Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-04-23

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] AFRIKA: "With Solana/s recent statements the Cyprus problem is virtually doomed either to the non-solution or to partition"; Denktas will become more intransigent.

[06] A Turkish Cypriot columnist says Sabri/s transfer to Anorthosis Famagusta show that the only reason for the Turkish Cypriots being isolated is Ankara and Denktas.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas and Eroglu try to exploit Mr Javier Solana/s statements

Responding to reporters/ questions before his contacts in Strasbourg, Denktas alleged that Solana warned the Greek Cypriots by saying that the island could be divided.

Solana, during an interview with a newspaper on Sunday, had said that only the southern part of the island, not the entire island, could be accepted to the EU, causing the reaction of Greece and Greek Cypriots, reported KIBRIS.

Replying to a question on the Belgian model, Denktas said: ``There`s a lot we can take from the Belgian model as long as our equality and status are recognized.``

Denktas said the most important part of the problem was to diagnose the problem correctly.

``We want to join the EU not as a minority, but as a partner. They should stop seeing Cyprus as their own republic,`` he asserted.

Denktas later met with the Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (COEPA) Mr Peter Schieder. After the meeting, Denktas told reporters that Schieder had an objective approach to the Cyprus conflict which pleased him.

``I observed that the COEPA Chairman respected the rights and principles of justice,`` he said. In Strasbourg, Denktas will also meet with COEPA rapporteur for Cyprus Andras Barsony and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Chief Justice Luzius Wildhaber.

KIBRIS further reports that Dervis Eroglu so-called Prime Minister of Turkey/s puppet regime in occupied Cyprus, said on Monday that the statement of EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana about the membership of Cyprus to the EU has the character of intensifying the uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot side while the negotiations continued on the island.

Responding to questions of journalists about the issue, Eroglu said that the words of Solana telling ``whether there is an agreement or not in Cyprus, Cyprus will become a member of the EU,`` intensify the uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot side.

``Yet there is a positive aspect of his statement as he voiced that Greek Cypriots don`t represent the Turks on the island.``, Eroglu said and added:

``The sovereignty of the Greek Cypriots is in the south of Ledra Palace. Mr Solana`s voicing this reality is positive, yet the Greek Cypriot side`s intention to reach a compromise with us will decrease with these words, as their final target is to join the EU.``

Finally, Eroglu alleged that if Cyprus is admitted to the EU without an agreement on the island, the existence of two "states" on Cyprus will be officially confirmed.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader met with the President of the ECHR

Denktas briefed about recent developments regarding the Cyprus problem to Wildhaber. Prior to the meeting, Denktas met Council of Europe Parliamentarian Assembly Cyprus rapporteurs and evaluated the recent developments on the island.

The compensation, which the ECHR fined Turkey to pay regarding the application of Titina Loizidou, had tensed relations between Ankara and the ECHR, reports KIBRIS.

Mr Denktas will address a conference about Cyprus in ``European Club`` on Tuesday and will meet Council of Europe Secretary General, Walter Schwimmer on Wednesday and depart for occupied Cyprus on Thursday after holding a press conference regarding his contacts.

[03] Turkish Daily News discloses the content of Rauf Denktas' talks in Strasbourg

The Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas has appealed to the European Union to stop encouraging Greek Cypriot intransigence and to help in a resolution of the Cyprus problem by treating the two peoples of the island on the basis of equality, as was enshrined in the 1959-1960 five-party Cyprus accords of Turkey, Greece, Britain and the two peoples of Cyprus.

According to well-placed diplomatic sources, Rauf Denktas, in talks with Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Peter Scheider and other European politicians and officials, expressed grief over the tragedy of the Palestinian people and said that the developments in the Palestinian territories underlined the importance of Turkish Cypriot statehood.

Sources said Denktas had stressed that in order not to live in a situation similar to the one between Israel and Palestine, Turkish Cypriots must attend to their statehood, adding that "Expecting a settlement on Cyprus by selling out our state is something that cannot be reconciled with reason."

Stressing that Israel has the right to live behind secure borders, Denktas reportedly underlined that without the recognition of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to establish an independent state with Jerusalem as the capital there cannot be peace in the region.

The developments in Palestine have demonstrated how right the Turkish Cypriot people were in demanding a two-state settlement on Cyprus, sources quoted Denktas as stating. According to the sources, Denktas said that while the Palestinians were still trying to establish their state, Turkish Cypriots had established their state back in 1975 by declaring the Turkish Federated State of Cyprus, and they further consolidated it in 1983 with the proclamation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus when Europe continued treating Greek Cypriots as the "sole legitimate government" of the entire island.

The Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas, sources said, stressed in his Strasbourg talks that the aim of the Cyprus talks was not to reach just any agreement, but a lasting, mutually acceptable accord based on the realities of the eastern Mediterranean island, and which would not land Turkish Cypriots in a similar situation to the one that prevailed on Cyprus between 1963 and 1974.

The sources said Denktas had warned that if a settlement incompatible with the realities of Cyprus was dictated on the island, such a development would be to the detriment of not only the Turkish Cypriots, but to peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean and could in a short period land Turkey and Greece in a war.

As the EU, the United Nations and Washington have started to build up pressure on both Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides to speed up the Cyprus talks process and reach a Cyprus settlement by the end of June, sources said Denktas stressed at his Strasbourg talks that it was he who had first uttered the "June deadline," but that there was no need for a "race against time," as the task was to reach a "just, lasting and mutually acceptable" resolution of the almost four-decade-old problem.

The sources said Denktas had explained that if the talks have been progressing slowly, it was not because of dragging feet but rather the failure to make new openings. The sources quoted him as telling his counterparts in Strasbourg that the international community must help the two sides make a new opening, stressing that telling Greek Cypriots that they would be accepted into the EU, with or without a settlement on Cyprus, was not a helpful approach as such remarks were tantamount to telling Greek Cypriots that they need not reconcile with Turkish Cypriots, but on the contrary, put forward at the talks whatever issue they believed would be unacceptable for the Turkish Cypriots.

"I said, let us talk without any foreign interference. Now, everyone is interfering from the outside. They keep on telling Greek Cypriots, 'Go on as you have been, no one can pull you back from the point you are.' Therefore, it is those who say that to Greek Cypriots who delay a Cyprus resolution. They are responsible for the Cyprus problem dragging on for the past 39 years. If they insist on portraying the party who demolished the 1960 Cyprus partnership Republic as the 'sole legitimate government' and try to make it our government also, there can be no Cyprus resolution. That is why a resolution was not possible, and I am sad seeing that the EU still insists on that wrong approach," the sources quoted Denktas as saying.

The sources said Denktas explained in his Strasbourg talks that he has offered to work together with Clerides for a "comprehensive reconciliation" on the island, and to "look together to the future," but at the same time bear in mind "the lessons of the past."

According to the sources, Denktas told EU executives that he has presented a written comprehensive package for a reconciliation settlement, but has not received any verbal or written response from Clerides on many key issues, excluding a categorical rejection of the inalienable rights of the Turkish Cypriot people. A change in the position of the Greek Cypriot side on some key issues, such as the equality of the two peoples and their partnership in the sovereignty of the island, was a sine qua non for a settlement.

Sources said in his talks, Denktas has stressed that he is ready to discuss all aspects of the Cyprus problem and was prepared for a compromise settlement based on reconciliation and the recognition of the realities of Cyprus. The sources said Denktas has also stressed that a settlement on the island this year was still possible, if Greek Cypriots change their intransigent attitude and acknowledge that "Cyprus is the common house of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot peoples and the relationship between the two peoples is one of two equals and not one of minority and majority," as has been underlined in many U.N. documents.

According to the sources, Denktas has stressed in talks that if a settlement is wanted on the island, the international community, particularly the United Nations, the United States and the EU must acknowledge that Greek Cypriots have never been the government of the Turkish Cyprots. Denktas reportedly stressed that telling Greek Cypriots that they will be allowed to enter the EU, with or without a settlement on Cyprus, and treating them as the sole government on the island are attitudes that render impossible, the resolution of the Cyprus problem.

The third round of the direct talks process was given a short break because of Denktas' visit to Strasbourg and will resume on April 26. On April 29, the third round is expected to be completed, and after a one-week break, the fourth round is expected to begin in May.

[04] Turkish Cypriot footballer who fled to the free areas Sabri Selden: "I want to play football and live like human being''

Sabri further said that he has reached agreement with AEK in principle and a formal contract will be signed during the coming days. He further complained that some people consider him as traitor since he left his team in the occupied area and crossed over the free areas to play football. He said: "Is it a crime to play football and through it to secure my family's living and mine? Let them explain to me if this is an act of treason. I do love my people and my country".

When asked whether the Greek Cypriots would exploit politically his act Sabri said: "I do not understand what politics is. I only play football. I want to play football and progress and have a human life. He went on and said: "Before me hundreds of Turkish Cypriots were forced to cross into the Greek Cypriot side to earn a living. They did not brand them under banner headlines as traitors. Why have I been made a centre of attraction? I am unable to understand. Is all my guilt being a good player? Is it a guilt to try to earn a living for me and my family through playing football?"

The paper also reports the conversation it had with Sabri's parents. His mother said that she was very happy living in the free areas and added: "I am having a good life. I am happy here. No creditor knocks my door any more. No one is coming to cut our electricity. I am at ease here, I just feel I am in paradise here. There they did not consider us as human beings. What was our guilt? My husband is unemployed for the last 20 years. Is this humanity? Is this justice? In his turn his father Tuner Selden complained that he is unemployed for the last 20 years and despite the court decision they have yet to receive the 20billion TL from the occupation regime.' We are living with the money my children are earning from football. Is this life?'' his father concluded.

Sabri's fleeing to the free areas has become an important issue in the mainland Turkish press as well. Ali Sen, a well known businessman and former chairman of the famous Turkish football team Fenerbahce, commenting in Star (22/04/02) strongly attack the present rulers in Turkey of being responsible for the misery in the occupied area. He said: "Today player Sabri fled to the Greek Cypriot side. This is the beginning of the end. Always people fled from misery to prosperity. The north is poor, and the south is rich. There is unemployment in the north, and there is a lot of jobs in the south. Tomorrow the grocer, the other day the artisan will flee. South Cyprus will be an EU member. If a referendum is held today 95 percent of the Turkish Cypriots will choose the south''

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[05] AFRIKA: "With Solana's recent statements the Cyprus problem is virtually doomed either to the non-solution or to partition"; Denktas will become more intransigent

"We think that no one anymore cares very much about the result of the talks. .Especially after Solana's statements. Javier Solana, who is one of the most important names of the EU, said that Cyprus would not be accepted as a whole to the EU, if the Cyprus problem is not solved. How will it be accepted? The half of it will be accepted, that is Southern Cyprus, whereas Northern Cyprus will wait. .

In this way he disappointed the Greek Cypriot side. What Solana said is not new. This opinion has before been expressed by Gunter Verheugen and created a storm. However, no one wanted to believe this.

With Solana's statement everything gets a little bit clearer just some time before June. Undoubtedly this statement made Denktas and Ankara feel much better. Their wish came true. The EU has stopped 'encouraging' the Greek Cypriot side for the non-solution. That is, it does not say, like before, that 'we shall accept you as the whole of Cyprus to the EU even if there is no solution'. .

Will the Greek Cypriot side make the concessions that Denktas wants? Will it accept two separate states in the island and the existence of two sovereign parts?

Some naive hearted, who were optimists before, believe this even now! They were not able to see the reality before and they still cannot see it. .

It is obvious what will happen from now on. With the recent interview of Solana the Cyprus problem is virtually doomed either to the non-solution or to partition. Ankara and Denktas who had not made a single step for reaching a concession on the (negotiating) table, from now on will do absolutely nothing! The EU gave Denktas such a master card that he will not sign any agreement, which does not provide for two separate states.

It is understood that those, who divided Yugoslavia and closed the eyes to the genocide against the Palestinian people, do not want an undivided Cyprus. If we do not claim our political will, unfortunately the situation will be this.".

[06] A Turkish Cypriot columnist says Sabri's transfer to Anorthosis Famagusta show that the only reason for the Turkish Cypriots being isolated is Ankara and Denktas

"Who imposes this embargo to you? For this reason, they say, the Turkish Cypriot youth, which is bored of being under these embargos, flees to the South. Don't tell me. . The Greek Cypriots put the embargo, but the child flees to the Greek Cypriot side. How cans this happen? Are you kidding me, brother?

The only reason for the Turkish Cypriots being isolated from the world is the partnership of Turkey and Denktas. .The thing that made the distance between the Turkish Cypriots and the world grow is the mentality of Denktas and the motherland, which claim that they have created a state for the Turkish Cypriots, but they really left them without a state, forced them to emigrate and sent them to work with the people whom they describe as enemies. .

A young athlete of ours fled from Binatli to Anorthosis. His name is Sabri Selden. . We see Cyprus as a common country of all Cypriots, without wars and dead people. We have forgiven the mistakes of the past and we want to live like modern people of Europe. Together with the Greek Cypriots, with Anorthosis, OMONIA, APOEL, AEL, Salamina and all the other teams. And of course with Yenicami, Cetinkaya, Goneli, Lefka, Yalova all the supporters like brothers. With the Maronites, the Armenians, and the Latins, even if they remained about three or five hundreds. We want to live with the Cypriots. We are Cypriots. .

You sit and explain how you left Sabri flee to the Greek Cypriot side. You cannot and will not explain this. Only one thing is left for you to do: declare him a traitor. Dear Sabri, do not fell sad. You just play your football. Do not think about your flag, but think how to fill your stomach, because all those who say that they think of the flag became thieves".

KV/SK

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