Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-09-30

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[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader left for New York

[02] Denktas: ^�They will exert pressure by saying �Agree�^�

[03] The Turkish Prime Minister openly admits that the occupation of Cyprus is related to the strategic interests of Turkey

[04] Mr Alvaro de Soto held contacts in Turkey

[05] Deniz Baykal outlines RPP�S policies if it comes to power in Turkey.

[06] Polfer: Turkey insensitive towards verdicts of the European Court

[07] A church in the occupied village of Livera was turned into a mosque

[08] A message from the Turkish Cypriot youth to UN Secretary-General

[09] Three hundred four ships visited occupied harbors in August

[10] Press Conference by the newly founded United Cyprus Party

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] The issue of sovereignty. Once again^�

[12] Columnist of KIBRIS says the situation in the occupied areas of Cyprus is worse than an African country under slavery

[13] The EU train

[14] Columnist in ^�Ortadogu^� says efforts are under way to revise the Lausanne Treaty

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Cypriot leader left for New York

Denktas left the occupied areas of Cyprus last night to attend the Cyprus summit in New York on 3 and 4 October. He spent the night in Istanbul and he will leave for New York around midday today.

In a statement to the press at occupied Lefkonico Airport before his departure, Denktas said that if Annan posits a proposal in New York, the Turkish Cypriot team will take it and return to the island. We will not return here accepting anything. He stressed: ^�What we have at the negotiating table is the freedom and future of the Turkish Cypriots, in fact, the issue of preventing them from being expelled from Cyprus. We must realize that well. We must protect our state. We must also continue to work for peace with goodwill together with our motherland^�.

Denktas pointed out that everybody has expectations from the talks to be held with Kofi Annan and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides in New York. This is going to be an assessment meeting, he said, adding: ^�The Secretary-General is trying to help the two sides with goodwill and we are participating in the negotiations with goodwill^�.

Denktas said the fact that he is being accused of intransigence will not stop him from saying the truth. We want an agreement based on equal sovereignty, he said, not an agreement merely on paper. We will continue to tell the truth in the New York talks, he added.

He pointed out that the Turkish Cypriots are not very hopeful about a solution as long as the Greek Cypriot side is treated as the legitimate government of Cyprus. He said: ^�I want to tell those who say that we are going to miss the European train that we were not the ones to launch the train or to organize the train service. The Greek Cypriots launched a Greek Cypriot train. We are trying to turn that train into a Cypriot train. That is why I wanted to meet with Clerides face to face, and that is why I opted for this path by sacrificing several principles. So far, I see that the Greek Cypriot side has not made any basic moves but merely overtures for show. It is exactly where it was in 1963^�.

[02] Denktas: ^�They will exert pressure by saying �Agree�^�

[03] The Turkish Prime Minister openly admits that the occupation of Cyprus is related to the strategic interests of Turkey

On his arrival in Adana accompanied by his wife Rahsan, and State Minister Tayyibe Gulek, Ecevit was received by Governor Oguzkan Koksal and other officials. Ecevit watched the performance of folk dancers for a while. Afterwards he arrived at the square where a rally was to be held. He noted that the importance of Cyprus has been emphasized with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and that the economy of the pseudostate will be greatly affected by this pipeline. He stressed that the oil pipeline has once again underlined the fact that the pseudostate cannot be renounced. Pointing out that the pseudostate is the guarantee of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, Ecevit said that if the occupation regime falls into the hands of others then Turkey will not be able to safeguard this pipeline.

[04] Mr Alvaro de Soto held contacts in Turkey

He said: ^�Our talks will assist me in submitting a report to the Secretary-General and in preparing for a successful meeting between the Secretary-General and the two leaders in Cyprus^�.

Alvaro de Soto refrained from commenting on the document submitted by Rauf Denktas on 11 September. Asked if UN-Secretary General Kofi Annan will submit a new document to the sides during next week's meeting with Denktas and Clerides, the special envoy said: ^�I cannot say anything before talking to the Secretary-General^�.

Alvaro de Soto was also asked if he expects a breakthrough. He responded: ^�I pray and hope for a breakthrough, but it is too early to make an assessment^�.

According to our information, in the talks held behind closed doors, de Soto did not level serious criticism against Denktas' 11 September document. The special envoy remarked that there are beneficial elements in the document. The Turkish side, in turn, reiterated Turkey's support for Denktas and urged de Soto not to submit a new document to the sides in New York. Ankara is not expecting any developments on the subject of Cyprus before the elections, concludes NTV.

[05] Deniz Baykal outlines RPP�S policies if it comes to power in Turkey.

Question: Could you expound on your concrete prescriptions?

Answer: Turkey's number one issue is to overcome the current economic crisis. Unveiling a new economic program to achieve that goal is not a primary necessity. A similar program was put into practice in order to curb inflation, which has taken a downward trend. The general expectation is that inflation will decline to 35 percent at the end of the year. It is pleasing to see that inflation has started to fall after achieving macroeconomic stability. However, this is absolutely not sufficient and more importantly Turkey has not fully reaped the benefits of the price it has paid for checking inflation. Inflation is 35 percent, but lending rates are hovering around 70 percent. If real lending rates fall to somewhere between 40 percent and 50 percent in parallel with inflation, we would reach a point where the pressure on the Turkish economy would be relieved. What matters is for Turkey's total debts amounting to 137 quadrillion Turkish liras to be refinanced with a reasonable interest burden. Since the lending rates are around 70 percent Turkey rolls over its debt by paying interest at 70 percent. It means that we are paying an additional interest close to $60 billion. If lending rates fall to 40-50 percent, it would bring about a considerable financial relief about $20 billion.

Question: Could you outline the policies you intend to pursue if you come to power? For example, what would be your first action?

Answer: Our government would bring about a financial relief equal to $20 billion on the first day it is formed. It would also mark the beginning of a new era in Turkey.

Question: Do you anticipate a coalition to be formed by the JDP [Justice and Development Party] and the RPP [Republican People's Party] after the election?

Answer: What I have in mind is a government to be formed only by the RPP. I could not anticipate anything else.

Question: Yes, but if we look from a realistic angle...

Answer: We are realistic. Some political observers, who were predicting six months ago that we would get six percent of the votes, now say that we will get 20 percent. This shows how politics works. Nobody can predict what will happen tomorrow. Predictions can easily change.

Question: Do you intend to put the Job Safety Act into effect?

Answer: This act has already been ratified and we will implement it.

Question: There were debates over the Job Safety Act. Employers' concerns were not taken into consideration at all.

Answer: It could be reviewed based on works and preparations undertaken.

Question: What would be the legitimacy threshold for Parliament in terms of the percentage of the votes to be won by parties qualified or not qualified to enter Parliament because of the election threshold?

Answer: Parties, which may enter Parliament after the election, must gain at least 50 percent of the poll. Otherwise, there could be a problem of legitimacy. Therefore, we must cross that threshold. Turkey needs and must form a strong government, which would bring about extraordinary benefits. I am trying to achieve this goal and I will keep explaining why it is necessary. Therefore, I absolutely do not have a plan to form a coalition... I am trying to explain this to the public. We should make every effort to form a strong government. If we do that Turkey would gain a lot. According to my calculations, Turkey will gain around $20 billion in the first phase after establishment of a powerful government. In other words, the voters could contribute $20 billion to the government's budget without even spending a penny. This contribution will not be a loan to be repaid together with an interest. I mean it would be a favour that people would do themselves. This would be an exceptional phenomenon. I believe that we would make a substantial contribution to attainment of that goal if we could successfully explain it to people.

Question: What if the voters bring the JDP [Justice and Development Party] to power alone?

Answer: They have the right to use their discretion and we will respect their judgment. I am confident that the people will assess the need for achieving political stability not only mathematically but also in terms of its economic, diplomatic and political dimensions. If a strong government emerges on the morning of 4 November in line with our expectations, it would mean that Turkey received a great support for its bid to overcome the economic crisis.

Question: Will Dervis take over the reins of the economy if you form a new government after 4 November?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do you also intend to carry out the Financial Disclosure Act?

Answer: Of course, we will carry out the Financial Disclosure Act. It is also of vital importance in terms of Turkey's relations with the EU and therefore it has to be put into practice. However, the Act does not include sufficient assurance about the period preceding the disclosure. The ministers concerned gave verbal assurances, but they have no legal validity. The law is worded in such a way that it leaves the door open for investigations into the pre-disclosure period. This leads to distrust and therefore falls short of bringing about the anticipated result. It must be amended under a new approach. A legal assurance should be given to the effect that new funds to be brought on condition that they are formally declared would not be subject to investigations in connection with the previous period. We are considering doing that in order to open a new era on condition that those funds are formally declared. I mean we will review similar laws enacted in the past to see whether there is a need for an amendment or could be put into practice without any change.

Question: What is your stand on the ban on wearing headscarf in schools? Should this ban continue or be lifted?

Answer: Headscarf is not the main problem in Turkey. The problem is that a general consensus on the Constitution's fundamental principles could not be achieved yet. This basic problem is occasionally mirrored by some events such as the ban on headscarf, closure of political parties and disqualification of prospective candidates for parliamentary membership. Such wide-ranging debates on the fundamental characteristics of the state are not witnessed in the industrialized countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Therefore, they are not confronted by major problems. Real stability can be accomplished in Turkey by achieving that general consensus rather than judging it by the term of a certain government or a prime minister. When such a consensus is reached governments may come and go without facing any problem. In France there is still a monarchist party, which gets one percent of the votes and nobody is concerned about it. If, however, it gets 25 percent of the votes, it would cause uproar in France and that party would probably be banned. The major political parties of the nation should reach a compromise on the country's fundamental characteristics.

Question: But a significant part of the society and some parties are not a part of that consensus...

Answer: This is the reason why two parties have been banned by the Constitutional Court in accordance with the laws. The European Court of Human Rights has upheld those rulings. It means that there was a conflict between politics and law in Turkey. We would be relieved in all respects should we achieve such a general consensus. We are contributing to this process. I hope that other parties also make a similar contribution based on their own standpoint. In that case the problem would be solved. In order to make my own contribution I appeal to female voters wearing turban to vote for us. This approach indicates that I am perceiving nobody as a potential enemy and believe that all members of the society are equal.

Question: Would female students wearing turbans be able to enter universities?

Answer: We are not approaching the issue from that angle. This matter should not be kept on the national agenda. The politicians representing that group refrain from speaking about and thus exacerbating this issue. You should also avoid highlighting it. This issue should no longer be perceived as a problem and relegating it to the background and not speaking about it is also a solution. It should not be exploited by both camps. One of those parties has had an opinion poll conducted and found out that all the issues, occupying the first twelve places in the list of major problems, the voters expect it to tackle were related to economy. In other words, turban is not among those twelve priority issues. This is a very heartening phenomenon.

Question: How do you feel about the ban imposed on [JDP Leader Recep] Tayyip Erdogan?

Answer: I think that banning a person from active politics permanently on the grounds that he has committed a political offence is unacceptable whether he is a leftist or a conservative. Every person's right to redefine himself or herself should be respected. Ex-convicts, who have not perpetrated acts of terror, murder, corruption or rape, should have the right to enter politics after certain trial periods and stages. This also applies to former members of the TCP [Turkish Communist Party]. For example, any person, who has been punished under Article 76 of the Turkish Penal Code for being a member of the TCP, would not be allowed to run for Parliament even if he has been pardoned. However, the laws have been amended and the TCP is eligible to contest in the forthcoming election. Do not you see a contradiction here? Participation of the TCP in the election is an encouraging thing. I mean, a former TCP member would not be allowed to contest in the election, but the TCP will. This is totally inconceivable.

Question: What kind of new policies will you pursue if you come into power?

Answer: We are considering handing over the Prime Minister's and the ministers' property to a trustee. We will table a bill for that purpose. The Prime Minister and the ministers will entrust all their property, funds and financial investments with a trustee who will manage those assets on their behalf, but the MPs will be excluded. For example, if the Prime Minister or a minister has a home for sale or rent, the decision will be made by himself, but the transaction will be carried out by the trustee. If he has a house or office for rent, it will be rented out by the trustee, who will receive and manage the proceeds. I mean neither the Prime Minister nor the ministers will be occupied with managing their funds or buying or selling property.

Question: Is Oya Unlu your adviser now?

Answer: No, she is not, but we are working together. We had a very fruitful cooperation in Austria and I was pleased with her performance. I had the opportunity to meet various people and attend gatherings thanks to her efforts. She is a very successful colleague.

Question: Is she a dedicated RPP member?

Answer: Yes, she is. After all, she comes from a family which supports the RPP.

A war in Iraq would not serve our interests

Question: Let us suppose that you will come into power in the morning of 4 September and then you will be appointed Prime Minister. How would you respond if US President George W. Bush calls and asks you to allow them to use the military basis in Turkey in order to carry out a military intervention in Iraq?

Answer: I do not find it appropriate to speak about foreign policy issues based on hypotheses. However, avoidance of a military conflict in Iraq is our first preference, because it would be in Turkey's interest. I hope that such a war, which the government is also trying to preclude, will eventually be averted. If, however, a military intervention takes place, we would take steps after assessing Turkey's national interests, regional stability and our relations with Turkey's allies.

Question: Germany has said that it would not take part in an intervention not based on a resolution adopted by the United Nations. Should not Turkey also insist on compliance with international law?

Answer: It goes without saying that international law is very important. Unfortunately, international relations are not always shaped by international law. There are other factors that guide those relations. Countries in a position similar to ours do not have the capability to control certain events on their own. We should also be prepared for events which may not be consistent with our preferences and expectations.

Question: According to Turkey's policy vis-�-vis north Iraq, outlined in national security documents, establishment of a Kurdish state in that region would constitute a casus belli. In addition, the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul is not equipped with ecumenical powers. What is your approach to those issues?

Answer: It would not be appropriate for an opposition party not represented in Parliament to express opinions on national security documents. Those issues should be dealt with after consulting with the related units of the state. As far as I am aware, the document related to north Iraq is about protection of our borders. The era when people would easily form judgments about the fate of other countries and draw maps on table has ended. It would not be the concept of this century. I do not believe that turning a blind eye to partitioning of our neighbours would square with our national interests.

Question: Mosul was within the boundaries defined in the National Pact of 1920 drawn up by Ataturk. Do you think that it is still considered within those boundaries?

Answer: The RPP acts fully in harmony with Ataturk's motto of "Peace in the country, peace in the world." This policy is not expansionist.

Question: Turkey has announced that there would be an integration with the ^�TRNC^� ["Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus"] if the Greek Cypriot Side is eventually admitted to the EU as the representative of Cyprus as a whole. Do you agree with that decision?

Answer: We also believe that Turkish-EU relations and Cyprus are separate issues. The talks between Denktas and Clerides aimed at finding a peaceful solution in Cyprus have reached a promising phase. Therefore we are optimistic and believe that a solution will be found in that context. The EU has not displayed a constructive approach by saying that it would still admit the Greek Cypriots as the representatives of Cyprus even if an accord could not be reached. This policy could have an adverse effect on the peace process. Turkey has a legitimate demand for starting accession talks with the EU. It would be a great disservice if the EU refuses to set a timetable. On the one hand, they say they will admit the Greek Cypriots without giving Turkey a timetable, but on the other, they argue that Turkey should side with the West during a conflict in Iraq. This is a contradictory approach that could lead to a catastrophe.

Question: Why are there a small number of female candidates in your lists?

Answer: The RPP has the highest number of female candidates as compared with other parties. However, it is still not adequate.

Question: A majority of your female candidates stand a little chance of being elected, because they occupy lower places in the lists.

Answer: It is nothing personal. There were other conditions taken into consideration while drawing up those lists. I am aware of the fact that we should be fairer towards women. We cannot assert that we have done everything perfect in that regard. We must do much more.

Question: If you become Prime Minister, would you live at your own home just like Ecevit or move to the Prime Minister's Residence? What do you and Olcay Baykal [Baykal's wife] feel about this?

Answer: Former President Suleyman Demirel uses an idiom that suits well with similar occasions: Do not count your chicken before they are hatched. We will assess this only after I become Prime Minister.

[06] Polfer: Turkey insensitive towards verdicts of the European Court

Turkey underwent the intensive pressure of Strasbourg because of its incoherent policies towards implementation of the decisions of the ECHR against it. After the approval of a report prepared by Dutch deputy Erik Jurgens criticizing the applications of Turkey on ECHR decisions on Monday, the executive body of the Council of Europe, the Committee of Ministers, expressed its concern with a news report.

Polfer also made a speech during which he presented the report to the agenda of the Assembly and strongly criticized Turkey. Reminding the DEP case, Polfer stated that "he presented the case personally to the attentions of the Turkish government."

Polfer stated that "Although the reform package legislated by Turkish Parliament in August has been evaluated as a progressive report by international circles, these reforms have not affected the situation of the applicators of the DEP case. So, it is necessary to act on this issue immediately."

Polfer reiterated in his written report that Turkey has not applied the decisions of the ECHR.

[07] A church in the occupied village of Livera was turned into a mosque

The paper reports that the 99% of the inhabitants of the village are settlers, who arrived from Trabzon, Turkey in 1975.

The paper also publishes a photo of the church of the village, which has been turned into a mosque. No more details are given.

[08] A message from the Turkish Cypriot youth to UN Secretary-General

The youth threw a bottle in the sea, wishing that their message will arrive to New York on 3 October. Inside the bottle there was a message stressing that one of the most serious problems that the youth in the occupied areas are facing is the non-solution of the Cyprus problem. They are sending this message to the negotiators to point out that the non-solution is not acceptable.

One of their slogans was that the non-solution makes the youth to emigrate.

[09] Three hundred four ships visited illegal harbors in August

[10] Press Conference by the newly founded United Cyprus Party

Referring to the party^�s principles and aims, Izzet Izcan, who was elected General Secretary of UCP, said that the party is against the island^�s partition and that it will give its fight for a united Federal Cyprus and for a solution based on Human and International rights in the framework of the decisions of the United Nations and the High Level Agreement of 1977-79.

Ozker Ozgur, among the founders^� members, was elected Secretary of Foreign Relations of the party.

Earlier on Thursday the party applied to the so-called authorities for registration.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[11] The issue of sovereignty. Once again^�

The commentary is published in the column ^�Facts and Realities^�. On the top of the page the paper carries the following slogan: ^�No to the occupation and integration, yes to the EU and to solution^�.

The full text of the commentary is as follows:

^�A right not based on sovereignty is not a right. Who said this? Mr. Denktas. Where did this come from? From Ataturk it was said. Is that right though? Nowhere have I seen such a saying by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He might have said it or might not, but is that true? That is, is a right not based on sovereignty really not a right? This is wrong. Why? It is not our duty to take out of the well the stones Mr. Denktas throws in.

Proving the claim is the duty of the person that made it. For example what right based on sovereignty is not a right? Let Mr. Denktas comment on all these rights.

Pay attention and see. Mr. Denktas by saying that ^�we are sovereign, there will be no agreement unless our sovereignty is to be accepted^�, does he say at all whose sovereign in Northern Cyprus? Referring to ^�sovereignty^�, does he mean that the Turkish Cypriots of Northern Cyprus have sovereignty? Has anyone heard Mr. Denktas saying, ^�In Northern Cyprus, the Turkish Cypriots are sovereign^�? You have not.

Did any of you hear Mr. Denktas, saying what he understands by referring to ^�sovereignty^�? No, he cannot explain this. Why? Because if he tries to explain what he understands by sovereignty, he will not be able to say this word again. Why? Because if he explains the real meaning of the word sovereignty it will be seen that it does not create a problem in the Cyprus issue and it will be removed from the agenda.

If Denktas explains the kind sovereignty he has in his mind, it will appear that his aim is for Turkey to be sovereign in the Northern part of Cyprus and it will be understood again that this claim is not possible to be put forward. Yes, there are references to ^�sovereignty^�, however what this means and for what reason it is called ^�sovereignty^� is not explained.

Last Friday, Dogan Harman, on the show of Mr. Kanli in BRT, he tried to explain what sovereignty is, he said that it resembles to a house, and he added that you cannot enter into a house without permission. If I understood correctly, according to Dogan, one is sovereign in Northern Cyprus, as much and in the same way as he is in his house except the Greek Cypriots.

^�Without my permission you cannot get into my house. You are not allowed to enter my bedroom^�, said Dogan. Is this really what sovereignty is all about? Not to be able to enter into a house unless you have the owner^�s permission? Or is it that this includes not to give the sovereignty of a house or a field that you have in common with a neighbor without his permission? The dispute is all about this.

The objection of the Greek side is not that the neighbor has no right to open the door and enter without permission. It is that the house is rent or sold to someone else, despite the neighbor^�s will. Meaning that, there is no objection by the Greek Cypriot side that in the North of Cyprus the Turkish Cypriots could have sovereignty and rule themselves. Well, where is the objection? They object to Turkey having sovereignty in Northern Cyprus.

Meaning that the Greek Cypriots object to the Turkish Cypriots annexing Northern Cyprus to Turkey by saying ^�we are sovereign, we do whatever we want^�. Or simply, they object to the administration being in Turkey� s hands under the name of double sovereignty.

Yes, Mr. Denktas� demand of sovereignty is not for the sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots in Northern Cyprus, it is about not their right to be able to speak, it is not about administrating themselves, and it is about Turkey^�s sovereignty in the island.

Meaning that the Greek Cypriots^� objections, is to the binding of Northern Cyprus with Turkey under the name of sovereignty.

The Turkish Cypriots objects to this, too, don^�t they?^�

[12] Columnist of KIBRIS says the situation in the occupied areas of Cyprus is worse than an African country under slavery

Reminding that during their protest meeting the inhabitants of Karpass accused the pseudogovernment and were holding bankcards writing ^�Those who want to put the Turkish Cypriots under slavery care about the free donkeys^�, Mr Duzgun points out that 95 % of them vote for the rightist parties, which are now in the so-called ^�government coalition^� and adds, inter alia, the following:

^�^�The villagers have been brought into a position to quarrel with the donkeys instead of quarreling with the politicians. Do those, who have written the placard writing that ^�Those who want to put the Turkish Cypriots under slavery care about the free donkeys^� think that the inhabitants of Rizokarpasso are free? Do you consider yourselves free? The 60 % of the Rizokarpasso youth is unemployed. The number of those working in the state as public servants does not exceed 30. Those who have not been able to come to Nicosia even once in their life are almost the half of the village population.

A great part of the children are taken to school with the fear of the police. 40% of those who graduate from the primary school are uneducated. 60 % of those who graduate and go to secondary school remain in the same class and are forced to end their education. Rizokarpasso is a far away and forgotten place visited by a doctor only twice a week and where no cultural or social events take place during the year. Furthermore, it is a place where dervishes (translator^�s note: religious leaders) move around freely and the religious courses are more in demand than the state schools.

Do you think that the inhabitants of Rizokarpasso are free? Do you consider yourselves free? All those things I have described above are hardly different from an African country, which is under slavery. They are even worse^�.

[13] The EU train

The paper writes: ^�While all eyes are turned to the New York summit Ankara again did what it should do.

By warning the UN it asked from Kofi Annan not to present a new document at the 4 October summit.

It is highly possible that as always this demand came again from Denktas. By sending message after message to the Turkish Foreign Ministry,^� Do whatever you can and stop Kofi Annan from presenting a document^�, Denktas asked. Sukru Sina, who was already in favour of this, gave the order and thus they sent off de Soto empty handed.

It seems that until the 3 November election in Turkey progress on the Cyprus problem is out of question. Denktas will continue to exploit the government vacuum in Turkey until 3 November in a very expert manner.

Let our civil organizations go on placing their hope on Denktas. Let them turn a blind eye on Denktas^� mission. Let them think that if England and America want the Cyprus problem can be solved.

It seems that they forget how lucky Denktas is.

On 12 December the wig will fall and the truth will appear.

Last year Denktas turned down his appointment of 12 September. Had it not been for the 11 September the job would have finished.

But so it happened that 11 September tilted the equilibrium. And in all that mist Denktas was forgotten. Now he is playing with time. And he trusts his luck most.

If a Nationalist Action Party surprise crops up from the 3 November elections or if the operation against Iraq takes place early, for Denktas these will be a life-buoy.

For the Turkish Cypriot, however, the last chance for salvation is perhaps ^�Peace and the EU^�. But it is Denktas who knowingly and willingly is preventing this chance.

If in the place of Denktas there was any other interlocutor whose priorities were the Turkish Cypriots^� and Turkey^�s interests the Cyprus problem could have been solved long ago.

It is not too late though.

It is enough too say ^�First EU and then solution^�. We missed the solution train but the EU train will depart on 12 December.^�

[14] Columnist in ^�Ortadogu^� says efforts are under way to revise the Lausanne Treaty

While Brussels, the Capital of the European Union, is pressing for revisions to the Lausanne Treaty, which the occupiers were made to sign in the wake of the Turkish War for Independence and the Anatolian Revolution, efforts are also being made to resuscitate the Sevres Treaty, which the Ottoman Empire was forced to ratify at the end of World War I.

When, in the wake of Iraq's occupation of Kuwait, I wrote as a columnist for Tercuman that "PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan] terrorism and the developments in northern Iraq will inevitably pave the way for demands to impose the Sevres Treaty on Turkey, I was accused of making exaggerated assertions. The latest developments in northern Iraq have indicated that what I said is not an exaggeration but stark reality. Steps have been taken already to announce the establishment of a federal Kurdish state in northern Iraq whereof the capital will be Kirkuk.

The first article of the Sevres Treaty says, "Kurds can apply to the League of Nations [for the recognition of their independence] when they have proven that they are capable of self-government." The treaty describes Eastern Anatolia as Armenian territory and refers to south eastern Anatolia as Kurdistan. Western European imperialism did not stand idly by after the ratification of the Lausanne Treaty. The Sheik Said and Nasturi uprisings were the first attempts [to actualize the goals defined in the Sevres Treaty]. PKK terrorism was also instigated as part of a plan to bring back the Sevres Treaty.

The Fourteen, the group that was purged from the National Unity Committee in the wake of the coup on May 27, 1960, had a project to organize the Kirkuk Turks. It has only now become clear what foresight these young staff officers displayed in wanting to implement such a plan. I was told about this by [late] Orhan Erkanli, who was one of the Fourteen and a close friend of mine. I heard about it also from my close friends Numan Esin and late Orhan Kabibay [who were also members of this group of fourteen people].

US President Bush is determined to make war on Iraq. Yet US generals are objecting to military action owing to their doubts concerning the aftermath of a campaign against Iraq. The military is always the last to want a war. As for politicians, they can risk war if they feel that waging it will increase their popularity rating. However, the US desire to intervene in Iraq has obviously to do with Iraq's possession of rich oil reserves. Saddam is just an excuse.

The Turkish Government, the National Security Council [NSC] and other important quarters are calling attention to the problems that an armed intervention in Iraq are bound to create. This attitude is in line with the Constitutional principle of non-intervention in other states' internal affairs.

However, the US President will not stop insisting on an operation against Iraq. Britain supports Bush because Iraq is included in British designs on the Middle East that took shape before World War I.

An article published in an influential US daily poses the following question: "What will happen after the operation against Iraq? How are the Turkish troops to be ousted from Kurdistan?" The region has often been referred to as Kurdistan ever since the PKK emerged as a terrorist organization under the aegis of certain Western European states. Northern Iraq is being referred to as Southern Kurdistan and South eastern Anatolia as Northern Kurdistan on certain maps. What Brussels is trying to do under the pretext of asking Turkey to promote human rights is not to get Ankara simply to cede certain linguistic and cultural rights but to ensure that part of the population is recognized as a Kurdish minority and to integrate this minority with other Kurdish groups in the region. One cannot help recalling how President Suleyman Demirel called attention to the presence of pro-Sevres groups in Europe while the PKK was carrying out terrorist attacks against Turkey.

Some of Brussels's insistent demands are calculated to invalidate the Lausanne Treaty. Brussels wants indeed to create new minorities in Turkey, remove obstacles to the existing minorities' acquisition of real estate, and get Turkey to recognize the so-called Armenian and Pontus claims of genocide and grant new capitulations in place of those abrogated via the Lausanne Treaty. Greece announced yesterday that it sticks to the policy of Hellenism. Hellenism is a big project that includes Cyprus and Anatolia. The Patriarchate and minority foundations' demand to be allowed to acquire real estate is part of this policy. Such demands are not made in good faith.

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