Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-01-25

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu wants an agreement that would provide for two politically equal sovereign states

[02] NPM supports a solution based on the principle of two states

[03] Ten thousand telephone subscribers were forced to disconnect their telephone

[04] Talat and Akinci on Barsony's report

[05] Turkey-EU Accession Partnership Committee meeting in Brussels discussed "complications" which might emerge regarding the Cyprus problem

[06] Piskinsut to form her party next Monday

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Columnist in "Ortadogu" writes that Turkey is so strong that it can make attempts that make the U.S. uncomfortable

[08] Afrika Columnist: Mumtaz Soysal will represent me!!!

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Eroglu wants an agreement that would provide for two politically equal sovereign states

Commenting on reports about secret scenarios Eroglu said:

``Such a proposal has been neither conveyed to us nor become a matter of discussion. We are quite determined on the point of not facing any external intervention or external solution proposals, `` he said.

Alleging that representatives of the two "states" had given the start for talks on an agreement which would provide for two politically equal sovereign "states" on the island and single representation abroad by merging the two "states" under a single framework, Eroglu said that the important thing was goodwill, and added:

``The aim of the direct talks is to make the sides put forward their positions and try to find their common points and to reach the point of signing a lasting agreement. ``

Eroglu said that there would be no agreement on any matter unless there was an agreement on all matters and the sides would stay at the table until they reached an agreement.

Noting that recent developments about the Cyprus issue had created excessive expectations about an agreement, Eroglu said, ``All of us expect an agreement which will satisfy the Turkish Cypriots. And we expect that bilateral talks will end with a positive agreement. ``

Stating that talks had newly started and the sides had brought their positions to the table one after another, Eroglu said that the talks might reach the point of seeing the map and the path in front of them better after five or ten rounds.

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriot policy and point of view were not secret, Eroglu said that also the Greek Cypriot side's policy was clear but the important thing was to get those policies closer to each other and agree on a common point and to reach an agreement, which would satisfy both sides. Eroglu underlined that there should be an agreement which took the existing realities on Cyprus and those before 1974 into consideration.

Alleging that the European Union (EU) had encouraged the unwillingness to come to an agreement by opening its doors to the Greek Cypriot side, Eroglu said that EU`s attitude was one of the reasons for failure in reaching an agreement so far.

Eroglu added: ``EU is not on our agenda until an agreement is reached. `` Talking about the recognition of the pseudostate Eroglu said that no country besides Turkey recognizes it and it would be wrong to say that we have asked for its recognition from any country, and concluded:

"Even if we asked for its recognition no country will recognize it as long as there is a dialogue for a solution".

[02] NPM supports a solution based on the principle of two states

Noting that great duties befall the "government" in overcoming the economic problems in the pseudostate, Etkin said that the aid extended by Turkey, the motherland, should be used in investments directed toward production if it is to yield lasting results. Pointing out that the "government" should implement the protocols signed with Turkey in line with the timetable that has already been drawn up, Etkin charged that the "government" has not created a serious working atmosphere with regards to this issue. He further announced that a new formation named the 'new system' would be initiated in a bid to raise the consciousness of the people and to resolve the problems through meetings to be held through a participatory method.

[03] Ten thousand telephone subscribers were forced to disconnect their telephone

Kibris reports that the arrears from the unpaid bills reached the total of 814 billion TL. The paper says that in 1999 2937, in 2000 3276 and in2001 3943 subscribers were unable to pay their phone bills as a result their lines were disconnected.

[04] Talat and Akinci on Barsony's report

In his turn Akinci said that it would be wrong or at least not complete, if the report were evaluated from the Cyprus problem point of view because the problems of Human Rights and democracy in north Cyprus did not escape the attention of the world.

[05] Turkey-EU Accession Partnership Committee meeting in Brussels discussed "complications" which might emerge regarding the Cyprus problem

The EU delegation was headed by EU Commission Enlargement Directorate General for Turkey Director Michael Leigh while Turkey was represented by a delegation headed by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Akin Alptuna. Representatives of delegations from 15 EU member countries attended the meeting as observers.

At the meeting, an exchange of views was held on Turkey-EU relations in light of the latest developments.

Speaking to reporters, Alptuna said that progress recorded in last few months had been taken up at the meeting held in a very positive and constructive atmosphere.

Noting that steps had been taken in every field in Turkey, Alptuna said that they had given detailed information about those steps at the meeting. The Turkish delegation gave to the EU side the message that ``they should not get lost in details.`` The EU side had asked questions and expressed concerns about several matters and mentioned that they had ``concerns`` about implementation of reform steps taken in Turkey. The Turkish side also explained the economic programme which focused on ``change of mentality in Turkey`` and ``conscious approach to EU``.

Noting that a date for starting Turkey's accession negotiations had not been discussed at the meeting, Alptuna said that the important thing was to be aware of where Turkey was heading for.

Stressing that both sides had said that the new process in Cyprus had pleased everybody and gave hope to everyone and discussed also ``complications`` which might emerge regarding the Cyprus issue, Alptuna said that they had explained the developments in the relations between Turkey and Greece, adding that there were fifteen agreements ratified between the two countries and the two countries were working on five more agreements.

Noting that they had stressed the importance of Turkey's participation in the EU Convention which had been formed as a platform where the EU`s future would be discussed, Alptuna said that they had also taken up the technical problems stemming from the Customs Union agreement.

Stating that they had also given information on prisons in Turkey, Alptuna said that also the financial cooperation between Turkey and EU had been taken up and it had been observed that hitches in this field would be removed.

Noting that the issue of continuation of visa implementation only for Turkish citizens among the thirteen candidates by the EU which had ended visa for Bulgaria and Romania had not been discussed at the meeting, Alptuna said that also Turkey should take adjustment measures in this field. Sources said that the sides had also discussed the issue of cooperation in the fight against terrorism and that the Turkish side had conveyed Ankara's uneasiness about the EU`s not taking into consideration its demands while forming the list of terrorist organizations. The Turkey-EU Accession Partnership Committee will convene at ministerial level in April.

[06] Piskinsut to form her party next Monday

There are six parties having seats in the current Turkish Parliament. Piskinsut resigned from the Democratic Left Party (DLP) last year and accused her chairman and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit of mismanaging the economy and "sentencing the people to unemployment and poverty." Piskinsut is one of the few women in Turkey's Parliament and a respected human rights advocate.

Before her resignation, she unsuccessfully challenged Ecevit for the leadership at a party congress but was booed by delegates and not allowed to address the meeting.

Ecevit, 76, has led the DLP, which is the largest party in the 550-seat Parliament, for more than a decade and tolerates little dissent within the party.

Piskinsut said that she plans to complete the provincial organization of her party in 41 cities in two months time.

Piskinsut said that there are two more lawmakers in Parliament to join her party but she has refused to announce their names until Monday. The emblem of the new party will be the "Sun", Piskinsut added.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Columnist in "Ortadogu" writes that Turkey is so strong that it can make attempts that make the U.S. uncomfortable

"The visit to the United States by Turkey's Prime Minister, accompanied by a 200-people group comprising of ministers, bureaucrats, reporters and businessmen, is over. So what do we have in hand? We will neither be too optimistic nor too pessimistic. Let us convey what we can observe. US has adopted an "indifferent" and a "two-faced" attitude again. This does not surprise me. They depend on their power and they use this openly. However, Turkey is powerful too and this has been witnessed. The relations of interest have finalized this visit, which cross somewhere between these two balances of power.

Now let us express the positives:

Not only Turkey and Turkey's internal matters and desires have been discussed in the Oval Office. As Ecevit also underlined the US discussed many international problems with Turkey from the Balkans to Caucasus, from Cyprus to Afghanistan; it had to discuss. That means that Turkey is a country, views of which should be considered on these issues. That means that this state and this nation has become an influential "international power." This is why the US promised, "If there is an issue related to Iraq, we will consult to you."

This position is very important.

What is left to those, who govern Turkey, is to use this power for acquiring influential and national interests.

Let us come to the 'negative' face of the coin.

The US' attitude toward Turkey was really indifferent. I will give an example and this will be enough. A disclosure has been made before Ecevit visited the White House, which said, "The visit ban on Turkey has been lifted." What ban my brother? Was there such a ban that we did not know? Or are you putting bans on any country, for example Libya, or confusing the ban on Iraq with Turkey? No such ban has been mentioned in either Turkey's or US' records and thus by lifting a ban that does not exist, the US has made a gesture to Turkey.

This is the first point, and a big first point!

The second one is that we merely received praises. There is nothing in substance. Turkey's expectations have been transferred to committees. The interests on the military debts have not been eliminated, the textile quotas have not been removed and our losses incurred during the Gulf War have not been compensated. Then the promise, "If we decide to intervene in Iraq, we will consult to you" is not of such importance either.

What Ankara should deduce from this is, "We will inform you when we attack." Ankara should not interpret anything further, it cannot.

Anyway, it is over.

Turkey is trying to overcome a difficult period. If this economic crisis improves a little and if the real sector picks up a little, Ankara will be in a better position against both EU and the US.

Because the position of this state and this nation, in the international arena has become so wide and deep that no nation would miss it. Look before Ecevit's visit a very critical development took place. A cooperation agreement has been signed between the Turkish Armed Forces and the Russian Armed Forces. I am saying openly, this is a very important development.

Do you think that the Pentagon and the White House are pleased with Ankara's attitude? Now they are uncomfortable. Turkey, on the other hand, would not make attempts that make the US uncomfortable if it did not trust itself. That means that our position is very strong."

[08] Afrika Columnist : Mumtaz Soysal will represent me!!!

The Greek Cypriot side, notes Incirli, is going to the negotiation table with selected people and civil servants.

''On the negotiation table there will be Papapetrou the most friendly and moderate politician, a friend of Turks.

And we are going to sit around the negotiation table with Mumtaz Soysal, a Turkish nationalist. A Turkish racist.

Please do not misunderstand me. This team cannot represent me .A delegation where a foreigner like Soysal is included whose non-solutionist Stance has been proved, can never represent the Turkish Cypriots.

I openly come forward and say: At the negotiating table not Soysal but Papapetrou will represent me.

Am I a traitor?

Let it be, I laugh!

I leave the heroism and the title of nationalist to you. Enjoy Soysal as much as you want.

I choose being traitor..

I prefer to be traitor and think about the future of my people, rather than to be praised as hero by the National People's Movement,'' Incirli concludes

EG/

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