EXTRAORDINARY NSC MEETING SET TO DISCUSS UN CYPRUS PLAN

The National Security Council (NSC) is due to hold an extraordinary meeting today to discuss the revised UN Cyprus plan set to face referendums on the island on April 24. The meeting, chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, will feature a briefing by Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on the plan. Gul is also due to brief Parliament tomorrow on the revised plan. /Aksam/
 

GUL: “TURKEY WON’T BE A BURDEN TO THE EU”

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said yesterday that Turkey’s European Union membership would not bring a burden on the European Union and that whatever the EU’s decision, Ankara would continue its reforms for the benefit of the Turkish people. Speaking at a symposium in Maastricht, the Netherlands, Gul briefed the audiences about Turkey’s efforts to comply with EU standards. Pointing to discussions in Europe about Turkey’s membership bid, Gul said, “These discussions are natural and useful, but they should be based on objective criteria.” /Turkiye/

DENKTAS: “ACCEPTING THE UN PLAN MAY DAMAGE TURKISH CYPRIOT INTERESTS”

Speaking in Istanbul yesterday, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that it was only through the Turkish delegation’s efforts that the revised Cyprus plan was being seen as positive by some. “However, accepting the plan could damage the interests of the Turkish Cypriots,” warned Denktas. “We will determine our destiny by the end of this month [with the April 24 referendums on the plan and EU accession scheduled for May 1]. I want everybody to consider how he or she will determine not only their own destiny, but also the TRNC’s.” Denktas further stated that the plan should be discussed in detail and that more time was needed for this. /Milliyet/
 

PARTY OF TRNC’S TALAT ENDORSES PLAN

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said yesterday that his party had taken a group decision to support a yes vote on the revised UN Cyprus plan at a referendum scheduled for April 24, adding that he was disappointed that Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas had not done the same. /Aksam/
 

GREEK FM: “THE REVISED UN CYPRUS PLAN IS A COMPROMISE WITH BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ASPECTS”

Greek Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis said yesterday that the revised UN plan was a compromise with both positive and negative aspects. “It is time to act with common sense,” Moliviatis told Greek daily Elefterotipiya. “If the plan is rejected in [April 24] referendums, then it will be a long time before we see any new initiatives or negotiations.” In related news, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos said yesterday that next week he would announce his decision on whether or not to support accepting the revised UN Cyprus plan. His decision is expected to be negative. /Turkiye/
 

POWELL: “DON’T PASS UP THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR PEACE ON CYPRUS”

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that getting positive results from referendums on Cyprus’ future set for April 24 carried great importance. He warned both the Turkish and Greek Cypriots that turning down the UN plan in the referendums would constitute a tremendous missed opportunity. Stressing that there was no alternative plan to the UN plan, Powell added that the deal was the best which could be reached. /Milliyet/

TUZMEN: “WE’RE AIMING FOR A $10 BILLION TRADE VOLUME WITH THE US”

Before leaving yesterday for the United States to attend annual meetings of the Turkish-American Council, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen told reporters that Turkey hoped to increase its trade volume with the US from a current $7 billion to $10 billion. Remarking that the US was an important market, Tuzmen stated that after completing his contacts in Washington, he would proceed to New York for the grand opening of the American-Turkish Chamber of Trade. He added that on Wednesday, Ankara would sign a free trade agreement with Morocco, a pact expected to give impetus to bilateral trade ties. /Turkiye/
 

FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS…FROM THE COLUMNS

DENKTAS CAN’T SPREAD PROPAGANDA
BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)

Columnist Cuneyt Ulsever comments on the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows:

“A recent document from Justice Minister Cemil Cicek shows that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas is deliberately distorting the Cyprus issue by saying that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan for Cyprus should be based on the constitution of 1960. The ministry’s letter ‘A Comparison Between the Annan Plan’s Regime and That of 1960’ issued last Friday refuted Denktas’s claims. The letter shows that despite its shortcomings, the Annan plan promises a better regime then the constitution of 1960. There are three basic reasons why Denktas doesn’t want peace on the island, and none of them are related to the interests of the TRNC people:

1. Most of the property deeds belonging to the Greeks have been distributed arbitrarily. 2. The island has become a heaven for money laundering. The $2-3 billion sent by Turkey every year has also been used arbitrarily.

Swindlers on both sides have used the island for the same purpose. As a matter of fact, auditing old bank accounts are among the threats of the United States, which is pressing Greek Cypriot President Papadopoulos for a yes vote on the plan. Denktas will work hard to prevent a yes in the referendum. Mr. Denktas can have his own view, but he can’t spread propaganda, because the TRNC parliamentary system doesn’t permit this.

If Denktas believes that the UN plan means an end to the Turkish Cypriots, then he should step down from the presidency so he can spread propaganda. Ethically this is his only alternative, because the elements that allowed his presence for nearly 30 years are the Turkish people and billions in aid from Turkey. In last week’s elections, the Turkish people showed their support for the government’s decision in favor of the UN plan. Denktas can’t act against Turkey while receiving aid from us.”