Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-02-07

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Ismail Cem on the Aegean and Cyprus.

[02] Ali Erel: We are conducting tests to see how we can lift the embargoes.

[03] Bulent Ecevit does not want EU involvement in the talks on Cyprus.

[04] Denktas on the face-to-face talks: The issue of security is completed.

[05] Turkish delegation to the occupied areas to discuss the economy of the pseudostate.

[06] "Unknown" people are threatening to kill journalists of "Afrika".

[07] The occupation authorities did not allow the Turkish Cypriot journalists to attend a meeting between politicians at the Ledra Palace hotel.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by Ismail Cem on the Aegean and Cyprus

Akgun opens the interview with the subject of Turkish-Greek ties. Referring to signs of a dialogue with Greece on the Aegean issue, Akgun asks Cem to list the topics to be discussed during such a dialogue. Cem says: "Our two ministries were already conducting work in an unofficial and unstructured capacity to explore one another's views on these issues. Now, we are conducting work on how we can approach the Aegean issues, how we can determine the aspects we agree on, and how we can outline the points of convergence. We are beginning to explore this loosely. For now, there is nothing more than that. As you know, the Aegean issues are very problematic, so much so that we could not touch upon them for 40 years. Together we will carefully explore if we can achieve something positive."

Akgun refers to the "ossified" stand of Greece which regards the Aegean problem as consisting only of determining the Aegean continental shelf by resorting to the international court in the Hague. He asks Cem if Turkey will be able to discuss the airspace and territorial waters issues as well. The foreign minister responds: "We will see in time. Turkey's stand is clear. Turkey insists on international law, namely, Article 33 of the United Nations Charter, the basic law pertaining to this issue, and the EU Agenda 2000, dated June 1999. We will see, we will talk, and we will explore the possibilities. In my opinion, we should not dwell on what past stands were and who is changing their attitude. The aim is to determine whether we can solve all the issues that we view as problems in the Aegean." In this respect, Cem asks the Turkish media to refrain from attitudes that could embarrass the Greek side.

Asked if there is any question of reaching an "understanding of principles," Cem says no, adding however "in his statements, my counterpart Papandreou refers to international law, to the principle of countries' territorial integrity. These are principles acknowledged by all of us. Naturally, both Turkey and Greece have their own interests. No country can renounce its own vital interests, and no one expects such a thing. The two ministries are exploring whether we can open a solution course for the existing problems, and we are announcing that we are engaged in such a process."

In reply to a question on the possible duration of such talks, Cem states:

"These are technical matters, not only political. They have political, security, and technical aspects. Therefore, it will be a long process." "The technical aspect is very important. Many issues are intertwined, such as the maritime and civilian transportation aspect, the military aspect, as well as issues pertaining to airspace, territorial waters, and continental shelf. We are looking at it with goodwill. I hope we will attain a positive development."

In reaction to Akgun's view that the Cyprus issue concerns only the Cypriot sides, Cem notes that "Turkey and Greece are two guarantor countries, as is Britain. Greece and Turkey have greater responsibility, because the Cypriots are part of our nations."

If there is a negative development on the Aegean track, will this affect the Cyprus talks, Akgun asks. Cem answers: "I hope it will not reflect on Cyprus. No one is expecting a miracle or a quick solution in the Aegean. If it were an easy issue, it would have been resolved by now. If the initiative we launched is broken off, we will conclude that this was not the right time for it. I do not believe that this would have a highly adverse effect. Let us not dwell on this."

What is the impact of the Cyprus developments on our EU membership target, and what are the chances of starting accession negotiations by the end of this year, Akgun asks. In response, Cem states: "Our ministry aims to determine the date of the beginning of the negotiations with the EU by the end of Denmark's presidency at the end of the year. As we progress toward that goal, at present, the EU side is fulfilling its share in this regard. Today, I am not in a position to tell the EU that it is not fulfilling its duties toward Turkey, except for the question of the list of terrorist countries. They are in fact fulfilling their share. If Turkey does more in fulfilling its responsibilities -- we are doing this for ourselves, not for the EU -- by the end of this year, if we enact the adaptation laws to the constitutional amendments, and if we can take steps in a few more areas, I will again engage in efforts to persuade my counterparts by writing them letters and by speaking to them, as was the case before the Helsinki summit."

[02] Ali Erel: We are conducting tests to see how we can lift the embargoes

The paper reports that during a visit to the Chamber of Commerce on 4.2.02, the so-called Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu exchanged views with the members of the Chamber of Commerce on issues dealing with the Cyprus talks, foreign politics and the economy.

In remarks he has made before his meeting with Ertugruloglu, Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ali Erel has said that some of the international relations that the Chamber of Commerce has established have not been understood properly, adding: "Our intentions are wholly based on economic aspects. We do not have any political intentions whatsoever."

Pointing out that the pseudostate/s economy must stand on its own feet, Ali Erel said that they are conducting work in this regard. Noting that the international relations of the Chamber of Commerce have been intensified at the present stage, Erel said that their aim is to find the means for the economy to stand on its own feet and to work for realizing this aim.

Expressing the belief that in order to achieve progress in this regard, the international markets must first be opened before the pseudostate, Ali Erel has said: "Various embargoes have been placed on our country. We are conducting tests to see how we can lift these embargoes and rescue ourselves."

Stressing that the amount of funds that the EU has offered to the Turkish Cypriots is part of a program prepared for all the likely EU candidates and not for Cyprus alone, Ali Erel said: "If they are offering bribes to all the 12 [EU candidate] countries, then let us also accept these funds as a bribe..."

Noting that a package has been prepared in 1999 and that the amount that should be spent on the EU expansion process has been determined in this package, Erel has said: "TRNC has taken a step today. TRNC was not included in the Berlin scenario in that period. They are saying that 'due to the fact that it is not in the process of holding accession talks with us, TRNC is unable to receive the financial aid that we have allocated during the accession process.' However, the name of TRNC has now for the first time been mentioned as an entity... Therefore, a certain amount of funds has been allocated [for TRNC]. In our opinion, this is a pleasing development... Could it be that this amount is small?"

[03] Bulent Ecevit does not want EU involvement in the talks on Cyprus

Sources said on Wednesday that relations between Turkey and the EU, and Cyprus, Iraq and Afghanistan issues had been discussed during the meeting between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Moller in Ankara.

Ecevit had conveyed Turkey's opinion about Cyprus and sensitivity toward the issue to Moller who would proceed from Turkey to Cyprus to have meetings with both sides on the island after wrapping up his contacts in Turkey, sources said.

Sources said that Ecevit had advised Moller that the EU should not "intervene" in the new dialogue process between the two sides on Cyprus.

[04] Denktas on the face-to-face talks: The issue of security is completed

Answering a question Mr Denktas said: "Absolutely nothing is completed, never. We shall pass to other issues. However, this does not mean that there is an agreement and we are passing to these issues. These issues have been discussed and we are going on". Asked whether or not the territorial aspect of the Cyprus problem will be discussed on Friday, Mr Denktas noted: "I think we will be discussing the territory".

Replying to a journalist who, commenting on the issue of the security, said that there were difficulties on this issue despite the fact that Mr Denktas had expressed the opinion that this would have been an easy matter, the Turkish Cypriot leader said that difficulties must be expected because they will always exist.

The Turkish Cypriot leader noted that there would be no talks next Monday and Wednesday because some of his counselors will be in Istanbul for the EU - ICO meeting. The face-to-face talks are planned to continue on Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, asked to comment on information published in the Greek and Greek Cypriot Press that the occupation army is bringing to Cyprus new weapon systems, Mr Denktas claimed that the occupation army does need new weapons. "We have a very strong army-corps strong like a lion. Thank God for that", he concluded.

[05] Turkish delegation to the occupied areas to discuss the economy of the pseudostate

Meanwhile, yesterday after the meeting of the so-called "Ministerial Council" the so-called "Prime Minister", Dervis Eroglu said that it has been finalized that this year Turkey will grand the pseudostate 380 trillion Turkish liras.

Furthermore, Mr Eroglu added that the so-called "Ministerial Council" decided that the gross minimum salary in the pseudostate would be 320 million Turkish liras. (One American dollar is sold today for about one million and 301 thousand Turkish liras).

[06] "Unknown" people are threatening to kill journalists of "Afrika"

According to the paper, these people "without fearing" the so-called "police" "are threatening to kill the people who enter into or coming out of the building of the paper". "Afrika" notes that these "unknown" persons are saying to its journalists that they are going to shoot them dead like a dog.

The paper writes, inter alia, the following: "The threats against our journalists through the telephone have taken incredible dimensions. The threats are being made against the families and the children of our writers as well. The telephones of the paper and the private telephones of our colleagues are for 24 hours connected with the listening department of intelligence services of our country. Even when we say hello, everybody can instantly understand it. In that case, the doubts towards the security authorities are increasing because of the fact that they are not able to reveal the criminals who are threatening to kill us. .It is not known who protects the 'unknown' people who have established themselves around our paper. However, our colleagues are being warned when they get out from the door by a call on their mobile phones: 'Shortly no-one of you will be able to get out in the street!'.".

On its front page the paper publishes the picture of colonel Nami Koc, commander of the so-called "Civilian Affairs Unit", which is the intelligence service of the pseudostate.

Meanwhile, Sener Levent, commenting on the issue addresses colonel Koc and Galip Mendi, commander of the so-called Security Forces and tells them the following: "We are not responsible for the security of this community, this country. You are. Both the police and the army are under your command. You say that you protect us from the Greek Cypriots. However, no one knows who is going to protect us from you. Those, who said that they would kill us like dogs do not speak in Greek, they speak in Turkish. .".

[07] The occupation authorities did not allow the Turkish Cypriot journalists to attend a meeting between politicians at the Ledra Palace hotel

The leader of the Republican Turkish Party Mr Mehmet Ali Talat, in a statement issued yesterday, said: "Only the Greek Cypriot press covered the meeting, because the Turkish Cypriot press could not get a permission to cross the checkpoint." Talat, who criticized the behaviour of the occupation authorities as a reactionary and out of time, stressed that the occupation regime which isolates the Turkish Cypriots with the mentality of prison guardian in reality gives unintentionally an advantage to those who defend the continuation of the "embargoes".

Talat pointed out that the Republican Turkish Party as a Turkish Cypriot party that had a meeting with a party from Greece, felt ashamed for this improper behaviour of the occupation authorities and added: "I protest for this primitive masochist stance which punishes themselves."

In addition to that the leader of the Patriotic Unity Movement (PUM), Mr Izzet Izcan, in a press statement said: "Although the Greek Cypriot press followed the meeting, the PUM assesses the prevention imposed by the so-called Turkish Cypriot authorities on the Turkish Cypriot press to attend the meeting at the Ledra Palace hotel as a shame to democracy and as an attack by the heavily militarized regime in the northern part of Cyprus against the right of people to be informed."

KV/SK

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