Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-04-19

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas asks Talat the list with the names of the 41 thousand Turkish settlers which has been submitted to the UN.

[02] A group of "Grey Wolves" terrifies the supporters of the solution in occupied Kyrenia; The army gets into action in favour of the "no" campaign.

[03] KIBRIS says Turkish Cypriots living abroad are preparing to return.

[04] Talat stated that there must be a penalty for the Greek Cypriots if they say "no" to the referendum.

[05] Members of the Democratic Party will be free to vote "yes" or "no" in the referendum.

[06] Serdar Denktas confirms that US Deputy Secretary of State Marc Grossman called and informed him that the US relations with Turkish Cypriots will change if the Greek Cypriots say "no to the referendum".

[07] Opinion poll in occupied Cyprus shows that 62,1% says "yes" in the 24 April referendum.

[08] Gul criticizes Denktas for "complaints" on the issue of sovereignty as regards the Annan Plan.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Murat Yetkin: "The NATO summit in Istanbul will mark the end of the process that began with the 1975 Helsinki Declaration".

[10] United Cyprus divides Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas asks Talat the list with the names of the 41 thousand Turkish settlers which has been submitted to the UN

When he was reminded that Mr Talat had stated that he did not send him the above-mentioned list because Mr Denktas had not asked for it, the Turkish Cypriot leader said:

"'Every contact with the foreigners and every document given to the foreigners shall automatically be sent to the presidency as well. The fact that this important document and the contacts regarding this document have not been sent to us is a deficiency. '".

[02] A group of "Grey Wolves" terrifies the supporters of the solution in occupied Kyrenia; The army gets into action in favour of the "no" campaign

The paper writes that last night this group attacked cars which had on them a label saying "yes" to the solution on the basis of the Annan Plan trying to change them with labels saying "no" and tore posters calling the Turkish Cypriots to say "yes" at the referendum.

The paper notes that the inhabitants of Kyrenia were very concerned about the incident, in which the so-called police of the regime did not interfere.

Citizens talking to KIBRIS said: "The security forces must take the necessary measures. Groups, the majority of which are nationalist students who are not even citizens, are threatening the safety of the people".

According to the paper, the general secretary of the Republican Turkish Party (RTP), Ferdi Sabit Soyer noted also that he was concerned about the situation. Mr Soyer said also that the former commander of the so-called Security Forces, general Galip Mendi is in the occupied areas since last week and wondered why general Mendi came to Cyprus and what is his duty during his stay in the island.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (19.04.04) reports that yesterday about 300 persons from the Karpass peninsula were taken with military vehicles for a visit to the so-called "Barbarity Museum" within the framework of the "no" campaign at the referendum.

The paper notes that the struggle between Denktas and Erdogan was brought into the occupied areas of Cyprus during the last week. In case of a "no" at the referendum, continues the paper, will mean that Denktas has achieved a great victory. Such a result could give a great shock to the Erdogan government, notes AFRIKA.

Furthermore, KIBRIS (18.04.04) reports that Mr Denktas visited on Saturday some villages in occupied Karpass peninsula and explained to the people why they should vote "no" at the 24 April referendum.

[03] KIBRIS says Turkish Cypriots living abroad are preparing to return

According to the paper, only during the last week 35 thousand Turkish Cypriots have appealed to offices established in London, Sidney and Toronto asking for permission to return.

[04] Talat stated that there must be a penalty for the Greek Cypriots if they say "no" to the referendum

Mr Talat, who met with TUSIAD [Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association] members over luncheon in Turkey, replied to questions before the meeting. He commented on Greek Cypriot communist party AKEL's stand with regard to the referendum and said:

"Having said no to the EU, the Greek Cypriot side can officially accede to the EU, but in spirit, in practice, in heart, and in terms of being accepted, it would not have joined the EU. A country or a state that rejects a plan that is fully supported by the EU would actually be saying no to the EU as well. Therefore, we are at a very critical stage. It is true that AKEL's change of heart and policy is a correct approach.

Acting on the basis of the consideration that the Turkish Cypriots will anyway reject the plan, the Greek Cypriots did not examine the Annan Plan carefully, Talat remarked, and added: "When the Greek Cypriots witnessed the determined stand of the Turkish Cypriot side, they found themselves in a difficult spot".

[05] Members of the Democratic Party will be free to vote "yes" or "no" in the referendum

In a 45-minute statement he made after a three-hour meeting of the DP Party Assembly at the party´s headquarters, Serdar Denktas said that his party let its members free to vote "yes" or "no" in the referendum on 24 April.

After stating that his mind was at peace for having fulfilled the duty expected of him, Serdar Denktas said he would carry out "a campaign to explain the realities to the Turkish Cypriots". He noted that a "no" decision was adopted within the party, albeit with limited participation, and stressed that an effective group in the party was determined to say "yes." Serdar Denktas urged everyone to consult his conscience in making a choice "between personal interests and community interests."

Serdar Denktas stressed that the decision that the DP would announce would still be used against Rauf Denktas whether it was "yes" or "no."

He said, at the stage reached the people "expected his decision as a politician they trusted," and added: "The fact is that the president will be harmed whatever the direction I might give to you. If I direct you to say no, they will come up with the accusation, 'Rauf Denktas acted selfishly and kept his son under pressure.' If I direct you to say yes, the accusation will be, 'He Rauf Denktas could not persuade even his son.' I believe that I do not have the right to accept such a slander against a living representative of our honourable history.

[06] Serdar Denktas confirms that US Deputy Secretary of State Marc

As illegal Bayrak reported, according to the possible plans that are studied at the present time, the territory held by the Turkish Cypriots might be viewed as a special area, whose final accession to the EU will be expected if the Cyprus problem remains unsolved. That will prepare the ground for the United States to establish relations with the Turkish Cypriot side.

Responding to a question Mr Serdar Denktas confirmed Marc Grossman's call and asserted that they did not discuss the Taiwan-People´s Republic of China model during their conversation. He said that Grossman informed him that the United States expects the Democratic Party to contribute toward the process by casting a "yes" vote in the referendum. He noted that he informed Grossman that the Democratic Party might make its decision today. He also noted that he informed Grossman that the Annan Plan should be removed if one of the sides says "yes" and the other says "no" to the plan. Serdar Denktas asserted that Marc Grossman informed him that he will make an effort to persuade the two sides to cast a "yes" vote in the referendum.

Serdar Denktas said that the recognition of the Turkish Cypriot side under the present conditions will be impossible even if the embargo is partially lifted.

[07] Opinion poll in occupied Cyprus shows that 62,1% says "yes" in the 24 April referendum

The opinion poll was conducted by KADEM Cyprus Social Research and Educational consulting Centre, between 11-16 of April 2004

According to the results of the survey that KADEM conducted for the newspaper KIBRIS, 62.1 percent of the Turkish Cypriot people will vote "yes" in the public referendum. This percentage appears before us as the highest ratio reached in the last two months. The ratio of those who said "yes" in a survey carried out almost two months ago was 52%, which increased to 57% some time later, and to the highest level of 62.1% in the final survey that was conducted between 11 and 16 April.

In the public opinion survey that was carried among a representative group of 1,815 people in 70 units of settlement, the ratio of those saying "no" remained at 24.4%. The undecided totaled 5.1% and those who said they had no idea/no reply 8.5%. The survey was conducted among those who represent a cross-section of the occupied Cyprus "voters". The KADEM survey probed the people's position on the public referendum, asking how optimistic they were about the course of the Cyprus problem, about their level of knowledge about the Annan Plan, how occupied Cyprus would be affected if there is no solution, and their assessment about the result of the public referendum on the Greek Cypriot side.

Subtitle: Age, a very important factor

According to the KADEM survey, age appears to be an important factor among those who would say "yes" or "no" in the referendum. The younger the people, the more "yes" responses. In the 18-24 age group the ratio is 76.4% in the 25-34 age group 70.7% in the 35-44 age group 65.5%, in the 45-54 age group 54.1% and in the 55 and above age group 41%. It is in the age group of 55 and above that the ratio of "no" is more than "yes."

Subtitle: Differences among the districts

There is not much difference among the districts regarding support for the Annan Plan. In the Nicosia, Famagusta, Kyrenia, Morphou, and Trikomo districts the "yes" votes are around 60 percent. The point that is most significant, though, is the fact that the "yes" votes in the Trikomo district are on the rise. It may be recalled that the pro-status quo parties had won the biggest ratio of votes in the 14 December [2003] elections in the Trikomo district.

Subtitle: "Yes" votes increase with the level of education

The KADEM survey has ascertained that support for the plan and the number of "yes" votes in the referendum increased depending on the level of education. The ratio of "yes" votes increase as the level of education gets higher.

The "yes" ratio among those who can just read and write is 26.9% among the primary and junior high school graduates 49.1% senior high and comparable level school graduates 69.3%, and among those with university and post-graduate degrees 71.6%.

Subtitle: Citizens of Turkish origin also say "yes"

Some 56.4% of the citizens of Turkish origin also say "yes" to the plan. The survey has revealed that the gap between the people of Cypriot origin and settlers regarding support for the Annan Plan, has continuously narrowed.

Subtitle: Relocation

The survey results also reflect the views of the people in the areas that will be handed over to the Greek Cypriot constituent state and the areas that will remain within the Turkish constituent state. Some 57.7% of the people living in the neighborhoods and villages that will be handed over to the Greek Cypriot constituent state have said they would vote "yes."

[08] Gul criticizes Denktas for "complaints" on the issue of sovereignty as regards the Annan Plan

Gul said: "What sovereignty are you talking about? You cannot export even a crate of oranges. Nobody recognizes you. What kind of sovereignty is that?"

In addition Mr Gul has said that he believes that the Greek Cypriots will say "yes" at the referendum on 24 April, because otherwise "they will be faced with great isolation". Gul also said: "If the Greek Cypriots say "no" and the Turkish Cypriots say "yes", we will implement a two-stage plan. The first stage will involve efforts to have the embargoes on the north lifted, and in the second stage we will start a process to have the "TRNC" recognized".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Murat Yetkin: "The NATO summit in Istanbul will mark the end of the process that began with the 1975 Helsinki Declaration"

during the NATO summit if Turkey becomes an active part of the "Great Middle East Project:"

"An important meeting was held at the US Department of State immediately after the meeting held by British Prime Minister Tony Blair with US President George Bush at the White House on 16 April. The Washington representatives of the Eight Developed Industrial Countries (G-8), NATO, and the EU countries attended this meeting, which was announced several days in advance. The truth is that some of these countries are also members of an additional or several additional groups. For example, the United States is a member of G-8 and NATO, while Britain, Germany, France, and Italy are members of all three groups. Among the participants, only Russia and Japan are members of the G-8 and Turkey and Norway are members of NATO. In other words, the United States actually invited Washington representatives of these countries in order to brief them on the recent developments regarding the Great Middle East Project and to get their views on this issue.

The briefing was given by Eliot Abrams, head of the team known as "the Three Amigos" and an official of the National Security Council (NSC) which is in charge of the Great Middle East Project in the US Administration. (The other two amigos are Stephen Hadley from the NSC and Ambassador William Burns from the US Department of State.)

The truth is that the meeting that was held on Friday is not the first of its kind. The same group had reportedly convened in the past as well. The US Administration is holding similar meetings with Arab countries, with Eastern European counties whose membership formalities with NATO and the EU have not yet been completed, with Caucasus-Central Asian countries, and with its interlocutors in Southeastern Asia and Australia.

The priority item on the Turkish public's foreign policy agenda is naturally the referendum that is envisaged to be held on 24 April, but currently the most important items on the agenda of the world diplomacy are transatlantic relations and the restructuring of the Middle East.

The United States is holding meetings with all its interlocutors to this end. Given the lessons it has drawn from Iraq, the United States wants to increase the feasibility of this project by making as many countries as possible a part of this project.

It is established however, that NATO and the G-8 have the actual decision making dynamics.

The fact that June is of critical importance where Bush's schedule for explaining the Great Middle East Project is concerned actually proves this. We had previously written in RADIKAL that the G-8 summit that will be held in the United States in the middle of June and the EU-United States summit that will be held in Ireland at the end of June are of utmost importance in terms of the Great Middle East Project. Bush, who will attend both meetings, will then come to Turkey in order to attend the NATO summit that will be held in Istanbul on 28-29 June. He will stop in Ankara prior to Istanbul, however. (Everyone hopes that that the developments in Cyprus will follow a certain course by that day and therefore,) Iraq, joint struggle against terrorism, and most important, the Great Middle East Project are expected to constitute the items on the agenda of Bush's meetings in Ankara.

The NATO summit in Istanbul will mark the end of the process that began with the 1975 Helsinki Declaration. This file will be closed in Istanbul with the integration of the Eastern European countries with the Western system and their NATO membership. If Turkey accepts, the United States plans to announce in Turkey that a process which is similar to the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the democratization of Eastern Europe will be initiated in the Middle East-Caucasus region. The emphasis put by Washington on the 2004 Istanbul declaration is similar to the emphasis put on the 1975 Helsinki Declaration. The speech that will be given by Bush in Istanbul is currently being prepared.

A high-level official, who wanted to remain anonymous, from the US Administration said the following to RADIKAL with regard to the kind of a role that they want Turkey to assume in this project: "We understand some of the criticism that is being leveled and some of the concerns that are being felt in Turkey. We believe however, that Turkey should take place in this project as an initiator partner country and as a sponsor, rather than a target country. Turkey is both a European and a Middle East country. Given this double identity, Turkey is a partner, which has unique characteristics, of our project, which aims to bring freedom, democracy, and prosperity to the Middle East. With its historical and cultural experience, Turkey is an ally country, rather than a model country, that will ensure the feasibility and the better understanding of our goals. With its Muslim population, Turkey is the only example of secularity and democracy."

Compared with the scope of the project at its birth, the Great Middle East Project is turning into a greater and a broader project. Turkey should determine its stand with regard to this project on the basis of wisdom and caution, rather than on the basis of sentimental reactions."

[10] United Cyprus divides Turkey

"The political elite of Turkey, which agrees that the Cyprus issue is a matter of national importance, has failed to remain united about it. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's plan that aims at the unification of the Turkish and Greek Cypriot portions of the island has caused a split in Turkish politics which will last for many years.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the government and the National Security Council (NSC) and the government and the opposition, are strongly divided. While Parliament was able to take a unified stance on Cyprus on March 5, 2003, now it is unable to pass even a two sentence statement in support of Mr Rauf Denktas. Even Denktas's address to Parliament occurred only after a long series of arguments.

When the process, which begun in Davos and continued in New York, Nicosia and Burgenstock, Switzerland, did not produce an agreement, Prime Minister Erdogan's government agreed to submit the 9,000-page agreement, almost entirely prepared by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, to the referenda. This government stance caused significant divisions and arguments among the people on the street, state bureaucracy and the political parties in Turkey. The government, citing that political responsibility and the constitutional authority were theirs, ignored all criticisms. The first reaction against the government policies came from Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. Ozkok voiced serious criticisms in a subtle way, which was interpreted as support by some supporters of the government. Ozkok said that this was the first time ever that there were two competing opinions on a national matter like Cyprus. He also said that the results of the New York negotiations on Cyprus had gone beyond the principles agreed at the national Security Council (NSC) meeting on January 23.

President Sezer breaks his silence

President Sezer, who has kept quiet for a long time on the issue of Cyprus, voiced his objections in a way that may cause deep argument in some quarters. He chose the War Academy in Istanbul to air his opinions. Even choosing Istanbul as the place to voice his grievances was a clear reaction against Prime Minister Erdogan. Speaking during his official visit to Japan, Erdogan announced that he would not be able to attend Denktas's Parliament address, because it clashed with his pre-scheduled weekly meeting with President Sezer. After this announcement, President Sezer went to Istanbul a day before the scheduled meeting and canceled it. Sezer, by this decision, showed he would not be a pawn in Erdogan's political maneuvering.

Sezer, by deciding to speak at the War Academy, addressing the future general of the military, showed how important the Cyprus issue was for him. The place Sezer chose to air his views was also symbolic due to reports that there was also a division within the military, denied by Ozkok. During his long speech, Sezer stressed that the government had followed a different set of principles for the Cyprus process, than those agreed in the NSC meetings.

Sezer said, while at the NSC meeting on January 23, there was no agreement on accepting U.N. Secretary-General Annan's offer to fill in the blanks of the plan if the two sides failed to reach an accord, he had learned about the acceptance of it by the Turkish side on Jan. 24 through Annan's invitation letter and the records of Davos. He noted that this had started a process with no possibility of return.

Sezer, speaking about the method of Annan filling in the blanks if there was no agreement between the two sides, said, "In our country, there are those who support this method and the plan and those who are cautious and voice their fears about it. It would be correct to assume that both of these sides approach their stance from a good intentioned basis."

He also criticized the process by saying, "Currently, even those in support of the plan admit that there are still some portions of the plan that fails to satisfy the Turkish side."

He also pointed out that the possibility of the articles favoring the Turkish side being amended by international courts in the future should be carefully assessed.

Sezer also noted that the parts thought to be in favor of the Turkish side, the limitations imposed on Greek Cypriots on property purchases and length of stay, in the final version of the plan that would be put to public referenda were not permanent. "While the derogations will automatically end at the end of the unification process, the possibility of Greek Cypriots contesting the derogations at European Union Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights, after a united Cyprus joins the EU, if both sides on Cyprus accept the plan at the referenda, should not be ignored."

Sezer said that if the document was approved the appropriate procedure would be to start implementing the plan only after it is ratified by each and every EU member Parliament, in order to turn the derogations into EU primary law.

"This way the EU member countries will show whether they sincerely support a solution on Cyprus or not," said Sezer.

Denktas in Parliament

Mr Rauf Denktas was harshly criticized by the government for making disparaging statements about the Annan plan. Prime Minister Erdogan, during his official visit to Japan, told Denktas to wage his campaign against the plan in the `TRNC´, not in Turkey. When Denktas wanted to address the Turkish Parliament, instead of making speeches at meetings held by some NGOs and political parties, he was ignored by the Parliament leadership for a long time.

Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, speaking in his usual style, said, "Let him come and tell us he wants to address Parliament. Then we will consider it," ignoring his title as president. Faced with this obstruction, the former parliamentarians union asked the Parliament leadership to grant them a hall to hold a conference, where Denktas would make a speech. Parliament leadership stalled on the request, which it had granted many times before. However, faced with increasing criticism from the opposition Republican People's Party (RPP), Parliament Speaker Arinc changed his stance. Arinc, persuaded by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul for Denktas's speech to go ahead during the funeral of businessman Sakip Sabanci, called Denktas and told him that if he wanted to address Parliament, it could be arranged.

Denktas, who found it hard to make a "farewell speech" in Parliament, due to government resistance, read out a written speech in Parliament. However, this process of preventing Denktas making a speech caused some friction within the JDP. "Nationalists" within the party started to openly voice their objections. JDP deputy from Malatya Suleyman Saribas said, "Let me tell you openly that if the Annan plan comes to Parliament, I will vote against it." JDP deputy from Hatay Fuat Gecen said they had some reservations, adding, "According to the information we have received on the matter, things don't sound right. The information released is not sufficient." The government's support for a solution on Cyprus has also divided Parliament. Parliament had approved a statement supporting Denktas and listing Turkish demands with full support a year ago, while it failed to pass a short support statement for Denktas prepared by the RPP, the True Path Party (TPP) and independent deputies, because the JDP deputies were absent.

The statement was, "Mr Rauf Denktas´ speech was listened to with great respect and admiration by Parliament. Parliament has decided to express its support and appreciation to Denktas in line with our national policies."

The opposition in Parliament

All parties in Parliament apart from the JDP have taken a stance against the Annan plan. Opposition parties not represented in Parliament are holding rallies and meetings to show their objection to the plan. The most important show of support came as Denktas was addressing Parliament. Former Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DLP) leader Bulent Ecevit, who had pushed the start button of the 1974 Peace intervention on Cyprus, his wife Rahsan Ecevit were sitting at the space allocated to guests in Parliament Assembly, during Denktas's speech. Most of Ecevit's former deputies were also present. The Nationalist Action Party (NAP) leader Devlet Bahceli, and all of his party's former deputies, Saadet (happiness or contentment) Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan and all of the former party deputies were present during the address. Opposition parties in Parliament were also fully represented. From the ruling party, there were only ten ministers, while around 150 seats in the JDP were empty. Prime Minister Erdogan, after the cancellation of his meeting with President Sezer, decided to visit the largest labor organization in Turkey, Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is). Labor Minister Murat Basesgioglu arrived near the end of Denktas's one-hour speech, while Erdogan decided to go home.

Division on the Cyprus issue has reached unprecedented levels in state bureaucracy, Turkish politics and even among the people. The north saying "YES", while the south saying "NO" to the Annan plan at the referenda is seen as the only way both sides will bridge their differences. However, there are many who say that even such a scenario might fail to bring unity, because under these conditions, the likelihood of a renewed referendum in the south and a "YES" result seems very high. These assessments show that this division won't be bridged so soon, and may even intensify, dominating the Turkish political agenda for the foreseeable future. Turkey is paying the price of unifying Cyprus, by being divided itself."

/SK

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