Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-04-19

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat will take over from Denktas on 24 April.

[02] Denktas describes Talat as a cold-blooded man like a snake, who has patience that will frustrate the Greek Cypriots.

[03] Turkish officials congratulate Talat and thank Rauf Denktas.

[04] Congratulatory messages to Talat from foreign dignitaries.

[05] Eroglus National Unity Party continues to speak about intervention in the elections-Political developments in occupied Cyprus after the so-called elections.

[06] The National Security Council assessed the results of voting in the occupied part of Cyprus.

[07] Luxembourg is preparing a new proposal for the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Statements by Leopold Maurer.

[08] The French Ambassador visited the occupied Kyrenia municipality.

[09] JDP deputy resigned under cloud.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Denktas is unhappy regarding Turkey´s intervention.

[11] AFRIKA:"The last occupier must go away so that a new period could begin".

[12] Columnist in HURRIYET analyses how Talat understands the new cause he preached during his election campaign.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat will take over from Denktas on 24 April

SEP Chairman Taner Erginel told reporters that the board decided that Talat should take over the post on Sunday (April 24th) since current so-called President Rauf Denktas' term in office would end on Saturday (April 23rd).

According to the legal procedures, the president-elect takes over the post after taking oath at the TRNC parliament a day after the outcome of the elections is published in the Official Gazette. In this case, the TRNC parliament will hold an extraordinary session on Sunday, and Talat will become the new president in the occupied areas of Cyprus, after taking his oath.

Replying to a question, Erginel said that nobody had objected to the outcome of the elections so far.

[02] Denktas describes Talat as a cold-blooded man like a snake, who has patience that will frustrate the Greek Cypriots

According to the paper, Mr Denktas said that he will support Mr Talat, remaining bound by the existence of their state. Referring to Mr Talat, Mr Denktas said: He is a man cold-blooded like a snake, may God preserve him from evil. He also has patience that will frustrate the Greek Cypriots. A political party that worked well and gave hope to the people has won.

In his response, Mr Talat expressed the opinion that the message which the Turkish Cypriots gave with the election result was clear. The Turkish Cypriots, he said, want a just solution, which will be protecting their rights and will in no way be depriving them from their political equality and security.

The paper reports also that both Denktas and Talat lived emotional moments during their meeting. Holding Mr Talats hand Mr Denktas said: I am turning over to you the state, not my deposition. When Mr Talat asked is this not a deposition, Mr Denktas replied: It is the result of the deposition. Protect it, protect it. Let God help you, let Him help all of us.

The paper writes that meanwhile the eyes of both Denktas and Talat were filled with tears.

[03] Turkish officials congratulate Talat and thank Rauf Denktas

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has congratulated Mehmet Ali Talat for his victory in the presidential elections. In his message, Mr Erdogan wished success to Talat in his new task and described the Cyprus problem as a common national cause defended with confidence and unity. Prime Minister Erdogan stressed that the joint effort made for a just solution based on equality, which will permanently guarantee the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots, must be intensified. He also noted: At this time, Turkey is determined to give every support to facilitate the development of the TRNC and to help the Turkish Cypriots attain the level of prosperity they deserve and look to the future with confidence. That is one of the objectives among our Government's priorities. In view of that, we will closely cooperate with you and the TRNC Government. That is natural.

Moreover, Ankara Anatolia news agency (18.04.05) reported that the Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent the following message on Monday:

Efforts aiming to find a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue and to protect the independence and freedom of the Turkish Cypriots should be maintained with the same resolution. Turkey will continue expending all kinds of efforts for the prosperity and tranquillity of the TRNC.

Meanwhile, President Sezer thanked Rauf Denktas, for his services rendered to the Turkish Cypriots.

In his message Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said: Turkey will continue to be in solidarity with you and Turkish Cypriots. A fair compromise on Cyprus is our common goal. An agreement to be reached should safeguard the rights and interests of the Turkish Cypriots and assure lasting peace and security in the island. Those are our priorities.

Turkey, as a guarantor country, will continue to fulfil its duties and liabilities stemming from international agreements with decisiveness, added Mr Gul.

In a statement he made following the meeting of Council of Ministers, Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, who is also the spokesman of the government, said that a new era had started in TRNC after the election of Talat as the new president.

Mr Cicek noted: We hope that a new era, which will safeguard the rights and interests of our kinsmen and brothers in TRNC and which will enable settlement of lasting peace in the island, has been opened.

Underlining that Rauf Denktas, who had to leave his office after the presidential elections, had undertaken very important duties, Mr Cicek said: We are all grateful to him. He is a distinguished statesman and a historic dignity that is the symbol of Turkish Cypriot cause. Not only will we, but those who will rule TRNC in the future take benefit of his know-how, experience and suggestions.

As Turkey, we will be in close cooperation with all the Turkish Cypriot officials, particularly new president Talat. I would like to state that we will stand by Turkish Cypriots and maintain our support to safeguard their just cause and meet their expectations. I hope the (outcome of) elections will be in TRNC's, Cyprus' and our interest, added Mr Cicek.

[04] Congratulatory messages to Talat from foreign dignitaries

Mr Annan offered his congratulations to the winner of last Sundays so-called presidential election, Mehmet Ali Talat.

The Secretary-Generals spokesman said that he hoped Talats victory in the so-called election would help to promote reunification on the island and added: He is glad that the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community has been clarified and he welcomes the renewed evidence of commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus issue. He congratulates Mr Mehmet Ali Talat and, in the context of his mission of good offices, looks forward to working productively with him in the continuing search for peace on the island.

Moreover, the European Union Commission said that it hoped the aid of 259 million euros would soon be made available to the occupied areas of Cyprus.

The victory of Mehmet Ali Talat in Sundays presidential elections should hasten the resumption of reunification negotiations on the island, the European Union said in a statement issued on Monday.

The European Commission also praised the outcome of the election, saying that it should bring about the rapid unblocking of EU aid and preferential trade terms for the occupied areas of Cyprus.

The EU statement said that Talats win confirms the strong desire of the Turkish Cypriot community for reunification and full integration into the EU. The Commission expects that this result will create favourable conditions for a resumption of talks under the aegis of the UN in view of a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue.

The EU Commission said that it was ready to actively support all efforts to this aim and to play a more active role in this respect. The Commission also hopes that a compromise will allow the rapid adoption of its proposals on both the financial assistance and on special conditions for trade, it said. These proposals are seen as a way to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and to facilitate reunification by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community.

The United States has welcomed the victory of Mehmet Ali Talat in Sundays so-called presidential elections and said it looked forward to working with all parties to find a solution to the dispute on the island.

A statement issued by the US State Department late Sunday congratulated Talat on his win, saying that his victory again proved the Turkish Cypriots supported reunification.

The United States welcomes this reaffirmation by Turkish Cypriots of their commitment to a comprehensive solution and reunification of the island. We look forward to working with all interested parties to this end.

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (19.04.05) reports that Russia, in the congratulatory message sent for Talats victory, stated that Mr Talat should take new steps and accelerate the dialogue for the Cyprus settlement. The Undersecretary of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr Yuri Fedotov, said that the policies of Russia regarding the Cyprus issue have not changed and added: We continue to support that the plan of the UN Secretary-General that foresees a united federal Cyprus, should be put on the negotiation table.

Finally, the General Secretary of the Organization of Islamic Conference, Mr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, sent a congratulatory message to Mr Talat and expressed his satisfaction for the election of the new so-called president in the occupied areas of Cyprus. He also noted that they will continue to support fully their brother Turkish Cypriots.

[05] Eroglus National Unity Party continues to speak about intervention in the elections-Political developments in occupied Cyprus after the so-called elections

Turkish Cypriot daily GUNES reports that Mr Salih Miroglu, the General Secretary of the National Unity Party (NUP) of Dervis Eroglu, stated that Turkey, the USA and the EU intervened in the so-called presidential elections held in occupied Cyprus last Sunday. Mr Miroglu stated that the NUP participated in the elections despite the fact that the party was aware of this situation, but it did so because it respects the independence and the sovereignty of the state, as he said. He also stated that the party knew that its base felt offended and distress about the situation and added that the low participation in the election was a protest made by the members of the NUP. He also said that there is no reason for the chairman of the NUP, Mr Eroglu, to resign from his post.

KIBRIS writes that the chairman of the Communal Liberation Party (CLP), Mr Huseyin Angolemli stated that he will resign from his post. It is time for new names of the CLP to continue, he said. Mr Angolemli stated that he wanted to resign after the so-called parliament elections held in February 2005, but after a decision taken by his party assembly, he decided to be a candidate in the so-called presidential elections as well.

In addition as KIBRIS reports, Mr Zeki Besiktepeli, evaluating the results of the presidential elections, stated that the message that came out from the ballot box is that there is the need for the formation of a progressive left party. The paper writes that Mr Besiktepeli, who was among the independent candidates and received 1.72%, has started already to work for the formation of a new party.

YENI DUZEN writes that the power of the NUP of Eroglu has decreased. As the paper writes, the NUP faced the biggest loss of votes in its history in the presidential elections and notes that it took 13.439 less votes in these elections compared to the number of votes it has received in so-called parliament elections of February 2005.

The Democratic Party of Serdar Denktas, took 1.975 votes less than the last elections while the CLP of Huseyin Angolemli received 1.563 votes less than the so-called parliament elections of February 2005.

Some parties took more votes in these elections compared to the last one. The Republican Turkish Party of Mehmet Ali Talat took 6.569 more votes compared to the so-called parliament elections of February 2005. In addition, the New Party of Nuri Cevikel also increased its voters, but the paper did not give any further information about this issue.

The paper also writes that Mr Rauf Denktas took 42.820 votes in the so-called presidential elections held in 2000, while Mr Talat received 55.945 votes in the elections held last Sunday. In addition Mr Talat, who was elected as the new president with 55.59%, received 10.03% in the 2000 presidential elections, while Mr Eroglu, who received 30.15% in the 2000 presidential elections, took 22.72% in last Sundays elections.

[06] The National Security Council assessed the results of voting in the occupied part of Cyprus

[07] Luxembourg is preparing a new proposal for the lifting of the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Statements by Leopold Maurer

As the paper writes, Mr Leopold Maurer, who is the head of the Task Force for the Turkish Cypriot Community of the EU Commission's Directorate General for Enlargement, stated that this proposal will be related to the port of occupied Famagusta. He stated that the Luxembourg proposal will be also cover the regulations regarding the use of the ports and added that Luxembourg is looking for a consensus on this issue. In addition he stated that he hopes that a solution will be found in the next few weeks regarding the fish and honey trade through the Green Line.

Mr Leopold Maurer stated that he will visit Cyprus between 25-27 of April and that he will meet with Mr Mehmet Ali Talat.

[08] The French Ambassador visited the occupied Kyrenia municipality

Turkish Cypriot Cyprus Times, newspaper (19.04.05) reports the following on the visit: While meeting with Mayor Sumer Aygin, Ambassdor Dupin received information about the new development and investments in the Kyrenia District. He also heard about the problems of the Turkish Cypriots who have been forced to live outside of the area where the Aquis is in affect.

After the meeting, Mayor Aygin gave a lunch at the Colony Hotel in the honour of the Ambassador and discussed further the economic status of the `TRNC´ with investors and businessmen from Kyrenia.

[09] JDP deputy resigned under cloud

Ahmet Kaya, a deputy representing the eastern province of Agri, announced his resignation from the JDP on Tuesday morning.

Last week, state prosecutors requested that Kayas parliamentary immunity from prosecution be lifted so that he could face charges stemming from an investigation into allegations of corruption in tenders let by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.

Prosecutors have already opened a court case against 18 bureaucrats allegedly involved in corrupt practices and are now assessing whether some parliamentary deputies can also be charged.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Denktas is unhappy regarding Turkey´s intervention

He stresses the low turnout of the voters, which was below 70 percent , and says that 55 percent vote that Talat received, corresponds to 37% of the total registered voters. He then tries to analyze the reasons for this low turnout, Levent writes;

The reason more than 30 percent of the people did not turn out for voting emanates mainly from disapproval felt towards Turkey.

For the first time people boycotted the elections with this high percentage. Ankara´s stance as though it was imposing Talat on the Turkish Cypriots had its role in this boycotting.

Certain number of Turks from Turkey as well, expressed their opposition by voting their candidate.

You will come and say, `is this the first time Ankara is intervening in our elections?

Of course it is not. All the elections that we had here, were held under Ankara´s intervention.

Until now these interventions were directed against the left, so neither Denktas nor the right demonstrated any reaction. However, now, both Denktas and the National Unity Party (NUP) as well as the Democratic Party (DP) are complaining about Ankara´s intervention.

Everything turned upside down. What the leftists were saying in the past now the rightist are saying!

[11] AFRIKA:The last occupier must go away so that a new period could begin

Yesterday our newspaper was visited by a lot of representatives of foreign news agencies and other correspondents. Everybody was interested in the election results and the assessments about them. Europe, they said, has expectations from Talat. They are curious to what extent they will be fulfilled. To tell the truth, we were surprised. Has Europe not understood until now that Talat can do nothing here with his own initiative? It is understood that they were not able to get rid of the Denktas phobia. Denktas has put himself forward in such a firm manner that the world thought that he has been doing everything here! However, how many times he has said his complaint without being able to make it understood? How many times he said: I did what Turkey said?

Now the world, which is seeing that Denktas is being removed from the scene and that Talat is being put in his place, has suddenly begun dreaming. It is hoping that Talat will do something bypassing Turkey. I wish he does, but is it possible? Turkey was happier than the Turkish Cypriots about Talats election. HURRIYET newspaper gave the news in eight columns with banner headlines. Talats Period, it said. The other newspapers of Turkey used similar titles. America, the EU and Turkey were the first to congratulate Talat.

The message wished to be sent to the world is clear: The side that wants a solution in Cyprus is the Turkish side. Those who prevent the solution are Papadopoulos and the Greek Cypriot people who support him.

In order for this message to be given to the world, Denktas was discharged and Talat was put in his place. To tell the truth, this policy, which is not very sincere, has been successful until now. What happens next, though? What will happen when it is understood that saying only that we want a solution can not be useful for ever? And what will happen especially if changes are made in the Annan Plan, the United Nations approve these changes and this time the Turkish side say no? Will this balloon not disappear? Until when, however, could we be administered with false policies formulated only for show?

Has really a new period begun in Cyprus? Or is everything the same, except Denktas? The periods in the history of Cyprus are defined with the colonialists, not with the leaders. It was the Lusignian era, the Venetian era, the Ottoman era, the British era and finally the era of Turkey. The last occupier must go away so that a period could be over and a new period to start. Can it be a new period of a man who is established in the palace within the occupiers wings?

[12] Columnist in HURRIYET analyses how Talat understands the new cause he preached during his election campaign

The fatigue is evident in everything they do. The Turkish Cypriots are tired of going to the ballot boxes. The Turkish Cypriots have been showing their determination for a settlement for the past two years and are not just tired, they are also fed up. They feel that by putting Mehmet Ali Talat in the Presidential Palace they have done their final duty.

What will happen from now on? The answers given to this question and the commentaries being made are not as optimistic as they were in the past. In his pre-election speech Mehmet Ali Talat began to speak of "the new cause".

What is this "new cause"?

Talat explains: "Under Denktas the Cyprus cause rested on the notion of non-solution. Now, we are going to formulate a Cyprus cause project based on settlement.

In other words? Up until today those in favour of a settlement were targeting Denktas and his policies of non-solution.

From now on we are going to fight against anyone who is holding back a settlement, says Talat, which means he is pointing to Greek Cypriot leader Papadopoulos.

The start of increasing reaction to Papadopoulos by the Turkish Cypriots gives clues as to the new policy.

Is this limited to just Papadopoulos?

Is he the only obstacle to a settlement? Was it not the Greek Cypriots who carried Papadopoulos to power and who voted No to the Annan Plan? How is the mentality prevalent in Greek Cypriot society that sees the Turkish Cypriots as a minority going to change?

Mehmet Ali Talat says: We are going to expose the Greek Cypriots and disclose their true intentions to the world. We are going to explain that Southern Cyprus' fanatic approach is not in keeping with the real Europe.

According to a colleague of mine, in RTP [Republican Turkish Party] circles: "It is not possible to turn peace and settlement on Cyprus from a goal into a national cause without creating powerful mass support."

No result is being achieved solely through diplomatic paths and through negotiations with Europe. The Greek Cypriots are members of the EU. They are a part of Europe. They can make themselves heard within European institutions.

Therefore, in order to get themselves heard the Turkish Cypriots have no choice but to use all avenues, and not just the streets. I know there is a group within the RTP that thinks like this. Is the new president going to pioneer a new policy that will gain the backing of the people against the Greek Cypriot administration's unjust initiatives?

There are commentaries being made to the effect that Talat up until now has had an "academic" approach to the Cyprus problem, and that he has employed his political skills against the non-solution lobby within the Turkish Cypriot administration.

But, as far as we can tell, Talat is a thing of the past. Everybody now expects from Talat a new "man for the cause" to go with this "new cause". If Talat can pull of this role successfully, he will put both the Turkish Cypriots and mainland Turkey at ease.

Failing this, it will not be possible to shake off developments that will push Denktas, who indicated yesterday that he was about to start a tough opposition campaign, into a natural alliance with the extreme nationalist chauvinist movement in Turkey.

/SK

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