1.04.2010

TRNC NEWS HEADLINES

5 JANUARY 2010

“EROGLU SHALL WIN THE ELECTION”

According to the Greek Cypriot daily Simerini, the presidency elections in the coming April in the TRNC shall be won by Eroglu with a percentage of %50.1 due to a poll made by KADEM.

According to the results of a poll made by the Cyprus Communal and Economic Investigations Centre (KADEM) answering the question “who shall win the presidency elections”, %50.1 of the Turkish Cypriots said the Prime Minister and the president of the National Unity Party Dervis Eroglu and %24 said President Mehmet Ali Talat. %17.8 said “I don’t know” and % 8.1 said “another candidate”

Poll results indicated that %68.9 of the Turkish Cypriots did not trust Greek Cypriots and only % 2.2 trusted Greek Cypriots.

Accordingly, Turkish Cypriots are generally pessimistic in the issue of negotiations and about the success of Talat and Christofias in reaching an agreement.

GUL: “EU EXPLOITS CYPRUS ISSUE”

Turkish President Abdullah Gul indicated that Turkey displayed all her good will about the Cyprus issue in 2004. Evaluating the statement “however Cyprus issue is still standing in front of Turkey as a reality of life” Gul said: “Yes it is true but obviously, the EU is exploiting this issue. While this issue is not very important for many member countries, they continue to put this in front of us. If this issue would be solved in one way or another then they shall put forward another concern. We should not allow this. Firstly we shall do what we have to do. We shall finish all laws and chapters.”

Gül also said that Turkey was a country which negotiates with the EU and they should be more hopeful in this issue in the year 2010.

TALAT AND CHRISTOFIAS MET FOR THE 60TH TIMES

President Mehmet Ali Talat and the Greek Cypriot Leader Demetris Christofias held their first meeting of the New Year yesterday.

The leaders exchanged views on the chapters of Governance and Power-Sharing and EU Matters, in preparation of this month’s consecutive talks.

The leaders were accompanied by their special representatives Ozdil Nami and Yorgos Yakovou as well as the UN Special Adviser on Cyprus Alexander Downer and the UN Special Representative to Cyprus Taye Brook Zerihoun.

At the end of the meeting, Downer told reporters that the second leg of the consecutive talks envisaged for January has been postponed to the 25th, 26th and 27th January in order to give more time to special representatives who will be meeting between the two legs of the 3-day long consecutive talks.

As earlier told, the first leg of the intensified talks will take place on the 11th, 12th and 13th of January.

Consecutive talks will focus on Governance and Power-Sharing, Property, Economy and EU Matters.

Downer also said that Nami and Yakovu will meet today afternoon to continue discussions on EU Matters.

Answering a question on the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s possible visit to Cyprus , Downer said that this is on the agenda but there has been no certainty over the date yet.

TALAT IS GOING TO AMBASSADORS’ CONFERENCE

President Mehmet Ali Talat shall return from Brussels through Ankara and shall participate in the closing session of the “2. Ambassadors’ Conference”.

“2. Ambassadors’ Conference” which shall continue for 5 days started in Ankara yesterday. President of Palestine , Germany , Japan , and Brazil Foreign Minister shall are also participating in the Conference.

The theme of the Conference is “Democracy, Security, and Stability: 2010 in the World and in Turkish Foreign Policy”

In the opening Ceremony Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made a speech and said that with the vision which shall be developed within the framework of the conference they hope to have a more powerful and comprehensive diplomatic activity.

TALAT : “2010 IS AN IMPORTANT YEAR FOR THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS PROBLEM”

President Mehmet Ali Talat indicated that the year 2010 would be an important year for the solution of the Cyprus problem and added that they had been working for this.

Talat said that they were looking for a solution which shall provide full security for the Turkish Cypriots and shall provide for the economic security and communal integrity beside the life and property security of the Turkish Cypriots.

Pointing out that 2010 would be the third year of the negotiations Talat said: “we have to produce a result in the third year. This also has an end like all negotiations”

Recording that Turkish Cypriot side was the encouraging and pushing side in the negotiations Talat said that the advantage of the Turkish Cypriot Side was that Turkey is on their side and he added that they should evaluate this perfectly.

OZGURGUN : “EXISTENCE OF THE TURKISH ARMY ON THE ISLAND IS THE VITAL SECURITY FOR THE TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE”

Foreign Minister Huseyin Ozgurgun called for the Christofias leadership to accept the existence of the Turkish army on the island as the vital security for the Turkish Cypriot people. He expressed that on the contrary it was not possible to reach the aimed result in order to reach a common future.

Indicating that a comprehensive solution in Cyprus could only be reached through the continuation of the Turkey ’s full and effective guarantee Ozgurgun said: “this is a must for the Turkish Cypriot People and they shall never approve a solution which envisages anything contrary to this.”

DAVUTOGLU: “I CONVEYED OUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE EMBARGOES ON TRNC”

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu recorded that he conveyed to Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister Suud El Faisal their expectations that the embargoes imposed on the TRNC should be removed.

In evaluating his Saudi Arabian contacts, Davutoglu said that they discussed all regional issues with Faisal and he explained the process which goes on in the TRNC to the Foreign Minister Faisal.

EUROPE LOSING TURKEY AND CYPRUS

Hurriyet Daily News,

Monday, January 4, 2010

MEHMET ALİ BİRAND

We started 2009 with high hopes in regards to relations between Turkey and the EU. AKP finally responded to appeals thus separating the position of the head negotiator from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and appointed Egemen Bağış. Then a huge staff was created for the Office of Secretary General for the European Union. It didn’t stay at that and the prime minister made his first formal visit to Brussels since our candidacy for a membership to the EU was announced in 2004.

We all were excited.

We thought negotiations between Turkey and the EU would accelerate. But Sarkozy and Merkel proposing and constantly repeating a “Privileged Partnership instead of full membership had its effect in discouraging Ankara .

Generally we might split Europe’s view of barriers and inclemency toward Turkey into two.

One is Turkey ’s amplitude. Meaning, the possibility of paving the way for shrinkage of power of founding countries in the EU like France and Germany . The other factor is that Turkey is a Muslim country. And Europe is not ready yet to accept a Muslim country in the EU.

These are basic facts not pronounced openly.

Reasons announced publicly are the deadlock in the Cyprus issue, the possibility of the Turkish labor force increasing unemployment in the EU market and deficiencies in political and human rights criteria according to Copenhagen criteria.

Whatever the reason is, the result is bad.

2009 was a bad year in respect to relations between Turkey and the EU.

De facto negotiations have come to a dead end

The present scene creates bitterness and no hopes for 2010.

Negotiations started in 2005.

The number of topics to be discussed was 35.

In 2006 the EU Council froze eight topics because Turkey did not open its ports to its full-member Cypriot ships and did not conform to customs union stating that it will reconsider the situation in December of 2009.

Then France announced that it would block four topics that would directly have an impact on Turkey ’s full membership. And on top of that, Cyprus announced a few weeks ago that it has blocked six more topics because Turkey did no open its ports. Thus the number of topics lifted from the negotiation table has amounted to 18. If we consider that 12 topics of minor importance have been discussed until now, only four (education-culture, justice, foreign politics, defense) remain to be opened, which we may call it a “halt of negotiations.”

We need not expect a change in attitude.

The European Union does not signal an acceptance of neither Turkey nor the Islam.

By the way, we should not entirely blame the EU for this conduct in relations.

EU’s attitude killed the excitement in the Turkish public but Turkey also contributed to this conduct.

The most important factor was that it paved the way for alienation with political and economic developments of the AKP government.

The economic and financial crisis eroded the country’s resources. The administration did not want to allocate resources from the public or private sector to reforms necessary for conforming to EU standards. In such a tight period and especially since there was no sign of a full membership in sight, it did not want to spend any money on the EU.

One other important factor was, contraire to its business men, Turkey was earning money in the Middle East, Russia and other regions other than Europe , leaving the EU out in the cold.

Thus due to these developments in the end, negotiations ran on the rocks.

Will we be able to save the ship in 2010?

Expecting relations to resume in 2010 is too optimistic

I don’t think the above scene will change this year.

If the unexpected happens, if we encounter situations we never ever assume possible today then it might change. Otherwise, I believe, the situation will clinch further and become permanent.

What a pity that what has happened after 2005 has spoiled the environment to such an extent that people’s prejudice, economic and financial crises in succession have been so effective which made it hard to get out of the situation.

It is difficult to change these conditions. To be more precise, it will take a long time. And that’s where my pessimism stirs.

EU misses the confederate Cyprus train

The link has reversed. EU does not notice but a new world is being established and Turkey is taking its place.

There is one other fact of which Europe is not aware. And that is that old balances do no longer exist. Old connections, old accounts no longer exist in the heads of those who lead Turkey .

What I’m trying to say is very simple.

Until now Western capitals and media established a connection between a solution in Cyprus and Turkey ’s membership to the EU.

For years there was an equation established stating, “Do this and that so we will give you what you want in the EU.”

In 1995 it was agreed with Greek Cypriots to start full membership negotiations in exchange for accepting Turkey to the customs union.

And in 2004 in exchange for the acceptance of the Annan Plan , Turkey obtained a candidacy status and negotiations started.

Do you know when this connection failed?

It was when Turkey broke a huge taboo by accepting the Annan Plan whereas the Greek Cypriots denied and still received full membership. The Greek Cypriots were given the key to the door that leads to Turkey ’s full membership. Europe played its cards boorishly.

Thus the EU-Cyprus connection broke.

The EU’s former evasiveness no longer exists.

In the Economist magazine dated Dec. 12, there was still a broad analysis trying to get a message across that implies, “ Turkey gets stuck in respect to the EU. In order to get out it needs to take steps toward a solution. Ankara needs to take action.”

How delusive an attitude.

The magazine is probably not aware of the fact that balance and certain things in Turkey have changed. If European capital cities too think that way, I must say they are making a big mistake.

The EU no longer is a matter that causes Turkey to make important sacrifices.

Turkey quickly changes.

Europe is probably not aware that it is not only losing Turkey but also the possibility of creating a united Cyprus .

The European Union for Turkey is no longer a piece of carrot worth catching.

I’d like to draw attention to the fact that this connection has been reversed.

If Europe still targets or dreams about a united Cyprus and wants to prevent a split never to unite again, then it needs to change its attitude toward Turkey .

In order not to lose a united Cyprus , Europe needs to work up an appetite and prepare carrots to spurn the excitement for Turkey .

Now the world is changing and Turkey will find its place in this newly established world

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