Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-09-09

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat commented on the EU Draft Document.

[02] Erdogan: "I do not see any problem concerning the 3 October negotiations. This matter is final".

[03] Ankara said not opposed to dialogue on opening ports to Greek Cypriot ships.

[04] The occupation regime is distributing plots in the occupied Templos and Thermia villages.

[05] Akinci: "No one has the right to keep the Turkish Cypriots in the deep freeze".

[06] The US signed a document to join COE-DAT

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Turkish professor says that Turkey should demand the restoration of the constitutional order of 1960 in Cyprus and declare the withdrawal of its troops under the observation of the UN.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat commented on the EU Draft Document

"The Cyprus problem is drifted completely into a different platform and pushed to non-solution by the EU," said Talat in a meeting.

When a reporter asked his views about the lack of compromise on the text of the EU declaration which will be issued in response to Turkey's declaration on Cyprus, Mr Talat said that "the Greek Cypriot Administration should not be able to change the basis of the Cyprus problem only because it is a member of the EU."

Talat stressed that the draft document which was presented to COREPER was a text which could hamper the solution of Cyprus problem.

Talat also indicated that it was not possible for Turkey to recognize the 'Cyprus Republic' in which there are no Turkish Cypriots, adding that "a document was prepared in COREPER without lifting the isolation of Turkish Cypriots. This is in total contradiction with the EU's earlier decisions."

Talat referred to the decision taken by the EU Council of Ministers dated April 26th, 2004 and stressed that EU had announced that it would end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots. Talat called the EU to act in line with its earlier decisions.

[02] Erdogan: "I do not see any problem concerning the 3 October negotiations. This matter is final"

He said: "I do not see any problem concerning the 3 October negotiations. This matter is final. No doubt, we will encounter several difficulties with regard to the post-3 October process. We may encounter some problems regarding the Chapters. Some Chapters may be postponed, but we are getting prepared on the assumption that no Chapter will be postponed because we believe in ourselves in this regard."

Also commenting on Christian Democratic Union leader Angela Merkel's attitude with regard to Turkey's EU accession, Erdogan said: "Unfortunately, from the beginning we have been observing an incomprehensible stand, and we regret it. Pointing out that 3 million Turks live in Germany, Erdogan called on the Turkish citizens in Germany to go to the polls and display their political stand".

Replying to questions on Cyprus, the prime minister stated: "Turkey stands by those who keep their promises. North Cyprus kept its promise; we stand by its side. The Greek Cypriot sector failed to do so; we are against it".

[03] Ankara said not opposed to dialogue on opening ports to Greek Cypriot ships

reach a compromise with regard to the response to be given to Turkey's declaration on Cyprus, while Ankara is assessing the possibilities. The government gave the message that it is not opposed to a dialogue on opening the air and sea ports to the Greek Cypriots. Turkey, however, is determined not to take a step back in the face of possible pressures for the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus.

The meeting held by the EU permanent representatives in Brussels was carefully watched in Ankara as well. According to the assessments, the EU will step up its pressure on Turkey to open its air and sea ports to the Greek Cypriots by means of a counter-declaration. Government and Foreign Ministry officials, who had declared earlier that it is out of the question to open the ports, have lately been giving the message that Turkey is not opposed to a dialogue on the matter.

According to Ankara, the EU should raise its demands at the Turkey-EU Partnership Council, where problems pertaining to the Customs Unions are discussed.

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said: "As it stands, there are problems concerning the Customs Union process, and there are fora where these problems are discussed. If such a problem exists, there is a place where it can be discussed. These are legal platforms that have been identified and known to all."

In this way, Turkey is trying to separate the ports issue from the EU accession process. Ankara is not planning to respond to the EU counter-declaration with a new declaration. Turkey, which is waiting for an answer to its proposal to mutually and simultaneously remove the restrictions imposed on the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sectors on 30 May, is determined not to recognize the Cyprus Republic before the Cyprus issue is resolved or before it joins the EU.

While a delay in the negotiation framework document is a cause for concern, Ankara is confident that the negotiations will begin on 3 October, concludes NTV

[04] The occupation regime is distributing plots in the occupied Templos and Thermia villages

According to Mr Hasan Findik, permanent undersecretary of the so-called ministry of interior, title deeds for land in the occupied Ayios Epiktitos village are also being distributed to children of "martyrs" who are also "holders of right".

Mr Findik stated that the previous so-called governments divided land into parcels only on the paper and distributed the plots without making any infrastructure. However, he noted, after the Republican Turkish Party-Democratic Party "government" came into power it set making infrastructure as its first priority.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Akinci: "No one has the right to keep the Turkish Cypriots in the deep freeze"

Mr Akinci, in his statement, said that the governments of Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus do not want an early settlement of the Cyprus problem each one for different reasons. "While Papadopoulos' government wants to obtain more benefits from Turkey's road to the EU, Turkey cannot let go of the Cyprus card without first safeguarding its full membership to the EU", said Mr Akinci. He also added that nobody has the right to keep the Turkish Cypriots in the deep freeze and noted that Turkish Cypriots must first see this situation for themselves and then fight for it.

Mr Akinci also said that the words of Mr Talat that "Mr Papadopoulos will be isolated from the world" after the referendums of 24 April remained just promises and added: "Papadopoulos took his place at the EU as the President of an EU member state and succeeded in preventing the approval of the Direct Trade regulation that the Turkish Cypriot side expected to benefit from.

Mr Akinci also criticized the so-called government of Mr Talat that it is very successful in concealing things, recalling statements that Mr Talat used to make in the past, particularly during the "election campaign", "the isolations will soon be lifted", "the planes will arrive and depart", "the negotiations will start soon".

Noting that the Turkish Cypriots gave their vote at the most recent "elections" to the Republican Turkish Party in "hopes" for a solution and for EU membership, Mr Akinci said that the "coalition government" has not fulfilled its promises.

Mr Akinci said: "The Turkish government does not want to give up the control of power in the North, but even worse, the coalition government of RTP-DP does not have the political will to take over the reins from Turkey."

(DP)

[06] The US signed a document to join COE-DAT

A signing ceremony took place at the Peace for Partnership Training Center on the occasion of formal participation of the United States enabling it to charge permanent personnel for the center.

U.S. Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General James Jones and Turkish General Staff Deputy Chief General Isik Kosaner signed the note of joining.

British, Bulgarian and Romanian military attaches were also in attendance at the ceremony.

A statement released after the signing ceremony noted: "COE-DAT has acquired more strength and meaning by the participation of the United States in the center. With this participation, the center will establish an important platform in the area of defense against terrorism which necessitates international cooperation, lead placing a common understanding and contribute to NATO through activities like courses, seminars and symposiums."

COE-DAT was established to provide education and training facilities on terrorism at the strategic and operation level primarily to NATO, the Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries and to the other countries, to create a common understanding on defense against terrorism, to contribute to interoperability, to assist in NATO's activities on concept and doctrine development on defense against terrorism.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Turkish professor says that Turkey should demand the restoration of the constitutional order of 1960 in Cyprus and declare the withdrawal of its troops under the observation of the UN

Under the title "Only one thing left to be done for Cyprus", Mr Dagi writes, inter alia, the following:

"Neither the support of the Turkish Cypriot people to the Annan Plan nor the decision of the Council at the 17 December Summit regarding the commencement of the negotiations for full accession on 3 October 2005 were able to lift the Cyprus obstacle standing before Turkey's accession to the EU.

While it has come to 'a historical threshold' such as the commencement of the full accession negotiations, the Turkish government is giving the message that it could continue its way without the EU. The 'Cyprus' problem is again behind the crisis. While some EU member states put forward that the negotiations with Turkey cannot begin without officially recognizing 'Cyprus', all the EU member countries and the Commission agree that for the de facto carrying out the negotiations the Turkish side must fully apply the Customs Union Supplementary Protocol. This is tantamount to the 'de facto' recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration.

It seems definite that in the framework for the negotiations which the EU will prepare before 3 October a direct relation will be established between the full implementation of the 'supplementary protocol' by Turkey and the negotiations.

All these mean that Turkey's EU accession process is 'blocked' by the 'Cyprus problem'. There are three ways to overcome the blockade. The first is the 'we shall withdraw and go away' approach shown during the past few days by the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, which I evaluate as a part of the diplomatic bargaining with the EU. As regards its results, this is an alternative with which neither the Cyprus problem could be solved nor Turkey's eternal economic and political difficulties could be overcome. The second is meeting the demands of the EU, opening the airports and the ports to the Greek Cypriot means of transportation and entering the road of the 'de facto recognition'. Although this will ensure the progress of the negotiations at a level, it will on the one hand mortgage the negotiation process to the 'good will' of the Greek Cypriot administration and on the other it will give the possibility to Papadopoulos to apply his policy of seizing the TRNC (occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus) in the long-term.

The last option is forcing the Greek Cypriot administration to a solution. This is a difficult option because some reasons such as the fact that the Annan Plan turned into a legally non valid document after the referendum, the unwillingness of the United Nations for a new initiative and the fat that the Greek Cypriots have become stronger with the accession to the EU. However, if the accession to the EU is really important for us and if we will endure sacrifices during the negotiating process, we must finish this issue with the full membership and with getting the benefits of the accession. Therefore, solving the 'Cyprus problem' is a condition for us.

Subtitle: We cannot proceed at the negotiations

We cannot proceed in the negotiations by dealing on the one hand with the social, institutional and political opposition in the EU towards Turkey and on the other by dealing with the tricks of the Greek Cypriot administration. In order to continue safely our way, we have to stop 'Cyprus' being an obstacle in front of Turkey's accession to the EU and turn it into 'support'. How shall we do this? By including the Turkish Cypriots, who are one of the two founding elements of the 'Republic of Cyprus', into the decision making process and mechanisms.

This, at the same time, points out to the form of the solution. Let us be realists. The only trump card left in our hand for the solution of the problem at this point is the return to 'status quo ante', that is to the regime of 1960. Let us refresh our memory. The side that suspended the 1960 Cyprus Constitution was the Greek Cypriots, it was Makarios. Furthermore, Turkey, which interfered to the island in 1974 within the framework of the Treaty of Guarantee, was there in order to restore the 'constitutional order' which the Greek Cypriots had abolished. The intervention was gaining its legality from this position. .

Subtitle: Agreement on two issues is a condition

At this point, the only suggestion that would force the Greek Cypriots to a lasting solution is bringing onto the agenda the restoration of the 1960 constitution where the Turks are founding partners. It is impossible to force the Greek Cypriots to a solution with another model in the current conditions. Turkey has no other choice if it is really determined to proceed for its EU accession. What should be done is demanding the restoration of the 1960 constitution which established the 'Republic of Cyprus' together with its 'Turkish elements' and declaring that Turkey will withdraw the Turkish troops from the island under the UN supervision in parallel to this restoration (of the constitution) in a manner that will make this possible. I know that this suggestion will cause strong reactions, but we have to be realistic now. In order to be able to discuss this suggestion of mine, we have to agree on two issues: 1. the 1974 is not conquest and 2. the accession to the EU is a 'strategic priority' and for this reason the obstacles in front of it should be removed."

(I/Ts.)

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