Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-04-29

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader before and after meeting President Clerides.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader met with Thomas Weston.

[03] Turkish Ambassador in charge of EU Affairs stresses that the Cyprus problem is an important factor in Turkey's EU membership.

[04] Eroglu to visit Ankara, HALKIN SESI: "At last Eroglu has taken visa for Ankara".

[05] Erel warns that the side, which creates difficulties in the talks, will pay the price.

[06] 19 Iraqis arrested in Karpass.

[07] A new lawsuit against AFRIKA newspaper.

[08] Friends of the Turkish Cypriot soccer player Sabri talked to YENIDUZEN.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] SABAH columnist: "Turkey has prepared a new Cyprus plan".

[10] Pro-Denktas Turkish Cypriot newspaper criticizes Mr Mehmet Ali Birand.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader before and after meeting President Clerides

Before and after the meeting, which lasted one hour and 15 minutes, Denktas replied to reporters' questions. In a statement before the meeting, Denktas said that the Greek Cypriot press is rejoicing over the fact that the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Legal and Human Rights Committee issued a report accusing Turkey in connection with the Maronites and the Greek Cypriots. Denktas remarked that this is a draft report and the Turkish side will supply responses. The report will be discussed and debated, Denktas noted, adding: "When the report is debated, the Turkish side will present its defense". Denktas also stressed that there is no need to rejoice or feel sorry over anti-Turkish reports. The facts are important and it is necessary to continue to defend them, Denktas concluded.

The delegations of Denktas and Clerides also participated in the meeting. Alvaro de Soto was also present as an observer. Upon returning to his office after the meeting, Denktas announced to the journalists that the next meeting will be held on 29 April. Denktas explained that de Soto will travel to the United States on 29 April, therefore, the talks will be interrupted until 7 May. Denktas reported that he will meet with President Clerides on 7 and 9 May.

Asked if his Strasbourg contacts were raised during today's meeting, Denktas said no. In reply to a question on when the third round of the direct talks will end, Denktas said: I do not know. Further asked if any proposals or packages will be submitted after 7 or 9 May, Denktas said: "We are continuously submitting some things to one another, and we will continue to do so". Denktas stressed that there is no question of a proposal or package being submitted from the outside.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader met with Thomas Weston

Denktas replied to reporters' questions before the meeting.

Asked if he accepts the UN documents, Denktas said he will discuss this with President Glafcos Clerides, not with the media. In reply to a question on whether to expect progress by June, Denktas said: "Why shouldn't we expect a solution?"

Asked to comment on the Turkish Cypriot soccer player who crossed to south Cyprus, Denktas said that he expressed his views on this subject earlier. Alleging that the pseudostate is subject to embargoes in line with the decision of the European Parliament, Denktas said, therefore, that no Turkish Cypriot player is able to play in an international match. He remarked that when young people are accorded such an opportunity, they accept it without realizing that this is manipulation. Denktas said that by accepting this offer, the soccer player who crossed to the south eliminated any chances for the others.

Furthermore, according to KIBRIS (27.04.02), the Turkish Cypriot leader has said that the framework on which they are working with President Clerides at the direct talks is to establish a new partnership between the "two equal sides" as well as continuation of the Guarantee Treaty: "This means to equip the Turkish Cypriots with better, stronger and lasting guaranties than the guaranties stipulated under the 1960 Agreement. This also means that the rights and powers of Turkey under the Guarantee Treaty should be further increased'', Denktas claimed.

[03] Turkish Ambassador in charge of EU Affairs stresses that the Cyprus problem is an important factor in Turkey's EU membership

Recounting that the majority of the Turkish Cypriots are in favour of the EU, Ambassador Bozkir added that both Turkey and the EU are starting to realize that Turkey's membership in the EU serves the EU as much as Turkey.

[04] Eroglu to visit Ankara; HALKIN SESI: "At last Eroglu has taken visa for Ankara"

The paper writes that during his stay in Ankara Mr Eroglu will meet with Prime Minister Ecevit and Sukru Sina Gurel, State Minister responsible for Cyprus. After he completes his conducts in Ankara, Mr Eroglu will go to Istanbul on 1 May as a guest of the Industrialists and Businessmen National Association (USIAD). In Istanbul he will visit some industrial units and meet representatives of the Press. On Friday, 3 May Mr Eroglu will deliver a speech on "The possibilities and the incentives of investing in the TRNC". He is expected to return to the occupied areas on Saturday.

Commenting on the issue, HALKIN SESI (29.04.02) writes that "Eroglu has at last taken visa for Ankara".

Furthermore, AFRIKA (29.04.02) notes that it has been a long time since the last visit of Eroglu to Ankara, which "at last accepted" him. "The visit of Eroglu to Ankara, who is going to meet with Ecevit and Gurel, caused various comments among our people", writes AFRIKA pointing out that the visit is being realized just before June, which has been described as "crucial" for the face-to-face talks towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. "Has Ankara a problem with Denktas, who is conducting the talks"? wonders the paper.

[05] Erel warns that the side which creates difficulties in the talks will pay the price

Speaking on Friday at the 40th Regular General Assembly of the TCCI, Mr Erel argued that they supported the talks and that the Turkish Cypriots should make the necessary reforms according to the Copenhagen criteria and be integrated again with the world.

He also criticized the fact that while Turkey is realizing the necessary reforms to be harmonized with the EU, the pseudostate does not even talk about the EU, forbids the EU officials to visit the occupied areas and considers as its "enemy" the EU criteria.

Furthermore, Mr Erel said that thousands of Turkish Cypriots have emigrated because of being unemployed and added that the Turkish Cypriot young people who study abroad do not return to the occupied areas when they finish their studies. He also reminded that a lot of Turkish Cypriots go every day to the free areas of Cyprus to earn their living and that a lot of shops and businesses are closed and the property of their owner is confiscated and sold through public auction.

On the other hand, addressing the conference Salih Cosar, so-called "Deputy Prime Minister and responsible for the Economy", said, "There are some difficulties" in the way towards the EU and alleged that the fact that the occupation authorities do no permit the EU officials to visit the pseudostate does not mean that the occupation regime is against the EU. He also claimed that their status has to be defined before they begin the efforts to be harmonized with the EU. "If we are not heading towards the West, where shall we be heading to? Are we heading towards Iraq, Iran or Georgia?", he wondered.

Furthermore, addressing the same conference Huseyin Angolemli, leader of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP), criticized the fact that the occupation regime does not allow the EU officials to enter the pseudostate. Referring to the so-called "passport law", Mr Angolemli argued that if approved then "these wires", as he described the Green Line, will not be able to hold anyone in the pseudostate. " We shall also be more ashamed before the world", he concluded.

Meanwhile, Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP), said at the same meeting that TCCI supports the EU and has a correct policy on this issue. However, he added, those who have to make the steps towards this direction, did not show their real intentions on the issue.

[06] 19 Iraqis arrested in Karpass

[07] A new lawsuit against AFRIKA newspaper

[08] Friends of the Turkish Cypriot soccer player Sabri talked to YENIDUZEN

All of them stated that Sabri is not a traitor.

Niyazi Ozekmekci, player of "Yalova" soccer team, said: "I will go to Britain. I am a university graduate and I have completed my obligatory military services, but I am an unemployed soccer player. On Sabri issue, he did not have another choice because the soccer players, who live in 'TRNC', face an economic dead-end road. Sabri is a star that could be able to play in any soccer team in Turkey, but this is impossible, because he will play as a foreigner, so he went to the 'South'. In reality he cannot be a traitor. I am criticizing everybody who is telling this.

Orcun Volkan, a soccer player in "Baf Ulku Yurdu" team, said that Sabri tried to play in Turkey, but when he couldn't succeed it, he preferred to go to the south. Sabri is definitely not a traitor.

Coskun Ulusoy, a soccer player in Yalova, said that he is thinking to go to any country in order to be able to live and he respects Sabri's choice to go to the South for earning his living. Had the Turkish Soccer Federation opened its doors, then Sabri would have chosen to play in Turkey. If the Turkish Soccer Federation continues this embargo, then many more will leave. I cannot call Sabri a traitor and I protest against those who call him so.

Devrim Izge, Murat Cirakoglu and Mehmet Simsekatan said that they suffer from the economic difficulties and they respect Sabri's choice. Of course, they cannot call him a traitor.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] SABAH columnist: "Turkey has prepared a new Cyprus plan''

Writing in his regular column in SABAH (26.04.02) Sedat Sertoglu said: When you talk to the foreign ministry whether you like it or not the Cyprus issue comes to the fore. On this issue the ministry has drawn up a new plan and sent it to Denktas.when one looks into the details of the plan one sees that it is a very reasonable one.

In the meantime we have learned that the struggle regarding the Cyprus problem is between the foreign minister Ismail Cem and the State minister Sukru Sina Gurel. The only person who could untie this knot is Prime Minister Ecevit. Taking this opportunity I would like to convey the following message to Gurel: "Some friends of yours in Washington are unable to reach you... If you call them they will convey some important notes to you''

If we consider the Cyprus problem in the light of the speech delivered by foreign minister Cem at an institute in Washington we can see that Cem is on the right course... We have before us only eight weeks to take serious steps regarding the EU issue. Perhaps others are not aware of the seriousness of the issue but the foreign ministry has realized it . The EU as well is pressing on to do what is necessary as regards the establishment of the Federal Republic of Cyprus. Why? The reason is very simple. Within six months/ time Denmark will have the EU term presidency and then Greece will take over the presidency. Now, did you realise why people are in a hurry? Also the UN Secretary-General is trying to draw up a document with the support of the EU.

Those who "suggest to resist and integrate with the TRNC'' are unable to realize what kind of problems they are going to create for Turkey.Because they do not know what is going on in the world.

Meanwhile let me say what the Chief of the Staff thinks about this issue: The Chief of Staff is not against peace. You will see this if you open the achieves and read what it said in1984 on this issue.

[10] Pro-Denktas Turkish Cypriot newspaper criticizes Mr Mehmet Ali Birand Turkish Cypriot newspaper VOLKAN (26.04.02) publishes the following commentary by Huseyin M. Yusuf under the title: "Fogg's Journalist Birand in Action Again":

In a recent column in daily Posta [and Turkish Daily News], he claimed that no one really cares for the Cyprus problem. That is absolutely wrong. The problem is in the hands of experienced and trustworthy officials.

The Turkish Parliament and the `TRNC Republican Assembly/ have drawn up a framework for the solution of the problem. No one can ignore it just for the sake of reaching an agreement. The Turkish Parliament, the Republican Assembly, the Turkish National Security Council, the Turkish Nation, and the Turkish Cypriot people are closely following our national cause. The Turkish Government and the `TRNC/ Administration have informed the world on the approach they maintain. The many declarations the Presidents of Turkey and the `TRNC/ signed until now clearly outlined the Turkish side's objective in its national cause and the way the Cyprus problem should be solved.

`President/ Denktas maintains the talks between the two sides with an experienced group of experts.

The representatives of the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot Foreign Ministries in the world closely follow the developments. So, the argument that no one really cares for Cyprus is nonsensical. Birand's intention is to create confusion and doubt over the Turkish side's policy.

Birand argued that the Cyprus problem is too important to be left to `President Denktas/. Obviously, he intends to create discord between `President/ Denktas and the Turkish officials. Turkey and the `TRNC/ closely cooperate on the Cyprus problem in accordance with the joint decisions they make. Birand is well-aware of that. But, he feels he has to make provocative remarks in order to win Karen Fogg's favour.

Obviously, his mission is to create discord between Turkey and the `TRNC/ so that the Greek Cypriots, Greeks, and the EU can take over the island. However, as `President Denktas/ said last week, the views of missionary columnists, who are instructed or paid to comment on developments, have no weight at all. So, they should be ignored".

KV/SK

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