Cyprus-Forum.com

[Jerry]

Press report:-

President Gul has made his first official trip to Northern Cyprus, together with his wife Hayrunnisa Gul. The trip is the first public appearance of Mrs. Gul since her husband was elected president.

During the reception given in the honor of Gul and his wife at Northern Cyprus President Talat's residence, Gul has answered questions of the press. Gul emphasized that Turkey's number one priority is the EU membership.

Upon question on a possible coup attempt from the army, Gul said: "Clearly I do not overrate people who are in the expectation of a coup. Army's intervention would be the biggest injustice that could ever happen to our country. Everyone in Turkey should accept and digest the different beliefs and ideas. All Turkish people must respect the differences of one another. This is what takes to 'live together'

So the EU is Turkey's number one priority and people (only Turks?) should live together, do I detect a shift in policy here, is Gul telling Talat that he is about to shit on him.

[observer]

I doubt it. He's probably hoping that the GC leadership will come to its senses and start seriously thinking about what they want and what is realistically possible in a genuine BBF, not just a constant bleat about how they want everything back to how it was before the Greeks invaded and the Turks counter-invaded.

[observer]

Two more neutral press reports

Euronews

Turkey's Gul reaffirms support for Turkish Cypriots

Turkey's new president, Abdullah Gul, has reaffirmed Ankara's support for Turkish Cypriots on his first foreign trip since becoming head of state last month.

Only Turkey recognises the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. The rest of the world recognises the Greek Cypriot state in the south, which represents the whole island in the European Union that Ankara also aims to join.

After being welcomed by his Turkish Cypriot counterpart, Mehmet Ali Talat, Gul said both "our citizens and foreign investors have a strong belief in the future of Turkish Cyprus."

But his sentiments were not shared by the Cypriot foreign ministry which condemned his visit saying it showed contempt of an EU member state.


NZTV

Gul urges peace, equality in Cyprus
Sep 19, 2007 9:36 AM

Turkey's new president called for a Cyprus peace settlement that respected both ethnic communities on the divided island, and defended the role of the Turkish army against Greek Cypriot criticism.

Only Turkey recognises the self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The rest of the world recognises the Greek Cypriot state in the south, which represents the whole island in the European Union that Ankara also aims to join.

"There are two realities on Cyprus, two democracies, two states, two languages, two religions," President Abdullah Gul said, making his first foreign trip since becoming president last month.

"One has to accept that a solution must be based on these realities," Gul told a joint news conference with TRNC leader Mehmet Ali Talat.

But the Cypriot foreign ministry in the south of the divided capital of Nicosia condemned Gul's trip to the TRNC, where Turkey still keeps an estimated 35,000 troops.

"Mr Gul's blatant act to pay his first visit in his capacity as president to the territory of the Republic of Cyprus which today is part of the EU and which for 33 years now is under the illegal military occupation of Turkey constitutes a blow against the international legal order," it said in a statement.

"It shows provocative contempt to an EU member state."

Cyprus has been split since Turkey invaded the north of the island in 1974 after a Greek Cypriot coup backed by the military junta then ruling Greece.

Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos recently renewed his demand for the withdrawal of all Turkish troops from the island, describing them as the only enemy of the Cypriot people.

Peace

Gul, who previously grappled with the Cyprus conundrum as Turkey's foreign minister, rejected the idea of withdrawal.

"The Turkish military brought peace to Cyprus, and for the south too.The (enemy) accusation is groundless," he said.

Speaking earlier to reporters in Ankara, Gul expressed confidence in the TRNC's economic prospects, noting that gross domestic product has doubled in the past few years despite continued international trade restrictions against the enclave.

Gul repeated Turkey's call for the EU to honour its promise to lift those restrictions.
The Greek Cypriots have so far blocked such a move, fearing it could lead to de facto international recognition of the TRNC.

Turkish Cypriots backed a UN blueprint to reunite the Mediterranean island in a 2004 referendum but Greek Cypriots blocked the plan.
Days later they entered the EU as the Republic of Cyprus, leaving the Turkish Cypriots out in the cold.

Gul is the first Turkish head of state to visit northern Cyprus since the island joined the EU.

Turkey itself began EU entry talks in October 2005, but negotiations have been frozen in eight areas because of Ankara's refusal to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic.

Gul's wife accompanied him to Cyprus, making her public debut as Turkey's First Lady. She has so far stayed in the background because Turkey's secular elite, including powerful army generals, object to her Muslim headscarf.

[halil]

Gül Visit to TRNC shows that Turkish Policy is changing . Below sayings are from Gül Visit to TRNC

‘any proposal for resolution of the Cyprus issue has to admit the presence of two separate realities consisting of two nations and two peoples in order to yield a successful result.’

“We are determined to maintain our goodwill and our approach, which is in favor of resolution and reconciliation. Needless to say, any resolution on the island needs to be based on the current realities of the island. These realities are the presence of two peoples, two democracies and two states in Cyprus,”
"The restrictions on the Turkish Cypriots are unfortunately still going on. These should come to an end at once,"

When reminded of Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos' recent remarks, in which he targeted the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) as "the sole enemy" of the Greek Cypriot people, Gül described the remarks as "provocative," adding, "We don't pay heed to these, and we're moving ahead on our road."

Greek Cypriots Said :Gül's visit provocative, illegal .

"This provocative act of the new president of the Turkish Republic, which violates both the UN Charter as well as a number of Security Council resolutions''

[phoenix]

[/b]
Sep 19, 2007 9:36 AM

"There are two realities on Cyprus, two democracies, two states, two languages, two religions," President Abdullah Gul said, making his first foreign trip since becoming president last month.


Gul's wife accompanied him to Cyprus, making her public debut as Turkey's First Lady. She has so far stayed in the background because Turkey's secular elite, including powerful army generals, object to her Muslim headscarf.

Two good reasons why Turkey should never be allowed to join the EU and bring its backward-nation baggage to a civilized Union.

Gul is divisive and differences in religion are obviously a priority to him. Modern day politicians should stay out of the religion arena. Freedom to practice any religion is said and done and should not be branded around merely to remind people of differences.

Second reason is his objectionable wife who will set back all that women have been fighting for all these years. To not be represented by symbols such as headscarves they they are subservient sex objects. Stupid submissive woman!

[observer]

Post a couple of neutral reports and I suppose it is only to be expected that people will pick and choose what parts they read.

Though in response to these points:

"Gul is divisive and differences in religion are obviously a priority to him. Modern day politicians should stay out of the religion arena. Freedom to practice any religion is said and done and should not be branded around merely to remind people of differences.

Second reason is his objectionable wife who will set back all that women have been fighting for all these years. To not be represented by symbols such as headscarves they they are subservient sex objects. Stupid submissive woman"

It seems to me that Gul is being very "western" in what he says and has done to date, essentially allowing religous tolerance so you are not forced to be secular. Imagine the outcry if crosses round the neck were banned in RoC, but equally people are not forced to wear one.

It also seems to me that in going against the whole establishment by wearing a headscarf that Mrs Gul is being very strong, far from submissive. It does seem to be her choice.

[phoenix]

Post a couple of neutral reports and I suppose it is only to be expected that people will pick and choose what parts they read.

Though in response to these points:

"Gul is divisive and differences in religion are obviously a priority to him. Modern day politicians should stay out of the religion arena. Freedom to practice any religion is said and done and should not be branded around merely to remind people of differences.

Second reason is his objectionable wife who will set back all that women have been fighting for all these years. To not be represented by symbols such as headscarves they they are subservient sex objects. Stupid submissive woman"

It seems to me that Gul is being very "western" in what he says and has done to date, essentially allowing religous tolerance so you are not forced to be secular. Imagine the outcry if crosses round the neck were banned in RoC, but equally people are not forced to wear one.

It also seems to me that in going against the whole establishment by wearing a headscarf that [color=red]Mrs Gul is being very strong, far from submissive. It does seem to be her choice[/color].

Poppycock!

Typical response that serves to perpetrate the continual exclusion of women. It is not her CHOICE . . . she has been brainwashed by a male-dominated culture to respond in this unnatural way.

And of course people are going to glean what they find of interest from the mass of garbage posted. . . what do you expect . . that we swallow all the diatribe or that we be selective and free to choose?