Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 01-10-25

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey to carry out seismic research in Cyprus.

[02] The Cyprus problem on the agenda of the contacts of the Turkish Minister of Defence in Slovenia.

[03] EU praises Turkey reforms, urges progress on Cyprus.

[04] Former US Ambassador to Turkey says that the Washington administration will not allow Turkey to collapse economically.

[05] Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions were prevented from participating in the Fourth All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum.

[06] More reactions about the «passports draft-law».

[07] Fifty Trillion Turkish Lira for PEYAK depositors.

[08] Ciller said that the pseudostate will take its position in the new world.

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Prodi will render a Cyprus solution more difficult.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey to carry out seismic research in Cyprus

«It was learned that the Southern Cyprus Greek Cypriot Administration has made preparations to start oil exploration activities within the Turkish continental shelf. Ankara met this latest initiative of the Greek Cypriot administration, aimed at increasing the tension on the island, with a strong reaction and immediately took action. It was decided in the meetings held with the officials of the Turkish General Staff and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take all the effective measures urgently with the objective of opposing these initiatives. According to the information obtained, the Greek Cypriot administration, which had started some time ago oil exploration activities off the coast of Cyprus in coordination with Greece, decided to include the region to the east of the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)/ in these activities. The Greek Cypriot section has come to a stage of taking concrete steps on this subject. The preliminary activities started in September off the coast of the island, by Shell together with the companies called Spectrum and Fugro-Geoteam, have been expanded in a manner that will include Turkey's continental shelf.

Turkish Ships To the Region

The latest initiative of the Greek Cypriot administration, which does not recognize the `TRNC/ and claims the right to the entire island, was considered by the Turkish side as an effort for a "fait accompli" and forced Ankara to take measures. Turkey decided to take all the necessary measures with the objective of opposing this initiative and for protecting the rights of the `TRNC/ and to send its own ships to the region and start seismic research. The existing status of the island does not recognize the right to the Greek Cypriot section to carry out explorations. There is still no agreement determining the continental shelf in the areas to the east of the `TRNC/. However, in the UN Maritime Law agreement, the following is written: "The authority to conduct explorations on the continental shelf is under the sovereignty of the coastal state. No one can engage in these types of activities without the consent of the coastal state". In the same agreement, there is also the decree: "The justification for making scientific research activities does not constitute a legal basis for any demand on the sea region or resources".

On the same issue Turkish Cypriot newspaper VATAN (25.10.01) publishes statements made by the Spokesman of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Mr. Huseyin Dirioz.

Commenting on press reports that the Cyprus Government is carrying out research for oil in the Mediterranean, Mr. Dirioz said: «Turkey is following the issue and will protect its interests in every way».

[02] The Cyprus problem on the agenda of the contacts of the Turkish Minister of Defence in Slovenia

Commenting on his visit to TRT, Cakmakoglu said that during his official talks he particularly dwelt on the issues of terrorism and Cyprus. He said he explained why Turkey supports the international struggle against terrorism and added: «We also pointed out that the Cyprus problem -- which is very important for us -- is being misrepresented in the world and we explained the realities. Our friends, including the Slovenes, hear about the Cyprus problem one-sidedly. We told them that Cyprus has another face to it. We told them about the `Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus/, our kinsmen there, and our views on the issue».

[03] EU praises Turkey reforms, urges progress on Cyprus

Turkey, which has yet to begin accession talks because of a poor human rights record, has adopted reforms, which ease curbs on the Kurdish language, reduce police detention of suspects without charge and make banning political parties tougher.

"The European Union considers that the constitutional reforms passed by the Turkish parliament by a convincing majority are an encouraging step in the democratisation of the country," said EU president Belgium in a statement.

"The European Union urges Turkey to continue along the path of reform and looks to it to take other measures, particularly by way of legislation...for effective implementation on the ground," it said.

But in a separate statement, the EU expressed disappointment at the continued refusal of the Turkish Cypriots, closely allied to Ankara, to return to U.N.-brokered talks aimed at resuming the search for an end to the decades-old division of Cyprus. "(The EU) continues to back unreservedly the efforts of the U.N. Secretary-General to resume -- without preconditions in line with Security Council resolution 1250 -- the search for a comprehensive and lasting settlement," it said.

"(It) calls on all parties involved to cooperate in the process with a view to achieving a political settlement before the end of the negotiations for Cyprus's accession to the EU."

The problem of Cyprus's division has become more acute as the internationally recognised Greek-speaking half of the island moves towards completing its EU accession negotiations in 2002.

The EU says a settlement is not a precondition for Cyprus's accession, but it is concerned about the political and diplomatic implications of admitting a still-divided island.

EU diplomats say there is still no sign of Turkey putting pressure on the Turkish Cypriots to return to the talks.

While Cyprus is widely expected to be in the next wave of EU enlargement, Turkey has still to meet the wealthy bloc's political criteria for launching its accession talks.

These include abolition of the death penalty and upholding political, religious and media freedoms."

[04] Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey says that the Washington administration will not allow Turkey to collapse economically

Parris warned the United States to be aware of certain "red lines" when it came to Turkey's pledged "unconditional" support. He said that according to several public opinion polls some 50 percent of the Turkish people were opposed to the war in Afghanistan and that even more were opposed to Turkish soldiers being sent in. He noted it would be more appropriate for Turkey's support to be limited to logistics, intelligence and sharing operational experience. Noting that Turkey would be far more comfortable providing this kind of support rather than participating in the air and land operations, Parris said that the United States was not making any demands to this effect in the first place. Parris said that Turkey would not be suitable as a launch point for land operations and that as a result Turkey would not be in the front line.

Economic support

Mark Parris said that according to one view he had been hearing all summer long, if the Turkish economy was going to suffer the same kind of shock it did last spring, then Washington was prepared to leave things alone rather than step in. He then said that the terrorist attacks had completely altered this trend and had even ensured that both Turkey and the United States understood each other's importance. Parris noted that the 11 September attacks had created a sense of urgency regarding the Turkish economy and that he believed America would do all it could to close the budget deficit that would appear at the start of the new year. "If Turkey fulfils its promises to the IMF, then the Washington administration will not allow Turkey at this time to collapse economically," he said.

Parris also warned against dragging Turkey into any operation against Iraq saying such a move would sever Turkey's support for American interests in the fight against terrorism as well as result in failure. He further warned that any sign the United States was going to turn a blind eye on Russia over Georgia would have a negative effect on Turkish security and Turkey's relations with the United States.

Parris said he was in favour of including those groups acting against Turkey in the scope of terrorism and listed them as "Kurds, Maoists, Armenians and fundamentalists."

[05] Turkish Cypriot Trade Unions were prevented from participating in the Fourth All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum

The paper writes that the Turkish Cypriot trade unions Turk - Sen, Dev - Is and KTAMS yesterday issued the following joint statement:

"The latest initiatives of the ETUC for the realization of the fourth meeting of the All-Cyprus Trade Union Forum, which takes place since 1995, have again been prevented by the `TRNC/ regime. We are strongly protesting against those who prevent us from attending these meetings, which will determine the future of the Turkish Cypriot workers.

Having an approach unacceptable for the political sphere of action, Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the guard appointed by the regime to watch the sultanate, refused even meeting with the chairman of Turk - Sen, Onder Konuloglu, who went to his office to see him. The `Foreign Affairs Minister/ who could not even reply in writing to our application and said on the phone that our participation in the Forum and our meeting with the President of the EU Commission, Romano Prodi, are not possible, is insulting the workers, forgetting that he has to serve the community and the citizens.

They must know that they will accomplish absolutely nothing by cutting the contacts of the Turkish Cypriots with the world. It would be useful for all to know that the economic, political and social problems will be solved only with peace".

[06] More reactions about the "passports draft-law"

Mr Barcin issued yesterday a statement noting that as if the already existing problems were not enough for the Turkish Cypriots now their politicians want to isolate them from the world.

Meanwhile, according to KIBRIS (25.10.01), the new "draft-law", which consists of 54 paragraphs, is also valid for those who already have a passport of the Republic of Cyprus, even if they do not try to use it to travel. According to the "draft-law" they have to deliver it to the occupation authorities within 30 days, if they do not want to be punished.

The "draft-law" also provides for payment of 10 million Turkish Lira by those foreigners who wish to enter the pseudostate.

Meanwhile, in their press release No. 17, the National People's Movement (NPM) urges the pseudogovernment to enforce the so-called "law" on passports as soon as possible.

[07] Fifty Trillion Turkish Lira for PEYAK depositors

In a statement to the press after the meeting Salih Miroglu, the so-called Council of Ministers Spokesman said: «By indexing all the PEYAK deposits to the foreign exchange rate the total sum of the deposits was estimated at 50 trillion TL. The small depositors are 5-6 thousands and they will be paid their deposits in one installment».

[08] Ciller said that the pseudostate will take its position in the new world

[B] COMMENTS AND EDITORIALS

[09] Prodi will render a Cyprus solution more difficult

"European Commission President Romano Prodi will be in Cyprus as of tomorrow.

This is an official visit. Prodi is visiting the countries with which the European Union has begun accession talks. He has already visited the others. Cyprus is the only one left.

At first glance it seems that there is nothing unusual about the commission president's visit. However, from Turkey's standpoint, this has a certain meaning: Prodi is becoming a "party to the conflict."

He is giving Southern Cyprus the message, "You will become a full member of the European Union even if no political solution can be found to the Cyprus problem."

The Greek Cypriot Administration will definitely feel a little more relieved thanks to that visit. In other words, there will be no need for them to strive for a resumption of the Cyprus proximity talks under the UN auspices. They will smugly sail on towards full membership.

Now the following questions must be asked: "Is the EU not aware that with this attitude it is encouraging a continued lack of solution in Cyprus? Or have they decided, by way of full membership, to divide Cyprus into two and thus eliminate the problem?"

These questions are yet to be answered.

With his visit, Prodi is bringing "imbalance" into the region rather than peace. He is unwarrantedly taking sides.

This approach can hardly be considered a 'rational policy'."

KV/SK

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