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Surprized "Appointment" to the "Yes" Greek Cypriots
Turkish daily HURRIYET newspaper (19.01.05) reports under the above title and says that the leader of the Greek Cypriot main opposition party DYSI, which said "Yes" in the referendum, Mr Nicos Anastassiades, is to visit Ankara upon an invitation by the ruling Justice and Development Party (JDP).

The paper reports that the visit will be realized following an "appointment" demand by the DYSI Spokesman Tassos Mitsopoulos.

Mr Anastassiades will visit Ankara in the beginning of next month.

The Deputy leader of the JDP, Saban Disli has said that if Prime Minister Erdogan´s program is convenient, it is possible that DYSI might meet Erdogan.

The paper, quoting Mr Anastassides, reports that the meeting will take place within the framework of the JDP application to join the European People´s Movement.

The paper reports that Mr Anastassiades said: "An official paper should be prepared. We shall prepare after meeting President Tassos Papadopoulos, an official document which will reflect the official stance of the Greek Cypriot state, and it will be given to Erdogan and other Turkish leaders".

HURRIYET reports that in the DYSI delegation, former president and honorary President of the DYSI Glafcos Clerides as well could be included. The paper reports that this will be the first contact , between Greek Cypriot politicians and the Turkish government since the 1974 Turkish invasion and occupation of the island.

Moreover, the paper quoting the JDP deputy leader responsible for Foreign Relations Saban Disli said that if the programme allows the DYSI delegation might meet prime minister Tayyip Erodgan.

HURRIYET also reports that Mitsopoulos, while conveying the request for a visit, also asked Ankara to do something for those Greek Cypriots who visit Turkey at increasing numbers.

Mitsopoulos have asked to make arrangements mutually, something which will meet the various problems that the visiting Greek Cypriots might need in Turkey.

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RADIKAL- The Cyprus issue has been making Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan busy recently the most. Erdogan thinks that finding a satisfying and permanent solution to the Cyprus issue is in favor of Turkey. He considers the continuation of the current situation the waste of time and grows impatient about the solution. There might be both foreign and domestic policy reasons for this impatience. This is not a secret that there is the Cyprus lobby in Turkish politics. Erdogan and his staff might think that the continuation of the current situation in Cyprus will cause increasing problems in Turkish domestic policies. Whatever the reason is, Erdogan wants a permanent solution to the Cyprus issue as soon as the most. The Greek Cypriot main opposition Democratic Unity Party (DISI) was invited to Ankara by the Justice and Development Party (AKP). This invitation will be a first. It is understood that Foreign Ministry was informed on this invitation later. Some people consider this step wrong, some consider it risky or bold. For example, if a DISI representative says in Ankara, ‘Turkey should give up recognizing the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Turkish army should withdraw from the island immediately,’ it would be difficult for us to say, ‘This is their opinion. We don’t agree with them.’ Erdogan took step by taking all these risking all these possibilities, which can be considered an intervention into Cyprus balances.

Erdogan wants to give a message to the US, Britain, Greece, the EU and even Russia with these sorts of steps. He might also make other moves in terms of the Cyprus issue because the Turkish government has the right to convince the public opinion so the TRNC government can take new steps. The TRNC government and public said ‘yes’ during last April’s referendum and thus, made the greatest and most serious declaration, showing their support for a permanent solution. However, the result of this referendum couldn’t be voted at the UN Security Council with Russia’s veto. Similarly, the EU and the US didn’t keep their promise to lift the economic isolation on the TRNC. However, the Greek Cypriot administration became an EU member last May. This way it can prevent the support programs on the TRNC. However, the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the Democrat Party (DP) need concrete examples to be presented to voters before next month’s elections. These examples might strengthen the coalition party and influence the result of presidential elections in April. Such a situation would relieve the Turkish government as well.

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DISY accepts AKP invitation to Turkey
By Jean Christou


THE POLITICAL Bureau of opposition DISY last night decided unanimously to accept an invitation to Istanbul from Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The visit, early next month, is designed to take place within the framework of the AKP’s request for membership of the European People’s Party.

Speaking after the meeting of the political bureau last night, DISY spokesman Tasos Mitsopoulos said agreement had been reached that a delegation should go within that framework, with the exact date to be announced soon. Reports suggested the visit will take place between February 6 and 9. The final composition of the delegation has not yet been decided, he said.

“We have already declared our wish that meetings take place on a political level but that depends on the programme of Mr Erdogan,” Mitsopoulos said.

He said President Papadopoulos had been informed.

Mitsopoulos also said that the bureau had discussed and was finalising a document setting out the party’s position on the Cyprus issue and how they believe it should be moved forward. The document is expected to be presented to the National Council tomorrow. He also said that a DISY delegation would be travelling to Athens next week to meet the Greek political leadership. Papadopoulos is due to visit Athens earlier in the week.

Although DISY has come under fire from small factions, mainly within DIKO, political and government reaction to the Turkish invitation is on the whole positive. DIKO acting chairman Nicos Cleanthous said on Tuesday that DISY leader Nicos Anastassiades, who supported the failed Annan plan, was not a suitable person to speak on behalf of the Cypriot people.

But House President Demetris Christofias said last night he did not see any problem with the visit. “We should exploit and develop such contacts in order to end the occupation,” he said. “Turkey cannot move forward within the EU if it continues to persist in not recognising the Republic of Cyprus.”

“DISY is a member of the European People’s Party and consequently this is a subject that concerns inter-parties relations in the European framework,” said EDEK leader Yiannakis Omirou.