Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-04-08

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Denktas in Ankara and at occupied Lefkoniko airport. He describes the questions in the referendum illegitimate.

[02] Turkish Cypriot farmers demonstrate against the Annan Plan.

[03] Talat again gives details about the illegal settlers who were brought from Turkey in the homes of the evicted Greek Cypriots.

[04] Gul says that in Switzerland they have gained things that they were not able to gain until now.

[05] YENI DUZEN publishes an opinion poll on the Annan Plan.

[06] DP to hold mini referendum on Annan Plan among party members 10-11 April.

[07] NUP said "no" to the Annan Plan.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Denktas in Ankara and at occupied Lefkoniko airport. He describes the questions in the referendum illegitimate

"I would like to make the following assessment with you here. The Annan plan is one that has been submitted to our people through pressure and that has been revised five times. As of the first version, this plan was the subject of discussions and arguments between those who said that we should immediately accept it and become Europeans and those who found this plan to be dangerous. It continued to be the subject of discussions and arguments. The Turkish Cypriots are being asked to determine their own future in the next two weeks. They have been given a 9,000-page text in English. Our people will make their decision by listening to those who speak in favor of the plan and those against. Neither those who speak in favor of the plan nor those who speak against have read these 9,000 pages. Nowhere in the world has such a referendum been held. From the viewpoint of the United Nations, this is a disgrace. This is a plot that has been hatched to take a people by force to a place not of their choosing but of someone else's choosing.

The decision on Cyprus to be made on the basis of this plan will, as of today, have a serious medium and long-term effect on the Turkish Cypriots and the `TRNC�. I believe that those who have placed the Cyprus issue in front of Turkey on its path to the EU are those who are against Turkey's accession to the EU, because Turkey is not the party that has created and continued the Cyprus problem. Turkey has done nothing other than putting a stop to a process of terrorization, which the Greek Cypriots initiated and continued with the support of Greece, full of massacres and bringing peace to Cyprus.

If the EU is to accept Turkey as a member, then the first thing it should have done, the first sign it should have given, was to place the Cyprus issue as an obstacle in front of the Greek Cypriots and to remove it from Turkey's path. This is the reason why with regard to the Annan plan, one should act seriously and sensitively, dwelling on the details, and taking into consideration our national interests, security, existence, and future. We, as the Turkish Cypriots, view our national interests as the prevention of Cyprus from becoming a Greek dagger ready be stabbed into Turkey's heart, the preclusion of enosis, and the transformation of the Turkish Cypriots to a strong founding partner with equal rights and secure territories. All the decisions adopted so far in all the echelons of Turkey including its parliament defended these principles.

It has been determined that the sine qua nons we are sensitive about have not been realized in the Annan plan which is full of drawbacks. All sensitive sectors have clearly noted that it is impossible to accept the current situation. The statement issued by the National Security Council point out and underline these concerns. The honorable prime minister and the deputy prime minister have announced that certain risks have been taken. Therefore, the Turkish Cypriots are being asked to vote with their eyes closed on a 9,000-page document the content of which they do not know, which they have not read, and which is binding on their future. The fact that the derogations, in other words the exceptions, that the sensitive sectors -- which consider the future of the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey a priority and which are the guarantee of their existence and security -- insist upon will not and cannot become part of the EU Primary Law has clearly been announced constitutes a source of serious concern and poses certain risks. We should not be expected to give our consent to a future full of risks. The existence of these risks should clearly be explained to the Turkish Cypriots. They should be clearly explained what they stand to lose in the event they consent to this plan. This will be our duty in the next five to ten days.

The fact that the derogations and the situation that will arise in the aftermath of the referendum has not been accepted as the Primary Law and the fact that they have been included only in the adaptation document have no judicial value, do not give any guarantees, thus giving rise to great unease and concern within all the circles. The current Annan plan and the fact that the derogations are entirely temporary will create very serious vital problems in implementation. In 19 years, the Greek Cypriots will be able to settle as they wish and in unlimited numbers in the north, which they call the Turkish Cypriot region and the Turkish Cypriot state but which in actual fact will be nothing other than a province.

For the rights granted to the Turkish Cypriots to become permanent they have to be adopted by the EU parliaments. So long as these rights are not adopted by the EU parliaments they have no meaning and nothing will be gained. They are saying that it takes time. This is not an excuse. The Annan plan should not be implemented until this stage is completed. As a matter of fact, there are still many sections of the Annan plan that need to be amended. Taking these risks based on the verbal promises of EU officials would not befit the 40-year struggle of the Turkish Cypriots, the great sacrifices made by Turkey, the motherland, the martyrs scarified in this cause. While the Annan plan grants certain rights to the Turkish Cypriots in addition to these negative points, the addendum on the temporary derogations, which is called the adaptation document and which does not give us the necessary guarantees, does not refer to our vital issues. This fact is a source of very serious concern. The negative points, namely the fact that a large part of the Turkish Cypriots will have to migrate, the absence of a rehabilitation plan and the necessary funds for such a plan, the fact that only promises are being made on the issue, the problems to be created by the Greek Cypriots who will come and settle among us, and the fact that this plan creates a Greek Cypriot constituent state in the south and a mixed Turkish Cypriot constituent state in the north which in time might enter under the yoke of the Greek Cypriots are actually the most prominent indications of the injustice being committed.

Turkey's guarantees are permanent based on the 1960 agreements, because the Turkish population is evident, and Turkey's geopolitical rights are permanent and continuous. This plan allows for [the presence of] 6,000 troops until 2011, 3,000 troops until 2018, and 650 troops after 2018. Every three years, this issue will be subject to deliberations as to whether it will be renewed, as to whether the troops will withdraw. Since this section comes under the demilitarization of Cyprus, then this means that the withdrawal of the troops is actually being accepted. This becomes an issue of timing.

A party and the party of the prime minister in Cyprus today launched a joint campaign in favor of the EU. Since this was their policy in the past as well, since they pursued the policy of amending what they could and accepting the rest without further rejections, we were expecting this outcome. Now the issue is to inform our people. Many small enterprises will be closed down because they do not abide by the EU norms. There are the issues of migration, rehabilitation. Many institutions, touristic institutions, will be transferred to the Greek Cypriots. We will all be hit by an economic crisis. There is the need for a seven-year transition period for the Turkish Cypriot side to fully accede to the EU.

I have told you my assessment based on the contacts I held here."

Ankara Anatolia (07.04.04) reported from occupied Nicosia that returning to the occupied areas of Cyprus after completing his meetings in Ankara, Denktas told reporters at Lefkoniko Airport that the Turkish side did its best for solution in Cyprus and sacrificed its children, but still a result could not be taken.

Noting that not making the derogations in the Annan Plan a primary law of the European Union (EU) was a serious source of concern, Denktas said that after 19 years, all limitations would be lifted and all Greek Cypriots could return to their previous lands and then Cyprus would return to its old days. He stressed that the act of adaptation did not have a legal value and not provide guarantee and this caused great uneasiness and concern. Noting that it was out of question to rely on verbal assurances of EU officials, Denktas said that although there were some important points in the Annan Plan, not making the derogations primary law of EU would cause big problems in implementation and would eliminate bizonality and make positive points in the plan unfunctional.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey would be face to face with very serious difficulties after the Annan Plan was put into practice, Denktas said that the referendum and the questions asked in the referendum were not legitimate and such a thing has not been seen in any place of the world.

Denktas said that a preparation was not made for the Turkish side to enter EU after May 1 even if the result was to be ''yes'' in the referendum. He added that no time was left to discuss the plan and the Turkish side was asked to say ''yes'' to a plan which they did not know and comprising of nine thousand pages. He stressed that this was not a legitimate act.

Noting that there were some serious drawbacks in the Annan Plan and sensitive sections, Denktas said this situation was impossible to accept. He said: ''Thus, if you take risk, you have to take it by saying 'yes�, we accept it' by knowing these dangers and by closing eyes to these dangers regardless of what they are.''

[02] Turkish Cypriot farmers demonstrate against the Annan Plan

The action was staged with the participation of farming machines, and the demonstrators marched toward the Metehan barricate in occupied Nicosia. The Turkish Cypriot farmers, who called for a nay vote in the referendum, also called on Serdar Denktas to resign.

[03] Talat again gives details about the illegal settlers who were brought from Turkey in the homes of the evicted Greek Cypriots

Recalling that the Republican Turkish Party congress was held last night, and the party unanimously decided to say "yes" to the Annan Plan, Talat said that the plan was not formulated in the desired manner during the talks in Switzerland, but the Turkish side contributed significantly to the amelioration of the plan. Explaining that improvements that will dispel the difficulties of both communities were introduced to the Annan Plan during the talks in Switzerland and subsequently, Talat stressed that the principle of bizonality and the political equality of the Turkish Cypriot side are included in the plan.

The list of 45,000 "TRNC" citizens of Turkish origin, which was requested by the UN Secretary-General, is about to be completed, Talat revealed, adding that this list includes everyone who came from Turkey to Cyprus after 1974. He said that the list that includes so-called TRNC citizens is around 40,000 because there are some 11,000 people who married Turkish Cypriots. He explained that the list was prepared in accordance with electoral lists, and the exact number will be announced later. The list will be handed over to the United Nations by 10 April, Talat remarked, saying that this is a declaration of citizenship, it will remain in the hands of the United Nations until the end of the referendum, and if the referenda yield a positive result the list will be published in the first issue of the official gazette of the united Cyprus. It will be possible to submit objections to the list after its publication, Talat noted, adding that anyone who has concrete proof will be able to submit a petition.

Replying to reporters' questions, Talat announced that he will meet with Alvaro de Soto, UN Secretary-General's special envoy for Cyprus, this afternoon, adding that he has no information about the agenda of the meeting. He explained that the process in New York and Switzerland is continuing and he will meet with de Soto in this framework. Talat recalled that the work of the committees established in this framework is also continuing.

Referring to the demonstrations staged today, Talat said this is a trade union right, but it is wrong to stage an action questioning the future of the Turkish Cypriots. The work is continuing on the settlement and rehabilitation of those who will be displaced, and the rehabilitation will be undertaken in stages within a period of three and a half years, he stated. Pointing out that the rehabilitation process in Cyprus will be discussed during the international donors conference on 14 April, Talat declared that the work on settlement and rehabilitation will be completed and handed over by August. A new state will be formed, and problems can arise in this new state, Talat remarked, and expressed the belief that the possible problems in the new state will be overcome.

In response to a question, Talat said that the constitution that was drafted was not relayed to the United Nations. He said that if the constitution of the "founding" Turkish state is handed over, it can be in Turkish, but the existing constitution is in English.

Asked about the method of the referendum campaign, Talat said that great tasks fall on the media in this regard, and added that these issues will be examined on the televisions and radios in an impartial manner. Pointing out that all the television and radio stations will broadcast propaganda during the referendum process, Talat said that there is polarization in the country, but this must end because the process that has been launched cannot be stopped.

In reply to a question on what will happen if the Greek Cypriots say "no", Talat said that he does not want to think about this, and great tasks also fall on the media for the Greek Cypriots to endorse the plan.

[04] Gul says that in Switzerland they have gained things that they were not able to gain until now

In statements on Turkish state TRT television's main news bulletin, Mr Gul argued that "the train which takes the Greek Cypriots to the EU departed in 1995 and now is about to enter the station". Our wish is to stop this train and we have undertaken an initiative to this end, he admitted.

The continuation of the guarantees, the bi-zonality and the political equality are the most important issues which the Turkish side gained in Switzerland, said Mr Gul admitting though that they have not taken what they wanted on the sovereignty issue, because if the constituent states were fully sovereign they could separate in the future. Instead of the full sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot constituent state, he added, we achieved to take away from the Greek Cypriots the sovereignty they have now.

[05] YENI DUZEN publishes an opinion poll on the Annan Plan

The poll has been conducted on behalf of the paper by E-Card Consultants and Marketing Information Ltd in the occupied areas of Nicosia, Famagusta, Morphou, Kyrenia and Trikomo.

Asked about their vote at the referendum, the participants in the poll answered as follows:

Yes               59.5 %
No                 22.1 %
Undecided    17    %
No answer      1.4 %

Asked which member of the Turkish Cypriot delegation which participated in the Cyprus talks defended more the rights of the Turkish Cypriots, the participants in the poll answered as follows:

Mehmet Ali Talat       45.1 %
Rauf Denktas            38.8 %
Serdar Denktas           1.3 %
Everybody                   5.3 %
No one                        7.5 %

Asked who must be the leader of the Turkish Cypriots in the "United Republic of Cyprus" in case Rauf Denktas does not run for candidate, the participants in the poll answered as follows:

Mehmet Ali Talat    46.6 %
Serdar Denktas           5 %
Mustafa Akinci        17.7 %
Dervis Eroglu          11.6 %
Ali Erel                         1 %
Ertugrul Hasipoglu    2.6 %
Izzet Izcan                0.2 %
Alpay Durduran        0.4 %
Huseyin Angolemli   0.1 %
Oguz Kalelioglu        0.1 %
No one                    12.8 %
No answer                    2 %

[06] DP to hold mini referendum on Annan Plan among party members 10-11 April

Mr Serdar Denktas, DP chairman and so-called deputy prime minister of the occupation regime, addressed the party members saying that a mini referendum will be held on the Annan plan within the party.

The DP will determine its stand with regard to the Annan plan to be submitted to a referendum on 24 April through a voting to be held among the party members.

Mr Serdar Denktas, issuing an announcement in CUMHURIYET daily today, called on the party members to hold a referendum on the Annan plan. According to Denktas' announcement, a voting on the Annan plan will be held in all the DP offices in all districts on 10 and 11 April. DP members will either accept or reject the Annan plan through the votes they will be casting in the polling stations to be established in the district offices.

[07] NUP said "no" to the Annan Plan

/SK

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