Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-03-12

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mr Erdogan was designated by President Sezer to form Turkey's new government.

[02] KIBRIS: "Erdogan has begun talking like Denktas".

[03] Erdogan wants more sacrifices from the Greek Cypriots who suffer the results of the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus for 29 years.

[04] Ugur Ziyal alleges that it was the UN Secretary-General who has withdrawn from the talks.

[05] After violating the UN Secretary-General's timetables several times the Turkish side wants him to continue his mission of good offices.

[06] Statement by the EU Commission on Cyprus after the Hague talks.

[07] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader in Istanbul. He tries to deny the decisions of the world organizations.

[08] Eroglu alleges that Mr Kofi Annan tried to do the impossible, to impose an unacceptable document on 70 million Turks.

[09] Turkish Cypriot political parties and civilian organizations comment on the results of the Hague talks; Accusations against Denktas and Ankara.

[10] The managing editor of Turkish Daily News analyses the consequences of the collapse of the Cyprus talks.

[11] How the Turkish Cypriot press saw the collapse of the talks in Hague.

[12] The Kurdistan Democratic Party accuses Turkey of trying to end the Kurds' hope for peace and better future.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] Mehmet Ali Birand: "The Turkish Armed Forces played the most effective role in bringing about the rejection of the Annan plan."

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mr Erdogan was designated by President Sezer to form Turkey's new government

As Prime Minister Abdullah Gul presented his resignation to the president on Tuesday afternoon, Sezer met with Erdogan in Cankaya Palace later in the afternoon and designated him to set up the new cabinet as the country grapples with whether to authorize the deployment of U.S. troops for a possible Iraq war.

Erdogan was elected deputy at Sunday's by-elections in the southeastern province of Siirt after election board canceled the November 2002 general polls in this city because of irregularities.

Erdogan's JDP won a landslide victory at the November polls and entered Parliament as a single-party government. Erdogan could not run in the general elections because of a conviction for inciting religious hatred, but party legislators have since amended the Constitution to lift his ban.

Erdogan came to Parliament on Tuesday and took his oath as a member of Parliament. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc praised Erdogan before he invited the latter to the rostrum to take his oath in an unusual manner.

Arinc had drawn the reactions of Erdogan and the JDP administration because of his anti-war remarks. Being the No.3 man of his party, Arinc was claimed to have come to odds with his leader because of the government proposal which would allow in U.S. troops ahead of the Iraq war.

Gul visited President Sezer just after the oath-taking ceremony and submitted the resignation of 58th government. Sezer then invited Erdogan to Cankaya Palace later in the afternoon and designated him to set up the new government of the country.

During Gul's term in office, Erdogan strongly influenced policy, and Cabinet ministers -- including Gul -- often consulted Erdogan after key meetings. It was Erdogan, and not Gul, whom Bush invited to the White House after the Islamic-rooted Justice party came to power following the November elections.

According to the Constitution, the new government will start its duty when the President approves the cabinet list. However, it takes at least one week for the preparation and discussion of the new government's program, which has to receive a vote of confidence from the deputies in Parliament. In this case, Erdogan's government may receive a vote of confidence from the deputies next Tuesday at the earliest.

The change of government comes as Washington is pressing Turkey to authorize the use of its territory as a staging point for an invasion of Iraq from the north. Ships carrying equipment for the troops are already off the Turkish coast.

Gul, who is widely expected to take a top post in the new government, would not say if the new government planned to resubmit a motion to Parliament to allow the deployment of U.S. combat troops in the country. Parliament earlier this month voted down a first motion.

Despite overwhelming opposition to a war in Turkey, Erdogan has advocated allowing U.S. combat troops in and has hinted that he favored resubmitting a motion to Parliament to give U.S. soldiers the go-ahead. But hours after his election triumph, Erdogan appeared to be in no great hurry about a second motion, saying Turkey needed more assurances from Washington on the future of neighboring Iraq before it could authorize the deployment of U.S. troops.

[02] KIBRIS: "Erdogan has begun talking like Denktas"

The paper comments on the statements made yesterday by Mr Erdogan at his party's parliamentary group, noting that "JDP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is continuing his statements 'giving bonus to the non-solution'".

Referring to the Cyprus problem, Mr Erdogan said, inter alia, that "bi-zonality must not be eliminated. Our sensitivities on the issues of political equality, sovereignty and the guarantees must be taken into consideration".

3.Erdogan wants more sacrifices from the Greek Cypriots who suffer the results of the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus for 29 years

Istanbul NTV Television (11.03.03) broadcast that the JDP [Justice and Development Party] Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that rather than viewing the Cyprus question in terms of black and white, a solution should be sought to the problem.

Addressing his party's parliamentary group, Erdogan said: "The Annan plan is not one that can be accepted in its entirety nor one that can be rejected in its entirety. We believe that rather than viewing the issue in terms of black and white, a solution should be found through negotiations. We say: solve and let live. That is how we view the issue. Bizonality must not be eliminated. Our sensitivities regarding political equality, sovereignty, and guarantorship must be taken into consideration. The negotiation process must go on on the basis of sincerity, goodwill, and mutual sacrifice. Nevertheless, this process should not be turned into a quest for the impossible by squeezing it into a tight schedule. Our only difficulty is this: both our Turkish brothers in north Cyprus and the Greek Cypriot Administration in the south must make mutual sacrifices and meet at a common point."

[04] Ugur Ziyal alleges that it was the UN Secretary-General who has withdrawn from the talks

[05] After violating the UN Secretary-General's timetables several times the

Turkey would continue to support Turkish Cypriots in all issues, Foreign Ministry noted. The Foreign Ministry said in its statement that the sides in Cyprus and representatives of Turkey, Greece and Britain as the guarantor states met in the Hague upon the invitation of U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Noting that both Denktas and also Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos voiced the amendments they wanted to make in Annan plan, the Foreign Ministry added that Annan concluded that it was not possible to reach a compromise until March 28 as a result of the meetings that continued till early this morning.

The Foreign Ministry said that Annan suggested the sides to continue talks, reminding that Denktas stated that he was ready to continue talks on the island. ``As it is known, Turkey, from the beginning, supported the efforts of U.N. Secretary General within the scope of good offices mission. Turkey will welcome possible contributions of U.N. Secretary-General from now on,`` the statement concluded.

[06] Statement by the EU Commission on Cyprus after the Hague talks

[07] Statements by the Turkish Cypriot leader in Istanbul. He tries to deny the decisions of the world organizations alleging that the Turkish army is not an occupying force in Cyprus

Mr Denktas alleged that this is not true, adding: "TheTurkish army is not an occupying army. Had it been an occupying army, south Cyprus would not have become so rich. Denktas charged that the EU member countries will not attach importance to these remarks."

Denktas said that if Cyprus accedes to the EU on 1 May 2004 unilaterally, there will be a disaster. The talks would be suspended, he said, until such time as Turkey joins the EU.

Denktas pointed out that disaster scenarios are being drawn up in connection with Turkey. They are trying to condemn Turkey, he said, but if Turkey takes steps backward, the problems will descend on it one after the other.

He affirmed that unless the two sides agree on it, the issue will not be taken to a referendum. He said that he will return to occupied Nicosia after spending two days in Istanbul. After that, he added, he will get ready to apply for the occupied area's membership in the EU. He did not give a date, but stressed that his puppet regime will take a step toward EU accession.

[08] Eroglu alleges that Mr Kofi Annan tried to do the impossible, to impose an unacceptable document on 70 million Turks

"Achieving a result in the talks has not been possible. We placed on the table our indispensable demands to have the plan improved. They were not accepted. We proposed that the talks should be maintained on a basis that took our indispensable demands into account. Unfortunately, the Greek Cypriot side and the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan disagreed. Later, the head of the Greek Cypriot administration tried to convey the message that the Turkish side maintained an irreconcilable approach. As a matter of fact, they are the side that maintains such an approach. Nor was Kofi Annan's approach acceptable. He tried to impose a document on the Turkish Cypriot side and motherland Turkey. He brought out a document and asked us to sign it. Furthermore, he asked Turkey to take responsibility for it. Naturally, for Turkey, which has a population of 70 million people, accepting such an imposition was impossible. We have been informed that the document was not accepted.

So, the negotiations process has ended. Kofi Annan's latest statement confirmed that. Naturally, we will all see what will happen in the future. However, the basis for the talks does not exist anymore. Kofi Annan focusing attention on Cyprus while so many other issues exist in the world was meaningful. I believe that he would now want to focus on Iraq and the unrest and bloodshed in many other countries to successfully fulfill his duties.

Anyway, the basis for the talks does not exist anymore. That is what I believe at the present time. So, I want to ask our people to realize that what is important for us and our country is unity and solidarity. Various circles want to disrupt our unity and solidarity. They want to divide our people and create clashes. Our people must not be influenced by their behaviour. They must be happy to live in the state they have established. They must fully support their state, believing that the problems that exist at the present time might be solved in the near future. If we act in unity and maintain our resolve to improve our life, then I can say that the future will be better for us. Turkey is very different from Palestine. Those who believed that they were able to reconcile the differences between Israel and Palestine through meetings similar to those in Camp David and those who gave the Nobel Peace Prize to them should see the bloodshed that takes place in Palestine. That is because the Palestinians do not have a motherland like Turkey. Our people must realize that they can live in peace and security only through cooperation with Turkey. I recommend that they distance themselves from provocative activities that might weaken that state of affairs."

[09] Turkish Cypriot political parties and civilian organizations comment on the results of the Hague talks for Cyprus; Accusations against Denktas and Ankara

Responding yesterday to questions before meetings of the organs of his party in order to discuss the situation after the Hague talks, Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of RTP, accused the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas for the collapse of the talks and for loosing the opportunity of finding a solution until 16 April 2003. Mr Talat accused Turkey as well and added that the Turkish side with its stance "is submitting the EU accession to the Greek Cypriots in a golden tray".

Mr Talat argued the following: "Mr Denktas persuaded Turkey as well. Having the support of the powerful circles in Turkey he influenced the decision-making mechanisms and foiled them. He used the indecisiveness for not taking a serious decision. Not being able to decide, Turkey decided to preserve the status quo. This means making a hara-kiri, because its effect on Turkey's EU accession is inevitable.".

Noting that their morale was destroyed after the Hague, Mr Talat underlined that they did not lose hope, because the Annan plan is only shelved temporarily. It is not permanently out of the way, he added, expressing the opinion that the plan will be once more on the table "when the climate is appropriate".

"Therefore, the political climate in the 'TRNC' must change. The appropriate climate will be created when Denktas is not there and the structure of the parliament is changed", he said adding that they would continue to exert pressure for early so-called elections.

Responding to a question he said that he did not think that holding a referendum is important any more and that other methods should be developed. Mr Talat noted that with the CLP they would re-estimate their decision for boycotting the work of the so-called "assembly" until 30 March, because the aim of this decision was to exert pressure towards reaching an agreement on the Cyprus problem, but now the circumstances have changed.

"If Turkey is to walk on the EU path it has to solve the Cyprus problem until the end of 2004. The most appropriate time for this is before May 2004", he concluded.

Meanwhile, Huseyin Angolemli, leader of CLP, said that after Denktas' visit in Ankara the result of the Hague talks became obvious. "It was obvious that such a result would have come out from the Hague after Denktas' behaviour and the summit in Ankara. This was a result we have been expecting. Denktas was in favour of the non-solution and Ankara supported him", stressed Mr Angolemli, noting that the form of the struggle of the Turkish Cypriots will change as the basis has changed after the Hague talks. Mr Angolemli said that a number of democratic measures could be taken and within this framework so-called "early elections" or filing charges in the European Court of Human Rights could be discussed.

Furthermore, talking on behalf of the "Turkish Cypriot Civilian Organizations' Common Vision Committee" and the "platform This Country is Ours", Mustafa Damdelen and Ahmet Barcin noted that the Turkish Cypriots do not accept the result of the Hague talks and that they would continue their struggle towards reaching a solution in Cyprus and the accession to the EU.

In a joint written statement the Turkish Cypriot civilian organizations stress, inter alia, the following: "Those who do not represent the will and the vision of the Turkish Cypriots for the future have once more closed their ears to the voice of the people and on 10 March 2003 produced the non-solution. .They did not and will not think anything else except the continuation of their own status quo. .".

Meanwhile, the organs of the National Unity Party and the Democratic Party assessed yesterday the situation created in Cyprus after the Hague talks. Officials of the above-mentioned parties stated that they would make "a more reliable assessment after they acquire some information from the delegation which had participated in the Hague talks".

[10] The managing editor of Turkish Daily News analyses the consequences of the collapse of the Cyprus talks

"With the Hague encounter of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan with the leaders of the two peoples of the eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus ending inconclusively, Turkey and the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' will have to face some bitter consequences.

The first and foremost of these consequences will be the spill-overs of the unilateral Greek Cypriot accession on the "long and winding" European Union road of Turkey.

At a December 12-13 summit at Copenhagen last year, the European Union named Cyprus as one of the ten-country expansion move which will be completed in May 2004. But, before that, in less than six weeks time, on April 16, the Greek Cypriot administration "representing the entire island" will sign in Athens an Accession Treaty with the EU.

The December Copenhagen summit of the EU, despite all pressures of Ankara, refused to give Turkey a definitive date for the start of its accession talks. The EU declared that accession talks with Turkey would be started soon after the end of 2004, pending a review by the EU Commission affirming Ankara's compliance with the Copenhagen political criteria.

Though presented as a "victory" by the Justice and Development Party (JDP) government of the country, the EU Copenhagen decision on Turkey was highly conditional and the collapse of the Cyprus talks demonstrated how difficult an uphill battle is awaiting the Turks.

Apart from the principle of "having no border problems with an EU member or EU aspirant country" -- which will land Turkey in serious problems with Greece over Aegean disputes between the two countries -- at the end of 2004 Turkey will be in need of the "yes" of a "Cyprus government" in order to start accession talks with the EU.

That "Cyprus government" is accusing Turkey of occupying part of its territory, denying the right of its citizens to return to their property "under Turkish occupation" and has been staging a global defamation campaign against Ankara for the past 28 years.

Having completed EU accession the Greek Cypriot administration, which enjoys international recognition as the government of entire Cyprus and will be entering the EU as such, will no longer need to make compromises for a settlement on Cyprus and will be equipped with the weapon of "ending the occupation of part of EU territory."

Turkey, on the other hand, will have to find a way of dealing with an EU-member country that it does not recognize but is in need of its approval to start accession talks with the EU. Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis was almost lynched in November when he declared that Turkey needed a settlement on Cyprus because soon it would face accusations of occupying EU territory. The minister was voicing a serious concern which will gradually be converted from a serious possibility to a bitter reality.

Unless a settlement is reached on the island by May 2004 completion of the EU accession of the united or Greek Cypriot part of the island, Turkey's EU train is bound to be derailed.

After all, was not this the message EU sent to Turkey last week?

"It is difficult to see how it would be possible to start accession negotiations (with Turkey) under such circumstances (of a failure in peace talks)," EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenther Verheugen said last week adding: "After May 1, 2004, they (the Turks) would face a situation where Turkey does not recognize one of the EU member states."

Because of the need to use Turkish ports, airports, territory and airspace in an attack on Iraq, American reaction to the collapse of the Cyprus talks might not be as strong as anticipated, but when faced with the Greek-Greek Cypriot "no" to the start of accession talks in 2004, Turkey will not be able to find a Washington lobbying for it in European capitals, nor will it be able to see an American administration pressing for IMF or World Bank assistance for the Turkish economy because in the years ahead the Greek lobby will accelerate its anti-Turkish activities.

The consequences of the collapse of the talks in northern Cyprus could be even more serious.

The already alarming level of polarization in northern Cyprus could reach explosive levels in the months ahead. The polarization between Turkish Cypriots and mainland settlers on the one hand, and the one between conservative arch-core Denktas loyalist Turkish Cypriots and the pro-settlement, pro-EU Turkish Cypriots supporting the leftist opposition irrespective of their political views, on the other, could create serious situations in northern Cyprus.

Rauf Denktas -- who is already facing a serious smearing campaign that he was catering more to mainland Turkish interests than the interests of the Turkish Cypriot people -- may be forced to step down years before his term in office expires in 2005. The parliamentary boycott launched this week by the leftist opposition parties may turn into a massive civil disobedience campaign, lock the wheels of state and force the scheduled December parliamentary polls held in early summer.

The collapse of the talks could also lead to a surge in the Turkish Cypriot migration abroad.

Turkey's incoming Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared Tuesday that the quest for a settlement meeting the expectations of both Turkish and Greek Cypriots ought to continue. He stressed that both sides needed to make compromises for a settlement. He also stressed that developments at The Hague has shown that the U.N. plan needed to be negotiated further.

In disclosing the collapse of his Cyprus peace efforts, Annan as well left open the possibility of resuming the talks at a later stage. "My plan remains on the table" for the two leaders to pick up whenever they are ready, he said.

Both Turkish Cypriot leader Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos have as well stressed they needed further negotiations on the plan. If he does not want to make Euro-accession a Euro-partition on Cyprus, Papadopoulos must work hard as well to strike a deal before May 2004 completion of the EU accession process.

Despite the collapse of Annan's Cyprus peace efforts, it appears certain that the months ahead will be even more busy for Cyprus diplomacy because all parties to the problem still need a settlement to avert a multi-faceted catastrophe."

[11] How the Turkish Cypriot press saw the collapse of the Cyprus talks in Hague

KIBRIS, under the title "Farewell from the UN", writes that the UN described the collapse of the talks in Hague as the end of the road and stresses that the UN Bureau of Mr De Soto in Cyprus will be closed down. The paper also writes that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas is pleased with the developments since he believed that the UN Secretary-General's pressure towards a solution in Cyprus was harmful for the Cyprus cause.

Under the title: "Denktas is responsible", ORTAM writes that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas bears the responsibility for the unsuccessful result of the talks in Hague and stresses that due to the failure of the talks, the Turkish government, which supported Denktas, is now considered to be an occupier of Cyprus.

HALKIN SESI under the title "Denktas: The talks can start again" writes that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas said that the UN Plan needs many changes in order to be in a "real plan" and stressed that he will send his written suggestions to President Papadopoulos.

AFRIKA under the title "Occupier" writes that the European Commission's first reaction to the failure of the Hague talks was tough. The paper also stresses that according to the European Union, Turkey will be considered to have under occupation European soil when Cyprus becomes full member of the EU. The paper also writes that the UN Plan died and that the Turkish Cypriots are faced with the greatest disaster.

Under the title "We will abandon you", YENI DUZEN addresses the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas and the so-called Prime Minister of the puppet regime Dervis Eroglu and accuses them of burying another plan. The paper also accuses the two men of not listening to the Turkish Cypriots' voice who called on them to resign and who told them that they are not represented by them any more.

Under the title "Denktas: The plan is not valid", VATAN publishes statements by Rauf Denktas who said that the UN Plan is no longer on the table. Denktas also stressed that president Papadopoulos was responsible for the collapse of the talks.

BIRLIK, under the title "Problems will be overcome with unity and togetherness" publishes statements by Dervis Eroglu, the so-called Prime Minister of the pseudostate, who evaluated the developments in Hague. According to the paper Mr Eroglu said that the talks came to an end and accused the Greek Cypriot side for the failure of the talks.

KIBRISLI, under the ironic title "What a success", writes that the Turkish Cypriot leader "checkmated" with his tactics Kofi Annan and won another political victory. However, as the paper stresses, this victory will be the beginning of the Status Quo's defeat in Cyprus.

Pro-Denktas VOLKAN, instead of reporting on the collapse of the Hague talks, devotes its first page on accusations against Ali Erel, the president of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce. The paper accused Mr Erel for taking money from the EU in order for the UN Plan to be accepted while it reports in the inner pages for the collapse of the talks in the Hague.

[12] The Kurdistan Democratic Party accuses Turkey of trying to end the Kurds' hope for peace and better future

Claiming that Turkey tries once more to end the hopes of Kurdish people for peace and a better future, the KDP of so-called "Northern Kurdistan" stated yesterday in a press statement that "People of Kurdistan must not allow the implementation of chauvinistic and Turani plans."

Defining northern Iraq as `Southern Kurdistan`, the irritating statement of the KDP continued to say, "The countdown for the downfall of the Iraqi regime has begun. Meanwhile the nasty plans of the Turkish state unfold, and their animosities and hatred to our people become clear. Turkey would do everything in its power to prevent the Kurds in Southern Kurdistan from reaching their legitimate goals. They are bargaining with the U.S.A. to get their plans through, and ultimately occupy Iraqi Kurdistan. They have concentrated their effort to destroy the achievements of the people of Southern Kurdistan. Not only do they oppose emancipation for the Kurds in Northern (Turkish) Kurdistan but in all other countries as well."

Making a clear provocation against Turkey, the KDP statement made a veiled call for terror organization PKK-KADEK to resume their terrorist activities. "The Kurds of the north will not leave their brothers in the south standing alone."

KDP-Turkey also accused Turkey of following a policy that leaves Kurds oppressed and continued to claim, "They see the emergence of a Kurdish entity in their southern borders as a strategic threat. They declared their opposition to the federal model that Iraqi Kurds opted for and their policy dictates that Kurds must remain oppressed."

Defining Turkey as the "enemy of Kurds" and the acts of Turkey as "barbarism", the KDP statement went on to say, "The enemies of the Kurds have organized plans, we must have our counter-plans... Turkey must be made aware that Kurds will do everything in their power to preserve their identity."

The statement also called on the U.S. to prevent the inception of Turkey into northern Iraq by defining Turkey as much more violent than the Baghdad regime. The statement also called on NATO and the EU to declare their opposition to these plans.

The statement continued to claim, "We as the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Northern (Turkish) Kurdistan believe that the momentum for the Kurdish freedom movement has shifted to Southern-Kurdistan... We trust that after the collapse of Saddam's regime a federal and democratic state will be established in Iraq, where our Kurdish brothers can practice their rights. We believe that protecting the liberated areas of South Kurdistan is a patriotic necessity together with maintaining the government and parliament of the region. KDP-North is ready to mobilize its resources against the Turkish state."

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] Mehmet Ali Birand: "The Turkish Armed Forces played the most effective role in bringing about the rejection of the Annan plan"

"Despite the fact that a great part of the people in the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' (TRNC) and in Turkey want a solution and that JDP leader and the prime minister have adopted a different approach to the issue, the Turkish Cypriot leader, has managed to make "those who rule Turkey" reject the Annan Plan.

This is an extremely significant political maneuver which should be examined in detail. Despite his illness, `TRNC' leader Rauf Denktas waged a successful struggle. With the significant contribution made by the Greek Cypriots he has pushed the situation to the point where the `TRNC's' entry into the European Union is being blocked.

According to Denktas, the `TRNC's' joining the EU together with the Greek Cypriots would be highly dangerous. Upon his return from New York, Denktas planned his resistance well, managing the "No" people to rally around him. He has managed to "capture" every one from his most sensitive point.

Here is a brief look at the circles in Ankara and Nicosia that Denktas has influenced or obtained support from:

* COMMANDERS

The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) played the most effective role in bringing about the rejection of the Annan Plan. Naturally, the TAF viewed the proposal entirely from the security angle.

Rather than assuming that the situation would change entirely once the `TRNC' became a full member of the EU together with the Greek Cypriots, the TAF assessed the plan from the standpoint of the Turkish community's security and Cyprus's strategic value. The conclusion the TAF has reached is that this plan has hazardous aspects.

Though the argument that strategically Cyprus is vitally important for Turkey as it had been in the 1970s and 1980s, is not convincing, this stance has caused the JDP and part of the general public to chance the flexible attitude they had adopted in the beginning.

This way the TAF has shown everybody who takes the decisions in Turkey.

* FOREIGN MINISTRY

Some of the Foreign Ministry officials, especially those who had served in Cyprus, have put up an incredible resistance.

They assessed the proposed solution almost with the assumption that the Turkish bureaucracy would lose its back yard -- rather than considering that if no solution is reached that would affect the long-term political balances, hampering Turkey's march to the EU.

The Foreign Ministry's glittering, legendary reputation has been shattered in Cyprus.

* RPP STANCE

The Republican People's Party, which should be progressive, considering its social democratic nature, has staged an incredible show of conservatism and nationalism on Cyprus, proving extremely effective. Rather than opposing the Annan Plan it focused on wearing out the JDP.

* PRESIDENT SEZER

The president too had adopted an obstructing attitude regarding a solution in Cyprus. He has helped Denktas greatly to form the front Denktas sought. Sezer has viewed the Annan Plan as the TAF did, convinced that it should not be accepted in its present form.

* Resistance in `TRNC'

Turks who have migrated to the `TRNC' from the mainland who believe that full membership in the EU would disrupt the existing system in the `TRNC' and the `TRNC's' political and bureaucratic cadres, constitute Denktas's most crucial allies since they did not want to lose their privileges.

Also, those circles who wanted the Annan Plan to be seriously taken into consideration, came to be described as "traitors". And this propaganda proved effective.

* GREEK CYPRIOTS' RIGIDITY

Some external factors too have facilitated Denktas's job. The Iraq War has diverted attention from the Cyprus issue and Washington and London, who need Turkey's support in this war, unexpectedly fail to raise their voices.

Also, the Greek Cypriot side has maintained a rigid attitude. Clerides had done that discreetly. His successor, Papadopoulos, openly said "No" when urged to submit the plan to a referendum.

* MEDIA'S HESITATION

Initially the Turkish media expressed strong support for the plan. However, as weeks passed this support started to ebb. Part of the influential media figures started to find Denktas' rationale justified. Some others changed their attitude in order to oppose the JDP.

* JDP'S INDECISION

The government has devoted a lot of time to the Iraq crisis. Also, the JDP has been, generally speaking, uninformed and undecided on the Cyprus issue.

Rather than taking a political decision and trying to have it implemented the Gul government spent a lot of time by trying to persuade those circles -- that includes Denktas -- who did not believe in a solution.

The government chose to postpone the decision. And, in the end, it bowed down to those who hold the opposing view. It has shown that it lacks the courage and vision needed for such a task.

Meanwhile, it must not be forgotten that the JDP grassroots, who stick to the old slogans, have not given the government any strong support on this issue.

Subtitle: No one is a traitor to the country This big quarrel may have been postponed but it is not over. Both those who support the Annan Plan and they oppose it have the Turks' interests in mind. No one should accuse the other of committing high treason.

/SK

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