Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-09-12

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Babacan says they are trying to partly or temporarily solve the Cyprus problem until the end of the year so that Turkeys EU accession course is not negatively influenced.

[02] Hasan Ercakica blames the Cyprus government for not contributing to a solution to the Cyprus problem.

[03] The self-styled government in occupied Cyprus resigns.

[04] Huseyin Ozgurgun openly accuses Turkey of being involved in the resignations from his party.

[05] Serdar Denktas on the government crisis in the occupied areas.

[06] Statements by Turgay Avci.

[07] Rauf Denktas argues that the government crisis is related to planned concessions by Turkey in the Cyprus problem.

[08] Aydan Karahan refuses the accusations against Turkey..

[09] Rauf Denktas supports the existence of two states in Cyprus in a letter to Annan.

[10] Erdogan to visit Bush and Blair

[11] Written and oral defence by the chairman of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce to FIA for the Formula 1 incident.

[12] Exhumations in occupied Lapithos revealed human bones.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] Columnist in Turkish Daily News argues that Mr Talat has changed his position regarding recognition.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Babacan says they are trying to partly or temporarily solve the Cyprus problem until the end of the year so that Turkeys EU accession course is not negatively influenced

Mr Babacan responded to questions after he delivered a speech at a panel under the title East and West: Where can they meet? What can they share?, which was organized by Eisenhower Fellowships within the framework of the conference under the title Building a Network for Change.

Mr Babacan noted that the Cyprus problem, which exists since the 1970s, was very close to its solution in 2004 and added that after the Annan Plan was rejected by the Greek Cypriots at the referendum they exert a lot of efforts to solve this problem. He said that they are trying to solve the problem partly or temporarily by the end of the year.

Asked to explain what he meant by saying this, Mr Babacan noted:

We are hoping for a partial or a temporary solution. I referred to the importance of finding a partial or temporary way out before the end of the year so that the Cyprus problem does not influence, slow down and prevent the course of our negotiations.

Asked whether or not these words mean that the position of Turkey will change, Mr Babacan replied:

The position of Turkey, as we have stated before, is that we have indispensable conditions. Except for these, we are open for evaluating all technical work and all the alternatives which will be coming before us. This does not mean that we will accept whatever comes before us. It means that we are open to evaluate all the work and the alternatives, which will be put before us. We shall evaluate, see and discuss. We will never be the side which runs away from the dialogue. We will never do this on the Cyprus issue, as we do not do it for any issue. It is, however, a condition that we see the same will on the issue of the discussion, dialogue and solution from all sides concerned. Unfortunately, this is what we are not seeing for the time being.

(I/Ts.)

[02] Hasan Ercakica blames the Cyprus government for not contributing to a solution to the Cyprus problem

The Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica has complained that the Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tassos Papadopoulos and the Foreign Minister Georghios Lillikas are not contributing to efforts aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem through dialogue.

Mr Ercakica said the recent statements by the two men had made their position very clear.

In a written statement today, the Presidential Spokesman Hasan Ercakica referred to week-ends statements by the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos and the Foreign Minister Georghios Lillikas.

Mr Ercakica said that the two mens approach have proved the fact that they are not in support of a solution to the Cyprus problem through dialogue.

Calling the two mens attitude as `unacceptable`, he said the failure in the resumption of the Negotiations process in Cyprus is affecting negatively the relations between the two communities on the island as well as other diplomatic developments in the region.

[03] The self-styled government in occupied Cyprus resigns

The Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer presented his governments resignation to President Mehmet Ali Talat today.

Speaking before presenting his cabinets resignation, Mr Soyer cited the failure of the two parties to remove their differences in some fields as the reason behind his partys decision to end his coalition with the Democrat Party.

For his part, President Mehmet Ali Talat said he will decide on to whom to give the mandate to form a new government after talks with leaders and representatives of political parties.

Speaking before presenting the resignation of the coalition government, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer said failure of talks between the two parties to remove their differences of opinion in some fields and failure of attempts for a rooted restructuring of their government led to the collapse of the coalition despite having some important achievements in the fields of economy and democracy.

Stating that his party had worked hard to solve these problems through a democratic process, he said `instead of trying to bring solutions to the countrys problems in dialogue with the President, the two parties engaged in a debate in front of the public opinion`.

Pointing to differences of the two parties approaches towards the Financial Aid Regulation and the European Parliaments Contact Group, he said economic and social problems piled up in time breaking the unity within the coalition government.

For his part, speaking after accepting the governments resignation, President Mehmet Ali Talat said the formation and collapse of governments is part and a necessity of a democratic system, adding that this should be seen as a `relay`.

Stating that the coalition government headed by the Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer had achieved important progress in many fields since taking office on the 26th of April 2005, President Talat said he worked in cooperation both with Prime Minister Soyer and the Deputy Prime Minister-Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas despite their different approaches, which he said, was the result of their differences of opinion.

President Talat said it is possible for politicians to pursue different policies, but stressed that these policies should open the way for the Turkish Cypriot People to join with the rest of the world and should bring it prosperity.

The resignation of the CTP-DP Coalition, opens the way for the start of the procedure for the formation of a new government.

President Talat will tomorrow meet with leaders and representatives of political parties to decide on to whom to give the mandate to form a new government.

He will start his contacts tomorrow morning at ten oclock with a meeting with National Unity Party officials.

At noon, the President will come together with a delegation from the Republican Turkish Party and in the afternoon, Mr Talat will receive a delegation from the Democrat Party.

The President will then meet representatives of the Peace and Democracy Movement.

According to the Constitution, the President gives the mandate to a political party leader or an MP who could win the support of the parliament.

Currently, the Republican Turkish Party has 25 seats, the National Unity Party 13, the Democrat Party 6 and the Peace and Democracy Movement 1 in the 50-seat TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) Parliament.

The number of independents within the Assembly has risen to 5 with last weeks resignations from the UBP and DP.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the puppet regime the Turkish Republic has set up through the force of arms of 40,000 Turkish troops in occupied northern Cyprus)

[04] Huseyin Ozgurgun openly accuses Turkey of being involved in the resignations from his party

Mr Ozgurgun said that abandoning the parliament should be on the agenda of the UBP from now on and added that the competent organs of the party will decide on the issue. Mr Ozgurgun reiterated the allegations that the CTP, the AKP and the mufti in the occupied areas participated in this conspiracy and that money was offered to the MPs in order to resign from their parties.

Turkish Cypriot daily GUNES newspaper (12.09.06), under the title This government was born dead, refers to Mr Ozgurguns statements.

Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper (12.09.06) refers to the developments under the title The UBP-DP partnership ended officially. It also writes that Mr Ozgurgun said that they could boycott the parliament.

Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (12.09.06) reports that the council of the National Unity Party will meet today in order to determine a date for the general assembly of the party. The chairman of the UBP, Mr Ozgurgun had stated before that he would not be a candidate during the assembly.

Turkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper (12.09.06) writes that Mr Ozgurgun said that he even thought of withdrawing from politics. Furthermore, according to the paper, the chairman of Turkeys Democratic Left party (DSP), Mr Zeki Sezer, noted that a bad smell is coming from northern Cyprus, but the source of it is Ankara.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Serdar Denktas on the government crisis in the occupied areas

Referring to the CTP and the resigned MPs, Denktas said that they wrote their names with black letters in the history. Mr Denktas was received at the airport by MPs and supporters of his party, who shouted slogans such as Democracy in Cyprus cannot be prevented. Meanwhile, the organs of the DP discussed the situation yesterday. In statements afterwards, Mr Denktas expressed the opinion that this new period is the beginning of the CTPs collapse.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Statements by Turgay Avci

(I/Ts.)

[07] Rauf Denktas argues that the government crisis is related to planned concessions by Turkey in the Cyprus problem

What Ozgurgun has said is right. There is an AKP conspiracy here, noted Denktas and added that the CTP DP coalition government broke up after it was understood that concessions would be made on the Cyprus problem and that the DP would not agree with this.

Turkish Cypriot daily VATAN newspaper (12.09.06) notes also that the former Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktas, said, inter alia, the following regarding the resignations:

This is not an internal matter of ours. It is an operation of the AKP government. No one can deny this. There is a lot of evidence. It has been carried out with a target and this made us sad. We discuss and evaluate what happens inside. This is not important. What is important is that there is intervention from outside. As of October Turkey will be more cornered by the EU. I think that they have been forced to make some concessions. They cannot give these concessions before the Turkish nation. They, however, supported here a group which say I am in favour of an agreement, peace, and unification. Considering that, now they are telling them do your duty. They were told: You say what we cannot say from here. Contacts were made for this. Soyer was told this. These resignations are an operation by the AKP. Just as the referendum does not represent the will of the Turkish Cypriots. This result does not show the will of the Turkish Cypriots. The whole operation which is carried out today brings Turkey into a stage that the EU could digest it. We are not people who are afraid, but everyone must see now that the EU is trying to apply the Sevres Agreement. .

Furthermore, Turkish daily MILLIYETs (12.09.06) correspondent in occupied Cyprus Sefa Karahasan writes that the Denktas family is very angry because of the government crisis in the occupation regime.

Rauf Denktas stated that the partnership between the CTP and the Democratic Party has been broken up as a result of AKPs efforts to make concessions in Cyprus.

Speaking to MILLIYET, Rauf Denktas stated that AKP found the balance it wanted in order to change the government in occupied Cyprus. Why? Because DP stood strong as the party that protected the state against the steps that the CTP wanted to take speaking about peace and reunification, noted Denktas.

He also added that AKP wanted to have a group in Cyprus that will do everything AKP wants, since the opinions on Cyprus are getting harder in Turkey. Rauf Denktas stated that in October the AKP will get into a tighter spot. After this AKP will say that This is what the Turkish Cypriots want. In the past, Turkey made suggestions. The current government makes direct operations, he noted.

Meanwhile, Orhan Birgit writes in Turkish daily CUMHURIYET (12.09.06) under the title Sudden Winter weather in the TRNC, about the latest developments in occupied Cyprus. Birgit writes, inter alia, that the statements made by Talat, after accepting the resignation of the government, that he had no other choice than to accept the resignation, made the climate even worse.

According to Orhan Birgit, Talat behaves as if there is no connection between the developments which took place in occupied Cyprus with the things being cooked between Lefkosia and Ankara for some days now.

(I/Ts. C/S)

[08] Aydan Karahan refuses the accusations against Turkey

(I/Ts.)

[09] Rauf Denktas supports the existence of two states in Cyprus in a letter to Annan

The `First President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus´ Rauf Denktas has stated that Cyprus is big enough to shelter the `two peoples´ of the island on the basis of their political `equality´ and the existence of `two states´.

In a 24-page open letter to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Mr Denktas said that those two states could come closer and mutual needs and interests of the two sides could turn Cyprus into a new Belgium if friendship and trust could be established in future.

Mr Denktas said that a realistic report by Mr Annan who is to leave the office at the end of the year -would contribute to the achievement of such a conclusion.

In his letter, he refers to the former UN Secretary-General Perez De Cuellars document and includes extracts from the books of former diplomat Hugo Gobbi and retired Greek Ambassadors.

[10] Erdogan to visit Bush and Blair

The paper also writes that returning from the USA Erdogan will go to the UK where he will have a surprise meeting with the British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the 3rd of October. The developments in the Middle East and issues such as Turkeys EU membership will be among the subjects that the two men will discuss, according to the paper.

(C/S)

[11] Written and oral defence by the chairman of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce to FIA for the Formula 1 incident

(C/S)

[12] Exhumations in occupied Lapithos revealed human bones

The exhumations at a land around the Celebrity Hotel in Lapta (occupied Lapithos) were completed yesterday.

The remains of around 10 suspected massacre victims were unearthed during the exhumations in Lapta (occupied Lapithos) which were carried out by Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot experts in coordination with members of the Argentine Forensic Medicine Anthropology Team.

Within the two-month long project, new exhumations will start later in the week in

the island.

Earlier, exhumations were carried out in the village of Alaminos and the Athalassa Forest, where the remains of 12 suspected victims were unearthed.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] Columnist in Turkish Daily News argues that Mr Talat has changed his position regarding recognition

President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) had been officially invited to the United States, Britain and Germany and received at the level of foreign minister before. These important countries tried to alleviate the injustice done to the Turkish Cypriots, who approved the Annan plan, while the Greek Cypriots joined the European Union.

The fact that Talat was treated as a community leader during these rather belated trips showed that the recognition of the KKTC was not considered despite so much injustice done to them. Not surprisingly these trips produced no tangible benefits for the Turkish Cypriots.

On the other hand, Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf's invitation could be a turning point for the KKTC's standing in the world. He went there as the president of the KKTC and met with senate and parliament speakers as well as several ministers. The speech Musharraf made at the dinner he held in honor of Talat showed that Pakistan's relations with Turkey go far beyond the limits of diplomacy. Even if you unite or remain apart in Cyprus, even if you are right or wrong, we support you because you are Turks, he said. In this difficult world, Turkey has a true friend in Pakistan. I hope Turkey is worthy of this friendship.

This also showed Talat has changed his inexplicable post-referenda attitude against official recognition. If there is to be a solution on Cyprus, only Taiwanization of the KKTC may facilitate it. In other words, only steps taken towards recognition may alter Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos' intransigence.

Similar invitations from other Muslim countries, especially those in Central Asia, resulting from efforts of our diplomats, like our Islamabad Ambassador Kemal Gür, may speed up this process. Such a development could also be a warning to the European Union.

For EU diplomacy, if there is such a thing, Cyprus is slowly becoming scandalous. The candidacy process that began with the efforts of the EU-term president Finland in 1999 seems to be destined to collapse in the hands of the Finish EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn and the Finnish foreign minister whose father was the first United Nations representative to Cyprus in 1964.

In 1987, in the Foreign Ministry, I drafted the letter of application to the EC and reasons behind it and implemented that policy. Since then, I came to change my view. Following factors affected my attitude. The reasons publicly cited in favor of full membership lacked confidence in Turkey and Turkish people. The EU's negative attitude is motivated by religious and cultural differences. And the Turkish policy does not effectively address these concerns or rather impedes the way to membership. Under these conditions, we can't become a member anyhow. Given this state of affairs perhaps our membership would not be appropriate either. The habits of being a public servant for a very long period of time; however, do not allow me to overlook the mistakes on the part of Turkey and EU.

The consequences of the EU's attitude on Cyprus will go much beyond the limited importance of Cyprus. Rehn and his supporters should stop deluding themselves that pressure can make Turkey open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriots. The current state of the world and our region is such that the EU cannot shoulder the cost of slowing down, let alone suspending the membership process by hiding behind Cyprus. The EU is not strong enough to make Turkey carry the responsibility of admitting the Greek Cypriots as a member after they rejected the Annan plan.

Meanwhile we make our own mistakes. Turkey's chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan sees himself as Turkey's technical negotiator responsible for making sure Turkey adheres to the EU acquis. It is natural for him not to get involved in political matters like Cyprus, the Aegean Sea and Armenian genocide allegations that have nothing to do with the EU accession process. However, the EU's internal transformation and the shape it is taking are also matters of political character. If Turkey fails to place its membership bid within these developments, the EU will not see what it will lose by turning down Turkey's membership. A young minister, who sends out mistaken messages like, We don't need to conduct real negotiations with the EU or the process, not the membership, is important, needs to be modest enough to listen to the recommendations made by technocrats.

/SK

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