Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-07-15

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] NUP and DP cooperate for the rejection of RTP's proposal regarding the early "elections".

[02] Talat's statements in Holland.

[03] Turkey's Sener: "Cyprus is Turkey's National cause".

[04] Ankara said to confirm Denktas´ claim on UK request to cease recognizing "TRNC".

[05] Erdogan to pay official visit to France 19 July.

[06] Kutlay Erk to go to Belgium in order to participate in the Committee of the Local Administrations of the Socialist International.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Column says Olmert visit could worsen Turkish-Israeli relations, US supports PKK.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] NUP and DP cooperate for the rejection of RTP's proposal regarding the early "elections"

The paper writes that the DP submitted to the "assembly" a proposal regarding the date of holding of early "elections", noting that they should be held within 60 days. According to information acquired by KIBRIS, DP wants the "elections" to take place on Sunday, 5 November 2004.

Meanwhile, the "assembly" will be discussing today the proposal of non-confidence motion submitted against the RTP - DP coalition "government" by the NUP. The proposal is expected to be approved by the 18 "MPs" of NUP, the 4 "MP's" of Peace and Democracy Movement (PDM), the "MP" of the New Party Nuri Cevikel and the two independent "MP's". The "MP" of Communal Liberation Party (CLP), Huseyin Angolemli has already said that he would vote against the proposal. KIBRIS writes that while 25 "MP's" will support and 24 "MP's" will vote against the NUP proposal, all the attention is focused on to Izzet Izcan, General Secretary of United Cyprus Party (UCP), who is expected to determine the outcome of the voting.

[02] Talat's statements in Holland

Mr Talat, who held a meeting with the Dutch Minister responsible for EU affairs, Atzo Nikolai in the Hague on Tuesday, speaking to reporters after the meeting, alleged that the Greek Cypriots "want to strangle" the Turkish Cypriots.

He added that he told the Dutch official about "the efforts of the Greek Cypriots who are represented in all bodies of the EU" after they entered the Union and claimed that the Greek Cypriots were engaged in intense efforts for rejection of the EU proposal of 259 million Euros in financial aid and trade benefits.

Mr Talat said that the Dutch officials agreed with him and added that the Turkish Cypriots would continue talks with the Netherlands.

Mr Talat noted that he had voiced the Turkish Cypriot requests to the Dutch officials that the EU should open a bureau in the occupied part of the island and prevent the Greek Cypriots from declaring illegal the port of Famagusta.

"Free trade is one of the basic principles of the EU and the Netherlands should once find a solution to that situation", supported Mr Talat.

[03] Turkey's Sener: "Cyprus is Turkey's National cause"

Speaking to a group of war veterans and former fighters from the occupied part of Cyprus, who are currently visiting Ankara on the occasion of the 30th black anniversary of the invasion and occupation of the part of Cyprus by Turkish troops, Sener said that the relation between Turkey and the occupied area is deeper than that of the relation between two "states" and the understanding between two communities. He claimed that the 1974 July invasion was a turning point.

Noting that the economic and political relations between the occupied area and Turkey are, every passing day, getting stronger and stronger Sener said that "celebrating" the invasion anniversary as festive day is very important and wished that on 20th July he will be together with them in the occupied area to "celebrate" the occasion.

[04] Ankara said to confirm Denktas´ claim on UK request to cease recognizing "TRNC"

In a statement to a newspaper, Denktas claimed that Britain asked Turkey to renounce its recognition of the "TRNC". Pointing out that this constitutes a threat to Turkey, which is awaiting EU accession, Denktas stated that such pressures will mount until the day comes to set a date for Turkey. Denktas said: "Ankara must once again declare to the world the importance it attaches to Cyprus."

Denktas' statement caused a stir in the political backstage in Ankara. Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan refrained from commenting on the subject, but a high-level Foreign Ministry official confirmed Denktas' claim by saying: "Such odd requests are being raised from time to time." The same official remarked that there is no question of Turkey's even assessing such a demand, and asserted that "Turkey will continue to recognize the "TRNC".

[05] Erdogan to pay official visit to France 19 July

Bilateral relations as well as Turkish-EU relations, Cyprus, Iraq, Middle East, North Africa Initiative, transatlantic relations, Afghanistan, recent situation in the Caucasus, energy, regional and international relations are expected to be discussed during Erdogan's meetings with senior French officials.

On the first day of his three-day official visit, Erdogan will meet French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin and the Turkish citizens living in France.

On the second day, Erdogan will attend a conference in which French businessmen will join and make a presentation titled, ''Turkey-France: New Perspectives for an Influential Partnership''.

Following the conference, Erdogan will meet French President Jacques Chirac.

Erdogan will meet Edouard Balladur, the head of French parliament's foreign affairs commission and commission members after Chirac hosts a working lunch.

Erdogan will also meet Alain Juppe, the leader of the ruling Union for the People's Movement.

On the third and last day of the official visit, Erdogan will meet businessmen before breakfast.

Erdogan will also meet Francois Hollande, the first secretary of the main opposition Socialist Party at the French parliament, and speaker of the parliament and senate president on the last day of his visit to the French capital. He will also meet Jean Louis Debre, the President of the French National Assembly and Francois Bayrou, the President of the Union for French Democracy (UDF).

[06] Kutlay Erk to go to Belgium in order to participate in the Committee of the Local Administrations of the Socialist International

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Column says Olmert visit could worsen Turkish-Israeli relations, US supports PKK

"An acquaintance who called from Washington the day before yesterday revealed that the Americans are greatly upset by the initiatives among Turkey, Syria, and Iran. What with the Turkish-Iranian Security Committee Meeting, Syrian Prime Minister Muhammad Naji Utri's visit to Ankara as well as Turkey's increasingly souring relations with Israel, those in Washington have started to wonder what is going on here.

Incidentally, the fact that Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been hastily sent to Ankara could possibly be regarded within this framework. It is not difficult to imagine that Israel is deeply worried about the above-mentioned developments. However, it is not clear how much good Olmert's visit will do.

Given that Olmert is known as "a hawk with a sharp tongue" and that he has proposed only measures that could be described as "Fascistic" against Palestinians in the past, he is apt to do more damage to the relations than to effect a rapprochement. Besides, it is possible to imagine that his dispatch to Ankara has a domestic political dimension.

Let us explain. The Israelis cannot swallow the rebukes they have received from Prime Minister Erdogan lately. Erdogan's reference to the violence used against Palestinians as "state terror" has driven them crazy - so much so that one of their columnists went so far as to say, `We are not going to let a nation that has killed Armenians and oppressed Kurds teach us a lesson.´ In short, it is definitely not impossible for those who know Israel to believe that the Sharon administration is trying to get across the following message to the Israeli people: `We have sent one of our big guns to put the Turks in their place.´ That is why I described Olmert as a person apt to do more damage to the relations than to effect a rapprochement.

Turning to the Americans, I told the following in brief to the friend who called from Washington:

`Turkey has almost settled the problem of terrorism with Syria. Damascus no longer supports the PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan]. It could even be said that there is cooperation between Ankara and Damascus. Yet Ankara has not solved the terrorism problem with Washington. The PKK is living virtually under the protection of Americans in northern Iraq. Yet the PKK is to the Turks what Al-Qa'ida is to the Americans. Under the circumstances, which American could plausibly say that Turkey is undermining the war on terrorism?´

As for the Turkish-Iranian-Syrian axis, I said that this is extremely normal and logical in the light of the developments in the region. I explained that the occupation of Iraq has created common concerns for the three countries. I also emphasized that reports to the effect that Israel is playing a "meddling" role in Iraq have brought the three countries even closer to one another.

To tell the truth, I do not believe that I was able to `enlighten´ my interlocutor. At best, I believe that I left my interlocutor thinking, `the situation is worse than we thought.´ For, it does not quite occur to those looking at the world from Washington that others could be right regarding matters over which the Americans do not concur with them. Actually, the occupation of Iraq should have shown that the realities of the world do not fit the United States' subjective expectations".

/SK

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