Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 11-11-03

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[01] Eroglu: "Shuttle diplomacy has been useful"

[02] Ozersay said that "TRNC citizens" will be citizens of the United State

[03] Political parties comment on the New York summit

[04] Turkey and the breakaway regime signed an "agreement" which permits Turkey's TPAO to drill in Cypriot waters; Statements by Kucuk and Yildiz

[05] KTOS: "Ankara take off your hands"

[06] Turkish columnist says that the final say for solution to the Cyprus problem belongs to Ankara and Turkey will have to annex occupied Cyprus in case of non-solution

[07] Discussion for "amnesty" postponed for 10th of November

[08] Koca Piri Reis seismic ship concluded researches in the Mediterranean; It arrived to occupied Famagusta port

[09] Cukurova University to open a campus in occupied Trikomo village

[10] Talat was not granted visa by the Australian embassy to visit Australia

[11] Erdogan called on Germany to cooperate with Turkey on Cyprus problem and its other international matters

[12] Israel ready to stop boats heading for Gaza

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

Turkish dailies today covered mostly Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Germany and his meeting with the German chancellor Angela Merkel, Erdogan's call to Germany to allow dual citizenship, the report by OSCE published on Turkey's elections that took place in June 2011, and other domestic issues. On Cyprus, Turkish dailies referred to the marathon session of the so-called assembly in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus due to the 13-hour long speech of Mehmet Cakici, leader of the Social Democracy Party. The dailies also report that Australia denied the entry to former Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat and publish Eroglu's assessment on the New York summit.

[01] Eroglu: "Shuttle diplomacy has been useful"

Eroglu, commenting on the words "final stage" that the UNSG used in his statement, said, inter alia, the following: "In the previous meeting we had with the Secretary-General in Geneva, we said that the negotiations cannot go on forever; the General Secretary sharing our view and making a statement in a way that shows that negotiations will not continue endlessly made us happy." He also argued that prolonging the negotiations causes lack of hope for a solution in both sides and alleged that "in January we will see the end of the negotiations".

Answering a question whether a multi-party conference will take place, Eroglu said that this will become clear after their 5th meeting with the Secretary-General in January. He said that this was the message they understood, however he did not know whether it will be a 4 or 5 party summit, since he is not sure whether UK would participate.

Asked to comment how the oil and natural gas explorations in the Eastern Mediterranean have affected the Greentree meeting, Eroglu said that "waters in the region have started to heat up", something that shows that an agreement cannot be delayed. He also added that both the Turkish Cypriot side and the UNSG believe that explorations constitute a reason to speed up the negotiations and come to a positive result.

[02] Ozersay said that "TRNC citizens" will be citizens of the United State

Ozersay said that the summit in January will last at least two days and that new negotiating techniques will be used during the summit.

Ozersay said: "Concrete progress was recorded in this summit. The fact that we could not make announcement on its content due to the confidentiality of the negotiations does not mean that progress has not been made. Let no one take this as an opportunity and draw a negative picture. This is not something that will benefit the Turkish Cypriot people."

Noting that the issue of citizenship is not a separate chapter, Ozersay said: "I will say this openly. This issue, when it was discussed some time ago, was discussed under the chapter of governance and power sharing and the sides had an understanding on this issue. However, the fact that reference to this issue was made in Geneva, does not make this a separate chapter or the 7th chapter. (?) The important thing is our position in this issue. We are negotiating to solve this problem. Turkish Cypriot side's position is that on the day of the solution not all the people, who are living in the TRNC [translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus], but the people who have the citizenship of the TRNC, will become citizens of the United State. Of course, arrangements will be made for the right of application to take the citizenship by other persons, in case they meet the criteria. This request is more than natural. The international actors also understand this."

[03] Political parties comment on the New York summit

Ertugrul Hasipoglu, general secretary of National Unity Party (UBP), said that the progress announced in the chapters of economy, relations with the EU and internal security had already been known before the New York meeting and pointed out that there has not been a new agreement in the summit. He noted that in the past, proposals such as the Annan Plan have been submitted but no result could be obtained. He also said that they have not seen the Greek Cypriot side approaching towards their view, which is "a solution based on political equality, Turkey's active guarantee and two founding states."

Ozkan Yorgancioglu, general chairman of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), said that the latest meeting has shown that the two leaders have not "concluded the homework that the Secretary-General gave them after the 7th of July meeting". He argued that if a closer look is taken at the chapters, on which progress has been announced, it can be seen that they have not gone beyond the progress marked in the negotiations during Talat's time. He also said that announcing a new date for a summit is an important development, however if the two leaders continue the same behaviour it will appear that they used the process in vain.

Mehmet Cakici, chairman of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), argued that the meeting was held in vain, and the two leaders came back from New York empty-handed. He said that they were both to blame since they went to the meeting with the proposals they withdrew; Eroglu on the issue of cross-voting and President Christofias on the property issue. Cakici expressed his hope for progress until the next meeting, given that the pressure from the Secretary-General will continue.

Turgay Avci, general chairman of the Freedom and Reform Party (ORP), said that they evaluate the Secretary-General's proposal for a meeting in January as "the last meeting" and claimed that this shows that the UN shares the view that negotiations cannot go on forever and that it wants to conclude the Cyprus problem before the Republic of Cyprus undertakes the EU term presidency.

[04] Turkey and the breakaway regime signed an "agreement" which permits Turkey's TPAO to drill in Cypriot waters; Statements by Kucuk and Yildiz

In a statement issued earlier, Yildiz said that the agreement will allow the TPAO to do three dimensional seismic research and drilling within the "TRNC territory" as well as its surrounding waters.

The agreement comes in line with the illegal "Continental Shelf Delineation Agreement" earlier signed between the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

It will come into force following the approval of the "parliament".

As part of his contacts in the occupied area of Cyprus, Turkish Minister Yildiz also met with "prime minister", Irsen Kucuk and the "Turkish Ambassador" to occupied Lefkosia Halil Ibrahim Akca.

Speaking during the visit, Irsen Kucuk touched upon the New York summit and called on the Greek Cypriot side to "act with common sense".

Expressing his concern over the Republic of Cyprus' offshore drilling activities, Kucuk said that it is not possible to postpone the Turkish Cypriot "people's" rights.

He also thanked "motherland" Turkey for providing support to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus", as he called the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus.

For his part, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz noted that the "Continental Shelf Delineation agreement", signed between Turkey and the occupation regime, was a necessary step in terms of benefits of the two "countries".

Yildiz also highlighted the importance of the oil zone services and the share of production "agreement" signed yesterday and expressed the belief that works that will be carried out between Turkey and the "TRNC" will produce positive results.

[05] KTOS: "Ankara take off your hands"

KTOS supported that impositions and policies of giving and receiving orders do not lead anywhere. Additionally, they opened a banner with the slogan "Ankara take off your hands". The paper also reports that the "police" took great security measures and did not allow the protesters to pass in front of the "parliament" and the "embassy."

[06] Turkish columnist says that the final say for solution to the Cyprus problem belongs to Ankara and Turkey will have to annex occupied Cyprus in case of non-solution

The Demetris Christofias administration in southern Cyprus is in deep trouble economically and politically. Its last move regarding offshore oil and gas drilling in the Mediterranean, although legally sound, otherwise indicates that it is really in a tight spot. Even a miraculous solution to the Cyprus feud can't save Christofias' political career, but it would definitely engrave his name in history. If the reunification of the island via a new federal state could be brought about before Cyprus takes over the rotating presidency of European Union (EU) on July 1, 2012, even Christofias would prefer a lasting solution in Cyprus to a hollow six-month presidency of EU.

As for northern Cyprus, it is not an independent state in the same way as the south. Turkey has a great influence over the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC). Its president continues to negotiate, but it seems that the final say will be Ankara's when it comes to a solution. Turkey's Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made his first official visit to the KKTC on July 9, and stated: 'We hope that we will come up with a solution for the Cyprus issue, and that a referendum will be held on it in the coming year. In that way, Cyprus could assume its EU presidency on July 1, 2012 as a new federal state representing the whole island'. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, despite tough rhetoric during his own subsequent visit to northern Cyprus, mentioned the new federal state as well.

The UN has clearly been showing signs of 'negotiation fatigue' for a long time, and was threatening to withdraw from the negotiations if the parties cannot come up with a solution. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon's special envoy Alexander Downer set March 2012 as a deadline, which would be only three months before the start of Cyprus's EU presidency. Today this timetable is running out.

It feels as though the international community supports finding a solution, not only the UN and Turkey. First, without the tacit approval of the influential permanent members of Security Council, the UN Secretary-General cannot take any critical steps on the issue, despite its institutional memory of the Cyprus stalemate. Second, it looks as though the international community will be present throughout the process and will arbitrate a multilateral conference. (?)

Exactly a year ago, I wrote: 'We now need to look for solutions beyond the island, at an international gathering like the Dayton Conference which ended the war in Bosnia'. Let's hope that Cyprus will soon drop from the agendas of Greece, Turkey, the region and the world once and for all.

In the case that a solution is reached, major obstacles to Turkey's EU membership negotiations would be removed, and EU membership would be at the top of Turkey's agenda again. This in turn would have an impact on domestic politics and the solution of the Kurdish conflict. The normalization of relations between Greece and Turkey would also be brought to the agenda. A solution to the dispute over gas and oil drilling on the part of southern Cyprus would be easier to find. The problems between Turkish Cypriots and Ankara would ease, as they would become EU citizens. Turkish troops in Cyprus would return to Turkey with the foundation of a new state on the island, which would also greatly contribute to the demilitarization process in Turkey. Last, but not least, a normalized Cyprus would bring new hope to the currently chaotic situation in the eastern Mediterranean.

If the Cyprus issue is not solved, and leaving aside the dream of getting the KKTC recognized by the international community, the only option for Turkey would be to annex the KKTC, as it would be much more difficult to continue managing it from afar in the long run. However, this option would be very costly. Today the facts that the south is in a tight spot, Greece is in chaos, Turkish Cypriots are standing up to Ankara, the Cyprus issue continually handicaps Turkey, despite its growing self-confidence, and the international community is fed up with this decades-old problem, all point to the desirability of finding a solution.

Allow me to reiterate once more: Any kind of negotiation, including an international one, is not a process in which one party loses everything while the other wins all. And long-lasting agreements are those in which both sides leave the table equally dissatisfied".

[07] Discussion for "amnesty" postponed for 10th of November

After Cakici's a ten and a half-hour speech, Republican Turkish Party's (CTP) leader Ozkan Yorgancioglu took the floor and asked the postponement of the discussion. When National Unity Party (UBP) denied, Serdar Denktas came to the podium and asked for permission to elaborate on each "article". Also CTP's Ferdi Sabit Soyer supported that the amendments and the "amnesty" will protect illegal employment and gave examples of contradicting "articles".

[08] Koca Piri Reis seismic ship concluded researches in the Meditteranean; It arrived to occupied Famagusta port

Koca Piri Reis ship collected data from 4,000-km area in the East Mediterranean, finishing researches in zone G, as it called by Turkey and the occupation regime.

Piri Reis set sail from Izmir's Urla Port on September 23 to the East Mediterranean to conduct geophysical research and collect seismic data on behalf of the occupation regime.

[09] Cukurova University to open a campus in occupied Trikomo village

(AK)

[10] Talat was not granted visa by the Australian embassy to visit Australia

According to the paper, after this incident, Talat's trip to Australia was postponed.

In statements to Star Kibris newspaper from Istanbul, Talat stated that the incident was very disappointing. He argued that Australian Embassy did not give him visa as a result of lobbying by Greek Cypriots in order to prevent him from visiting Australia.

(AK)

[11] Erdogan called on Germany to cooperate with Turkey on Cyprus problem and its other international matters

"Turkey's prime minister has again slammed Europeans for ignoring the 'outlawed' Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) activities in their territories, calling on German officials to cooperate more in the anti-terror fight and help Turkey join the European Union.

'We are totally unable to understand the tolerance shown to the activities of the terror organization in some European countries despite the fact that we have provided them all the necessary and concrete intelligence and documents [about such activities],' Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a special gathering with the participation of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Turkish workers in Germany. (?)

In earlier remarks late on Nov. 1, Erdogan used a harsher tone against those countries without naming them. 'They must see how the tolerance shown to the terrorist organization is turning into bloody attacks in Turkey. The terror organization is not solely responsible for these inhuman attacks. Those who support and provide financial and moral assistance to the terror organization are equally responsible in slaughtering that unborn baby,' the prime minister said.

In her response to Erdogan, Merkel recalled their policy against terrorism, reiterating that 'Germany was always on Turkey's side in its fight against terror'. (?)

Subtitle: Turkey's bid to join the EU

Erdogan also raised the topic of Turkey's accession to the EU. 'Our expectation and hope from Germany, as a country which we see as very close to us, is to more strongly support our EU [accession] process,' he said.

The current German government, however, has repeatedly opposed full Turkish membership in the 27-nation bloc.

Hinting that Turkey's accession will make the EU a global player, Erdogan demanded Merkel to take the initiative to make the EU a global actor in the future through adopting visionary policies. 'Leaders, who fail to think big, cannot turn the EU into a global actor'.

In further remarks, Erdogan described Germany as a country that should back Turkey's EU bid more strongly than any other member countries because of its close relationship with Turkey.

'This should be a Germany that cooperates with Turkey on Turkey's international matters ranging from the Cyprus problem to the 1915 incidents [Armenian genocide claims], and from EU negotiations to the fight against terror,' Erdogan said. (?)"

[12] Israel ready to stop boats heading for Gaza

Speaking to reporters by telephone, Lieutenant-Colonel Avital Leibovich, did not say how the boats might be stopped, however, she said: "We will have to assess and see if we are facing violent passengers".

Leibovich stated further that Israel was aware two yachts had set sail carrying Irish, Canadian and US activists. Describing their journey as a "provocation", she said they were still far from the Israeli and Gaza coast.

Leibovich said that Israel would offer to unload any aid supplies on board and deliver them to Gaza. "Israel blockades the Gaza coast to prevent the smuggling of weapons to Palestinian gunmen in the territory", she added.

The military spokesman's office said the navy was "prepared to contact" the vessels and had "completed the necessary preparations in order to prevent them from reaching the Gaza Strip".

(?) An Israeli government official told Reuters earlier that Israel "will take whatever measures will be necessary" to maintain its blockade. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

/EG

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article