Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-11-18

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader critical of Annan Plan.

[02] Denktas´ answer regarding the UN plan will be delayed.

[03] The Turkish General Staff studied carefully Annan^Òs Proposal.

[04] Erdogan visits the occupied area of Cyprus and says the UN plan is negotiable; Supports simultaneous accession of Cyprus and Turkey to the EU.

[05] Gul was designated as the new Prime Minister and stresses that Cyprus and the EU accession are the priorities of the new Turkish government.

[06] Serdar Denktas discussed the Cyprus problem with Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

[07] The Turkish Cypriots are in favour of the EU.

[08] The Turkish Army^Òs four concerns in Cyprus.

[09] Turkish Cypriot opposition parties and unions call for acceptance of the UN plan as a basis for negotiations.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] In Cyprus Turks have won.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader critical of Annan Plan

When asked to comment on Justice and Development Party leader Tayyip Erdogan´s statement that the Plan could be negotiated Denktas said: ^ÓTo say it could be negotiated does not mean to accept it. Negotiation means: this is what I want; I do not accept this or that. Naturally this is a method, this is an approach. Instead of refusing right away, you have to say which things lead you to refuse.

Claiming that a major mistake was committed as regards the territorial issue, Denktas said that he had told this to the former UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali as well. Denktas said: ^ÓIf you include this map you would put an end to the negotiation and you would damage your good offices mission^Ô, but they did not listen to me. He went on and said: ^ÓI said this to these people time and again;^Ô in order for the negotiations to continue and to reach a point the map should be left at the end. Again we were unsuccessful to make them to listen. They again included it. They too know that they could not reach anywhere with this map included in the plan ^ÅThe whole island knows it. I am of the idea that those who wanted to throw us out of this island have no right to ask ¼ of our property because we have saved our land and our rights. However, I would not further dig into these issues.

Let us continue the negotiation, let us see^Å^Ô

Moreover, the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas, in a statement to MILLIYET´s (16.11.02) New York correspondent Sema Emiroglu, said that Kofi Annan with this plan wanted the sides to conclude an ^Óaccession agreement^Ô, to be signed until the 12 December 2002 Copenhagen summit. It is impossible to do this^Ô.

Accusing the British, USA and UN officials, who prepared the Plan, that with a view to solving the refugee problem they are recreating the problem which was solved by itself, Denktas further said that if the plan is presented as basis for negotiation he could negotiate it with the Greek Cypriots within the framework that he had explained. Denktas concluded by saying: ^ÓAs a matter of fact I was telling them to leave the map in the end in order not to spoil the negotiations^Ô.

[02] Denktas´ answer regarding the UN plan will be delayed

The paper also writes that the advisor of Mr Denktas, Ergun Olgun, had a meeting with the UN special envoy for the Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, and asked for time flexibility. He said that it is not possible for the Turkish side to response to Mr Annan´ s proposal within the next week and said that they need a period of 15-20 days.

Moreover, illegal Bayrak radio (16.11.02), broadcast an interview of Mr Olgun who said the following, answering a question regarding the above-mentioned subject: ^ÓThe first stage is for the two sides to express their positions regarding the UN proposal for a resolution of the Cyprus problem. This is going to happen next week. Then the second stage is going to begin^ÅIn my opinion for the time being we must concentrate on the period regarding the first stage^Å^Ô

[03] The Turkish General Staff studied carefully Annan´s Proposal

[04] Erdogan visits the occupied area of Cyprus and says the UN plan is negotiable; Supports simultaneous accession of Cyprus and Turkey to the EU

Speaking to journalists at the illegal Lefkoniko airport during his short Saturday visit to the occupied area of Cyprus, Mr Erdogan noted: ^ÓThe important thing is to produce an approach towards a solution within a general framework^Å^Ô

Mr Erdogan arrived in the pseudostate at 13:30 on Saturday (16.11.02) accompanied by a 150-member delegation and departed on the same night after meeting with so-called ^Ógovernment and state officials^Ô as well as with delegations of Republican Turkish Party (RTP), Communal Liberation Party (CLP) and Nationalist Justice Party (NJP).

In statements at the illegal airport Mr Erdogan said, inter alia, the following: ^Ó^ÅI believe that every person in Northern Cyprus is one Denktas. ^ÅI want to say it openly and clearly. We support a solution, which protects the struggle of our Cypriot brothers to survive. ^ÅThis problem will be solved with mutual sacrifices. However, expecting all the sacrifices to be made only by the one of the sides, does not comply both with justice and the rules of justice. ^ÅThe Turkish people want to reach the living standards of the developed countries and the entire world must know that between 75 % - 80 % of our people support the accession to the EU. However, there is one reality, which must be known and that is the fact that 100 % of our country is determined to protect the importance of the Daughter-land and the existence case of our brothers who live on this heavenly place^Å^Ô

Noting that the important thing at this stage is Mr Denktas recovering and afterwards the beginning of the negotiations towards reaching a solution, which will be ensuring that both sides live in peace, Mr Erdogan reiterated that the solution must be based on the existence of two sovereign equal component states, which will create a common state and join the international community.

Referring to the timetable set by the UN Secretary ^Ö General, Mr Erdogan said that at this stage ^Óis not suitable^Ô, due to the lack of government in Turkey and the health situation of Mr Denktas. Before the creation of a government in Turkey and before Mr Denktas gets well the plan cannot be discussed, he said.

During a press conference at the Dome Hotel in occupied Kyrenia, Mr Erdogan referred to Cyprus^Ò EU accession course in relation with Turkey^Òs wish to get a date to begin its accession negotiations. The leader of JDP noted that the Republic of Cyprus is ahead of Turkey on this issue and underlined that they are doing their best to get a date in Copenhagen. He added: ^Ó^ÅHowever, Southern Cyprus may have covered some distance in the negotiations it had begun. The latest UN report is here. In fact, even if this is not said, the partnership document is proposed with respect to our positions. We support the establishment of a common state here. That is we are saying ^Ñtwo equal sovereign component states^Ò and with these components states the basis of the common state must be created. Afterwards, there is a law deriving from the Zurich ^Ö London Agreements. Based on this, we are saying it must simultaneously be accepted to the EU. Otherwise, insurmountable problems could be created. ^ÅThe ^Ñtwo equal, sovereign component states^Ò we support regarding Cyprus, are in reality complying with the plan brought by Kofi Anan. Based on the London ^Ö Zurich Agreements, we are saying ^Ñyes^Ò to our simultaneous accession to the EU. ^Å^Ô.

Commenting on Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister, Sukru Sina Gurel^Òs statement that the UN plan for Cyprus cannot be negotiated, Mr Erdogan described Mr Gurel as ^Óactor of an intransigent stance^Ô.

Meanwhile, after their meeting with Mr Erdogan, the leaders of RTP and CLP, Mr Talat and Mr Angolemli said that his approach was positive and described as ^Ówrong^Ô the policy followed until today by the Turkish side on the Cyprus problem. On the other hand, the chairman of NJP, Kenan Akin expressed the opinion that the EU accession cannot take place at the cost of 60 thousand Turkish Cypriots ^Óbecoming refugees once again^Ô.

[05] Gul was designated as the new Prime Minister and stresses that Cyprus and the EU accession are the priorities of the new Turkish government

In the first statement after his designation Mr Gul said that the issues his party considers as its priorities are Cyprus and Turkey^Òs accession to the EU.

Mr Gul noted also that the number of the Ministers would be reduced to 24 including the Prime Minister.

[06] Serdar Denktas discussed the Cyprus problem with Recep Tayyip Erdogan

[07] The Turkish Cypriots are in favour of the EU

[08] The Turkish Army^Òs four concerns in Cyprus

1. The territory to be left to the Greek Cypriot administration in both maps is in a sense confining the area that is vital for the security of the north Cyprus; it could lead to the besieging of the north.

2. The territory demanded from the Turkish Cypriots is too much. This can not be accepted. In the alternative maps the land which will remain in the Turkish Cypriot hands are 28, 5% and 28, 6%.

3. On the territory to be left by the Turkish Cypriots´, the Greek Cypriots´ settlement is envisaged. This stage by stage settlement could lead to Hellenization of the Island.

Turkish Cypriots leaving their land and settling to other regions could disturb the economic and communal structure of the Island. It is possible that between 70-80 thousand Turkish Cypriots could have status of displaced.

CUMHURIYET reports that the Turkish Foreign Ministry and the Turkish General Staff will further study the plan and will prepare alternative maps that will not endanger Turkey^Òs and the Turkish Cypriots´ security.

[09] Turkish Cypriot opposition parties and unions call for acceptance of the UN plan as a basis for negotiations

Angolemli also explained to Erdogan the views of CLP on Annan^Òs plan. He also added that as one of the main opposition parties in the occupied areas, they have decided that they must give a positive reply to UN Secretary-General very soon.

Angolemli said that Annan^Òs plan includes the points that the Turkish Cypriot side was indicating, such as equality, bi-zonality, sovereignty and Turkey^Òs guarantee and apart of that the issues of territory and refugees are given great attention.

KIBRIS (18.11.02) reports that in a written statement the leader of the Republican Turkish Party, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, said that it is for the interest of the Turkish Cypriots to accept the UN plan as the ground for negotiations for a Cyprus settlement. He also stressed that Denktas´ not returning to the occupied area, makes it impossible for the interests of the Turkish Cypriots to be on the agenda. And in addition by not filling this vacuum and presenting this issue with emotions as taboo, creates weakness.

Stressing that Annan^Òs plan has spoiled the completed political affairs of the Greek Cypriots, whose aim was to enter the EU even before the Cyprus settlement, Talat said that the developments inside the EU as for the date of EU enlargement, are related to the Copenhagen Summit of 12-13 December, which is the last date of the solution of the Cyprus problem, and everybody must know that there is no power to postpone this date. Talat also pointed out that it is the time of the Turkish Cypriots which is wasted and not of the EU.

According to YENIDUZEN (17.11.02) the General Secretary of the Turkish Cypriot Public Servants Union, Hasanur Kurtel, in a statement to the press, yesterday said that the Cyprus problem is going through the most critical period and added that this UN plan is really important for the future of the Turkish Cypriots and nobody has the right to sabotage the date of this development.

The Chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Teachers Union, Mr Erdogan Sorakin, said yesterday that the plan may be their last opportunity. He stressed that they must accept it is as the basis for negotiations.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] In Cyprus Turks have won

^ÓThe Cyprus package presented by the United Nations finishes off a 50-years-old problem by acknowledging legally the basic theses of the Turkish side. This package crowns the efforts of those who have devoted years to this cause, Denktas especially.

Regardless of arguments to the contrary, the Cyprus plan put on the table by United Nations Secretary-General Annan is a victory for the Turks. The Turkish Cypriots and Ankara should make their pleasure known without suffering from any complexes, without feeling any need to hide it.

Pay attention and you will see that the traditionally pessimistic ones are speaking out against the plan in haste. Since they know that they would not be able to survive without the Cyprus problem, they describe Kofi Annan's proposals for a solution as his way of "deceiving Turkey".

What they want is a continuation of the Cyprus problem; further poisoning Turkey's relations with the West. They would "feed" on that, having a field day in a Turkey that has been isolated from the world.

In order to obtain that result they have started doing all they can to prevent a solution in Cyprus. The orchestra conducted by the Ecevit-Gurel duo is not really being taken into consideration because its voice is at a low level. However, soon enough, there will be similar other choirs and they will start chanting, "We have been sold out!"

In his column last Wednesday Ertugrul Ozkok referred to an extremely important fact: The Cyprus we used to know does not exist anymore. That Cyprus has become a thing of the past. A new Cyprus is being built. This is, in fact, what inspires hope.

How right Ozkok is.

This is the time to get rid of the past.

However, I am carrying this one step further. I am claiming that the Cyprus that is going to be built anew is going to be a Turkish victory.

Have we forgotten how much ground we have covered?

Just remember where we were during the 1960-1974 period.

We were a minority spread to all parts of the island, living under a constant blockade, tired of the raids staged by the EOKA organization, a minority which had no place to go.

In fact, that was why Turkey intervened in 1974, didn't it? The Turkish army landed on the island only with the aim of bringing to an end the persistent, erroneous and totally unjust practices of the Greeks and the Greek Cypriots.

However, that military intervention has not been legally accepted over the past 28 years. The international community has not found it justified. Therefore no one has recognized the ^ÓTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)^Ô. An embargo has been imposed on it and it has remained poor. In the end, the persistence of the ^ÓTRNC^Ô and Turkey's support has yielded fruit.

Hence the historic importance of Kofi Annan's proposal which brings that period to an end and gives the Turkish side its rights:

* The ^ÓTRNC^Ô is being accepted as a component state.

* The Turkish Cypriots are being given the right to self-determination as a whole in one specific region.

* The Republic of Cyprus -- that the Greek Cypriots had -- is being dissolved and a new Cyprus is being established, a Cyprus in which the Turks would take part and govern on an equal basis.

* A Turk will be able to become the president of the Greek Cypriots.

* Turkey continues to "guarantee" the security of the Turkish Cypriots.

* Turkish Cypriots are being provided with the means to enrich themselves.

If all these do not constitute a victory, what would?

In 1974 the Greek Cypriots had "lost" on a de facto basis. Now, these losses are being put down on record legally.

Denktas' dreams have been fulfilled.

Still, there can be bargaining on the territory-migrants issues, try to improve the conditions. However, that "solution package" fulfils the Turkish expectations to such an extent that it cannot be rejected as a whole. It should be known that no package of this kind will be available ever in the future.

We should be crying out, celebrating the victory, rather than wailing.

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