TURKISH PRESS
AND OTHER MEDIA
No.210/04
03.11.04
A.NEWS ITEMS
1. Statements by the Turkish Deputy Chief of Staff on Cyprus, EU’s Progress
Report for Turkey and the issue of the minorities.
2. Ankara is reportedly disturbed from Mehmet Ali Talat’s statements regarding
the possibility of re-negotiation of some issues in the UN plan.
3. Mr Talat said that it is USA and EU that do not want any activity regarding
the Cyprus problem
4. Izcan says putting the Cyprus problem in the freezer or relating it with
Turkey’s full accession to the EU could not be accepted.
5. The EU considers amending the Ceasefire Line Regulation.
6. Mrs Mechtild Rothe says the European Parliament could help the Turkish
Cypriots to put an end to their “isolation” and participate in the EU.
7. The US Embassy in Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce
will co-organize a seminar.
8. Ancient pottery items found in a German’s house living in the occupied
areas of Cyprus.
A.NEWS ITEMS
1. Statements by the Turkish Deputy Chief of Staff on Cyprus, EU’s Progress
Report for Turkey and the issue of the minorities
Turkish Cypriot daily CUMHURIYET newspaper (03.11.04) reports that General Ilker
Basbug, Deputy Chief of the Turkish General Staff, has said that Cyprus continues to
have the same importance for Turkey and described the Cyprus problem as Turkey’s
“national case”.
In statements yesterday in Ankara during a Press briefing that lasted almost two
hours, General Basbug argued that the simultaneous referendums, which took place
in April 2004 on the island, confirmed that there were “two peoples” and that the one
did not have the authority to represent the other.
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Furthermore, according to Turkish daily HURRIYET newspaper (03.11.04), General
Basbug expressed the opinion of the Turkish army on EU’s Progress Report for
Turkey and criticized the Report.
Noting that there are elements in the report that could harm the integrity of Turkey,
the Turkish General said, inter alia, the following on the issue:
“…As Turkish Armed Forces we do not approve the opening of a discussion on the
issue of the unitary (structure of) the state. In EU’s Progress Report it is openly said
that there are new minorities in Turkey. Thus, it is obvious that it is going outside the
framework of (the Treaty of) Lausanne. We do not approve the fact that it is openly
said or implied that persons who do not consider themselves as minorities are
minorities. And we consider this to be thought-provoking. No concessions could be
made from Lausanne…”.
2. Ankara is reportedly disturbed from Mehmet Ali Talat’s statements regarding
the possibility of re-negotiation of some issues in the UN plan
Turkish daily ZAMAN newspaper (02.11.04), under the title “Talat signals renegotiation on UN Plan, Ankara disturbed”, reports that the so-called Prime Minister
Mr Mehmet Ali Talat declared: "We are ready to discuss amendments on the Annan
Plan and submit proposals for changes. At this stage Ankara looks the initiative in a
cold rational way, notes ZAMAN.
In a statement to the Greek Cypriot daily FILELEFTHEROS newspaper Mr Talat
said: "The Greek side should decide what it wants and everybody expects the leader
of the ‘Cypriot Greek administration’, Mr Tassos Papadopoulos, to declare what he
and his ‘administration’ wants."
Mr Talat said he could sit down at the table with President Papadopoulos and
propose new changes to the Annan plan, as well as listen to his recommendations.
"Of course if Papadopoulos has some suggestions for amendments we will discuss
them and naturally we will put forward ours", Mr Talat added.
Further more under the subtitle: “Talat did not consult with Ankara”, the paper
reports, inter alia, the following:
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“Talat said that negotiations regarding the Cyprus problem should be under the
umbrella of the United Nations (UN) and not the European Union (EU). He did not
consult with Ankara about his decision. The solution, he said, could be slightly
different from the Annan Plan.
Ankara does not accept the new negotiations at this stage, nor did Talat consult with
Ankara before he decided to propose new ones. Ankara said: "The Turkish side did
what it was supposed to and the Greek side should be forced to do what it has to do
upon international pressure". Ankara is worried because the EU has not yet kept the
promises it made before the24th April referendum when the Greek Cypriot rejected
the UN plan…”
3. Mr Talat said that it is USA and EU that do not want any activity regarding
the Cyprus problem
Turkish Cypriot daily YENIDUZEN newspaper (03.11.04), under the title “It is not
Ankara that does not want any activity”, reports that in statement to the Turkish
Cypriot SIM FM radio, Mehmet Ali Talat, so-called Prime Minister of the occupation
regime, has commented on opinions expressed in the Turkish Cypriot community
arguing that Turkey is responsible for the fact that there is no activity this period on
the Cyprus problem.
Mr Talat said the following on the issue: “It is not Turkey that does not want any
activity regarding the Cyprus issue, but it is the USA and the EU who wants that,
because in case any risk is taken there are warnings saying that the Greek Cypriots
have the right of veto and Turkey getting a date will put in danger… Turkey has not
said anything to us on this issue; it is the world and the great forces that want this,
because they want Turkey to take a date”.
Meanwhile, the newspaper reports also that the Turkish Foreign Minister Spokesman
Namik Tan, declined to comment on Talat's remarks, saying that Turkey has already
made its position clear on the U.N. plan on different occasions. He also alleged that it
was normal for Talat, who “is striving for a settlement in Cyprus”, to consider different
alternatives.
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4. Izcan says putting the Cyprus problem in the freezer or relating it with
Turkey’s full accession to the EU could not be accepted
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (03.11.04) reports that the General
Secretary of the United Cyprus Party (UCP), Izzet Izcan has expressed the opinion
that putting the Cyprus problem in the freezer or relating its solution to Turkey’s full
accession to the European Union was unacceptable.
In statements yesterday after a meeting with a delegation of the Turkish Cypriot
Teachers’ Trade Union (KTOS), Mr Izcan argued that the Turkish Cypriot community
did its duty, but there is no activity in the Cyprus problem because both sides have
not undertaken any initiative.
Mr Izcan noted that putting the Cyprus problem in the freezer or relating its solution
to Turkey’s full accession to the European Union was tantamount to the end of the
existence of the Turkish Cypriots.
Mr Izcan pointed out that only if the Turkish Cypriot supporters of the solution were
united in the forthcoming “early elections”, they could be saved from being put in the
freezer and being a trump-card in the hands of some persons.
5. The EU considers amending the Ceasefire Line Regulation
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (03.11.04) reports that the European
Commission considers amending the “Ceasefire Line Regulation”, so that the trade of
citrus fruits and some animal products from the occupied part of Cyprus is allowed
through the government controlled areas of the Republic.
Addressing a bi-communal conference in Nicosia entitled “Facilitating commercial
activity across the Green Line”, European Commission official Leopold Maurer said
yesterday that they were planning the amendments to be approved by the Council of
Ministers of the EU and be enforced until the end of this year.
Mr Maurer said that there were some difficulties on the trade of fish and honey, but
efforts are exerted for finding a solution to the issue.
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6. Mrs Mechtild Rothe says the European Parliament could help the Turkish
Cypriots to put an end to their “isolation” and participate in the EU
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (03.11.04) writes that Mrs Mechtild Rothe,
social democrat member of the European Parliament, has reportedly said that with
granting financial aid to the Turkish Cypriots, launching direct trade with them and
putting an end to their “isolations”, the European Parliament could help the Turkish
Cypriot community to live in the European Union.
In statements to KIBRIS correspondent in Strasbourg, Mrs Rothe said: “We have no
responsibility for the Annan Plan, but we could help the Turkish Cypriot community to
live in the EU by granting financial aid, (launching) direct trade and breaking the
isolations”.
Mrs Rothe noted that the European Parliament had the same position with the
Turkish Cypriots on the Annan Plan and that it strongly supported the Turkish Cypriot
community.
Mrs Rothe said: “The majority of the Turkish Cypriots approved the Annan Plan. I
hope that new opportunities are created regarding the Annan Plan. …People have
been disappointed because a solution on the basis of the Annan Plan was not
reached. The European Union will provide the necessary help to the Turkish Cypriot
community”.
Mrs Rothe pointed out that there was absolutely no problem on behalf of the socialist
group or the Republic of Cyprus on the issue of granting financial aid to the Turkish
Cypriots and added that the Financial Aid Regulation will be approved by the EU
Parliament on 15 November.
7. The US Embassy in Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce
will co-organize a seminar
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (03.11.04) reports that the embassy of the
United States to Nicosia and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) will
co-organize a seminar on “Making Business with the USA” at the offices of the
TCCC.
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Mr Amer Kayani, from the US Trade Department and Mr James Higgiston from the
US Agriculture Department will address the seminar, which will be taking place on 9
November, 2004.
The paper writes also that the US ambassador to Nicosia, Mr Michael Klosson will
also address the seminar, during which issues such as ways to establish relations
with the business world in the USA, the best firms of the USA and the main lines of
cooperating with the sector of agriculture of the USA will be discussed.
8. Ancient pottery items found in a German’s house living in the occupied
areas of Cyprus
Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI (03.11.04) reports that the “police” of the
occupation regime arrested yesterday a 61 year-old German, who lives in the
occupied areas of Cyprus, after finding ancient pottery items in his house.
The “police” found in his house 28 pieces of pottery ancient items and an icon.
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