Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-08-11

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] Talat supports that "Turkey's bargaining hand would weaken" on the Cyprus problem in case it is given a date for accession talks with the EU.

[02] Ambassador Alpogan will reportedly be appointed as NSC´s civilian General Secretary.

[03] The driver of a "minister" has been arrested for drag smuggling in occupied Kyrenia.

[04] Typhus cases increased in the occupied part of Cyprus.

[05] Seven illegal immigrants arrested.

[06] Foreigners continue to buy immovable property in the occupied area.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat supports that "Turkey's bargaining hand would weaken" on the Cyprus problem in case it is given a date for accession talks with the EU

In statements to illegal TAK news agency, Mr Talat expressed the opinion that Turkey's bargaining hand would weaken on the Cyprus problem from that date on.

He also alleged that President Papadopoulos made "wrong calculations" and "has unfounded expectations" on the Cyprus problem. "He is planning that Turkey, in order to secure a date for accession talks, will be forced to accept conditions set by the Greek Cypriot side", he added and expressed the belief that exerting pressure on Turkey to open the closed city of Varosha or withdraw its military forces from the island was out of the question. Mr Talat claimed that the international community could not exert pressure on Turkey on these issues, as "they were part of the Annan Plan, which was rejected by Mr Papadopoulos".

Mr Talat said that he expected serious developments to take place in September as regards the removal of the so-called international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and he forecast that the economy of the occupied areas of Cyprus would improve with the expected approval of the Free Trade Regulation in September by the EU Council of Ministers. Mr Talat alleged that the Green Line Regulation may lead to problems in case the Free Trade Regulation fails to be approved by the EU Council.

In such a case, he argued, the whole Turkish Cypriot economy will be gradually transferred to the free area of Cyprus. "The Greek Cypriot side's proposals are an indication to this. This is why the Turkish Cypriot side is not very much interested in what the Green Line Regulation is offering" he claimed.

Furthermore, Mr Talat said also that the so-called Council of Ministers of the occupation regime would be taking up the "2004 Fiscal Year Budget" tomorrow and that it would be presenting it to the "parliament" for approval when the "assembly" returns from its summer recess.

Asked what may happen if the "draft bill" fails to be approved at the "parliament", Mr Talat noted that the opposition parties themselves have been reluctant to approve an early "elections" date. He said that his "government" will go ahead and present the "draft" to the "plenary session", despite the danger of it being rejected and the "government" to collapse.

[02] Ambassador Alpogan will reportedly be appointed as NSC´s civilian General Secretary

Briefing SABAH Foreign Ministry sources said, "Yigit Alpogan is going to be the general secretary, barring any last minute surprises."

"Alpogan, who has been Turkey's Ambassador to Greece for the past three years, is known for his national security experience, his ability to form relations easily, and his frankness. Alpogan is one of the architects of the developing friendship with the other side of the Aegean," writes SABAH.

Ambassador Alpogan was born in 1945, his father being a retired general. A graduate of Ankara University Faculty of Political Sciences Alpogan began his first duty at the Foreign Ministry as "candidate vocational officer" in the Office of Joint Security Affairs, what is today the NATO Office, in 1968. His first assignment abroad was as "second clerk" in Tokyo in 1972. Appointed as "Chief Clerk" to the `embassy´ in Nicosia in 1975, Alpogan returned to Ankara in 1977 and became "Cyprus Branch Manager" of the Cyprus and Greece Office. A year later he became Private Clerk Officer to the then Foreign Minister Prof. Gunduz Okcun. In 1991 Alpogan represented Turkey as "envoy undersecretary" in the Athens Embassy. His first post as full ambassador came at the Ashkabad Embassy in Turkmenistan in 1995. When he returned to Ankara in 1998 Alpogan became the "General Manager" for the "Maritime and Aviation Affairs Office". Since 2001 Alpogan has been serving in one of the Foreign Ministry's most delicate and prestigious posts as Ambassador to Greece.

[03] The driver of a "minister" has been arrested for drag smuggling in occupied Kyrenia

Among the four arrested persons is the driver of Omer Kalyoncu, so-called minister of public works and transport.

[04] Typhus cases increased in the occupied part of Cyprus

According to the paper, only during the last 48 hours persons working at twelve different construction sites visited the hospital in occupied Famagusta with typhus and typhus fever. Among those people were also persons who entered the occupied areas as "tourists".

[05] Seven illegal immigrants arrested

The paper says that six of them were Bangladeshi nationals and one Indian.

"Police" started "legal" proceedings against the illegal immigrants.

[06] Foreigners continue to buy immovable property in the occupied area

According to the paper the foreigners who received permission to acquire immovable property in the occupied area are; seven British, one Turk, one French, one German and one Slovak.

/SK

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