprus problem is becoming more difficult every day and that time is in nobody's favour. Talat also noted that no other formula, including "Taiwanization" of the occupied part of Cyprus, could be an alternative to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

In the framework of his contacts in Brussels, Talat met with members of the European Parliament's Contact Group with the Turkish Cypriots. He is also expected to give lectures at some think tanks.

A front page report in the Turkish Cypriot daily Kibrisli (01.12.10) refers to Talat's statements under the title "I lost the election because of the EU". According to the report, Talat argued that the EU was the reason for two "regime changes" in the occupied part of Cyprus: His "election" after the Annan Plan, and his defeat by Eroglu in the last "elections".

(I/Ts.)

[03] Statements by Cakici on the Cyprus problem and the new working hours

In statements to Kibris television yesterday, Cakici noted that the side which tries to abandon the negotiations will be punished and expressed the belief that the process will be intensified. He said that the issue of the occupied closed city of Varosha could be evaluated separately if the negotiating process slows down.

Cakici noted that the UN Secretary-General gave "homework" to the sides at their meeting in New York. He added that the property is most important point of disagreement between the sides. He noted that the UN Secretary-General asked the sides to submit a plan on the property issue and added that if points of convergence are discovered, this will lead us to an international conference. "Whoever is the intransigent side will be blamed and punished", he said.

Cakici referred to the meeting which the Turkish Cypriot political party leaders held yesterday with Dervis Eroglu and said that Eroglu asked for the views on the plan to be prepared for the meeting in Geneva. "These two months are important from the point of view of searching for an early solution", he said. Describing the process as "important", Cakici said that after the meeting in Geneva the UN Secretary-General will prepare a "final report".

"If the property issue is solved, the solution will come quickly", he argued. Cakici said that the issue of the occupied closed city of Varosha did not come up in yesterday's meeting and that this issue is part of the comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem.

Referring to the decision announced yesterday by the self-styled government regarding the new working hours of the "civil" servants, Cakici said that this decision is wrong. He noted that the new working hours are included in the economic package "which came from Turkey" and expressed the view that this decision will cause a "disaster".

(I/Ts.)

[04] CTP delegation to visit Warsaw

The delegation will also hold meetings with several delegations of the other participating countries and with sister parties. The CTP delegation is expected to return to the island on December 4.

(AK)

[05] New working hours for "TRNC public sector"; reaction by Trade Unions

Implementation starts today and as expected several trade unions have reacted. The Cyprus Turkey Public Servants Trade Union (KTAMS) and the Cyprus Turkey Civil Servants Trade Union (KAMU-SEN), in a joint statement rejected the new measures taken by the UBP government. KTAMS decided to go on a 3 hour strike today and the chairman of the Union accused the "government" that they are a puppet and that the measures are being imposed. In a separate statement KAMU-SEN accused the "government" of being manipulated and that the decision, which destroys labour peace, was taken along with the Turkish Embassy.

The so-called parliament employees Trade Union's (MEC-SEN) chairman, Remzi Kudret, described the working hours as a "slave era", following instructions from employers and the Turkish embassy and not the demands of the trade unions. The Customs employees Trade Union (GUC-SEN) called for public insubordination to the new working hours and accused the government of "fully receiving orders and implementing them." Moreover, the Press Employees Trade Union's (BASIN-SEN) chairman, Kemal Darbaz, in his statement said that the illegal Turkish News Agency-Cyprus (TAK) totally rejects the extension of their working hours by half an hour and as a first action they will not work after 19.30.

[06] "TRNC" budget for 2011 is 1.57 billion Euros

[07] Illegal construction at occupied Vokolida

The paper cites that information that the project was initially allocated to Fullmas Building Contractors Company. The project was later allocated to Euro Cost Ltd., without paying the first company for its work. When Fullmas Company filed a legal suit against the developer, it was disclosed to the so-called ministry of interior, the occupied Trikomo so-called district administration, the so-called town planning department, and to the contractors and engineers associations that the project had no construction permit. Moreover, the paper questions how the district administration which was notified by the town planning department, can remain an observer in the face of the illegal construction.

[08] Illegal Near East University to host the "Islamist Civilization Conference in the Mediterranean"

As the paper writes, around 50 academics from 22 different countries will be participating.

(AK )

[09] Eight Ghananian dancers missing in occupied Cyprus

As it is reported, it is still not clear whether the eight dancers are missing or whethen they decided to stay in occupied Cyprus in order to extend their vacations until the expiration of their "visas".

[B] TURKISH PRESS

[10] Gul comments on Wikileaks documents

"Therefore, everyone should be careful about what they say, however what I have seen so far is personal assessments and observations of American diplomats in different levels".

Noting that Wikileaks' release of thousands of secret cables of U.S. diplomats cannot harm political stability in Turkey, Gul said: "We are used to such things. None of these can impair our goal to make Turkey a stronger country or the importance we attach to political stability in Turkey and our long-time friendship. None of them can stop us from working together shoulder to shoulder for Turkey. Not only with Mr. Prime Minister [Recep Tayyip Erdogan], but also with all other officials."

Asked about relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan following Wikileaks documents in which US diplomats, Gul said "Aliyev made clear his distaste for the Erdogan government, underscoring the 'na?vet?' of their foreign policy and the failure of their initiatives, including the loss of support for Turkey among traditional international friends because of Ankara's hostility to Israel." He added that the documents would in no way affect the friendship between Turkey and Azerbaijan. "We are different states of one nation", he concluded.

[11] Turkey and Uganda signed economic cooperation protocol

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc stated that the parties assessed improvement of cooperation in economy and trade, and other issues such as energy, agriculture, health and tourism. He also said he believed talks between the two countries would continue in the highest level and a very strong basis would be established to boost relations.

Uganda's Tourism, Trade and Industry Minister Kahinda Otafiire, who also signed the protocol, said his country attached high importance to commercial relations with Turkey, and noted that the protocol would provide important developments for bilateral relations.

[12] Highlights

a) WikiLeaks

Cuneyt Ulsever of Hurriyet Daily News considers trivial the reports released by WikiLeaks on Turkish foreign policy, compared to other allegations and claims such as that Prime Minister Erdogan has eight different accounts in Swiss banks, or Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek telling a group of investors in London to get rid of their shares in the Dogan Media Group as the company would not be around much longer are extremely grave.

In his article in Hurriyet Daily News.com, Semih Idiz asserts that there is nothing "unexpectedly strange or startling" in the classified US diplomatic dispatches on Turkey from a foreign policy perspective. Arguing that "even a hasty analysis of the information leaked dispatches shows how the Erdogan government is isolated in the Middle East on the topic of Iran," Idiz remarks that "this fact is particularly significant against the backdrop of the efforts by the Erdogan government to strengthen the notion of Ankara's rising political influence in the region." Idiz concludes: "Turkish-U.S. ties are strained enough as it is, and it remains to be seen if the leaks will make the situation better or worse in the coming days. What is clear, however, is that the Erdogan government and the U.S. administration apparently have many reasons to dislike each other, and on this score the cat is now out of the bag."

Radikal's Cengiz Candar claims that the WikiLeaks" documents can be regarded as the "best" gift that Erdogan received prior to 2011 elections. The documents might even strengthen Erdogan, Candar adds. The documents show that the "neo-nationalist" theses that Justice and Development Party is a "moderate Islam project" developed by the United States are false, Candar adds noting that these [documents] clearly will not lead to a 'radical' change in Turkish-US ties or in the world's relations with the United States."

In an article in Milliyet entitled "People's CIA" Can Dundar thanks WikiLeaks for providing a more realistic understanding of the world.

Star's Mehmet Altan say that the issue now is whether the United States purposely leaked the documents concerning the Middle East countries or the information was leaked despite the US Administration. Altan maintains that, whatever the case, it will have a beneficial impact in the long run, as the disclosures were a severe blow to 'two-facedness". Administrations of nation-states will have a difficult time to adopt a "two-faced" or "unprincipled" conduct toward their own peoples or to other countries, he concludes. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EI

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