Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-06-13

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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 is accusing the opposition for misleading the Turkish Cypriots.

[02] Ali Erel urges the Cyprus Government to remove the "obstacles".

[03] Turkish Cypriot civilian organizations demand the opening of crossings at Morphou and Zodia.

[04] Press conference by the "mayors" of Nicosia, Kyrenia and Famagusta after contacts they held in Brussels.

[A] NEWS IEMS

[01] Denktas is accusing the opposition for misleading the Turkish Cypriots

"This is because some of our people who embrace their state, their sovereignty, and their Turkey have been deceived by those who note that 'the EU is beauty and the EU is liberation.'"

Explaining that institutions that operate under the name of opposition have deceived Alvaro de Soto, UN Secretary-General's special adviser for Cyprus, as well as US and British officials, Denktas added: "The opposition says: 'We represent the majority of the people. Denktas no longer represents us. He has lost the people's support.' The pursuers of this policy that is based on false allegations go back and forth among us."

Calling upon the people to avoid being deceived by these people, Denktas said the following:

"If you give up the state, if you give up your sovereignty, if you give up Turkey's guarantor status, and if you sign the Annan plan and enter the EU without Turkey, as the Turkish Cypriots, you will have taken away Turkey's most important right. You will have taken away 70 million people's geopolitical rights on Cyprus. I believe that no Turkish Cypriot will deliberately harm Turkey in this manner."

The journalists recalled that during his contacts in Turkey, the so-called Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu noted that he finds Denktas' remarks to the effect that "he will no longer act as a negotiator if the opposition comes to power" erroneous and said: "Such remarks lead to the belief that the opposition is powerful and that it will come to power." Replying to a question on his views on Eroglu's remarks, Denktas noted that "the 'prime minister' has justly reacted and that he is right."

Noting that the press reports failed to feature the entire content of his statement and in this regard, his statement was misunderstood, Denktas continued as follows:

"Honorable Eroglu is right in his complaints. However, he has assessed my speech on the basis of the press reports on my statement. The newspapers have published only a part of my speech. This, in turn, has led to misunderstandings. In the beginning of my speech I noted that I have confidence in our people's common sense and that those who pursue give-and-take policies in order to ensure that Cyprus enters the EU will not be able to come to power. You are familiar with journalists, however. They asked me: 'What will happen if they come to power?' I said: 'I do not want to answer this question because they will not come to power.' The journalists said: 'Let us say that they will. What will happen?' In answer, I said: 'If they come to power, this is what will happen.'"

[02] Ali Erel urges the Cyprus Government to remove the "obstacles"

Erel said that Mr Cosar had told him that there was no obstacle emanating from the north Cyprus regarding the free trade. Erel said that a producer in north Cyprus, after reaching agreement with a buyer in the south, could load his goods and take them to the south and sell them. He said that to this end the necessary directives were issued to the "TRNC Department of Commerce."

Erel further said that Cosar told him that in case of sales to the south, VAT return shall be provided. Furthermore, Erel said that Cosar told him that it was possible to privatize the so-called "state laboratory" that will carry out tests regarding agricultural produce and issue sanitary certificates. Erel said that they consider this positive and support it. "Following this decision now it is up the officials in south Cyprus to solve any problems before the free trade. If the Greek Cypriot officials desire to further strengthen the rapprochement started with the free crossings they could do so by immediately removing any obstacle that exists before the free trade", Erel declared.

[03] Turkish Cypriot civilian organizations demand the opening of crossings at Morphou and Zodia

The protestors declared that if the occupation regime does not open the gates then they will do so by themselves.

The protestors said that always their area is overlooked and put aside.

[04] Press conference by the "mayors" of Nicosia, Kyrenia and Famagusta after contacts they held in Brussels

As the paper reports, the three men stated that the pseudogovernment imposed an embargo on them because it does not want them to accept the EU aid for their "municipalities". They also stressed that they consider this aid as a great opportunity to get rid of this political attitude. The "mayors" also said that they do not understand the pseudogovernment's objections towards this support programme and added that they believe that the Greek Cypriot side will have no objections regarding this issue, especially for the "municipalities" of Kyrenia and Famagusta.

On his part, Mr Erk said that the 6 million Euro offered by the EU for the "municipalities" is a starting point and that they foresee more help coming from the EU in the future. He also said that they will find sources outside of the EU and added: "We have said that we will open our towns. We are doing this". Mr Erk also said that in their contacts in Brussels they also discussed other issues regarding the EU financial aid to the Turkish Cypriots. He stressed that he told the EU authorities that the Turkish Cypriots must have the right to export their goods from the Famagusta Port.

On his part Mr Kayalp said that the EU offered this aid in order to improve the standard of living of the people who live in these three towns. "This aid was not given to the Republican Turkish Party nor to the 'mayors' personally", he said.

The "mayor" of Kyrenia, Mr Aygin said that with this aid by the EU the economic situation of the "northern" part of Cyprus will be improved and will reach the EU standards.

/SK

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