Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 06-04-10

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From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish and Finnish Foreign Ministry delegations are meeting in Ankara tomorrow.

[02] Finland, UK and Spain against the inclusion of political criteria to the chapter on Education and Culture.

[03] Ferdi Sabit Soyer says the Turkish Cypriots are moving towards accomplishing self-rule with the vital support of Turkey.

[04] AFRIKA: Ali Erel: If the government pays the price, it will abandon the Green Line Regulation.

[05] Turkish Cypriot official reiterates that the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha is a part of the overall solution of the Cyprus problem.

[06] Erel stated that observers must be present during the conducting of the population census in occupied Cyprus.

[07] Ozkan Murat back from the Netherlands. IRSA officials to visit the occupied areas.

[08] The 4th International Conference of the OICīs inter-Parliamentary Union started Istanbul.

[09] Erdoganīs advisers took part in CSIS conference in Washington.

[10] A member of the Jewish lobby in the US in Ankara for contacts.

[11] Turkey to buy stealth type warplanes.

[12] Reports of typhoid in occupied Trikomo denied.

[13] Recai Kutan elected Felicity Party leader.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] Columnist in CYPRUS TODAY argues that buyers of property in occupied Cyprus take sides in the Cyprus problem.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkish and Finnish Foreign Ministry delegations are meeting in Ankara tomorrow

Turkish and Finnish delegations will gather on Tuesday in Ankara, in a meeting meant to boost consultations between the two countries and to encourage Turkey in its European Union membership process.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that its delegation, chaired by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan and the Finnish delegation, chaired by Foreign Ministry State Secretary Arto Mansala, will focus on bilateral relations, regional and international development, security threats and Turkey's bid to join the EU.

During his time in Ankara, Mansala is also expected to meet with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and State Minister and chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan.

The meetings are crucial for Turkey's EU ambitions, since Finland will take over the rotating EU term presidency from Austria in July.

[02] Finland, UK and Spain against the inclusion of political criteria to the chapter on Education and Culture

The New Anatolian newspaper (10.04.06) reports the following:

European Union members failed to reach an agreement on the opening of the second chapter of accession talks with Turkey late this week following long discussions on the inclusion of political criteria to the chapter on education and culture.

During a Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) meeting on Thursday, France and several other EU members insisted on the inclusion of political criteria to the education and culture chapter, while the UK, Spain and Finland blocked the proposed addition stressing that it would be open discrimination against Ankara.

Last month Turkey successfully finished the screening process for the relatively easy chapter of education and culture and was aiming to start actual negotiations on the chapter in May. Ankara had hoped that this chapter would be concluded quickly but recent debates inside the EU are jeopardizing this.

The possible inclusion of political criteria to the talks would open the way for the introduction of complicated issues like education in mother tongues, which Turkey maintains should be discussed later in the chapters on the judiciary and fundamental rights and justice, freedom and security.

EU Term President Austria, in attempt to encourage EU members to reach an agreement, suggested on Thursday that political criteria not be included in a cover letter which will inform Ankara of the opening of the second chapter but defined in an internal note. The note prepared by Vienna read that member states "may" raise the Union's so-called Copenhagen criteria on human rights and democracy during discussions on the education and culture chapter.

But the UK, Finland and Spain blocked the note, arguing that the inclusion of political criteria into technical talks on different topics would represent a "completely new way of operating," said one source, with those countries fearing that political criteria would now become a major topic in each of the 35 negotiating chapters.

The ambassadors suspended the talks on Thursday without agreeing on a new date to pick up the thorny topic, with one diplomat saying a "delay" in the opening of the education chapter was likely.

Legally all member states have to unanimously agree on the opening and closing of each of the 35 negotiating chapters, creating a raft of opportunities for EU capitals to threaten to veto or effectively block progress in the talks.

[03] Ferdi Sabit Soyer says the Turkish Cypriots are moving towards accomplishing self-rule with the vital support of Turkey

Speaking last night at the inaugural ceremony for a new scientific laboratory at the Chamber of Electrical Engineers, Mr Soyer said the Turkish Cypriots are moving towards accomplishing self-rule, development and progress into the future.

He said however that there is much that needs to be done on the way.

Stressing the importance of electricity in todays modern lifestyle and in the momentum for development, the self-styled Prime Minister said the new 70 megawatt power-generating capacity being built at Teknecik (occupied Kyrenia area) will be financed wholly by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus with no foreign aid, at all. (Tr. Note: The TRNC is the breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Repubilc of Cyprus)

Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer also thanked Turkey for its massive contributions to the development of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in years, and said that cooperation with Turkey is vital for the development and prosperity of the occupied part of Cyprus.

[04] AFRIKA: Ali Erel: If the government pays the price, it will abandon the Green Line Regulation

In a written statement issued yesterday, Mr Erel expressed the opinion that because of the problem of finding a market and their low quality, the citrus fruits produced in the occupied areas of Cyprus remain on the trees, million of dollars are paid as subvention and the companies in the private sector cannot grow because of the unjust state competition.

Noting that the application of the Green Line Regulation is a political decision, Mr Erel added:

It is not possible for us to understand the leakage of commercial information, the fact that persons are shown as target and the fact that organizations are forced to quarrel with each other in an environment where the government has the power, if it wishes, to fully stop enforcing the Green Line Regulation, even if we do not approve it, on the condition it pays the political and economic price and it forces the people to pay it.

Mr Erel says also that the monthly trade between the occupied and the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus within the framework of the Green Line Regulation reached approximately the 100 thousand Cyprus pounds and that because of the Regulation fruits and vegetables produced in the occupied areas could be sold in the free areas of the Republic.

(I/Ts.)

[05] Turkish Cypriot official reiterates that the return of the occupied closed city of Varosha is a part of the overall solution of the Cyprus problem

YENI DUZEN, under the title Direct trade in return to Varosha! wonders whether or not this information is true. The paper notes that a high ranking official at the Presidency of the TRNC (breakaway regime in the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus), said that the return of Varosha could only be a part of an overall solution to the Cyprus problem. The above-mentioned official described as total speculation the information that Varosha will be given back to its legal owners in return to the Direct Trade Regulation. The hungry hen saw a field of wheat in her dreams, he added.

KIBRIS refers to the issue under the title: The EU will propose the return of Varosha in return to the embargoes.

AFRIKA: Is Turkey returning Varosha?

HALKIN SESI: The return of Varosha to the Greek Cypriots is on the agenda again.

VATAN: The EU will ask Varosha from Turkey.

(I/Ts.)

[06] Erel stated that observers must be present during the conducting of the population census in occupied Cyprus

In a written statement he issued as regards this subject, Mr Erel stated that the population census must be conducted according to the provisions and the criteria of the institutions of the UN, the EU and the Council of Europe.

Mr Erel also noted that the results of the population census will help the future plans of the occupation regime.

(C/S)

[07] Ozkan Murat back from the Netherlands. IRSA officials to visit the occupied areas

The Interior Minister Ozkan Murat returns to the Republic tonight from the Netherlands, who held contacts on technical and financial aspects of the proposed import and installation of mobile and fixed traffic speed-radars.

Speaking to the TAK news agency earlier, the Interior Minister Ozkan Murat said that officials from IRSA- the International Road Safety Academy in Amsterdam will come to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus next week to hold contacts as regards traffic education within the Republic.

Mr Murat and his teams contacts included a meeting with the Director of the IRSA and a visit to the Inter-Traffic Fair.

[08] The 4th International Conference of the OICīs inter-Parliamentary Union started Istanbul

The conference which is being hosted by the Turkish Grand National Assembly started with a meeting of the Executive Committee.

The Cyprus issue is among the topics to be taken up at the meeting.

On the same issue illegal Bayrak television (07.04.08) broadcast that the self-styled Speaker Fatma Ekenoglu has announced that a self-styled parliamentary delegation will be attending the Islamic Nations Interparliamentary Conference in Istanbul.

Speaking at the American University in occupied Kyrenia on Friday, Mrs Ekenoglu stressed however that theres discontent here in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus over the fact that the invitation for the Conference was addressed not to the Turkish Cypriot State but to the Muslim Turkish Community of Cyprus.

Mrs Ekenoglu said that already the TRNC parliament has been holding contacts to rectify this situation and try to have the term Turkish Cypriot State used in the official invitation and throughout the Conference.

(Tr. Note: Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is the illegal regions set up by the Turkish Republic in the occupied by Turkish troops northern part of Cyprus)

[09] Erdoganīs advisers took part in CSIS conference in WashingtonAnkara Anatolia news agency (06.04.06) reported the following from Washington D.C. :

Taking the floor in a conference held at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C., Disli indicated that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul suggested Hamas to end violence in their 20-25-minute-meeting in Ankara.

Disli was quoted Gul as saying: "Don't expect anything from us if you don't end your previous stance. You will cause more pains for both Palestinian and the Israeli people (if you maintain your current stance). If you change your stance, we may open our doors."

Nobody should doubt about Turkey's intention, stated Disli.

On the Cyprus problem, Disli said that the EU, USA and Britain have not kept their promises to end isolation of `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprusī (`TRNCī).

Disli recalled that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has applied to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan for five times, asking him to resume Cyprus talks. "But each time, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos is finding a new pretext not to sit at a negotiation table," added Disli.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Erdogan's adviser Cuneyd Zapsu referred to recent acts of the terrorist organization PKK, and said that 270 security officers died due to PKK terrorism in the last two years.

Regarding the Cyprus problem, Zapsu noted that Turkey will not do anything unless a new step is taken to end `TRNC'sī isolation.

Zapsu and Disli will meet Dan Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs; representatives of American Jewish Committee (AJC), and participate in a meeting to be held by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) during their stay in Washington D.C.

Turkish daily SABAH (10.04.06) also reports about the US visit of the two senior officials of the Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey, Saban Disli, Deputy General Chairman Responsible for Foreign Relations and Cuneyd Zapsu, Member of the AKP Central Decision and Executive Committee and Data Coordinator. The paper writes that both Disli and Zapsu had heated arguments with a Pentagon Official and Mr Richard Perle, who is close to the Bush administration.

SABAH reports that the senior AKP officials went to Washington at the invitation of an important USA think tank establishment, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) where they took part in several debates. The paper reports that later on Disli and Zapsu took part in a conference organized by the American Enterprise Institute during which they had exchanged tough words with Mr. Perle, who questioned Turkeys friendship towards the USA. Upon return to Turkey Mr. Disli said that there is an attempt to appropriate the anger, regarding the Jewish Lobbys concern, against Turkey because of Hamas visit, to the whole US administration. He said that during their visit there was tension but it was reported one-sided. He said he was at unease because their positive meetings were not reflected in the press. Disli went on and said that Prime Minister Erdogan was not happy with what had happened in Washington and because of this today they will brief the AKPs Central Committee about their contacts in Washington.

On the same issue Ankara Anatolia (09.04.06) reported the following from Ankara:

Saban Disli, deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), and Cuneyd Zapsu, special assistant of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, released a joint statement on Saturday and denied several news reports about their meetings in the United States on April 6th and 7th.

In their statement, Disli and Zapsu said: ''During our meetings at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), we told those who criticized the visit of Hamas delegation to Turkey in February, that the United States indirectly or directly supported Hamas' participation in the elections in Palestine. We stressed that an elected political party cannot be compared with a terrorist organization like PKK. We noted that thousands of soldiers and policemen were been killed by PKK terrorists. We also emphasized that PKK cannot participate in elections in Turkey.''

''We said that a comparison between Hamas and PKK would be totally wrongful. We also noted that the United States promised to support Turkey in its fight against PKK, but it failed to fulfil its promises, and such a failure triggered anti-American trends in Turkey,'' they added.

[10] A member of the Jewish lobby in the US in Ankara for contacts

The paper reports that the main item on Wexlers agenda is Hamas leaders visit to Turkey. Mr. Wexler will convey to the Turkish officials the disillusionment that this visit had caused in Washington and will put the following question to the Turkish officials: What is the basic reason in hosting Hamas?

(MHY)

[11] Turkey to buy stealth type warplanes

(MHY)

[12] Reports of typhoid in occupied Trikomo denied

`The Ministry of Healthī has denied rumours of typhoid being present at ^ehit 0lker Kartel Primary School in Yeni 0skele (occupied Trikomo).

A statement issued by the `Ministry s Directorī for Basic Health Services S1d1ka Kay1nbaolu, said medical and laboratory tests have revealed that speculation concerning the high rate of ill reported students has nothing to do with typhoid fever or typhus.

It has become clear that 90 or so of the 440 pupils attending the Yeni 0skele (occupied Trikomo) primary school have been suffering from soar throat and related symptoms and not typhoid fever .

[13] Recai Kutan elected Felicity Party leader

Recai Kutan has been elected Felicity Party [SP] leader. He was the only candidate at the Second SP Congress held at Ankara Ataturk Sports Stadium today. Kutan had been acting SP leader for some time. Today, he received 953 out of the 998 votes.

Elections were also held for memberships to the party's general administrative council and disciplinary council.

Former party leader Necmettin Erbakan addressed the Congress by means of a teleconference system.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[14] Columnist in CYPRUS TODAY argues that buyers of property in occupied Cyprus take sides in the Cyprus problem

Consciously or not, foreigners who buy property in North Cyprus are taking sides in a long-running dispute. I am therefore not surprised that Britons traveling from the North to Larnaca Airport were stopped and questioned by Greek Cypriot police, after they were found to be carrying documents relating to their properties here.

The victims early this week, two couples and a single man were taken to a police station in south Nicosia for questioning in separate incidents.

Police spokesman Demetris Demetriou said: We didnīt arrest them, but we did bring them to the police station when we found they had papers concerning properties in the North. Too right you didnīt arrest them, because you have no bloody right to do so.

He also said it was a coincidence that the five had been stopped on the same day, and not part of an official clampdown. Rubbish. The Greek Cypriots have been emboldened by the Orams case to fire some fresh salvos in their economic war against the North.

Demetri and his pals have kept personal papers for further investigation, and also cause one couple to miss their flight.

Being questioned by police offices is not an enjoyable experience. But fellow Britons who fear they may be targeted should remember this; it is not a crime in the UK or anywhere else in the European Union to own property in the North of Cyprus. If you own or are buying a property here, and you have a title-deed endorsed by the `TRNCī government (and if you must carry such documents with you), then you should refer all queries to that government.

In the meantime, donīt go along with the farce. Wave that British passport, demand the immediate presence of the High Commissioner, refuse to answer questions and exert your right to travel freely.

(Tr. Note: TRNC is the illegal regime set up in the ethnically cleansed by 40,000 Turkish troops northern part of Cyprus. The Greek Cypriot owners of the occupied land live in poverty in temporary housing estates while Turkish and foreign speculators, protected by the Turkish army, make millions of pounds selling the Greek Cypriot properties to misguided foreigners, mainly British).

/SK

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