CHANGE IN ATTITUDE ON CYPRUS BY
FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, currently in the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to attend ceremonies
marking the 32nd anniversary of the Cyprus Peace
Operation, yesterday met with TRNC President
Mehmet Ali Talat to discuss the Cyprus issue.
During their meeting, Erdogan assured Talat that
Turkish ports wouldn’t be opened to Greek
Cypriots. “Don’t worry about that,” he said. “We
won’t open our ports before your isolation ends.
We won’t retreat on this point.” For his part,
Talat said that a Cyprus resolution with Greek
Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos was
difficult. “He’s trying to buy time in order to
overcome the pressure of the US and the European
Union,” said Talat. “There can be no progress
with him.” Later, Erdogan met with TRNC Prime
Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer. Speaking later at a
joint press conference, Erdogan said that the
TRNC was putting forth a positive approach on
the issue, adding that it would continue to do
so. “We hope that this problem will be solved as
soon as possible,” said Erdogan. He added that a
new process would begin on Cyprus, adding that
the isolation of the TRNC should be brought to
an end. /Milliyet/
Syrian President Bashar Assad yesterday
telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
and sought his support for a cease-fire in the
Middle East. Assad called Erdogan during the
premier's visit to the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and told him about the
current situation in the region, asking for
diplomatic efforts to continue for a cease-fire.
Erdogan, for his part, stated that he would
continue to do his utmost in order to reach a
cease-fire, and said, “Our diplomatic efforts
will continue.” /Hurriyet/
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul,
currently in London for an official meeting, met
with his British counterpart Margaret Beckett to
discuss a number of issues, including bilateral
ties. Speaking at a press conference afterwards,
Gul commented on the terrorist group PKK, saying
that Turkey would use all of its rights under
international law to protect the nation’s
security. Gul stressed that Turkey didn’t want
to exercise its power blindly, but did want to
cooperate with its neighbors against the
terrorist PKK. “Turkey is an important country
in the region,” said Gul, adding that it
contributed to the region’s stability.
Commenting on Turkey’s European Union membership
bid, Gul stated that the Turkish nation was
proud of the reform process and that they
support the government and political parties in
this process. /Turkiye/
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, main
opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)
deputy leader Ali Topuz said that the Turkish
nation had no more patience in waiting for
results in the fight against terrorism, adding
that the government should carry out a
cross-border operation through its own power and
decision. He said that Parliament should hold an
extraordinary session, adding that he had
briefed Justice and Development Party (AKP)
deputy leader Salih Kapusuz on the CHP’s request
for such a session. Topuz added that the
opposition parties could do so themselves, but
they wanted to accomplish this together with the
government. /Aksam/
Opposition Motherland Party (ANAVATAN) leader
Erkan Mumcu yesterday backed Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rejection of the US
ambassador’s discouraging any cross-border
operation, saying, “Turkey doesn’t need
permission from others to protect its national
security. We can’t continue to lose our people
because somebody thinks that it isn’t
appropriate. I support the premier’s stance
within this context.” Mumcu also said that the
government’s attitude should continue with
determination and seriousness. /Hurriyet/
US
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew
Bryza yesterday praised as “a good development”
the decision of Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) President Mehmet Ali Talat and
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos to meet
to discuss the Cyprus issue. Saying that aim of
his visit was to get the views of both sides on
the island, Bryza added that he wanted to
develop ties with the administrations of both
sides and to get more information on the issue.
/Milliyet/
The US Embassy in Ankara
yesterday issued written response to Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s criticism of
recent remarks by US Ambassador to Turkey Ross
Wilson. The statement said that the comments had
been misinterpreted to suggest that Turkey has
no right to defend itself in the face of
threats. “Of course, Turkey, like every country,
has a right and an obligation to defend itself
and its people,” the statement continued. “For
over 50 years, we [the US and Turkey] have stood
together as members of an alliance dedicated to
collective defense and security [i.e. NATO]. We
recently pledged ourselves to work together on
all issues of common concern, including
counter-terrorism and the fight against the PKK
and its affiliates. Working together with the
United States and the government of Iraq can be
an essential part of advancing Turkish
security.” /Hurriyet/
Columnist Oktay Eksi comments on current
Turkish-US relations. A summary of his column is
as follows:
“As
US Ambassador to Ankara Ross Wilson said
yesterday, Turkey has the right and
responsibility to defend itself and its nation
like all countries. He did us a favor by showing
his unparalleled understanding (!). However, we
thought that this right only belonged to the US
and Israel. Actually, when we look at the
policies which have been followed by US
President George W. Bush, who violates
international law every day, we see that no
country except the US and Israel has the right
to defend itself. No matter how much we thank
Mr. Wilson, it would never be enough (!). Wilson
also said that while our countries combat the
terrorist PKK and other security threats that we
face, the US is willing to continue its close
cooperation with Turkey and its government led
by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They
must have gotten the impression that not only
Erdogan, but also the general public has run out
of patience. US State Department spokesman Sean
McCormack said that the US supports intelligence
sharing among multinational forces in Iraq, the
Iraqi government and the Turkish government in
fighting the terrorist PKK.
If
the ‘close cooperation’ mentioned by Mr. Wilson
and the above-mentioned ‘intelligence sharing’
are the same things, there’s a problem because
they have no meaning in practice. They’re either
openly mocking us, or our officials are
pretending that they don’t understand.
Similarly, McCormack continued his fun by saying
that the US has always spoken openly about the
PKK’s being a terrorist group. Then he added
that the US is concerned about Turkish soldiers
losing their lives. So, since you know the
location of the PKK that you consider a
terrorist group in northern Iraq, what have you
done to counter these terrorists? Didn’t you say
that the fight against terrorism is a human
duty? For example, have you prevented any
weapons or bullets being brought to the PKK?
Have you seized even a single bag of supplies
sent to the PKK? If you’re not the dominant
power in northern Iraq, then who is? If you’re
not dominant there, why are you rejecting Turkey
using its right to protect itself? Can you tell
us? Actually, why am I explaining this in such a
long-winded way? Our experience shows that we’re
the US’ strategic partner when it suits them,
but it hems and haws when we ask for its
support. It’s also strange that they’re polling
the public to find the reasons why Turks don’t
like it anymore. The reason is quite clear.”
Columnist Fikret Bila comments
on Cyprus. A summary of his column is as
follows:
“Today is the 32nd anniversary of the
peacekeeping operation on Cyprus. It’s a
national holiday for the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for ‘Peace and Freedom.’
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to the
TRNC with six state ministers to join in the
celebrations. No doubt that this visit shows a
change in attitude if we look at Erdogan’s
policies since 2003. Erdogan, who had a cold
stance towards then TRNC President Rauf Denktas,
gives the impression that he’s moving closer to
Ankara’s earlier policies about Cyprus. His
recent statements support this view.
The
most important reason why Erdogan and Ankara
moved closer to Turkey’s previous stance is the
Cyprus policy of the European Union. The EU gave
some promises to the Turkish side before the
Annan plan was voted on two years ago, but
didn’t respond to the Turkish expectations
afterwards. It even rewarded the Greek Cypriots
instead of punishing them, and now it’s moving
in concert with them. One can say that the
reason for the signs of a change in Ankara's
attitude is the unfair and contradictory policy
of the EU.
From
the Greek Cypriot point of view, it isn’t easy
to say that there’s a problem. From their view,
the essence of the problem is solved. As long as
they don’t feel pressure from the US and the EU,
the Greek Cypriots won’t search for a
comprehensive solution. As a matter of fact they
aren’t trying for one but are making things even
harder. The Greek Cypriots are calculating to
have the Turkish Cypriots under their thumb as a
minority. The policy it is following shows that
they are planning to reach this goal over time.
There is no serious progress for a solution.
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos has put
forth the Magusa port, Maras region and
withdrawal of the Turkish troops as a condition,
which shows that he favors no solution at all.”
