Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-05-11

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul reiterates the demand of his country to the Islamic countries to recognize the illegal occupation regime

[02] Ugur Ziyal asked from the Foreign Minister of Iran to support Turkey's efforts towards legalizing its crimes in occupied Cyprus

[03] NTV reports that the American ambassador to Nicosia will be having regular meetings with Talat at the so-called "Prime Minister's" office

[04] Turkish fishing boats take advantage of the occupation of Cyprus to fish in the waters of the Republic of Cyprus.

[05] EL CEZIRE television calls on the Arab and the Muslim countries to recognize the illegal occupation regime in northern Cyprus

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Radikal Columnist: "In Cyprus the Ball Is In the EU Court"

[07] Column in Afrika supports that Turkey seems ready for new steps in its partition policy because it feels the support of the United States.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Gul reiterates the demand of his country to the Islamic countries to recognize the illegal occupation regime

In his speech Mr Gul reiterated that Turkey expected the Islam world to lift the so-called embargoes on the Turkish Cypriots and "to take action to upgrade the status" of the pseudostate in the OIC.

Mr Gul alleged that the results of the simultaneous referenda held in Cyprus on April 24 showed that the Turkish Cypriots was the side which is in favor of a solution in the island and added that Western states and organizations had taken action after the referenda to lift the so-called embargoes on the Turkish Cypriots and to integrate the occupation regime with the international community.

Mr Gul claimed the following: "The Islam world should also evaluate this situation sincerely and should not leave the Muslim Turkish Cypriots alone in their rightful cause. Protecting the Turkish Cypriots, means proving that Muslims are in favor of peace and solution. Within this framework, we expect the Islam world to take action to lift the unjust embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriots and to upgrade 'TRNC's' status in OIC".

[02] Ugur Ziyal asked from the Foreign Minister of Iran to support Turkey's efforts towards the legalizing its crimes in occupied Cyprus

Recalling that the Greek Cypriots voted "no" at the 24 April referendum, Mr Ziyal said that Turkey expects the Muslim countries to take steps "to stop the unjust treatment of the 'TRNC'". Mr Ziyal also called for Iran's support in order to upgrade the pseudostate's status as observer within the OIC.

[03] NTV reports that the American ambassador to Nicosia will be having regular meetings with Talat at the so-called "Prime Minister's" office

NTV reports that the important point is the place of the meetings, as until now such meetings have not been taking place at the "Prime Minister's" office because the United States were not recognizing the occupation regime in Cyprus.

Invoking American diplomatic sources, NTV notes that the first Talat - Klosson meeting will be taking place during the next few days. The same sources said also that Washington will support the Turkish initiative for upgrading the status of the pseudostate at the Islamic Conference Organization (ICO) and a decision to be taken by ICO on the issue.

NTV argues that the steps taken until now by the United States consist of measures which "upgrade the diplomatic status of northern Cyprus".

[04] Turkish fishing boats take advantage of the occupation of Cyprus to fish in the waters of the Republic of Cyprus.

In addition to taking away the livelihood from the Turkish Cypriot fishermen, whom the Turkish army is meant to be in Cyprus to protect, the Turkish fishermen are fishing in waters where fish is protected.

The so-called Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Ras Pertev, is quoted by Kibris to have said that this year no permission will be issued to foreign fishermen for fishing in the waters of Cyprus, that this decision was conveyed to Turkey´s relevant ministry but still unfortunately the illegal the illegal fishing is going on.

[05] EL CEZIRE television calls on the Arab and the Muslim countries to recognize the illegal occupation regime in northern Cyprus

According to KIBRISLI, in one of its reportages El Cezire alleged that the results of the 24 April referenda showed that the Islamic Conference Organization member - countries "must recognize the northern Cypriots as an independent state and give them back their honor".

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[06] Radikal Columnist: "In Cyprus the Ball Is In the EU Court"

"The UN has stated that it will not get involved in the attempt to help to secure Cyprus' entry into the EU as a unified country and that this is an issue that concerns the EU. The statement to this effect came from the UN Secretary -General's Spokesman Fred Eckhardt. He further said that this issue concerns the leaderships of the two sides in Cyprus. Eckhardt said the following to the RADIKAL:

• The leadership in the south has shown that they are in favor of the continuation of the division. As a result of support to the unification by the Turkish side, apart from Mr. Denktas, the result of the support given to the UN Secretary-General's plan in the referendum in the Turkish side was much better than the estimations. And the 'no' votes in the Greek Cypriot side was worse than the one estimated. Thus the island remained divided.

• Could this situation change? The good offices mission of the UN Secretary-General ended with the failure of his plan .De Soto's duties as well came to an end. Now the preparation of a report to be submitted to the UN Security Council is going on. However, from this point on one should not expect that the UN Secretary-General would be actively involved in the issue.

• The last effort of the UN which was meticulously worked out together with the USA and the EU did not succeed. In order to change this situation that exists in the island the stance of the new mediators is as much important as the stance of the leadership of the two sides. In my opinion for new mediators we have to turn towards the EU. With the EU membership the Cyprus problem has become more of an EU issue.

• The recognition of the TRNC is not the problem of the UN but the individual states'. As far as the UN is concerned the issue is not recognition but membership. The membership comes about when a number of countries recognize it and then voting takes place in the Security Council for the membership. In my opinion we are not at that extensive recognition stage of the TRNC and that we have to look into other international players for this.

Murat Yetkin goes on and says that "the international players mentioned by the UN Spokesman are not only the EU and mentions the membership to the Islamic Conference Organization and similar organizations or USA's opening of a Trade representation in the occupied area. Possibilities in the International relations are numerous and these could be on the agenda .This issue was discussed during the weekend between the Iranian Foreign Minister Kemal Harrazi and the Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ambassador Ugur Ziyal when the former made a stop over in Ankara.

Talat's refraining from putting the recognition issue in the forefront of his contacts in Washington and Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to Greece, despite the referendum results in Cyprus, left positive impression in the USA and EU. The main reason to this is that they have realized that the Turkish side's decision on Cyprus was not a tactical move but a permanent policy. President Necdet Sezer's proclamation on 9 May -the European Day- that Turkey's EU membership is a 'National Goal' had a positive impact as well.

If the EU delays in getting involved in the Cyprus problem, then this would be interpreted in the international family as if the Greek Cypriots have accepted the existence of the Turkish state in the North and that they have agreed to represent the south in the EU. However, there is time to this because it is possible that a new wave of pressure would be exerted on the south. In the back stage of diplomacy there are rumors that money laundering operation emanating from Russia might be on the agenda soon."

[07] Column in AFRIKA supports that Turkey seems ready for new steps in its partition policy because it feels the support of the United States. Under the title "They are trying to make the partition permanent", AFRIKA newspaper (11/05/04) publishes the following commentary in the column "Letter from AFRIKA '".

Tassos Papadopoulos has allegedly started to examine the alternative of the establishment of two separate independent states in Cyprus in return for a piece of territory to be given back (to the Greek Cypriot side).

We did not give much credit to this news. We do not believe that Mr. Papadopoulos could have such an objective. Especially after acceding to the EU.

The Greek Cypriot leader sees himself as someone who proceeds with concrete steps on the course he chose. He did not face such a bad treatment because he said ´No´ in the referendum'. He went to Dublin' He participated in the enlargement ceremony and the family photograph. Nobody said a bad word to him'..The prestige of the Greek Cypriot side was not damaged as everybody thinks. Papadopoulos did not lose power in the referendum. Indeed he gained more power.

In fact AKEL too which said ´no´ did not lose strength. Everybody thought that AKEL would be split and a big internal struggle would start in the party after the referendum '

These assessments proved wrong. The party which is splitting is not AKEL which supported ´no´, but DISY which said 'yes'. Two important deputies of DISY who said ´no´ were expelled whereas AKEL renewed its blood'There is no doubt that if there is another referendum without changing the plan those who voted against will again say ´no´.

Those in our community who are looking for an answer to the question ´what will happen after this´ cannot find a reply. Those who rely an a second referendum are trying in vain and are wasting their time. There are also those who aspire to extend the non-solution by getting rid of the isolation'.

As for Ankara it appears charting its strategy of recognition of the ´TRNC´.

The Turkish Republic´s Foreign Undersecretary and currently one of the main actors in the Cyprus Problem, Mr. Ugur Ziyal, has asked officially from Iran to recognize the ´TRNC´.

It seems that Turkey will go ahead with new steps in its partitionist policies, feeling the support of the United States, which is ready to support such policies in the island.

However, it appears that this too will be linked to Turkey´s EU membership'Turkey is planning to strengthen its Cyprus trump card in its EU membership bargaining. If some states recognize the ´TRNC´ until December Turkey´s EU bargaining power increases.

The political parties which insist on not claiming our common rights in the Republic of Cyprus are, knowingly or without knowing it, playing into the hands of the partitionist policies. If they go on like this they will struggle and kick in this tunnel much longer'. Until we come to our senses'."

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