Press and Information Office, Occupied Northern Cyprus
Dec 17 2004
Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media – 12/16/2004
[01] The Turkish Prime Minister arrived in Brussels.
[02] The Turkish Foreign Minister left for Brussels.
[03] The European Parliament calls for accession talks with Turkey.
[04] HURRIYET highlights the European Parliament decision on Turkey.
[05] Former Turkish Ambassador and CNN-TURK commentator Yalim Eralp:
“It is possible to establish a provisional solution government”.
[06] Turkish Cypriot newspaper speaks of a possible Cyprus summit in
Brussels in view of Annan´s presence.
[07] Mr Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas will
start contacts with the political party leaders for the “election”
date.
[08] An opinion poll conducted in the occupied areas shows the
Republican Turkish Party in the lead with 31%.
[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
[09] Columnist in STAR newspaper argues that Turkey intends to
exploit possible resumption of Cyprus talks to avoid signing the
protocol it will commit itself to sign during the EU Summit.
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[A] NEWS ITEMS
[01] The Turkish Prime Minister arrived in Brussels
Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.12.04) reported that the Turkish
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Brussels on Wednesday.
He will hold meetings in Brussels prior to EU Summit on December
17th.
Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan,
several bureaucrats and deputies are accompanying Erdogan.
”We are hopeful,” Erdogan said upon arrival regarding the decision
of EU leaders whether to open entry talks with Turkey at their summit
on Friday.
Upon questions of reporters, Erdogan said: “We are pleased with the
recommendatory decision of the European Parliament today. I am
interested in the result not the content. The decision of the
European Parliament is very meaningful.”
When asked what his expectation from French President Jacques Chirac
was, Erdogan said: ‘W will discuss it.”
[02] The Turkish Foreign Minister left for Brussels
Istanbul NTV television (15.12.04) broadcast that Foreign Minister
Abdullah Gul made a statement at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport before
leaving for Brussels to attend the EU summit. He reiterated that
Turkey expects the 17 December summit to reach a decision to start
full membership negotiations. Expressing the belief that Turkey
fulfilled its task in this regard, Gul said that Ankara hopes that
the EU leaders, in turn, will remain loyal to the documents they have
already signed and reach a decision to start the accession
negotiations during the course of 2005.
Gul said that the mutual demands and adjustments will continue until
the last minute during the summit. Asked about the conditions that
would compel Turkey to abandon the discussions, Gul said: The full
membership goal should be open and clear, and a date that will not
require another meeting should emerge from the summit.
There are certain matters that run counter to the EU acquis, and
these are not legitimate, Gul noted, and pointed to the permanent
derogations in this context. Gul concluded by expressing the hope
that a final compromise will be reached at the summit.
[03] The European Parliament calls for accession talks with Turkey
Ankara Anatolia news agency (15.12.04) reported from Strasbourg that
the European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling for
the start of Turkey´s accession talks ”without undue delay”.
The European Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, France, voted by 407
in favour to 262, against with 29 abstentions to pass the resolution.
This resolution is nonbinding, but important as it reflected the view
of the European Parliament prior to the EU-Brussels summit, which is
of historic importance for Turkey.
Socialist, Liberal, Green parliamentarians and British, Spanish and
Italian parliamentarians of the Christian Democrat group voted in
favour of Turkey.
The report, prepared by Dutch Parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings and a
recommendatory decision, urged for ”giving priority to the
implementation of the political criteria at the beginning of
negotiations.”
The recommendatory decision called on the Turkish parliament to
approve six legal amendments, which the European Commission stated in
the progress report, and proposed ”putting into force the political
dialogue mechanism about the close monitoring process and envisaging
suspension of negotiations by the European Commission when
necessary.”
[04] HURRIYET highlights the European Parliament decision on Turkey
Istanbul HURRIYET (Internet version, 15.12.04) publishes the
following report from Strasbourg under the title: “EP rejects giving
privileged partnership to Turkey”:
“The European Parliament [EP] has rejected motions for Turkey to be
given a special status, for its membership to be rejected, and for
the recognition of Turkey’s “Armenian Genocide”. The EP did adopt a
motion for full membership negotiations to be taken up with Turkey
without delay.
The EP passed the resolution recommending the initiation of full
membership negotiations with Turkey by a vote of 407 in favour and
262 opposed.
The reforms that have been carried out in Turkey were praised in the
advisory resolution, and it was stated that “The negotiations are the
starting point of a lengthy process, which by its nature is
open-ended and does not necessarily entail the result of full
membership.”
“Full membership dependent on mutual efforts”
In the resolution, which noted that full membership depends on the
mutual efforts of both Turkey and the EU, attention was drawn to the
importance of the Turkish and EU publics being provided with
information in an effective manner during the process of Ankara’s
integration.
“Free movement must not disadvantage Turkey”
The resolution, which pointed out that the negotiations process will
be lengthy, called for restrictions on free circulation and
agriculture not to have a negative impact on Turkey’s efforts for
membership.
It was implied in the resolution that it will not be possible for the
full membership negotiations with Turkey to be completed prior to the
goals foreseen in the EU’s budget for the year 2014.
“Restrictions on Greek Cypriot-flagged ships must be lifted”
The resolution, which included a call for Turkey to resolve its
problems with its neighbours in a manner consistent with the UN
Charter, called for the elimination of restrictions on Greek
Cypriot-flagged ships.
“Heybeli Island Theological Seminary must be opened”
The resolution stated that there must be no restrictions on the
activities of minorities in Turkey, and called in this context for
the opening of the [Greek Orthodox] theological seminary on Heybeli
Island.
“Alevi faith must be recognized”
The EP’s resolution included calls for Alevism to be recognized and
protected, including for ‘cemevleri’ [houses of assembly] to be
recognized as religious centers, for religious education to be
voluntary, for effective measures to be taken in combating torture,
and for the Village Guards system in the Southeast to be done away
with.
“Armenian border must be opened”
The advisory resolution, which called for Turkey to open its border
with Armenia, stated that it is necessary that the Turkish and
Armenian governments provide support to a mutual peace process, and
that the bitter experiences of the past be overcome through the
support of independent experts.
“Armenian genocide” motion rejected
In a vote conducted in the General Assembly, an amendment motion
calling for acknowledgement of the so-called Armenian Genocide to be
made a precondition for initiating negotiations was rejected.
Despite this, an amendment motion that made reference to an earlier
advisory resolution of the European Parliament (EP) regarding
recognition of the alleged genocide and another amendment motion
calling for the EU Commission and Council to call upon Turkey to
recognize the alleged genocide were accepted.
“Rejection of privileged partnership proposal”
The EP also rejected an amendment proposal that provided for
“privileged partnership” for Turkey instead of full membership. The
EU resolutions, which are not binding, will be cited in the final
communiqué that will be published at the conclusion of the EU summit.
“Voting in favour of Turkey”
It was observed that, in the vote conducted in the General Assembly,
the Socialist, Liberal, and Green parliamentarians, as well as the
British, Spanish, and Italian members of the Christian Democratic
group, voted in favor of Turkey.
The report drafted by Dutch Christian [Democratic] parliamentarian
Camiel Eurlings, and the advisory resolution based on it, called for
“priority to be given, at the beginning of the negotiations, to the
political criteria being put into implementation.”
The advisory resolution, which called upon the TGNA [Turkish Grand
National Assembly] to approve the six legal changes contained in the
EU Commission’s Progress Report, proposed the “utilization by the EU
Commission of an effective political dialogue, involving a close
monitoring process and providing for a suspension of negotiations if
necessary.”
The deputies who cast their votes in favor of Turkey raised placards
reading ‘evet’ [‘yes’] in Turkish.
“Demonstrations for and against Turkey”
Following the EP’s passage of the advisory resolution which
recommended that the EU initiate full membership negotiations with
Turkey, the city of Strasbourg was the stage of demonstrations both
in favor of and opposing Turkish EU membership.
Supporters of the extreme-right National Front Party in France staged
a demonstration in the center of the city in order to oppose Turkey’s
membership in the EU.
In response to the extreme rightists’ demonstration, a march in favor
of Turkey’s EU membership was staged through the initiative of the
French organization “Justice and Liberty”.
Turkish immigrants in Strasbourg also showed great interest in the
march.
“Eurlings: We want to give Turkey a fair chance”
EP Turkey Rapporteur Camiel Eurlings said that the EU has to give
Turkey a fair chance. Following the voting on the advisory resolution
that the EU take up full membership negotiations with Turkey,
Eurlings and EP Speaker Josep Borrel held a joint press conference.
In the press conference, Eurlings, stating that he was very pleased
with the acceptance of the report and the advisory resolution that he
had drafted, said that priority must be given to the implementation
of the political criteria following the initiation of negotiations.
“Torture and religious minorities”
Eurlings, asserting that “Torture incidents, in particular, must be
prevented”, also stated that “There must be no restrictions on the
worship of religious minorities.”
Eurlings said that “Just as people can easily build mosques in
Europe, it has to be possible for churches to be built in Turkey.”
Noting that the debate on Turkey’s EU membership by both the European
public and the EP has been extremely beneficial, Eurlings said “Not
to discuss this topic in an open way would not be good for Turkey or
for the EU.”
“Borrel: Prejudices regarding Turkey must be abandoned”
As for EP Speaker Josep Borrel, he stated in his remarks that
European public opinion fears Turkey’s membership because it is not
well acquainted with Turkey.
Borrel, stating that there are also prejudices that derive from
history, said that the EP also has responsibilities for making Turkey
known to European public opinion.
Borrel, in response to a question, said that he had decided, in
accordance with the EP by-laws, for the vote to be a secret ballot on
the grounds that requests for this had come from a sufficient number
of parliamentarians.
Representatives of the Socialist, Liberal, and Green groups, who
spoke prior to the vote held in the EP today, had opposed the secret
ballot on grounds of the principle of transparency.
Borrel, noting that Turkey has carried out important reforms, said:
“In my view, Turkey has won the right to begin negotiations with the
EU on full membership.”
“Turkey must recognize the Republic of Cyprus”
Borrel, stating that with the advisory resolution that the EP passed
today, he “reminded Turkey of the reality that the negotiations will
be conducted with the 25 countries of the EU”, said that Turkey also
has to recognize the Republic of Cyprus, because it will be sitting
down to the table with it as well”.
[05] Former Turkish Ambassador and CNN-TURK commentator Yalim Eralp:
“It is possible to establish a provisional solution government”
YENIDUZEN correspondent Sami Ozuslu who went to Brussels to cover the
EU Summit, had a short interview with former Turkish ambassador and
CNN-TURK commentator, Mr Yalim Eralp. Following is the text of the
interview:
Question: Prior to the Brussels Summit if Turkey gets a date what
kind of change could be in Turkey´s Cyprus policy, do you expect any
forward move?
Eralp: I think now others as well will make a forward move. May be Mr
Denktas could propose to Papadopoulos to establish a provisional
solution government.
Question: What would be the system of the provisional government?
Eralp: Of course, the Provisional Government could be a federative
government within the framework of the Annan Plan.
However, searching for the settlement could be envisaged within this
government between Denktas and Papadopoulos.
Question: What do you think about the medium and long-term?
Eralp:This depends on the developments. If Turkey cannot enter into
the EU, then I see a Cyprus settlement very far away.
Question: That is, you do not see any steps to be taken in Cyprus
until Turkey´s accession?
Eralp: I do expect. But if the negotiations are open-ended, then the
settlement in Cyprus should be open ended. It should be bit by bit.
Question: thus, this means putting the Turkish Cypriots and North
Cyprus into the freezer?
Eralp: NO, not to put into the freezer. Slowly, slowly, it should be
integrated, but if Turkey will not be EU member why should it settle
the Cyprus problem then? If it solves, it will be considered stupid.
Aren´t they saying `the Cyprus problem is an obstacle to our EU
membership?” In that case let us turn it upside down and say `why
should I settle the Cyprus problem since I am not a member of EU?”
Question: What do you expect Turkey will get from Brussels? Eralp: I
think Turkey will get a date, however, what is important is the true
nature of the obstacles. That is, your say full membership and you
put such obstacles (Eralp uses the word thorns) that it turns into a
privileged status. One has to pay attention to this”.
[06] Turkish Cypriot newspaper speaks of a possible Cyprus summit in
Brussels in view of Annan´s presence
Turkish Cypriot daily YENIDUZEN newspaper (16.12.04) reports under
banner headlines “One should not be surprised if a Cyprus summit is
held in Brussels” and says that Turkish Industrialists and
Businessmen Association, TUSIAD´s permanent representative at the EU,
Bahadir Kaleagasi has said that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan´s
arrival to Brussels makes possible the holding of a “Cyprus Summit”
there.
In a statement to YENIDUZEN, Kaleagasi said that it is also possible
that immediately after the EU summit, President Papadopoulos, Prime
Minister Erdogan and Kofi Annan could meet in Brussels. He went on
and said that Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat as well could
be invited to Brussels.
Kaleagasi added that Turkey is yet to pen its cards, and that Turkey,
which supported the Annan Plan, will not recognize the Republic of
Cyprus in its present form.
“It is possible that a Cyprus summit could be held with the arrival
of the UN Secretary-General”, he said.
“The whole intention of Papadopoulos is to realize the recognition
and burry the Annan Plan in the annals of history. In order to
preclude this, Turkey should stand firm. We have lost in Helsinki and
Papadopoulos got strong. Now Turkey came face to face with the
Papapdopoulos reality”, Kaleagasi concluded.
[07] Mr Talat said that the Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktas will
start contacts with the political party leaders for the “election”
date
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRIS newspaper (16/12/04) reports that the
so-called Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat, prior to a meeting
yesterday with the so-called Council of Ministers, announced that
they will discuss issues that are in the weekly agenda, adding that
there is nothing extraordinary.
Mr Talat also noted that most probably the Turkish Cypriot leader Mr
Rauf Denktas will start meetings with party leaders on Monday for the
“elections” date.
Commenting on the resolution on Turkey’s progress towards European
Union accession, which was adopted by the European Parliament
yesterday, Mr Talat said that it is an important development.
[08] An opinion poll conducted in the occupied areas shows the
Republican Turkish Party in the lead with 31%
Turkish Cypriot daily KIBRISLI newspaper (16.12.04) publishes an
opinion poll regarding the support that the Turkish Cypriot political
parties receive in occupied Cyprus. The opinion poll was conducted by
the Prologue Consulting Ltd.
According to the poll, the Republican Turkish Party-United Forces
(RTP-UF) of Mehmet Ali Talat comes first with 31%, the National Unity
Party (NUP) of Dervis Eroglu comes second with 15%, the Democratic
Party (DP) of Serdar Denktas comes third with 6%, the Peace and
Democracy Movement (PDM) of Mustafa Akinci comes fourth with 3% and
the Communal Liberation Party (CLP) of Huseyin Angolemli comes fifth
with 2%. In addition, 26% are undecided, 9% will vote to none and 8%
is mixed.
Commenting on the results of the opinion poll, KIBRISLI writes inter
alia that the 6% that the DP receives is evaluated in various ways by
the political observers. According to the paper a big percentage of
the undecided persons comes from the NUP and supports that these
persons may vote for the DP in the “elections”. It also writes that
the 17 December Summit’s result will affect the decision of the
undecided persons.
KIBRISLI also writes that someone who evaluates the results must bare
in mind that the Turkish Cypriot parties have not yet decided about
their “candidates” and have neither started they are “election”
campaign nor declared their political position.
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[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS
[09] Columnist in STAR newspaper argues that Turkey intends to
exploit possible resumption of Cyprus talks to avoid signing the
protocol it will commit itself to sign during the EU Summit
Istanbul STAR newspaper (15.12.04) publishes the following commentary
by Zeynep Gurcanli under the title: “The Cyprus chess game in
Brussels”:
“The paragraph on Turkey, other than the date the negotiations would
start, has become finalized prior to the 17 December summit. Only one
major problem remains between Ankara and the European capital cities:
Cyprus.
Two days before the summit a diplomatic chess game in its full sense
is being played between Turkey and the EU.
In response to the “requests of solidarity” of the Greek Cypriots,
who put their EU membership in their “pockets”, the EU has brought
the subject of Cyprus to a “condition, which is not a condition” in
order to start the negotiations with Turkey.
Within this framework, the Netherlands, which is carrying out the EU
Term Presidency, worked out a formula.
The formula found is Turkey’s acceptance of a decree similar to the
one that previously included the Greek Cypriots in the Customs Union,
but with a somewhat more extensive scope.
It was established on Turkey’s signing a protocol expanding the
Ankara Agreement in a manner that would also include the countries,
which are new EU members.
The Netherlands did not only constitute this formula. It also made a
“sounding out” in order to be able to understand whether or not
Ankara would consider this favourably.
It put a sentence, which contained the message, “The EU would meet
with pleasure Turkey’s acceptance of signing the protocol, which
would expand the Ankara Agreement in a manner that would also include
the new members of the EU.” Furthermore, this sentence was put in the
Turkey part in the declaration and the subject of Cyprus completely
became a “condition, which is not a condition,” for the negotiations.
Ankara’s reaction against this came from Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gul. Minister Gul, in a letter he sent to all of the EU countries,
listed one by one all of the elements that Turkey could not accept in
the first draft prepared by the Netherlands. Within these elements,
he also included putting the Cyprus subject into the Turkey
paragraph. And he made the criticism, “Putting the Cyprus subject
directly into the Turkey paragraph gives the impression that this
problem has been transformed into a condition for starting the
negotiations.”
But Minister Gul did not show any reaction to the part in the draft
text related to the signing of the protocol. And the Netherlands, in
the drafts it prepared later, removed the Cyprus paragraph from the
Turkey section in accordance with the criticisms of Minister Gul and
placed it in the appendix section. But still, it did not change the
expression related to the signing of the protocol.
What is interesting is that Ankara did not direct a criticism to
these expressions in the drafts, which were prepared later. This
silence of Ankara was interpreted in the EU capital cities that
Turkey would accept to sign this protocol before the negotiations
start.
Subtitle: Resuming the Cyprus talks
Putting the expressions related to the signing of the protocol in the
declaration was the move of the EU side in the diplomatic chess game.
Ankara’s first move in response to this was “to remain silent.” That
is, Ankara neither committed itself nor rejected the signing of the
protocol. Actually, the calculations of the next move in the chess
game lie behind this silence.
All of the signs in Brussels prior to the 17 December summit show
that immediately after giving a negotiation date to Turkey, the peace
talks on Cyprus would be resumed.
Ankara, just as it did in the previous talks, aims to continue its
“encouraging” role in the new round of talks as well.
Starting the Cyprus negotiations would have the meaning of preventing
the Greek Cypriots, who corner Ankara at every opportunity, by using
their title of “full EU member” as they want.
If the Cyprus talks conclude positively, then in any case, the
problem would be solved. But if the talks are prolonged or do not
produce a result, then Turkey, “which encouraged peace,” would gain
time. And it would be saved from signing the Cyprus protocol, which
became a de facto “condition” for the starting the negotiations with
the final move of the Netherlands or it would be able to postpone the
signing of it. The majority of the people in Brussels do not expect a
“last minute bad surprise” just before the summit on 17 December.
Even the statements of the French Foreign Minister Barnier, “We will
bring the Armenian tragedy to the negotiations,” is considered as a
domestic political move, which aims to silence the French socialists
in the opposition and not much importance is attached to it.
These days, both the EU and Ankara are considering 17 December “to be
finished” and are making the moves for the diplomatic struggle, which
will be experienced after this and which will be “real” and
“tougher.” ”
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