Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 02-02-12

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mesut Yilmaz: The Cyprus problem is the biggest obstacle in front of Turkey's EU membership goal.

[02] Project to attract foreign students to Turkey and the pseudostate.

[03] Eroglu: Concessions on the territorial issue are not possible.

[04] A Turkish Cypriot living in Bavaria sends tourists to the pseudostate.

[05] Ertugruloglu met with the Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister.

[06] The Youth Organization of PUM attended the youth congress of PASOK.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Mesut Yilmaz: The Cyprus problem is the biggest obstacle in front of Turkey/s EU membership goal

Responding to a question about Turkey's estimated date to join the EU, Yilmaz said: ``Turkey can definitely not join the EU in 2004 because the EU prepared a schedule. It openly declared that this schedule includes 27 members, not 28. Under normal circumstances, they aren`t planning to accept us before 2010. But we want to join the EU in 2007 together with Romania and Bulgaria. We still have five more years until 2007. If we could fulfil the political criteria and start membership negotiations next year, then they might include us in the second enlargement in 2007.``

``If we fail to do this, our membership will be postponed to an uncertain date after 2010,`` he continued. ``If we don`t display the necessary determination and if we don`t act quickly enough, the EU Parliament will become more important. Besides certain countries which have political conflicts with us might enter the Union before we do. Turkey must get itself out of this uncertain status and start membership negotiations as soon as possible.``

Answering a question about the date that the negotiations would begin, Yilmaz said that Turkey's National Program would be one year old on March 19, 2002 and underlined that Turkey has still fallen short of some of its short-term goals.

During this time, Yilmaz said, the government would work to reach its remaining goals. He said that they could pass the adjustment bills in a single package before late March. Referring to the Cyprus problem Yilmaz said that the Cyprus conflict was constituting the biggest obstacle in front of Turkey`s EU membership goal.

He said that the EU earlier announced that they could accept Cyprus as a member even if the problem persists between the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides.

``Of course, this was a decision taken with Greece`s pressure. This way it was stated that Turkey has no right to veto the membership of Cyprus. We believe that Turkey is doing everything to bring a solution to the Cyprus problem. But this doesn't mean that Turkey would yield to the Greek Cypriot administration for the sake of joining the EU,`` he asserted.

He stressed that Turkey`s efforts solely would not suffice to solve the problem, but the Greek Cypriot side should also adopt a constructive approach.

``I think that the EU would also pressure the Greek Cypriot side for the solution of the problem. They will postpone the EU membership of the Greek Cypriot administration for a certain time if a concrete solution is not reached. This is the best contribution that the EU could have for the solution of the problem,`` he commented.

[02] Project to attract foreign students to Turkey and the pseudostate

The project is aimed especially at foreign students in Muslim Middle East countries because of the developments following the terrorist attacks on the United States, and is to last for three years.

ODTU Rector professor Ural Akbulut said: "We have submitted the project to the Prime Ministry and visited State and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli. We explained the benefits of the project and how it will increase the strategy of Turkey, and he supported it, as did the Foreign Ministry deputy undersecretary."

He added: "The target public of the project are the students wishing to get higher education in Asia, Africa, and western and southern Europe. We believe the project will attract the attention of the students in Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iran, Malaysia and Kenya in the short- term, and China and India in the long-term, through various adverts, CDs, web sites, brochures etc.. Thus, the brain drain will turn back."

[03] Eroglu: Concessions on the territorial issue are not possible

Talking yesterday after his regular weekly meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktas, Mr Eroglu claimed that according to what Mr Denktas told them "it is not possible to make our people refugees again".

"Of course it is not possible to be positive in this regard given the excessive demands of the Greek Cypriots", alleged Mr Eroglu adding that the Turkish Cypriots have settled in the northern part of the island whereas the Greek Cypriots in the south.

"Our duty as a government is not to turn again into refugees our people, who in the past became three times refugees", said Mr Eroglu and added that they are trying to help the people who say that "this land is ours" to live happily there. He noted that the face-to-face talks continue and the Turkish Cypriot side would evaluate again later the proposals put on the table.

Mr Eroglu alleged the following: "In the end our people settled, said 'this land is mine' and related their future to this land. We must say that it is extremely difficult to put forward a new policy in these circumstances. However, of course as a government we shall be evaluating the developments regarding the talks in every opportunity with our President".

[04] A Turkish Cypriot living in Bavaria sends tourists to the pseudostate

".Dr Behzat Unel is a doctor of ours who lives in the region of Bavaria in Germany, loves Cyprus a lot and struggles for his country. In the region he works he has created a big lobby. Every year he sends a lot of tourists from Germany to the TRNC.

Last year we had the opportunity to meet this esteemed doctor. We organized some important activities, which contribute to the tourism of our country. Dr Unel, who is one of our old students from the Turkish Lyceum of Nicosia, does not seem like intending to stop dealing with us so easily. The day before he called us from Germany for some new activities, which will contribute both to TRNC's tourism and its sports. In the direction of our last year visit, he is determined to realize some activities this year as well.

At the first stage, he is sending to TRNC a group of Scout Leaders from Germany between 25 March and 1 April. Right after that between 30 March and 6 April he is sending to the TRNC another group consisting of environmentalists and biologists from Germany. And the most important of all is that during the festivities of the 19th May week he is sending to the TRNC a 90-member group of volleyball players.

These people are coming to our country at their own expenses. These are very important developments for the tourism of the country. As a person, who gives everything for TRNC, we are trying to help as much we can this honourable doctor, with whom we had the opportunity to meet. Yesterday we visited and informed the honourable Minister. Meanwhile we met with Ali Riza Altay, the director of Youth Department.

These groups are going to stay at Acapulco Tourism Village. After that others will follow. Erbay Gonelli is working silently and hardly to organize a football tournament for children. Yesterday we discussed this issue too with Dr Unel. If the Turkish Cypriot Airlines (KTHY) could provide the means, he said he could send two children's football teams from Germany. .

Last year, as a result of Dr Unel's personal efforts 300 tourists came from Germany to the TRNC. This year three groups are coming one after the other. .".

[05] Ertugruloglu met with the Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister

Ertugruloglu said that the meeting lasted half an hour and that they discussed issues related to the Forum as well as the latest developments on the Cyprus problem. He also stressed that he is going to meet again with Mr Cem during or after the end of the Joint EU-OIC Forum. Ertugruloglu will also have bilateral meetings with participants in the Forum.

[06] The Youth Organization of PUM attended the youth congress of PASOK

KV/SK

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