Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-11-28

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan comments on the failure of Finland´s efforts to facilitate Turkey abide by its EU obligations.

[02] Gul: In Cyprus there are two separate nations.

[03] Olli Rehn´s spokesman on Turkey´s refusal to abide by its EU obligations.

[04] Statements by the Turkish Justice Minister.

[05] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered Turkeys refusal to comply with its EU obligations.

[06] Reports by the Turkish press on the failure of the Finnish initiative.

[07] Soon after final rejection by Turkey to apply the Customs Protocol with the Republic of Cyprus the implementation of the Customs Protocol with the TRNC come in its agenda.

[08] A new meeting between Tzionis and Pertev.

[09] Statements by the British Ambassador to Ankara at Gaziantep.

[10] Statements by Talat after returning from Gaziantep: Political will in Britain for establishing direct flights towards the occupied areas.

[11] More on the moratorium on constructions in the occupied areas.

[12] Islamic countries to offer support to the Turkish Cypriots.

[13] Interview of Mehmet Ali Tremeseli, who was member of TMT and the Turkish MIT. He believes Greek and Turkish Cypriots can live together.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] Columnist in KIBRIS newspaper assesses the failure of the Finnish initiative focusing on the occupied fenced city of Varosha.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Erdogan comments on the failure of Finland´s efforts to facilitate Turkey abide by its EU obligations

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said regarding the failure of Finland's initiative on Cyprus that it did not mean that efforts would slow down from now on.

Replying to questions, Erdogan stated that Turkey fulfilled all its duties.

"Unfortunately, talks which continued after several meetings did not reach the desired conclusion. We fulfilled our tasks and we will continue do what is necessary in the following period," Erdogan added.

[02] Gul: In Cyprus there are two separate nations. Statements after Finland failed to persuade Turkey abide by its EU obligations

"I hope the EU leaders will see the realities. It will be difficult to come to a solution without taking the facts in the island (Cyprus) into consideration," said Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

Holding a press conference in the Finnish city of Tampere, where he is participating in the European-Mediterranean Process Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Gul indicated that the EU leaders should be objective about the Cyprus problem, and should not see this as a matter of solidarity among them.

Gul noted that his Finnish counterpart Erkki Tuomioja did not lay down any proposal (regarding Cyprus question) during their meeting in the morning.

"As far as I am concerned, the `Greek Cypriot administration´ laid down some preconditions," he said, stating that the Greek Cypriots are pursuing a strategy to keep this matter under the roof of the EU.

Enumerating the realities in the island as `two separate nations´, two separate languages, and `two separate democracies´, Gul said: "One party cannot impose its demands to the other one."

Gul pointed out that the Cyprus problem cannot be a part of Turkey's EU full membership negotiations.

Noting that negotiations have two legs, including political reforms and adjustment to EU acquis, Gul noted that Turkey is eager to do its best to implement political reforms and determined to maintain this process.

Gul said that it is normal to have solidarity and commitment among the members of the Union. But "if one of the members of a family does something against the interests of the whole family, s/he should be warned", he added.

On the other hand, Gul said that he does not think that the EU leaders will make a decision to freeze talks with Turkey. "But if it is made, it will be a political decision," he stated.

Gul noted that Turkey can open its ports to Greek Cypriot use, but the EU should implement the decision it earlier made to lift the `embargoes´ on the Turkish `Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)´.

"If one side does not keep its promises, then you cannot expect the other side to do something," he pointed out.

Gul stressed that Turkey, Greece and a united Cyprus can become one of EU's powers in East Mediterranean, but the Greek Cypriots are behaving against EU's interests.

Gul said that judiciary is free in Turkey, and not under the influence of the government, answering questions like the situation of Kurds in Turkey and closure of some newspapers.

Foreign Minister Gul said that if a newspaper's links with the terrorist organization are revealed, the same punishment can be given even if this newspaper is based in Britain.

Gul noted that Turkish-Kurdish discrimination is not made in Turkey, and stated that the people are intermingled. Pointing out that there can be people of Kurdish origin even in his own delegation, Gul drew attention to the terrorism threat.

(Tr. Note: Turkey invaded Cyprus in July 1974 killing 1% of the population, forcing 1/3 of the population to flee their homes and properties and preventing them from returning using the force of 43,000 fully equipped Turkish troops. It follows a policy of colonizing the occupied territories with illegal settlers from Turkey and selling the properties of the Greek Cypriots to foreigners).

[03] Olli Rehn´s spokesman on Turkey´s refusal to abide by its EU obligations

The European Commission will continue to cooperate with the Finnish Presidency of the EU to decide how to handle negotiations on Turkey's membership, said Krisztina Nagy, the spokesman of European Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn.

In her daily press briefing today, Nagy said that efforts will continue to avoid any problem in full membership negotiations between the EU and Turkey.

Recalling that the Commission will shape up the recommendations it will submit to the foreign ministers of member states during a meeting in Brussels, --if Turkey does not open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot vessels and aircraft-Nagy said that they expect the General Affairs and External Relations Council to make the final decision on December 11th.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja had separate meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister Georgos Lillikas earlier today. After these meetings, Tuomioja announced that "conditions have not become ripe for an agreement (regarding Cyprus)."

[04] Statements by the Justice Minister on Pope´s visit and Turkey´s refusal to abide by its EU obligations

``Majority of our citizens are uneasy about Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Turkey. This is not because of the visit, but the remarks the pope made in September," said Turkish Justice Minister and government spokesman Cemil Cicek.

After the cabinet meeting, Cicek indicated that Turkey is a country of tolerance and hospitality. "We believe that this visit is an important opportunity to once more show these features to the entire world," he stressed.

Cicek recalled that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet the pontiff before he flies to Latvia for the NATO summit tomorrow.

Replying to a question on the importance of Pope's visit in regard to "Alliance of Civilizations", Cicek noted: "Turkey is in favor of dialogue and cooperation between civilizations. The country exerts great efforts for it. That's why, his visit can be an important opportunity."

Noting that Turkey was in favor of peace and tranquility, he indicated: "Our stance and attitude on this matter is definite. Turkey is one of the countries which took the first step."

Replying to a question, Mr Cicek said: "We consider that there is no reason to suspend (Turkey's EU accession) talks because there are deep-rooted relations between Turkey and the EU."

He said: "We think that start and continuation of negotiations is relative to the Copenhagen political criteria. Both parties will benefit from Turkey-EU relations."

Stating that everyone should be calm when he/she assessed what happened in the negotiation process, Cicek stressed: "We consider that negotiations will continue. Turkey has fulfilled its duties so far and it continues to do so. We cannot say that every task has been accomplished, but the Turkish government has full determination to do what is necessary from now on. "

He noted that Turkey was in favor of a resolution in regard to the Cyprus issue.

Answering a question on proposals to be made by nongovernmental organizations in regard to Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), Cicek stated: "We will receive reports. Some started to submit their views. The Press Council and Istanbul Journalists' Community sent a report which suggests that an amendment should be made in the article." ´´

[05] How the Turkish Cypriot press covered Turkeys refusal to comply with its EU obligations

KIBRIS reports that the Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Erkki Tuomioja, who held separate meetings yesterday with his Turkish and Cypriot counterparts in the Finnish city of Tampere, announced that the negotiations which have been conducted on the Cyprus problem ended unsuccessfully. He said that there is no ground for the continuation of the talks, that all sides have been constructive during the negotiations, that Turkey continues to be a candidate country and that they will continue their consultations with the EU member countries. Invoking diplomatic sources, the paper notes that no proposal was submitted by Mr Tuomioja during the meeting yesterday and that from the beginning the Finnish Minister stated that they could not go on with their efforts. Mr Tuomioja met twice with Mr Lillikas and said that the Cypriot Minister insisted on the issue of the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha. After the unsuccessful result of the Finnish efforts the attention is now focused on the recommendation of the European Commission on 6 December and the decision which the 14-15 December Summit of the EU will take, reports KIBRIS. The paper publishes also statements by the Commissioner responsible for the Enlargement, Olli Rehn who said that the negotiations between Turkey and the EU will not stop, but they will be slowed down, because Ankara does not open its sea and airports to Cyprus.

AFRIKA refers to the unsuccessful result of the Finnish initiative under the title It got stuck on Varosha. The paper reports that Mr Tuomioja called the Turkish Cypriot leader Talat and informed him about the result.

OZGUR DUSUNCE reports that Mr Talat reminded Mr Tuomioja of the weaknesses of the Finnish initiative and asked from Finland to support the reaching of a comprehensive solution under the roof of the United Nations.

HALKIN SESI refers to the issue under the title The initiative of Finland for Cyprus had no result and reports that Mr Gul stated that the leaders of the EU must be objective on the Cyprus problem and expressed the hope that they will see the realities on the island. Reaching a solution will be difficult without taking into consideration the realities of the island. What are the realities of the island? There are two different nations, two different languages, two different democracies on the island. The one side cannot impose its wishes on the other, he alleged.

YENIDUZEN reports that Mr Gul said that the Greek Cypriot side has put some preconditions on the table.

CUMHURIYET publishes statements by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel who said that the EU continues its open-ended negotiations with Turkey and reiterated that it would be better if a privileged relationship was suggested to Ankara. The Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ursula Plassnik asked for a recess to be given to the negotiations so that the tension is overcome. VATAN refers to the issue under the title Unsuccessful.

(I/Ts )

[06] Reports by the Turkish press on the failure of the Finnish initiative to facilitate Turkey abide by its EU obligations

The paper also reports that Mr Tuoimoja called Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat immediately after the failure of the talks to inform him that their efforts known as the Finnish initiative have ended. Mr Talat reminded him of the weaknesses of the Finnish proposal and asked Finlands support for UN-led efforts aimed at finding a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

Moreover, the paper under the title Varosha has deadlocked the talks, reports that Turkey followed a policy of putting Varosha under the auspices of the United Nations as a part of a comprehensive solution plan and noted in all meetings that the occupied fenced city of Varosha issue had nothing to do with Turkey s EU Customs Union agreement as well as the opening of Turkish ports to the vessels of the Republic of Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot side, on its part, insisted on the opening of Varosha as a precondition .

On the same issue, Turkish daily HURR0YET newspaper (28.11.06), under the banner headline The train does not stop, but it slows down , reports that Mr Olli Rehn said yesterday: The efforts of the Finnish Presidency were by far not in vain. However, there is an old Finnish saying: Salmon is such a noble fish that it is worth fishing even if you dont finally catch one. Meanwhile, the paper reports that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met with his Finnish counterpart Erkki Tuomioja, for an hour. Mr Gul said: We will not compromise on reciprocity principles on the ports issue. Varosha is an issue that will be discussed only in the last stage talks as part of a comprehensive solution on a UN basis. In addition to that, the paper reports that the Turkish side asked for the launching of direct trade and the opening of the occupied airport of Tympou, but the Greek Cypriot side rejected this proposal.

HURRIYETs columnist Ferai Tinc, under the title It was not possible to untie the Cyprus knot, what will happen after this, writes that despite the Finnish EU Presidencys failure to solve the Cyprus problem, officials in Brussels want to maintain their optimism for a little while longer by sending messages that We will be troubled by plan B. She writes that while she followed the news yesterday with some EU officials responsible on Turkish affairs, they said that there is still time until the 14th of December and that some steps can be taken.

Turkish daily SABAH newspaper (28.11.06) reports under the title Negotiations suspended and gives an account of the negotiations carried out by the Finnish term presidency separately with the Foreign Ministers of Turkey and Cyprus within the framework of the Euromed meeting in Tampere.

(D/Ps)

[07] Soon after final rejection by Turkey to apply the Customs Protocol with the Republic of Cyprus the Customs Protocol with the TRNC came on its agenda

Commenting on the issue, ORTAMs editor-in-chief, Mehmet Davulcu reports, inter alia, the following: The truth of this issue is the following: Turkey is preparing itself for the EU. It lives a harmonization process to the EU. The chapter of the customs passed from the screening procedure. To say it in Turkish, Turkey started applying the same (or at least similar) customs laws and applications as the EU. Meanwhile, it sent a delegation to adapt the customs here as well because it considers Northern Cyprus as its own part. .

(ITs)

[08] A new meeting of Tzionis and Pertev for preparing the resumption of the Cyprus problem negotiations

The `Presidential Undersecretary´ Rasit Pertev and Tassos Tzionis an aide of the Greek Cypriot Leader Tassos Papadopoulos will meet tomorrow.

The two men will make an evaluation of the proposals brought by the UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari and work on ways of moving the process started on the 8 July forward.

After the two sides positive response given to the UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambaris proposals, talks between Mr Pertev and Mr Tzionis will resume tomorrow.

The two men will meet at four oclock in the afternoon in the UN-controlled buffer zone at the presence of the UN Secretary-Generals Special Representative in Cyprus Michael Moller.

The two men will make an evaluation of the proposals brought by Mr Gambari and work on ways of moving the process started on the 8 July forward.

In a statement, the `Presidential Palace´ said that the Turkish Cypriot Side has been working on ways of restarting the negotiations process in line with the 8 July decisions agreed by Mehmet Ali Talat and Tassos Papadopoulos with the aim of bringing about a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem.

In his letter to the two leaders in Cyprus, Mr Gambari calls for the resumption of the comprehensive negotiations in the first quarter of next year.

[09] Statements by the British Ambassador to Ankara at Gaziantep

Enhancing commercial relations with the Turkish Cypriots will contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem, said British Ambassador to Turkey Nicholas Graham Faraday Baird.

Taking the floor in Turkey-Britain Cooperation Seminar held in the southeastern city of Gaziantep, Baird recalled that his country is supporting all initiatives carried out by the Finnish Presidency of the EU and the UN to find a solution to Cyprus question.

Baird also expressed his country's readiness to contribute to any settlement and noted that Britain supported EU president Finland's initiative for resolution of the Cyprus question.

On the other hand, Baird said that they should take advantage of Turkey's experiences in order to bring stability in the Middle East because Turkey's views and opinions are also important for the settlement of this controversy.

Regarding Turkey's EU membership bid, Baird said that Turkey's membership will be a great gain for the EU in strategically. Stating that Turkey's stable growth will contribute to its EU full membership process, the British ambassador expressed his hope that Turkey may become a full member ten years later if no problems emerge till then. Britain fully supports Turkey's EU membership, and it expects Turkey to overcome any type of obstacle and continue its path in this process, he said.

Baird added that Turkey should insist on this objective without losing its motivation despite the obstacles put before it and appreciated the reforms which Turkey fulfilled on the path to EU membership.

He also told reporters that he was appointed as ambassador to Turkey one month ago.

Noting that Gaziantep is a dynamic city with its young population and its economy, Baird said that the city is getting developed and has a modern infrastructure and industry.

He noted that he will hold talks to examine the development model of Gaziantep as well as seek opportunities to cooperate with businessmen in this city.

Baird said that he plans to launch an initiative to call on British businessmen to invest in the city.

[10] Statements by Talat after returning from Gaziantep: Political will in Britain for establishing direct flights towards the occupied part of Cyprus

(I/Ts)

[11] The Turkish Cypriot press continues to speak of moratorium on constructions in the occupied areas

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily ORTAM newspaper (28.11.06) reports that the Union of the Chambers of the Turkish Cypriot Engineers and Architects issued a statement yesterday and expressed its support to the above-mentioned decree. Pointing out that for years the planning was neglected in the country, the Union described as natural the beginning of this process now.

(I/Ts)

[12] Islamic countries are ready to offer every kind of support to the Turkish Cypriots

(I/Ts)

[13] Interview of Mehmet Ali Tremeseli, who was member of TMT and the Turkish MIT. He believes Greek and Turkish Cypriots can live together

Asked what happened to the two communities of the island who lived together for years, Mr Tremeseli stated, inter alia, that the Greek Cypriots wanted Enosis, to unite with Greece while the Turkish Cypriots wanted independence. As he said, Turkey wanted partition and in the end the Turkish Cypriots followed this road. He stated that in 1958 the Greek Cypriots, following orders of Grivas, killed five Turkish Cypriots at the Sinda village because of information that a person living in the village, named Ismail Sadikoglu was organising there the TMT organisation. Mr Tremeseli said that this incident upset him very much. We had to answer back, he said. He also stated that they had their resistance group before TMT and added that TMT was established on top of this organisation. As he stated, he organised six villages and he was the leader of the formation. Asked about the aim of this organisation, he stated that its aim was to put their foot down to the Greeks Cypriots. As he said they did not have a definite intention and added that Turkey did not give them weapons at the time.

Mr Tremeseli described how one day they wanted to threaten the Greek Cypriots and to encourage the Turkish Cypriots, they went to Omorfita where there was a coffee shop, near the police station, where members of EOKA used to go. They have chosen the coffee shop as a target. He and two other persons started firing at the persons sitting in the coffee shop. As he stated, he wanted to kill many persons, he wanted to kill at least fifteen persons. But his gun was jammed. He said he definitely hit five persons but he does not know if the died.

Further, Mr Tremeseli stated that in 1967 he became member of the Turkish Secret Services (MIT) after he was invited by the organisation. He stated that he worked there for 12 years. Two years before the landing (TR note: the 1974 Turkish invitation of Cyprus) we took pictures continuously of the Kyrenia cost seven miles south, seven miles north, seven miles west and seven miles east. We took pictures of the sea. We measured the sand. We worked in this manner for three summers, he stated. Replying to a question he said that there was a team consisting of three persons and that they had given all the details about the invasion, about the sea depths and other information. Asked if they did this upon an instruction he said: Of course there was an instruction. Our head then was General Fuad Dogu. He was a much esteemed man. He invited me to Ankara for one month. We talked about it there. We had lunch the two of us three times.

Asked about his opinion on the issue of living together with the Greek Cypriots Mr Tremeseli replied: I think that this is inevitable now. We should not deceive ourselves. I was never an enemy of the Greek Cypriots. I was against Enosis. I exerted efforts so that we are not annihilated. I had very good relations with the Greek Cypriots. We were together during my childhood in the village I was born.

(C/S)

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] Columnist in KIBRIS newspaper assesses the failure of the Finnish initiative focusing on the occupied fenced city of Varosha

Mr Duzgun writes that the Turkish side put Varosha onto the negotiating table and told the EU that it could discuss it. He notes: Following this Finland prepared a package which included Varosha and the port of Famagusta. The package was really not balanced. Of course not a single Turkish official could be found to defend the opening of all Turkish ports and airports and the return of Varosha to the Greek Cypriot side in return of the opening of the port of Famagusta for two years. However, the two opportunities which came up (for the solution of the Cyprus problem) after the 24 April referendums have collapsed or are about to collapse. The first was the Finnish procedure yesterday and the other is the 8 July procedure. It is true that the architect of the 8 July procedure Gambari has tried to revive the procedure by sending a letter to the sides, but everybody knows that the 8 July procedure will not move forward.

The Turkish Cypriot side has tried to seize some bargaining points by putting Varosha onto the negotiating table. How sad it is, however, that even the arrest of journalists who took the picture of Varosha was not prevented, let alone the bargaining of Varosha. Varosha has been put onto the negotiating table and then it has been withdrawn by saying that it is a part of the comprehensive solution.Finding a solution to the Cyprus problem will not be possible soon. The United Nations and the European Union, that is the international community, will be interested in the issue of packages until the comprehensive solution, just like in the past. Packages will be prepared on the issue of confidence building measures, of the Greek Cypriot side making some steps and other issues and these will be put in front of the sides.

The Turkish side told the EU that Varosha is a part of the comprehensive solution and that it is a job of the UN. Very well, will it be able to say the same thing to the UN as well? It seems that Varosha will always be on the negotiating table. According to my personal opinion, the opening of Varosha will be for the benefit of both the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.

Are we going to continue the Varosha after the solution policy? Or are we going to solve the Varosha issue by following a balanced bargaining? It is true, Varosha is a point of bargaining. At the same time it is, however, a problem which turned out to be a shame. A shame, which does not abandon the sides for 32 years.

(I/Ts)

/SK

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article