Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-02-10

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statement by the Turkish Cypriot leader in New York.

[02] Bulent Arinc wants the Turkish Parliament to endorse an agreement on Cyprus.

[03] The Turkish generals discussed the Cyprus problem.

[04] Justice and Development Party deputy Parliamentary leader Salih Kapusuz: "Cyprus is not Turkey's only national cause, the EU as well is Turkey's national cause".

[05] The Platform "This Country is ours" organises a rally in favour of the Annan Plan and the timetable set by Mr Annan for the Cyprus talks.

[06] Critical day for Cyprus.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statement by the Turkish Cypriot leader in New York

He said: "UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan recently held contacts with Turkey, Greece, and the Greek Cypriot side. However, we were not contacted. We will be contacted for the first time. I do not know why he excluded us. But, that is what he has done. So, we will have a lot to tell him."

Question: Mr Denktas, do you want to say anything else? We do not want to put you in a difficult position.

Answer: No, I have nothing else to say. Naturally, I have arrived in New York to defend the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. We will have to defend Turkey's rights on Cyprus in order to be able to safeguard the rights of the Turkish Cypriots. The balances between Turkey and Greece are very important for us. Turkey made many goodwill gestures and took many steps to create a positive atmosphere. There might be those who would misinterpret its steps. However, Turkey wants the establishment of durable peace in Cyprus. The parameters of durable peace are obvious. We discussed them for many years. We have arrived to work to establish a sound and durable partnership with the Greek Cypriot side.

Question: Do you believe that holding talks will be possible?

Answer: Kofi Annan will determine whether or not a possibility for talks exists after he meets the two sides tomorrow. I hope that he believes that a possibility exists. The process will then be transferred to Nicosia. However, Kofi Annan has to see that the two sides agree on specific issues.

[02] Bulent Arinc wants the Turkish Parliament to endorse an agreement on Cyprus Ankara TRT 2 Television (09.02.04) broadcast that Mr Bulent Arinc, speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly [TGNA], has said that if

Participating in the "Capital, Politics" program broadcast on TRT 2, Arinc recalled that according to the constitution the agreements that Turkey is a party to go into effect after they have been endorsed by the TGNA.

He said: "We, as the TGNA, will exercise our constitutional right and authority. I would like to take this opportunity to point out, however, that I met with our honorable prime minister last week and told him that the point reached on the Cyprus issue should be presented to the TGNA. I said that the TGNA should be briefed on the issue. He found this most appropriate".

Arinc noted that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will brief the Parliament on the Cyprus issue on Wednesday [11 February].

Arinc stated that the reforms implemented in Turkey within the framework of the EU issue were greatly admired at the EU candidates countries' parliamentary speakers conference held in Hungary.

"We want to achieve results this year. All these efforts exerted by the government, the nongovernmental organizations [NGO's], and the TGNA, which is the engine of the EU, should not remain without results. Therefore, we have allocated our 2004 program to relations with EU countries", he concluded.

[03] The Turkish generals discussed the Cyprus problem

According to the paper, the commander of the Land Forces, general Aytac Yalman, the commander of the Naval Forces, admiral Ozden Ornek, the commander of the Air Forces general Ibrahim Firtina, the commander of the Gendarmerie, general Sener Eruygur and the deputy Chief of Staff, Ilker Basbug participated in the meeting, which was held under the presidency of the Chief of General Staff, general Hilmi Ozkok.

[04] Justice and Development Party deputy Parliamentary leader Salih Kapusuz: "Cyprus is not Turkey's only national cause, the EU as well is Turkey's national cause"

For the solution of the Cyprus problem, Kapusuz urged everybody to work with goodwill. He said: "This bottle neck is not in favour of Turkey. By 1st of May the Geek Cypriot side will be the EU member". In order to solve the problem Kapusuz urged all the sides, party to the problem, to make sacrifices.

Answering opposition criticism directed to the government Kapusuz said: "As though they were not the government in those days now they come up and act as Doomsday crier. If something was given to the Greek Cypriot administration it was during the previous government term, during Ecevit and Bahceli's term. Cyprus is not Turkey's only national cause, the EU as well is Turkey's national issue", Kapusuz concluded.

[05] The Platform "This Country is ours" organises a rally in favour of the Annan Plan and the timetable set by Mr Annan for the Cyprus talks

The rally, which is organised in favour of the Annan Plan and the timetable set by the UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan for the Cyprus talks, will take place today at 15:00 at Kugulu park in occupied Nicosia.

During a press conference that took place yesterday at KTOS' (Primary School Teachers Association) Headquarters, it was announced that the Platform supports the solution by the 1st of May, the beginning of the talks procedure on the 10th of February, the acceptance of the conditions set by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the timetable set by the latter, that the talks will be completed by the 26th of March and separate referenda will be held for the Greek and the Turkish Cypriots.

As the paper writes a lot of politicians and Trade Unions officials participated in the press conference. Among them were the General Secretary of KTOS, Mr Sener Elcisi who read the common announcement of the Platform, the so-called parliament deputy of the Republican Turkish Party Mr Ahmet Barcin and the so-called parliament deputy of the Peace and Democracy Movement, Mr Izzet Izcan.

In addition Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper in its regular letter from Afrika column, calls on the Turkish Cypriots to participate in the rally and writes, inter alia the following under the title "Who is going to hold this funeral?":

"Let's not wait until the 1st of May to thank God. We finally came to the end of the road. Today either everything will start again, or everything will finish'Would our last word belong again to Ankara and Denktas? Is our destiny within Denktas' two lips?...Denktas was sent off during a splendid military ceremony. The red carpet was spread out for his feet'He said: 'I will give my objection letter to Annan. If you do not give permission for negotiations it means that TRNC is dead. I will not hold this funeral"'Today there is a last voice at the Inonu square. A great rally. Go there. Demand your political will not only from Denktas but from Ankara as well. We came this far by criticising Denktas and praising Erdogan. Realize the truth, even in this funeral ceremony".

In addition, as Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper alleges in the column "Ayakli Gazete" (the paper with legs) the so-called Prime Minister of the pseudostate Mr Mehmet Ali Talat does not agree with the organisation of the rally and subsequently the General Secretary of KTOS may not participate in the rally.

[06] Critical day for Cyprus

The U.N. chief's intention to find a quick resolution on Cyprus based on his November 2002 blueprint will be discussed during the trilateral meeting between Turkish Cypriot Leader Rauf Denktas, Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos and Annan

It is still far from clear whether the Greek and Turkish Cypriots fully accept Annan's terms for relaunching the talks. Both sides are uncomfortable with his demand that they commit now to hold joint referendums on his peace plan on April 21.

Upon his arrival in New York, Denktas, questioned by reporters, argued that the schedule of the meeting has not been set yet. "We will wait and see. We are here for an one day visit."

Accompanying Denktas in New York are Turkish Cypriot `Prime Minister´ Mehmet Ali Talat and Denktas' son and now `Foreign Minister´ Serdar Denktas.

The Turkish deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Abdullah Gul, calls on both sides in Cyprus, the U.N. and other interested parties, to be careful and helpful in searching for a solution. "I believe that both the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides go with good will to New York and the negotiations will begin and end with a solution before May 1."

Turkey, to be represented in New York by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, wants a final deal to uphold the principle of two ethnic communities, to recognise Ankara's continued involvement as one of the guarantor powers for Cyprus and to allow the continued presence of Turkish troops.

Subtitle: Greek leader hopeful

Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos, who was to have talks in Athens with the Greek government en route to New York, told reporters that the deadlines set out by the U.N. Secretary-General can be met if there is a mutual political will on both sides. "We are going with goodwill. We have always supported the resumption of talks based on the U.N. plan and we will try to find a settlement by May 1."

Papadopoulos said Cyprus and Greece were in full agreement on the talks, although Simitis complained that the deadlines suggested by Annan were tight.

"It is a fact that the timetable proposed by the Secretary-General is exceptionally restricted and coincides with the pre-election period in our country. We have accepted his invitation, however, because Greece and Cyprus remain committed to the United Nations peace process."

Greece will hold national elections on March 7 and the campaign period officially begins Wednesday when Parliament is disbanded.

Subtitle: Turkish opposition support Denktas

On the other hand, Denktas had the support of Turkish opposition parties on the eve of the critical meeting scheduled for Tuesday. "We share the suspicions of Mr Denktas for a fait accompli for the solution. Denktas is for the negotiations," said RPP Leader Deniz Baykal.

Baykal underlined that the acceptance of the current U.N. plan will "break down" Turkey's foreign policy. "If you give Cyprus today, they will ask for concessions on the Aegean sea dispute tomorrow."

Workers' Party (IP) leader Dogu Perincek showed his support to Denktas using a different method. Perincek began a "Denktas shift" in front of the old TUYAP building in Tepebasi, Istanbul.

Perincek said that the "Denktas shifts" began also in Northern Cyprus, Beijing, Washington, Moscow and Western Thrace and will continue until the return of Turkish Cypriot leader from New York.

"Today, supporting Denktas means supporting the independence, territorial integrity and the Kemalist reforms of Turkey."

The Turkish ruling party, on the other hand, declared that the "national cause" of Turkey is not only Cyprus but also gaining membership to the European Union.

"No one could say that tomorrow will be better than today if the current situation in Cyprus continues" said Kapusuz at a news conference Monday.

Kapusuz also called on the opposition parties not to use the Cyprus issue for domestic policy aims."

/SK

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