Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-05-30

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas discloses the reason for the decision of the occupation regime to "permit" Greek Cypriots to claim their properties from its so-called courts.

[02] Disputes about the expected financial aid from the EU.

[03] Alvaro de Soto met with TUSIAD's committee in New York.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Denktas discloses the reason for the decision of the occupation regime to "permit" Greek Cypriots to claim their properties from its so-called courts

In the above-mentioned letter Mr Denktas discloses, inter alia, the reason for the decision of the occupation regime, and Ankara, to "permit" Greek Cypriots to claim their properties from its so-called courts. According to Mr Denktas, the reason for doing this was to allow the Turkish Cypriots to apply to courts of the Republic of Cyprus and demand compensations for the properties they have abandoned in the free areas and thus the relevant demands of the Greek Cypriots against Turkey to be "balanced". The relevant extract from the letter is the following:

".You are writing that I described the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) as "mouthpiece of the Greek Cypriots'. I do not remember such a thing. However, I said that its decision could not be legally defended, because it adopted the Greek Cypriot position and ignored the realities in Cyprus. Foreign jurists stressed this many times as well. You are writing that I am making fun of the Loizidou case. I do not remember doing such a thing. It is true that I have always been openly criticizing this decision. No aspect of this decision could be defended.

You continue by saying that I accepted the Loizidou case, which I had made fun of. I said that the cases could be examined in `TRNC' and that in the meantime I had forgotten the article regarding bringing (the properties) under state control. Being 'half informed' could be a striking weapon in the hands of a writer of your fame. We have not forgotten our constitution. With this door we have opened, we shall be able to begin opening against the Greek Cypriots the lawsuits, which we were not able to open for 40 years. In this manner, we shall be able to protect our rights by demanding compensations, which will balance the cases that the Greek Cypriots will open against Turkey on the issue of the properties. Our constitution includes a definite sentence. The Loizidou case has nothing to do with giving back property. In this case there is compensation as a result of deprivation of use.

There is one thing that you are either forgetting or do not want to remember: Decisions of this kind are not my personal decisions. This decision was taken together with Turkey, taking into consideration Turkey's interests. Sometimes we are ready to comply with everything when it is necessary to protect Turkey's interests. However, I do not think that you will understand this.

You maintain another position, that my aim is to gain time. It is definitely not a crime to gain time if such a move is needed in our struggle to 'explain the realities'. .".

[02] Disputes about the expected financial aid from the EU

In a written statement they issued yesterday the three "municipalities" noted that they were not able to understand why a "prime minister" thinks that foreign aid to "official institutions" has any political hidden intent.

Meanwhile, the so-called Union of Turkish Cypriot "Municipalities" issued yesterday a statement protesting for the fact that the EU is expected to give its aid through the above-mentioned "municipalities" and not through the "Union of Municipalities".

[03] Alvaro de Soto met with TUSIAD's committee in New York

In a statement after the meeting, de Soto said: "We believe that the Annan plan can be resurrected. But the decision of this issue concerns only the involved sides. Despite that we hope that some things can be done in the near future."

Replying to the question if he is optimistic about the future, de Soto said: "The right thing to say is that I am realistic and not optimistic."

Former Ambassador and member of the TUSIAD, Cem Duna, said: "The view of TUSIAD regarding the Annan plan is that it is valid and it should have been accepted."

"We exchanged views with de Soto on this issue. We did not bring any message. The message will be given by Ankara", he concluded.

/SK

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