Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 03-08-07

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Foreign Minister alleges that the customs union to be signed with the occupied areas does not violate economic agreements with the EU.

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader blames the British for the non-solution in Cyprus.

[03] The Turkish Ministry of Interior issued a circular prohibiting the Turkish Cypriots to use the passport of the Republic of Cyprus at the Turkish ports and airports.

[04] The occupation authorities ordered 50 thousand new identity cards from Turkey.

[05] A delegation of Turkish settlers met with the ambassador of the EU to Nicosia.

[06] Five conditions from Turkey to the United States in order to send troops to Iraq.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Foreign Minister alleges that the customs union to be signed with the occupied areas does not violate economic agreements with the EU

Mr Gul said that the evaluation process regarding sending soldiers to Iraq was continuing. Noting that the view of every sector was important, Gul said that they would share the result of the evaluation with the public.

The following question was put to Mr Gul: "It is claimed that a customs union agreement will be signed during Turkey-TRNC Partnership Council meeting which will be held on Friday. Does not this situation violate economic agreements between Turkey and EU?"

Mr Gul replied: "No. Turkey takes all of these into consideration. On one side, Turkey is in European customs union and our relations with the EU are developing in the new process. We hope that next year will be a more important year in this aspect. However, on the other side, certainly, these agreements are signed to help the Turkish Cypriot economy."

Alleging that both Turkey and the pseudostate were doing their best to provide permanent peace in Cyprus, Gul added: "Thus, all of these are not obstacles before providing permanent peace in Cyprus. On the contrary, they will facilitate a final solution."

[02] The Turkish Cypriot leader blames the British for the non-solution in Cyprus

Speaking during the visit, Osman Nizami said that as war veterans of the Second World War they have been receiving assistance from Britain and that for the last five years they have been directly in contact with the British officials to make sure that the assistance reaches them. However, at the end of this year's communication, the British authorities have advised them to submit their applications jointly with the Greek Cypriot war veterans in southern Cyprus. Nizami said that the British officials have reminded them that there is now freedom of movement between the two sides [in Cyprus] and as such no impediment remains for them to contact the Greek Cypriot association. Nizami added that they have come [to Denktas] to ask if there is any political drawback in contacting the British officials through the Greek Cypriot war veterans association.

Hearing this, Mr Denktas said he is ashamed on behalf of the British for the treatment accorded to the Turkish Cypriots, and added:

"This is a new manifestation of their policy of Hellenizing Cyprus and of tying the Turkish Cypriots to the Greek Cypriots on every issue. It is despicable and reprehensible. The Turkish Cypriots do not deserve this. If the roads have been opened, it was done so as to create a climate that would overcome the disagreements between the two sides, forge mutual trust, and bring about the recognition of each other's equality. And just when we were all benefiting from this, for the British to come out and advise unification and submission to the Greek Cypriots now that the roads are open only shows that the British are not even aware why the roads were opened in the first place. The roads have been opened for the conclusion of an agreement on the basis of the two separate national entities, not to pave the way for initiatives aimed at forcibly subjecting us to the Greek Cypriots.

Acting pertinaciously, the British want to subject us to the Greek Cypriots. We will never submit. I am issuing a message to the British from here: We will not submit to the Greek Cypriots. We will never accept the Greek Cypriots as our government. They should be ashamed for trying to reduce us into servitude under the Greek Cypriots through such monetary punishments. Already the reason why the Cyprus problem cannot be resolved is that the British recognized the Greek Cypriot side as the legitimate government in the past. Despite the 1960 agreement prohibiting Cyprus' membership in international organizations in the absence of Turkey, the British say that is not how they interpret it and encourage the Greek Cypriots to join the EU, guide them there by holding their hand. It seems the British do not want an agreement here. It is for that reason that they constantly glorify the Greek Cypriots, while more and more oppressing us. Naturally there cannot be an agreement in this imbalance. We opened the doors so that the Greek Cypriots could see we exist, will exist, we are as good as they are, we are as much a government and a state as they are, so that they can see all these, realize they cannot swallow us up anymore and thus extend the hand of friendship. But, regrettably, the British and the like continue to encourage and provoke the Greek Cypriots with such actions. They are making a great mistake. I do not know what they would gain by losing the Turkish Cypriots. But that they are gradually losing the trust of the Turkish Cypriots is all too clear."

[03] The Turkish Ministry of Interior issued a circular prohibiting the Turkish Cypriots to use the passport of the Republic of Cyprus at the Turkish ports and airports

RADIKAL reminds that in a circular published on the 22nd of May 2003 the above-mentioned Ministry announced that the "Greek Cypriot citizens of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus" could travel to Turkey. Therefore, continues RADIKAL, only the Greek Cypriots could travel to or via Turkey with the passports of the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are allowed to enter or exit Turkey only with the passports or the identity cards of the pseudostate. According to the paper, in the circular there are no expressions such as "Turkish Cypriot" or "Greek Cypriot".

Meanwhile, according to Turkish Cypriot daily AFRIKA newspaper (07.08.03) a circular with the sign "very confidential" is being applied in Turkey since 2 August 2003. According to this circular the so-called citizens of the pseudostate could travel to third countries via Turkey only with the passports of the Republic of Turkey. The circular has been issued by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was issued on 31 July by the permanent secretary of the Ministry Mr Can Direkci.

[04] The occupation authorities ordered 50 thousand new identity cards from Turkey

Invoking reliable sources, the paper notes that this will be a way for the pseudo-government to interfere in the results of the "elections" and facilitate the settlers from Turkey crossing over to the free areas of Cyprus.

[05] A delegation of Turkish settlers met with the ambassador of the EU to Nicosia

The chairman of the association, Mr Nuri Cevikel said after the meeting that they told Mr van der Meer that the Turkish settlers are not a part of the Cyprus problem, but a part of its solution. Mr Cevikel claimed that the Turkish settlers should participate in the negotiations towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem. Mr Cevikel said also that they informed the European ambassador about the settlers and their expectations.

Mr Cevikel noted that the European ambassador told him that in the third revised Annan Plan there are detailed views about the settlers and that the human rights of the people who will be displaced will be protected.

[06] Five conditions from Turkey to the United States in order to send troops to Iraq

- We want to be assigned a humanitarian role as well and not only a military one.

- You should hand over to us the leaders of the terrorist PKK/KADEK organization.

- Without an official invitation from the Iraqi Transitional Government Council (the Turkish army) will not go to Iraq.

- The expenses of the Turkish army which will be sent to Iraq should not be paid by Turkey.

- In order to avoid misunderstandings we must persuade the countries of the Middle East.

/SK

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article