Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 13-12-04

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

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu alleges that the Turkish side does not demand two independent states in Cyprus

[02] Turkish Cypriots will reportedly exert pressures for being represented at the European Parliament

[03] Denktas on Varosha: "We proposed that the Guardianship Law be approved in order to open the land to its rightful owners"

[05] Yorgancioglu says they should trust Sertoglu's team; Sertoglu publishes a letter sent to Blatter

[06] Turkish Cypriot representative at PACE refers to the issue of football on the island

[07] Four "mayors" are holding contacts in Brussels

[08] Protest against the "Turkish embassy" in occupied Lefkosia

[09] Eroglu met with a students of a Turkish School and said that the breakaway regime is a Turkish state

[10] Three amphora were discovered in occupied Keryneia during construction works

[11] Yildiz calls Iraqis to use the existing pipeline fully

[12] CHP leader Kilicdaroglu meets Jewish groups in Washington

[13] Davutoglu delays NATO trip to Brussels for health reasons

[A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS

[01] Eroglu alleges that the Turkish side does not demand two independent states in Cyprus

According to a statement issued from Eroglu's office yesterday, "the Turkish Cypriot side clearly notes that it is committed to a solution on the basis of a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality as defined by the UN Security Council's relevant resolutions, in the way it is included in the drafts of the joint statement". "Actually, all the parameters and the convergences to which the Turkish Cypriot side continues to be committed are based on such a solution", the statement alleges.

The statement argues also that time has come for negotiations to start unconditionally and to use the window of opportunity for reaching a solution without delay. "We are expecting from the Greek Cypriot side to adopt such a constructive and outcome-oriented approach", it claims alleging that the Greek Cypriot side blocks all the exercises of agreeing on a joint statement "by trying to change the established UN parameters".

(I/Ts.)

[02] Turkish Cypriots will reportedly exert pressures for being represented at the European Parliament

Kibris writes that Levent said that he had not decided yet and added that it should at least be examined whether the Greek Cypriot community would vote for a Turkish Cypriot candidate in a mix election. Levent noted that in a public opinion poll conducted by Greek Cypriot Politis newspaper in 2004, his candidacy then received 11%, surpassing the votes received by Greek Cypriot DIKO and EDEK parties in the same poll.

Meanwhile, Mehmet Harmanci, general secretary of the Social Democracy Party (TDP), stated that "the non-representation of the Turkish Cypriots in the EP is a deficiency" and added that "we are considering of exerting pressure on this issue". He said that their individual rights should not be prevented because the acquis communautaire of the EU is not implemented in the occupied area of Cyprus. He added that Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot political parties could cooperate and this model could be a very good example for the solution (of the Cyprus problem). He also said that the issue will be discussed at the organs of his party, but when the stance of the party is taken into consideration, it is difficult for a different view to come up.

The paper writes that the National Unity Party (UBP) and the Democratic Party (DP) have not expressed a view on this issue, but the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) argues that two out of the six Cypriot seats at the EP should be taken by Turkish Cypriots, who will be elected in "elections" held in the occupied area of Cyprus.

(I/Ts.)

[03] Denktas on Varosha: "We proposed that the Guardianship Law be approved in order to open the land to its rightful owners"

Speaking during the visit the TDP leader Cemal Ozyigit touched upon the election of President Nicos Anastasiadis and alleged that despite coming to power for some months now only shuttle diplomacy had taken place.

Touching upon the issue of the closed city of Varosha Ozyigit said that "it should be returned to their rightful owners and in exchange for this the opening of the Magusa Port and Ercan Airport to international use should be brought to the agenda".

The leader of the DP and so-called deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economy, Tourism, Culture and Sport Serdar Denktas for his part said that equality was important for his party when it came to talks taking place on the Cyprus negotiations process and contacts in the international arena.

"Gas and petrol issues should also be catalyst for the solution process in Cyprus", said Denktas

Referring to the proposal put forward by the DP-UG on the closed city of Varosha Mr. Denktas: "We proposed that the Guardianship Law be approved in order to open the land to its rightful owners".

[04] Turkish Cypriot columnist: the formula of the returning occupied Varosha to its owners is put forward by those who want a solution

Under the title "Will Varosha really prevent the comprehensive solution?" Dogan writes that he would expect to hear this approach by the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu, former Turkish Cypriot leader Talat or the chairman of the National Unity Party Ozgurgun. He goes on and says, inter alia, the following:

"?However, Nami is the one who mentions it. To tell you the truth, this does not seem like an objective approach to me. Yes, Mr Ozdil Nami is TRNC foreign minister today. And it is natural for him, as a responsibility of the post he possesses, to be in harmony with the tradition of continuing policies that have become inflexible and cliche, and turned into state policy. It is possible to call them national policies as well. However, the issue of Varosha is a part of this process. And perhaps it is the key of the door which could reveal an alternative policy in the direction of the solution of the problem which continues for half a century. Of course the comprehensive solution is sine qua non for us. And of course the efforts for this must continue. However, until where? ? Has the time for following different methods not come? For example, will the opening of Varosha, and of the port of Famagusta and the Tymvou airport in parallel to this, not be a concrete experiment for this? ?

Contrary to Mr Nami's prediction who said that those who have put forward the formula of Varosha are those who do not wish a comprehensive solution in Cyprus, those who have put forward the formula of Varosha are those who believe that this problem which continues for 40 years should reach a solution now. And they exhibit a stance in favour of trying different methods in this process. And when they do this they put forward a position. They submit a concrete basis. Of course this position could also be discussed. A synthesis of different positions could even come up..."

(I/Ts.)

[05] Yorgancioglu says they should trust Sertoglu's team; Sertoglu publishes a letter sent to Blatter

Yorgancioglu argued that a change was observed in the views of some political circles which were having a negative approach on this issue. He said that he did not feel the need to gather the football clubs and advise them, and added that as "prime minister" he supports the process.

Sertoglu thanked Yorgancioglu for his support and recalling that on Friday the Turkish Cypriot football clubs approved the continuation of the process which started with UEFA, FIFA and the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), he described the process as "difficult". He noted that some persons, who are against the process, tried to create confusion after the voting. He added that these persons had put forward some allegations as regards the letter he had sent to the president of FIFA and pointed out that if there are some clubs which want to withdraw their support to the "federation", they could do this as of today.

"We have held the voting in order to take the view of the clubs on the issue of what was done until today and what they want to be done", he said adding: "They gave support to what was done and supported our continuing the road we are walking. The draft text will be completed later".

Meanwhile, Havadis reports also that Sertoglu published yesterday on the "federation's" website the letter he had sent to the president of FIFA Joseph S. Blatter. In the letter, Sertoglu said that the clubs, members of the "TCFA", fully supported the steps taken so far and added that he is ready for the establishment of the four-member team as agreed before in order for filling in the gaps of the draft-text. He also said that they are excited and happy that they will be able to play football at international level and thanked Blatter for his contribution in this. He argued that it is evident that the process of determining the points which especially interest them and annoy them, because the gaps were not filled in, will be very difficult. "Because the other side does not face much difficulty as regards these issues", he argued.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Turkish Cypriot representative at PACE refers to the issue of football on the island

According to a statement issued by the "assembly" of the regime, Caglar took the floor during the discussion of a report on the issue of "The Reform of Football Governance" and expressed his views on the agreement signed in Zurich between the Cyprus Football Association (CFA), the Turkish Cypriot so-called football association (TCFA), FIFA and UEFA regarding the future of football in Cyprus. According to the paper, the report had been prepared by Anne Braseur, Deputy from Luxembourg member of ALDE Group.

Caglar alleged that the Zurich agreement was received with joy within the Turkish Cypriot community, and that the Turkish Cypriot football clubs approved the agreement unanimously, contrary to the Greek Cypriot clubs which approved the agreement with 19 positive votes, two negative and three abstentions. He argued that they wish to see the materialization of football events which will bring the two communities closer to each other and secure that the Turkish Cypriots will meet with athletes from other countries.

Braseur thanked Caglar for his contribution in the discussion and said she fully agreed with him on this issue, adding that this could influence "the political will" and could constitute an example for solving political problems.

(I/Ts.)

[07] Four "mayors" are holding contacts in Brussels

According to the paper they will hold contacts in Brussels with officials of the European Commission and give information about EU related projects. They will return to Cyprus on December 6.

[08] Protest against the "Turkish embassy" in occupied Lefkosia

Turkish Cypriot Primary and Secondary School Teachers' Trade Unions, KTOS and KTOEOS respectively, along with Barak, Revolutionary Communist Union and Communist Labor Movement were among the organizations participated in the protest.

The organizations protested against the extreme increase in the price of electricity in occupied Cyprus and against the statements made recently by Mevlut Cavusoglu, Justice and Development Party's (AKP) vice president and responsible for AKP's foreign policy. Cavusoglu stated among other things, that it is not correct to talk about a "Plan B' for Cyprus for now.

The protestors carried banners calling on Turkey to stop interfering in occupied Cyprus. In statements during the event, KTOS chairman Senel Elcil said that they are making this protest aiming to mobilize the Turkish Cypriot community and to inform Turkey about the political will of Turkish Cypriots.

[09] Eroglu met with a students of a Turkish School and said that the breakaway regime is a Turkish state

"The TRNC is a Turkish state, Turkish Cypriot came from Turkey and the Republic of Turkey is our motherland" said Eroglu and added: "The common feature between the two countries is that they are both Turkish".

[10] Three amphora were discovered in occupied Keryneia during construction works

The paper writes that the historical date of the amphora is not yet known.

[11] Yildiz calls Iraqis to use the existing pipeline fully

"We were in Baghdad and Irbil, and discussed this issue at length with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussain al-Shahristani. We also met with Nechervan Idris Barzani (the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan), and Massoud Barzani (the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region). I'd like to repeat once more that we have always adopted a positive approach. Nonetheless, from now on, the final result will be up to the negotiations between Northern Iraq and Central Iraqi Government. .... I believe that our Iraqi brothers will reach a mutual consensus within December, " Yildiz noted.

Yildiz also stated that the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline agreement has been renewed for 20 years, and the pipeline's daily output is 300 to 400 thousand barrels despite the fact that it has a daily capacity of 1,5 million barrels.

Regarding the financing of this new pipeline, Yildiz stated that Turkey could easily finance both its construction and assembly, and stressed that the important matter is that all this work is done with the consent of all parties concerned.

Yildiz said that a working group was established with the Central Iraqi Government regarding the transfer of crude oil from Basra to Kirkuk-Yumurtalik, and the construction of a new pipeline.

"This working group will first work on a project regarding the unassembled pipeline of 400 km. Then they will perform a feasibility study, and keep contributing towards the completion of this project. Then we will join these pipelines together. I would like to emphasize that we support the Central Iraqi Government's project of taking the oil from southern Iraq to world markets via northern Iraq.

Yildiz said that the negotiations between Iraqi Central Government and Northern Iraq would soon begin, and they would be monitoring the situation closely, and make new evaluations accordingly.

[12] CHP leader Kilicdaroglu meets Jewish groups in Washington

Kilicdaroglu attended an event on Dec. 2, at which he discussed the current state of bilateral ties between Turkey and Israel, stating that the crisis between the countries "needed to be overcome" and that both countries carried a responsibility to contribute to regional peace. He was also frequently asked about Hamas, which the Turkish government is known to have relations with.

Alan Makovksy from the U.S. House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee, was also in attendance during the event.

Meanwhile, Kilicdaroglu also met with figures from the Fethullah Gulen Movement over breakfast during his time in the city. However, no details were released of the meeting. The CHP leader has been conducting a series of meetings in Washington since Nov. 30, including a recent appearance at the Washington-based Brookings Institution.

[13] Davutoglu delays NATO trip to Brussels for health reasons

The meeting, in which foreign ministers are expected to discuss the agenda for next year's summit and ways to strengthen partnerships NATO has with other countries, is set to take place Dec. 3-4. A senior Turkish diplomat who spoke to Today's Zaman on condition of anonymity noted that Davutoglu will leave Ankara for Brussels either on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning to attend the second day of the meeting. The diplomat also noted that the foreign minister did not have a serious health problem but that illness had prevented him from taking his planned flight.

NATO Permanent Representative Mehmet Fatih Ceylan and Deputy Undersecretary at the Foreign Ministry Ahmet Muhtar Gun attended the NATO meeting on Tuesday to represent Turkey, said the diplomat. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION

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