Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-05-09

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statement by Mr Erdogan prior to his illegal visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[02] Statement by the Turkish Prime Minister Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his arrival at occupied Lefkoniko airport.

[03] Mr Talat says the limited freedom of movement was decided in order to encourage tourism to the occupied areas.

[04] Large scale changes in the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

[05] The so-called chairman of the puppet regime's football federation wants to promote participation in UEFA and FIFA.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statement by Mr Erdogan prior to his illegal visit to the occupied areas of Cyprus

When asked to comment on President Tassos Papadopoulos' statement that his visit to Cyprus is illegal, Erdogan said: "We will give the necessary reply on this issue in Cyprus".

[02] Statement by the Turkish Prime Minister Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan upon his arrival at occupied Lefkoniko airport

Speaking upon his arrival at occupied Lefkoniko airport, he said: "I am very pleased to be with you and as always I convey to you the greetings of the motherland.

History has shown that the nations which are proven worthy of their future and act together in the cause they believe, finally gain the right to live and determine their future.

The struggle of the Turkish Cypriots to stay on this island has started long ago and goes on for forty years. In Cyprus, there are two equal peoples in every respect with different language and religion, two different democratic orders and two different states. And the solution efforts in Cyprus should be based on these realities. The two people in Cyprus, should first of all create conditions to live side by side in peace. They should try to find ways of establishing a new partnership together based on an environment of confidence.

We welcome the appeals made and the measures taken by Mr Rauf Denktas, especially the latest steps. All the world follows this development with pride, in addition to Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots.

We do support the firm stance of the "TRNC" leadership which is in the direction of a safe future for the Turkish Cypriots and for peace in the island.

The democratic environment created by the opposition and the ruling circles need also to be praised and we consider this as the greatest wealth of the Turkish Cypriots.

Today, I will discuss with Mr Rauf Denktas, Mr Eroglu and the "government" all the issues in a comprehensive manner. We will also meet and exchange views with the opposition parties.

Turkey supports a just and lasting solution, based on the realties in Cyprus. We are firm on this issue. We believe that the steps taken by the "TRNC" will contribute to the finding of a solution and improving relations between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots

Today is a meaningful day. Time has come to remove the inhumane embargoes imposed for forty years on the Turkish Cypriots. Today, this is the most urgent issue in Cyprus. In fact we are against all embargoes and we do want to remove all these. As Turkey we are ready for this and have this in mind. We will not abandon you and we will take every measure for a better and more peaceful life for you.

My brothers, we will be with you, no one should doubt about this. Turkey will never abandon you.

I will conclude by saying: Your problem is ours and your sorrows are our sorrows as well".

[03] Mr Talat says the limited freedom of movement was decided in order to encourage tourism to the occupied areas

Tumerkan begins the program by asking Talat to comment on the latest situation with regard to the Cyprus problem. Noting that the Turkish Cypriots lost a great chance with the collapse of the Annan plan, Talat says: "The collapse of the Annan plan prevented us from being integrated with the rest of the world. The collapse of the Annan plan also prevented us from being recognized as a state."

Stressing that the crossing points between the occupied and the free areas of Cyprus were opened by the Turkish Cypriot side in a non-serious manner, Talat says one of the main reasons behind the opening of the crossing points was that the Turkish Cypriots felt disappointed by the collapse of the Annan plan and that in response to this disappointment, certain Turkish Cypriot strategists decided to open the gates between north and south Cyprus to encourage tourism in north Cyprus. "In a sense, the decision on opening the crossing points between north and south Cyprus was made by certain circles in the face of the growing anger of the Turkish Cypriots against the present situation in north Cyprus," Talat says.

Pointing out that contrary to the expectations of the Turkish Cypriot "officials", a large number of Greek Cypriots crossed into occupied Cyprus by presenting their passports at the checkpoints and that the citizens from the two communities established warm friendships with one another, Talat says: "However, this is not a solution."

Asked whether or not the opening of the crossing points might serve as an alternative solution, Talat says this process might serve as an alternative solution when the citizens from each of the two communities cross into the other side, establish friendships with one another, and resolve the properties issue through the European Court of Human Rights, which might also establish an office in Cyprus. Talat goes on to say that, however, this process might not serve as an alternative to the Annan plan.

In reply to a question whether a solution imposed on the Cypriots from outside or a solution based on the creation of a positive atmosphere between the two communities would become a lasting solution, Talat says he does not believe that the Annan plan is a plan that is imposed on the Cypriots, as this plan was drawn up after lengthy work by taking into account the thoughts, views, and sensitivities of the Turkish and Greek Cypriots, adding: "The Ghali set of ideas were merely ideas, and not a solution plan. However, the Annan plan is a solution plan. For, this plan contains everything, including a constitution."

In reply to a comment to the effect that the deadlines set with regard to the solution of the Cyprus problem pressed the Turkish Cypriots and that the fate of a community is at stake, Talat says: "Should we solve the problem today--and we have failed to solve the problem--it would not be possible for us to secure the same advantages. For God's sake, please criticize Turkey with regard to the Cyprus issue. I, for my part, will soon start criticizing Turkey."

In reply to another question as to whether or not a toy was snatched from his hands, Talat says: "No, a toy was not snatched from my hands. On the contrary, power was placed in my hands. For they used to claim that the Turkish and Greek Cypriots cannot live side by side. Denktas used to say that the arrival of the Greek Cypriots among us would be tantamount to the burying of the Turkish Cypriots in mass graves. He claimed that the Turkish and Greek Cypriots can never live side by side. Despite saying all these, Denktas opened the border crossings between north and south Cyprus."

[04] Large scale changes in the Turkish Foreign Ministry

The Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary is expected to leave for the Rome post, and one of his deputies or Turkish Ambassador to Berlin Osman Koruturk is expected to be appointed in his place by government decree.

Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, who has been at Ministry headquarters in Ankara for the last five years, reportedly wants to go abroad as soon as possible. After yesterday's Constitutional Court decision on the stay of the execution of the law reducing the mandatory retirement age which made the future appointments in the Foreign Ministry more ambiguous, this process is expected to be speeded up.

The government is expected to appoint Ziyal to Rome in line with his wishes, in place of Necati Utkan and former Deputy Undersecretary and State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik to Berlin in the place of Osman Koruturk. Koruturk, or one of the deputy undersecretaries of the ministry, is expected to be the new undersecretary of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Some 65 ambassadors are included in this law reducing the mandatory retirement age to 61 from 65, but did not include Ziyal who is under 61. On the other hand, the law is also foreseeing a board made up of undersecretary and deputy undersecretaries of the Foreign Ministry and authorizing it to determine the names of ambassadors whose office periods will be extended. The board would conclude its work by the middle of next month paving the way for a large appointment decree, but the latest decision of the Constitutional Court made the situation of these 65 ambassadors ambiguous.

Afterwards, the names of the ambassadors to continue office would be presented to the Cabinet by the Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. The Cabinet can extend the office period of these ambassadors until they are 65 years old, but this process seems to be cut off.

Washington Ambassador and former Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu, Cairo Ambassador and former Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry Korkmaz Haktanir, Deputy undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry Baki Ilkin, London Ambassador Akin Alptuna, Paris Ambassador Uluc Ozulker, the Permanent representative of Turkey to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Sencar Ozsoy, and Kabul Ambassador Mufit Ozdes are among these 65 ambassadors.

[05] The so-called chairman of the puppet regime's football federation wants to promote participation in UEFA and FIFA

He said that the Greek Cypriots refused to present their passports and returned back. He went on and said that they will continue their efforts to solve the football problem within FIFA and UEFA.

He concluded by saying: "However it is not possible to consider null and void the existence of the state".

/SK

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