Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-06-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader says that he does not want urgently a solution and accession of Cyprus to the EU because this would mean the return of the Greek Cypriot refugees to their homes and properties.

[02] Turkey/s Ambassador to NATO admits that Turkey is interested in Cyprus for its own strategic interests.

[03] Visa restrictions from the UK and Australia force the Turkish Cypriots to the free areas of Cyprus.

[04] VOLKAN sees intensification of the diplomatic traffic.

[05] The so-called "Assembly" unanimously votes for the 12 miles.

[06] The women of the occupied area of Lefka appeal for urgent measures regarding the ecological disaster in Karavostassi.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Commentary in RADIKAL proves the important role of the army in Turkish politics.

[08] Columnist in Turkish Daily News assesses the decisions of the National Security Council.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader says that he does not want urgently a solution and accession of Cyprus to the EU because this would mean the return of the Greek Cypriot refugees to their homes and properties

Commenting on the recent developments concerning the Cyprus issue during a meeting yesterday with Kamu-Sen [Turkish Cypriot Public Sector Workers Union] leadership, Mr Denktas expressed the opinion that the minds of some people in the occupied areas "became foggy" due to the economic problems and referring to Cyprus' accession to the EU he added:

"...We cannot ignore the dangers put before us until reaching there. You should see the dangers and discuss about measures to remove them. And if you succeed, this is anyway your path, sooner or later it will happen. However, saying 'Let us hurry up, to do it now', means opening the door for all the Greek Cypriot refugees to return to their homes...".

Furthermore, Mr Denktas said that the statements on Cyprus made by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who left the occupied areas of Cyprus on Monday at the end of his contacts, and the assessment and support displayed by the National Security Council of Turkey on the Cyprus issue provide light for the Turkish Cypriots.

Mr Denktas remarked that in a national cause, there is no such thing as a Denktas cause or formula, there is only a national formula. He added that this national formula is fully supported by motherland Turkey. Pointing out that sovereignty constitutes the foundation for the formula of the national cause, Mr Denktas said: "Those who have established their state do not offer their state for sale. They establish a partnership, attain peace, and reach a conciliation on the basis of that state. Unity is achieved on this basis. However, the essence is the lasting nature of the state."

[02] Turkey/s Ambassador to NATO admits that Turkey is interested in Cyprus for its own strategic interests

Oymen said that the Cyprus problem was not taken up in NATO meetings and added Turkey`s strategic interests should also be taken into consideration while dealing with this issue.

``We must look into the origin of this matter. This is not only an issue of lives and financial security of the Turkish community on the island. Turkey`s strategic interests should also be taken into consideration. This is a national cause for Turkey,`` he told the A.A.

``For the last 50 years, Turkey has been seeking compromise and it has always followed a stable, consistent policy while protecting its national interests,`` Oymen continued. ``Even when the governments change, this attitude continued as a state policy. The Greek Cypriots should not be allowed to violate international agreements. Their single sided application to the EU is against international agreements. There are written reports proving it by legal experts. The entrance of Cyprus to the EU would disrupt all the balances between Turkey and Greece and everyone should see this. If the Greek Cypriots join the EU, a government that is not recognized by Turkey, they will have a say about Turkey's entrance to the EU. Turkey won`t be able to join the EU without the approval of the Cyprus Parliament.``

[03] Visa restrictions from the UK and Australia force the Turkish Cypriots to the free areas of Cyprus

Talking in London at a meeting in which Mr Andy Love, labour Party MP and other politicians have participated, Mr Angolemli reminded that the Turkish Cypriots leave the occupied areas because of the problem of unemployment and desperation.

Noting that before those who left were going to UK and Australia Mr Angolemli said: "Our desperate and unemployed people who love their country at least as you and we do, unfortunately flee to Southern Cyprus".

"If the EU wants a solution to the Cyprus problem it must give a date to Turkey regarding its membership", added the Turkish Cypriot politician.

[04] VOLKAN sees intensification of the diplomatic traffic

Talking during the meetings Mr Denktas said that he hoped that the countries, which appoint a coordinator for Cyprus, stopped listening only to the Greek Cypriot side and began to listen to the Turkish side as well.

Furthermore, the Special Envoy of Sweden expressed the hope for progress in the Cyprus problem within this month. "I hope that something will come out from the negotiations this month", he said.

[05] The so-called "Assembly" unanimously votes for the 12 miles

[06] The women of the occupied area of Lefka appeal for urgent measures regarding the ecological disaster in Karavostassi

The participants in the protest appealed to all those concerned to undertake their responsibilities before it is too late.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[07] Commentary in RADIKAL proves the important role of the army in Turkish politics

The National Security Council [NSC] meeting held the day before yesterday showed that thanks to the harmony among President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem, and Chief of the General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the absence of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will not cause any deadlock at the summit of the state.

Ankara proved that strategic decisions and solution formulas can be developed among the President-Chief of the General Staff-Minister of Foreign Affairs trio even when politics encounters the most serious deadlock in the country. Information leaking out of NSC indicates that this harmony among the aforementioned three leaders has produced results on three occasions.

The first occasion deals with the debates on the Cyprus problem. Following the opposing arguments supported by State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz about the line that must be followed with regard to Cyprus, a common point introduced by Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem was adopted by both President Sezer and the military wing.

The second example deals with the debates on the death penalty. While Cem listed the steps that must be taken in line with the EU criteria in non-sharp sentences, President Sezer, who took part in the NATO summit in Italy a few days ago together with Cem, intervened, saying: "Shall we focus on the concrete, Mr. Cem? For example, what is the situation with regard to the death penalty?" President Sezer thus secured the overcoming of the obstacle that came into being due to the absence of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in the meeting.

The third example deals with NSC's decision on abolishing before the Copenhagen summit slated for December 2002 of the state of emergency in the southeast, which raised the loudest voices compared to other issues.

The soldiers made preparations regarding the abolishing of the state of emergency on condition that the civilians raise this issue first. Thus, President Sezer will be the one who raises this issue. Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem, for his part, will support Sezer on the issue, while Chief of the General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu will adopt the abolishing of the state of emergency in the southeast.

That is, the absence of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit at the NSC meeting did not constitute any obstacle before the making of strategic decisions during the summit. Therefore, the situation is currently under control at the summit.

However, the function of the state does not consist solely of the decisions made at the NSC meeting or the foreign contacts that President Sezer or Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem holds on behalf of Ecevit. The Council of Ministers held its latest meeting on Monday, 29 April 2002. The Council of Ministers did not convene since that date and nobody knows for how longer it will be unable to convene.

On the other hand, the Higher Planning Council, which is required to make important decisions about a number of important issues ranging from measures pertaining to new economic measures to those of quality industrial areas with the aim of reviving the economy, is unable to convene. State Minister Kemal Dervis, for his part, says that mistakes that may endanger the economic program are accumulating as a result of the failure of the government to make the important economic decisions regarding the daily functions of the economy.

Turkey is a country with the tradition of a state and may remain so for a while longer. For example, the President, who according to Article 8 of the Constitution is the head of the executive organ, has the right in accordance with Article 104 of the Constitution to call the Council of Ministers to a meeting whenever he "deems it necessary." This kind of a situation may happen for one or two exceptional instances. Well, what will happen then?

Ecevit's doctors are refraining from giving clear information but it appears that most of Ecevit's illnesses are not acute but are chronic and related to aging. The specialist doctors are saying that it is possible to soften the effects of these kinds of illnesses rather than curing them. Naturally, we wish that Ecevit's illnesses were cured. However, what will happen if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit fails to carry out his duties fully in the same way that he did in the past?

ANAP [Motherland Party] Deputy Group Leader Nihat Gokbulut yesterday called on Ecevit and DSP, the latter's political party, to make a decision regarding the matter. This was the first concern expressed within the structure of the coalition government regarding Ecevit's illness. Criticizing these concerns, DSP Deputy Group Leader Emrehan Halici defined these concerns as "the absence of principles." Halici's response cannot be regarded as a statement that may produce any political results.

Therefore, Halici's response may be ignored. However, this warning, which has come from one of the ANAP officials who has up until now taken care not to offend Ecevit, shows that this government vacuum will not last for a long time.

The campaigns that NAP [Nationalist Action Party] Leader Devlet Bahceli may launch on his return from China may become the development that would increase the complexity of the issue. In fact, Bahceli's campaigns may speed up the solution of the problem. If the signals being conveyed prove to be correct and Bahceli succeeds in attracting deputies from DSP, thus gaining more seats than DSP in the parliament, things may reach a point where the silence maintained by Ecevit's doctors would not be sufficient to continue the current political situation.

Under these circumstances, each day where Ecevit and DSP maintain silence would bring MHP Leader Devlet Bahceli closer to early elections and to the Prime Ministerial position. This policy of maintaining silence is bringing the government closer to a crisis.

[08] Columnist in Turkish Daily News assesses the decisions of the National Security Council

The approaches are becoming clearer on the long-debated harmonization to the EU issue.

In an atmosphere created by the absence of political will, it was first the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), then the General Staff who came up with disclosures on the issue. Nobody now has the luxury of talking around the Copenhagen criteria, without indeed saying anything at all.

At the point we have come to, no one has the possibility of coming up with a statement "We want, but the military is against."

Now, everyone has to clearly state whether they are for or against EU membership.

Acting with the ulterior motivation and developing policies with election victory considerations will not help anyone, on the contrary it could be counterproductive.

As positions are clarifying, at the same time the real issue of discussion is becoming clearer: Cyprus... The way the issue was handled at the latest meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), indeed, confirmed this.

But, first of all, let's remind how the issue was being approached from the outside.

The United Nations want an accord on fundamental aspects of the Cyprus issue by the end of June.

The differences of opinion between the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot sides, on the other hand, continue on many aspects "for the time being."

In this atmosphere, the American State Department has been demanding that the sides accelerate the negotiations process and resolve their differences.

Washington, on the other hand, has no clear-cut position on whether Cyprus can be allowed to enter the EU if a resolution was not reached.

In a recent press briefing, State Department Spokesman Phil Reeker stressed that Washington wanted a resolution of the Cyprus problem and Cyprus should enter the EU as a whole.

However, over the past weeks, American Ambassador to Athens, Tom Miller, had said with or without a settlement on Cyprus, Cyprus would enter the EU.

All these statements and disclosures are being followed in Ankara with great care and attention.

For example, Sukru Sina Gurel, the state minister in charge of Cyprus affairs, has been voicing that Turkey cannot accept Cyprus being shown as a key for Turkey's EU accession.

"We have opened our hands and waiting for EU membership. In one of our hands we have Cyprus, in the other EU membership. If we give Cyprus, they will put EU membership in the other hand. There is no such equation," Gurel says. We should also underline that the military also has never accepted a Cyprus precondition for Turkey's EU accession.

All "efficient circles" of Ankara share the understanding that Turkey's and Cyprus/ EU simultaneous accession ought to be the sole policy to be followed.

"It is impossible for us to retract from the simultaneous membership position. A comprehensive resolution is reached on Cyprus. Then accession talks open with Turkey. When this process is finalized, Turkey and Cyprus become EU members simultaneously" understanding, that cannot be publicly opposed by one wing of the three-way coalition government, was the approach that was underlined at the latest NSC meeting.

At this point, we should also dwell on the sudden trip of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem immediately after the NSC meeting.

Who to what extend and under what conditions wanted EU membership, cannot be measured with the positions adopted regarding the lifting of the death penalty debate, but rather positions taken regarding the Cyprus issue.

Furthermore, the future of politics as well as the future of the country, will be shaped with this polarization.

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