Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-10-18

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] October 20 critical day for the occupation regime�s so-called government.

[02] Turkish Minister visited the occupied areas. Turkey and its occupation regime aim for recognition through sports.

[03] Gul left for Germany. He denied CIA reports that Sadam Huseyin�s money are in Turkish banks.

[04] MILLIYET publishes details of Turkish Minority Rights Council�s Report.

[05] Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper revealed a report regarding the Cyprus issue that is circulated among EU circles.

[06] The so-called Minister of Interior announced that there are 35 thousand illegal workers in the occupied area of Cyprus.

[07] AFRIKA and Sener Levent to be "tried" by a so-called military court tomorrow.

[08] Turkish Cypriot politician says that he abandoned politics because of the interference of the "turkish ambassador" in occupied Cyprus in the pseudo state's affairs.

[09] Makarios Drousiotis, Sevgul Uludag and Arif Hasan Tahsin will be awarded the Kutlu Adali Price by the Turkish Cypriot Press Labourers' Union.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Commentary in AFRIKA assesses Mr Talat�s statements on the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] October 20 critical day for the occupation regime�s so-called government

"Prior to the Republican Assembly debates on the 2004 budget draft bill that will start on 20 October, the Republican Turkish Party [RTP]-Democratic Party [DP] minority government coalition is continuing its efforts to find a formula for a new government. Within this framework, officials from the RTP, the DP, the Communal Liberation Party [CLP], and the Free Thought Party [FTP] will get together on 18 October.

Efforts are continuing to form a new government. Following the end of the efforts to form a tripartite coalition with the Peace and Democratic Movement (PDM), the government is trying to form a five-party coalition with the CLP, the United Cyprus Party, and the FTP, which are all represented by one deputy at the Assembly. While the RTP and the other three parties have adopted a positive approach to such a coalition, the DP does not view such a coalition positively. The officials of the five parties will, nevertheless, meet at the Republican Assembly tomorrow to express their views on the new formula.

In a statement he issued to BRT, DP secretary general Mustafa Arabacioglu said that they will be present at the Assembly meeting tomorrow. Arabacioglu said that he does not think it probable that such a coalition can be set up. He explained that the DP assembly group will convene after the DP Central Executive Council meets in order to assess the issue after the morning session of the Assembly.

In the event that the new formula yields no results, it is believed that the government will resign as soon as it fails to get enough votes for its 2004 budget draft bill, which will go before the Republican Assembly on Wednesday [20 October]."

[02] Turkish Minister visited the occupied areas. Turkey and its occupation regime aim for recognition through sports

During the meeting, Sahin said that he would discuss cooperation in sports between two "countries".

Drawing attention to the fact that Turkish Cypriot sportsmen could not join international events due to embargoes imposed on "TRNC", Sahin said that there should not be any embargoes in sports.

Sahin noted: ''TRNC is a state. It is not possible to deny something that exists. We think sportsmen should join international competitions. For example, international university sports games will be held in Izmir next year and 140 countries will participate. We will organize this event and we hope Turkish Cypriot sportsmen will also join the games.''

On the other hand, Mr Rauf Denktas said: ''Your approach is very realistic and appropriate. I hope we will get results if Turkey continues its determination."

Mr Denktas also alleged that the Cyprus government could reach nowhere by repeating that it is the legal government of Cyprus. ''We exist here, and will continue to exist. We have always extended our hand for peace under equal conditions. If they shake our hand and accept our equality, everything will be easier,'' Denktas added.

[03] Gul left for Germany. He denied CIA reports that Sadam Huseyin�s money are in Turkish banks

Prior to his departure, Gul told reporters that he will go to Germany as the guest of German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, and added:

"We will discuss bilateral relations with Fischer. We will also take up the situation of Turkish citizens in Germany and Turkey-EU relations. This will be the first visit to an EU country after the European Commission released its report on October 6th."

When asked whether he will convey some reservations about the recommendatory part in the report, Gul said: "Certainly we will discuss Turkey's views. And we will also listen to their views. I will convey Turkey's expectations."

When recalled the debates at French Assembly about Turkey's EU membership and asked whether he will ask for a support from Germany about this issue, Gul said: "Europe is an open community and certainly everybody will discuss this issue. We are not reluctant. All we wanted is Europe's not acting unjustly to Turkey during these debates. We cannot accept injustice."

"Germany is one of the most important supporters of Turkey throughout this process and it has made many things. In Germany-France relations Turkey issue is discussed and Germany helped Turkey," he noted.

When asked which messages he will give to Angela Merkel, leader of the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), during their meeting, Gul said, "CDU is one the important parties of Germany and we will talk with Merkel honestly."

CDU previously supported signature campaign which was started about Turkey and then withdrew its support.

"When we visit Germany or any EU country, we do not go for fighting with those who are against Turkey's membership. We will try to correct some issues which are known wrong," said Gul.

Upon a question about Turkey's buying Leopard-2 tanks from Germany, Gul said: "Purchase of these tanks will be set within the frame of military needs. Turkey is not in the position of 10 years ago. Its needs are revised. Turkey has entered a new process and while it is renewing itself it revises its defense needs."

Gul is also scheduled to hold talks with German Federal Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Volker Ruhe, Free Democrat Party (FDP) leader Guido Westerwelle and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel.

He will also meet representatives of Turkish associations in Germany.

Upon a question about passports which meet EU standards, Gul said: "Samples of these passports are pressed. The implementation will start soon."

"The passports will be valid for 10 years, thus, they will not be renewed continuously," he added.

When recalled the claims taking place in CIA reports that Iraq's former leader Saddam Hussein's money is kept in a bank in Turkey, Gul said: "Those claims are baseless. The money is the return of goods which Turkish firms sold during border trade."

[04] MILLIYET publishes details of Turkish Minority Rights Council�s Report

"The Prime Minister's Higher Advisory Council on Human Rights (IHDUK) has issued a potentially controversial report on "minorities," a term whose application to Kurds and Alevis in the EU's Progress Report on Turkey and its supplements caused much controversy when they were issued on October 6. The Council's "Working Group Report on Minority Rights and Cultural Rights" describes opposition to reforms on minority rights as a "paranoia related to Sevres." The report compares opponents of reforms to the reactionaries of the 1920's and 1930's who resisted the "top-down" Kemalist reforms of the time and recommends the adoption of a new national model under the overarching identity of "resident of Turkey" [Turkiyeli].

The report, which was endorsed on October 1, states that the concept of "indivisible unity of the nation" as defined in the constitution is a denial of subidentities, and criticizes the constitutional provision that "the official language of the state is Turkish" by saying: "A state cannot have a language. There can only be an official language that is used in the conduct of state business. Different languages may be spoken." Recalling that Turkey recognized only non-Muslims as minorities in the Treaty of Lausanne [of 1923], the report summarizes the current situation as follows:

--[Turkey] did not keep up with developments related to the concept of minorities and was instead obsessed with Lausanne. Moreover the implementation of [the provisions of] Lausanne has been deficient in terms of permitting the use of any language desired.

--The acknowledgment of the identity of a minority is being confused with the granting of minority rights.

--Internal self-determination, which means democracy, is thought to be the same as external self-determination, which means partition. As a result the recognition of different identities is assumed to be the same as permitting the territorial breakup of the state.

--The singleness and unity of the nation are thought to be the same, and there is a failure to realize that the former is damaging the latter.

--There is a failure to realize that the term "Turk" refers to an ethnic group.

The report says that the Sevres syndrome that began in the early 1990's has been preserved as a "paranoia" that weakens the nation and that there are continuing efforts to block reforms with this paranoia.

The report describes reforms related to minorities as a "continuation of the top-down Kemalist reforms that were undertaken to modernize the country" and adds that "the mentality fueled by the paranoia of Sevres is violently resisting reforms."

Mosaic Turkey

The report says that this posture was natural in the years when the Kemalist reforms were undertaken and that Ataturk's own concept of "contemporary civilization" has been left in the past. It adds: "Today's contemporary civilization is not the Europe of the 1920's or 1930's but the social model of modern Europe. The constitution and the laws must be rewritten, the rights of individuals to preserve their identities must be protected, central and local governments must be made transparent, and international conventions and the Council of Europe Framework Agreement must be signed without any reservations that would mean the denial of subidentities."

[05] Turkish Cypriot daily newspaper revealed a report regarding the Cyprus issue that is circulated among EU circles

Inside the report, there is a warning to the EU that the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Papadopoulos "will try to deceive again the EU with political tactics based on lies and deceptions".

The report also claims that if the EU continues to receive a negative stance from the Greek Cypriots regarding Turkey's accession, then the EU will have to face the Cyprus settlement. The report also recommends that the step which should be taken for the unification of the island should be within the framework of a confederal system and not a federal state.

[06] The so-called Minister of Interior announced that there are 35 thousand illegal workers in the occupied area of Cyprus

Mr Murat said that there are 35 thousand illegal workers in the occupied area of Cyprus, of whom the 20 thousand will be "registered" according to the amendment of the so-called Immigration Law and the rest, 15 thousand, must leave the island. He also said that from now on there will be a strict control at the exit and entrance of the occupation regime and to those who would visit the occupied areas only with their identity card and stay for more than three months a fine twice the price of the lowest daily wage for every extra daywill be imposed.

Mr Murat added that those who would not pay would be put in a black list and be forbidden from entering to the "TRNC".

Today�s KIBRISLI (18.10.04) reports that Mr Murat said that the work of "registering" the illegal workers would be completed in 75 days, and those who would not be able to obtain a "work permit card" as well as their employers will pay a fine..

[07] AFRIKA and Sener Levent to be "tried" by a so-called military court tomorrow

As AFRIKA writes, the paper and its chief-editor are called to trial in the military "court" for writings published in the paper on the 29th of July 1999. It is a law case that was opened against the paper five years ago and has continued until today. The accusation that the paper and Mr Levent face is that "they insulted and humiliated the dignity and the personality of the state security forces of the TRNC".

AFRIKA applied twice to the so-called constitutional court of the occupation regime for this case, arguing that civilians should be tried by a military "court". The first time the "constitutional court" indicated to the paper, but the second time it did not. Mr Levent must appear in the military "court" tomorrow.

[08] Turkish Cypriot politician says that he abandoned politics because of the interference of the "turkish ambassador" in occupied Cyprus in the pseudo state's affairs

Dr Albayrak, decided to abandon politics because the "turkish ambassador" in occupied Cyprus, interferes in every affair of the occupation regime. Stating that the "turkish ambassador" does not love the Turkish Cypriots at all, Mr Albayrak said the following: "I wanted to be an actor in the political stage of my country, but the known persons did not allow it. They said (to me) that you and persons like you can only play the walk-on parts".

According to AFRIKA, Mr Albayrak made these statements in an e-mail he sent to KIBRIS newspaper's writer Mr Hasan Hasturer. In the email he also said that the "turkish ambassador" sees the pseudostate as its own province and that he does not love the Turkish Cypriots at all.

[09] Makarios Drousiotis, Sevgul Uludag and Arif Hasan Tahsin will be awarded the Kutlu Adali Price by the Turkish Cypriot Press Labourers' Union

The prices will be given to the Greek Cypriot journalist Makarios Drousiotis of POLITIS newspaper and the Turkish Cypriot journalist Sevgul Uludag of YENI DUZEN newspaper, "because with their investigation journalism they helped the peace progress". Arif Hasan Tahsin of AFRIKA newspaper will also be awarded because "with his pen he stood against the forgetfulness of the memories of the Turkish Cypriot community". The bilingual (Greek and Turkish) Socialist Expression newspaper was also awarded for helping the rapprochement and the peace of the two communities. Other price was awarded to Dr Dogan Tilic, who is the chairman of the Contemporary Journalists' Union, the deputy chairman of the European Journalists' Union and member of the publication board of the Birgun newspaper.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[10] Commentary in AFRIKA assesses Mr Talat�s statements on the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus by Turkey

"Only a while ago Talat was saying exactly the opposite of what he is currently saying.

He asserted that "Turkey is obliged to recognize the Republic of Cyprus," and he wanted everyone to see this "painful fact" as natural.

According to Talat, this was an obligation that Turkey could not run away from. If it wanted to make progress in the EU process, Turkey could not run away from this obligation.

Just as the Turkish Cypriots were about to get used to this idea, the atmosphere totally changed.

What is Talat saying now? "It is impossible for Turkey to recognize the Republic of Cyprus prior to finding a solution to the Cyprus issue."

As a matter of fact, he is going one step further and he is saying: "I cannot accept this recognition..."

What is this? Is he placing an ultimatum on Turkey? Or is this part of a new strategy that has been determined together with Turkey?

Turkey cannot make progress in the EU process without recognizing the Republic of Cyprus. Or has anyone discovered a method to avoid this?

If Turkey knows that it is obliged to recognize the Republic of Cyprus for the sake of its EU membership and if it is currently making preparations to this end, do Talat's remarks aim to place an ultimatum on Turkey?

Denktas has also been calling upon the people to conduct such an uprising for a while. Furthermore, he has been sending messages to Turkey between the lines.

When saying that "he cannot accept it," does Talat's "rebellious" stand not resemble Denktas' stand?

Who, among the politicians in Cyprus, can risk placing an ultimatum on Turkey?

Regardless of what happens, we believe that Ankara is informed about the words uttered by Talat. Talat is in constant contact with Erdogan. He is acting in line with Erdogan's instructions here.

If he says that the soldiers will not be withdrawn prior to a solution and Varosha will not be returned, this is also the result of Ankara's initiative.

Can Talat act contrary to Erdogan's instructions, saying that "he will not accept this recognition"? He would not dare. If Turkey wants to recognize this republic, will it seek Talat's permission for this?

Or will it decide not to recognize this republic just because Talat says that "he cannot accept this"?

At a time when we are approaching December, when Turkey expects to receive a date from the EU, apparently the last minutes of this act are being staged in Cyprus.

And apparently Turkey is getting prepared for the last round that will risk its historic hope. What does Turkey intend to achieve?

Does it intend to provoke the Greek Cypriot side and to force it to utilize its veto right? Does it want to force Papadopoulos to utilize his veto right? Is that what Turkey wants?

Talat is saying: "I do not believe that the Greek Cypriot side will veto Turkey unless a provocative development occurs." This means that he is also aware of what can happen in case of a provocation. If Turkey refuses to recognize the Cyprus Republic, is this not a big enough provocation for a veto? If it were you, what would you do?

Would you give such a reward to a country that has been occupying your lands for 30 years and that says that it does not recognize you, just for ensuring that it becomes an EU member? At a time when voices in favor of a veto are rising in south Cyprus, how can you explain Turkey's efforts to add fuel to the fire?

Turkey will primarily have our politicians say whatever it wants to say. Let us see whether or not statements that will be issued by the officials of the Turkish Republic will follow Talat's statement? Will they say: We will not recognize the Republic of Cyprus?

Given that Turkey has put in effect the customs union with the Republic of Cyprus, it has recognized it, albeit indirectly. Turkish businessmen are impatiently waiting for going on an expedition to south Cyprus.

Under such circumstances, what is the meaning of Talat's remarks? Or does he also want the Greek Cypriots to veto Turkey and is he in favor of maintaining the current status quo?"

/SK

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