Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-07-08

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul assures Eroglu on the Additional Protocol.

[02] Eroglu and Baykal assessed the consequences of Turkey´s signing the Additional Protocol.

[03] The Turkish President approved the previously vetoed law amending Penal Code.

[04] The unilateral declaration of Ankara regarding the signing of the supplementary protocol to the Ankara Agreement is reportedly ready and approved by Brussels.

[05] New organisation in the occupied areas on the lines of NPM.

[06] Cooperation between the occupation regime and Turkey on food products.

[07] A cartoon exhibition opens today in Skopje organized by the parliament of the occupation regime.

[08] Serdar Denktas on the renovation of Apostolos Andreas Monastery.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Syrian working to oust Bashir al-Assad held contacts with various circles in Turkey and spoke of on imminent coup in Syria.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul assures Eroglu on the Additional Protocol

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Eroglu said that they discussed TRNC's (occupied areas of Cyprus) today and future with Gul and took up the additional protocol of the customs union--that extends Turkey's customs deal to new members of EU.

Eroglu said: "Gul told me that the Turkish government was working very carefully on the additional protocol and that it was carrying out detailed studies to prevent the possible dangers that could come out after the signing of the protocol."

Eroglu said that he came to Ankara to explain the difficulties of Turkish Cypriots and his worries to the Turkish government and political party leaders. Meanwhile a meeting on EU and Cyprus was held under the leadership of Abdullah Gul at the Prime Ministry the same day. Foreign Ministry top officials attended the meeting.

[02] Eroglu and Baykal assessed the consequences of Turkey´s signing the Additional Protocol

Anatolia quotes Baykal as saying in the meeting that Turkey would reach a breaking point if the government signs the additional protocol to the Ankara Agreement concluded with the EU. Baykal comments: "When that document is signed, Turkey would have to recognize the Greek Cypriot Administration in South Cyprus, which it now regards as a de facto political entity, as the Republic of Cyprus."

Noting that they were concerned about the developments taking place in connection with the Cyprus question, Baykal said: "We fear that the signing of the protocol will weaken Turkey's fundamental arguments and legal position regarding the Cyprus question."

Baykal goes on saying that Turkey would be deprived of its right to have a say in deciding Cyprus' future after signing the additional protocol and no country would extend diplomatic recognition to the Turkish Cypriot Administration afterwards. Baykal says that the additional protocol will be signed by the Turkish Ambassador in Brussels on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's instruction, adding that the Turkish Grand National Assembly would be forced to endorse that fait accompli. He predicts that the EU would ask Turkey to open up its ports to Cyprus together with all the other new members of the EU after the signing of the additional protocol although the Turkish Government has said that it would not. Baykal notes: "Turkey is about to make a very crucial concession in Cyprus for the sake of its relations with the EU despite uncertainties about its possible consequences."

Eroglu, for his part, said that he was paying the visit in order to share their concerns about the Cyprus question. Pointing out that the Greek Cypriots had been rewarded although they had refused to endorse the peace plan proposed by UN Secretary- General Kofi Annan, Eroglu said that they would not accept any plan that the Greek Cypriot side could set forward in the future, because they would most probably insist that Turkey withdraw its troops from Cyprus and Turks living in Cyprus be deported.

Eroglu also cautioned that the Turkish Cypriot economy would be placed under Greek Cypriot control after the additional protocol is signed, noting that it could even make Turkish Cypriots' presence on the island an issue open to debate.

[03] The Turkish President approved the previously vetoed law amending Penal Code

Presidential Office said in a statement that the President sent back the law to the parliament for reconsideration of its Articles 3 and 29 on June 3rd, 2005.

The parliament discussed the law and re-adopted it on June 29th, 2005 and President Sezer sent the law to the Prime Ministry (Thursday) to be promulgated, the Presidential Office added.

Under the new TCK, those who open and run educational institutions against the laws will face up to one year in prison, or fined.

If crimes of child abuse and harassment are committed more than once, those who commit these crimes can be sentenced to more than one punishment.

In accordance with an amendment to the TCK's chapter on "statute of limitations", this period will start as of the date the court accepts this demand.

The new TCK erases the provision envisaging that punishment shall be increased by one-third in case the insult is made through press organs.

Under an amendment to the article 302 of the TCK, life imprisonment is foreseen for persons who try to deteriorate the unity and integrity of the state, and separate a part of the territory --or the whole-- from the state.

[04] The unilateral declaration of Ankara regarding the signing of the supplementary protocol to the Ankara Agreement is reportedly ready and approved by Brussels

The paper writes that in the declaration Ankara will announce that the signing of the protocol does not mean recognition of the Republic of Cyprus and that Turkey maintains its legal and political position in Cyprus.

With the announcement Ankara will be arguing that there are two peoples living in Cyprus. It will also add: With the signing of the protocol Turkey will maintain its legal and political position in Cyprus. The obligations deriving from the protocol will be evaluated within this framework. The protocol will get into force with the approval of the parliament.

Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that they have taken the support of Britain, which holds the EU term presidency, on the issue that after this declaration no problems which will influence the relations between Turkey and the EU will be caused, notes RADIKAL adding that the officials of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that they have secured the approval of Brussels for the half-page declaration they prepared regarding the 22-page protocol which was sent to Ankara on 15 June by the EU Commission.

Turkeys permanent representative to Geneva, Ambassador Deniz Bolukbasi, who had played a key-role in the negotiations with the EU, said: Turkeys signature will be with a declaration. The concern on the issue of the signing of the protocol has been overcome. The term president will sign the protocol in the name of all the EU countries, including the Greek Cypriot administration. The Greek Cypriots have transferred their authorities to the term president. Therefore, it is not possible for the Greek Cypriots to cause a problem.

The paper notes that the declaration will be conveyed to the Commission with the protocol signed by Turkeys permanent representative to the EU, Ambassador Oguz Demiralp.

Ankara, the stance of which is that it will not sign the protocol before the EU approves all the necessary documents regarding Turkey, conveyed Britain the message that it should prevent all the negative efforts of the Greek Cypriots and explain to them well what the signing of the protocol means. The above-mentioned message was conveyed during a visit of a delegation of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by the Deputy Permanent Under - Secretary responsible for European Affairs, Volkan Bozkir to London, adds RADIKAL newspaper.

Britain, which reiterated the promise that during its term presidency it will keep on the agenda the effort of Turkey for peace, has reportedly answered the following to the Turkish demand: The Greek Cypriot administration will at any case understand that the Union consists of 25 members. Our pressure on the Greek Cypriots will be in the direction of supporting a solution in Cyprus.

[05] New organisation in the occupied areas on the lines of NPM

According to HALKIN SESI newspaper, the organisation, which was established with 320 founding members aims to promote the political, financial and social rights of the Turkish Cypriots.

The chairman of the temporary board of directors of the ICNC Mr Ergun Olgun, a former advisor of Rauf Denktas, held a press conference and explained to the press the initial goals and the events lined up for the near future. The council has planned a series of demonstrations aiming to condemn and mark the anniversary of the 15th of July coup.

On the day, the council members and demonstrators will park on the left-hand side of the road from Gonyeli circular road junction to Boghazi and will chant slogans.

Then some of the demonstrators will march towards Ledra Palace Checkpoint wearing T shirts stating Arrest me for living in North Cyprus on the front and You can´t on the back. At the checkpiont a letter will be handed to the UN official to be passed on to the United Nations Secretary-General. The demonstrators will then parade with two symbolic coffins one marked with the words, 21st December 1963. The Greek and Greek Cypriot´s first day of shame and the other, 15th July 1974 The Greek and Greek Cypriot´s second day of shame.

Alongside the protests, ICNC is planning some events to attract an international audience, writes the paper. The council is planning to protest against the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos´ London visit that is scheduled at the end of the month.

ICNC has scheduled its first Annual General Meeting for the 11th August where it will elect its new chairperson and board.

ICNC has produced a Progress Report as follows: On 2 June 2005 some 230 delegates attended at the Rocks Hotel, Girne (occupied Kyrenia) for the foundation of the ICNC. The steering committee, which was then appointed, has been busy with a number of issues (The Trevor McDonald programme, to mention but one) as well as dealing with the formalities for the legal creation of the association.

The first extra-ordinary meeting of the ICNC, is to be held on 11th August, by which date its constitution will have been registered under the Turkish name Uluslararas1 Kuzey K1br1s Konseyi, or ULKON for short. Full details of this meeting will be issued in due course.

The steering committee has organized a series of events, to announce the creation of ICNC, which will be held on 15th July 2005, the 31st anniversary of the Greek invasion of Cyprus and its endeavour to forcibly unite it with Greece.

The full program is as follows:

7th July noon Press conference to announce to the world the objectives of the ICNC;

8th July Announcements in the newspaper;

11th July TV advertising to reawaken awareness of the situation of the TRNC;

12-14th July TV debates;

15th July at 18.00 a motorized statement of support between the Boghazi and Gonyeli junction.

19.30 a group representing all sectors of the economy symbolic of the TRNC, will march from the so-called Assembly Building to the Ledra Palace checkpoint.

20.00 a letter addressed to Mr Kofi Annan will be delivered to the UN representative at the checkpoint;

20.10 Flowers will be laid on two coffins; one to mark the first day of Greek shame 21st December 1963; the other to mark the second day of Greek shame, 15th July 1974.

20.20 Turkish and English press statements will be read at the checkpoint;

20.45 Film showing the Greek invasion;

21.00 A gesture of shared grief.

On the same issue and under the title Paranoia did not end ORTAM newspaper writes that the ICNC is the second organisation of Rauf Denktas. The paper notes that since the National Peoples Movement (NPM) that Denktas established while he was still the president of the occupation regime, was not successful, he decided to try for the second time and establish a new organisation.

The paper notes that like the NPM the ICNC starts to operate under the presidency of Denktas former advisor Mr Ergun Olgun. It also writes that the new organisations, which as it notes is a photocopy of the NPM, was established by Rauf Denktas with funds received from the RTP-lead Public Budget.

According to ORTAM the first statements made by the ICNC show that the main argument of the new organisation is the hostility towards Greece and the Greek Cypriots.

[06] Cooperation between the occupation regime and Turkey on food products

Noting that the works of increasing the Economic and Trade Cooperation between the occupation regime and Turkey are continuing, the Chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Industrial Chamber Mr Salih Tunar said: Details regarding these works will be announced next week.

[07] A cartoon exhibition opens today in Skopje organized by the parliament of the occupation regime

According to a statement issued by the assembly, the exhibition will be open until 17 July. Arif Albayrak, MP with the Republican Turkish party, Dr. Ertugrul Hasipoglu, MP with the Democratic Party, Kemal Durust, MP with the National Unity Party, Mustafa Tozaki, chairman of the cartoonists association and Aygun Sakalli, chief of protocol of the assembly will be attending the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

[08] Serdar Denktas on the renovation of Apostolos Andreas Monastery

Mr Serdar Denktas, who noted that the works of renovation will be conducted under the supervision of the so-called department of antiquities of the pseudostate, stated that they have given the permission to a scientific group from Greece for conducting the renovations but the Greek Cypriot side did not reply yet.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Syrian working to oust Bashir al-Assad held contacts with various circles in Turkey and spoke of on imminent coup in Syria

We wish to underline the statement the US officials frequently make on Syria: "The United States does not consider a military operation against Syria."

Undoubtedly, the statement brings to mind a number of realities. Apparently, the United States, which does not consider a military operation against Syria similar to the one against Iraq, is preparing a coup to remove Bashir al-Asad in that country. It has been reported that US and Israeli experts have trained Ferit Kadri, who bids for leadership in Syria, for that purpose. In fact, the cadres he will work with have already been established.

Subtitle: Preparing for a Coup

Ferit Kadri, leader of the Reform Party, left Syria to live in the United States at a young age. He has been brought up in accordance with US discipline and principles. He began to work for the ousting of Bashir al-Asad a long time ago. He recently intensified his effort with the support he received from the United States.

Ferit Kadri visited Ankara some time ago to hold talks with various circles. He said that they might realize their coup within six or eight months and that the Syrian people are ready for the change. He noted that the move for the change in the country will spread in that period.

We wish to quote Kadri as follows: "First of all, we wish to say that we want to see Syria as a democratic country. We want Syria to be a country that has good relations with all its neighbors, including Israel. We want to see Syria as a peaceful country that has no reason to confront the international community. The Syrian people want to have whatever the Turkish people have. They are aware of what I am. They are aware of my party and my cadres. They know what we are. However, we must do more. We are aware of that. Our program must allow us to explain our vision to the people in detail. We must help our people to understand it. We have to explain that we exist to serve the people without expecting them to serve us. I want every Syrian citizen to be proud of carrying a Syrian passport. My dream is to turn Syria into a secular, free, and democratic country, just like Turkey."

Subtitle: Placing Syria under control through war

The United States plans to place Syria under its control through a coup, not war. It plans to realize its objectives in that country by bringing Ferit Kadri to power. The United States believes that many things can change in the area if it can realize its plan.

Undoubtedly, attention will be focused on Iran after the first part of the Greater Middle East Project is realized.

Meanwhile, what will Turkey do? In other words, what are we doing to prepare against these developments? What is the policy we will adopt? That has to be established in accordance with the developments. That is because of Israel's involvement in them. In fact, Ferit Kadri unhesitatingly disclosed that they will improve their relations with Israel.

The United States, which had governments removed through the confusion and uprising it created in the Caucasus in the past, was expected to confront Syria and Iran some time ago. As far as we can see, Washington vis the use of military force against the two countries as its last preference. In view of that, important developments should be expected to take place in neighboring Syria. So, we must draw up a new policy. We must, at least, try not to be too late to do so.

/SK

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