Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 04-12-07

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey to apply the Customs Union with the Republic of Cyprus under the name "Cyprus"

[02] A delegation of the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) visited occupied Cyprus through the illegal Tympou airport

[03] YENIDUZEN: "Green light from Putin to the Turkish Cypriots"

[04]Critical meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara today about Cyprus and the EU following the visiting of Atzo Nikolai, Minister for European Affairs of Holland

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] Balanced Approach by Putin

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey to apply the Customs Union with the Republic of Cyprus under the name "Cyprus"

"Turkey has included the Greek Cypriot administration in South Cyprus, under the name "Cyprus," in the Customs Union regime that it has applied with the EU since 1996. Banning the use of the name "Republic of Cyprus" within the context of the application that lifts the trade embargo, Turkey has sent a letter to the Foreign Trade Under secretariat and the Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges in favor of the application of the Council of Ministers decision of 1 October related to including Cyprus in the Customs Union, along with the other nine new members of the EU. The letter stresses that the name "Cyprus" should be used on the document for exports and imports to and from Cyprus.

Subtitle: Ban on Imports

According to the report in Dunya newspaper, the firm that would import from the Greek Cypriot side to Turkey will use the name "Cyprus" as the sending country. Any other name will not be accepted. The companies that export to the Greek Cypriot administration will only put "Cyprus" on the customs declarations. Foreign Ministry officials have emphasized that the use of word "Cyprus," rather than "Republic of Cyprus," is based on the reference to "Cyprus" in the "Turkey-EU Association Council Decision of 1995, Number 1/95, related to the completion of the Customs Union."

Turkish firms which will engage in exports to Cyprus, will not use the terms "South Cyprus" or "Greek Cypriot side", in their customs documents but they will stick to the name "Cyprus".

The sources said the implementation of the Customs Union with "Cyprus" amounts to an "amendment of internal regulations" and that it does not imply extending recognition to the Greek Cypriot administration."

[02] A delegation of the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) visited occupied Cyprus through the illegal Tympou airport

As the paper writes a delegation of 8 members of the ACYPL visited the occupation regime in the framework of a travel programme that includes meetings with political parties, civil society organisations, Mass Media, universities and businessmen.

[03] YENIDUZEN: "Green light from Putin to the Turkish Cypriots"

The paper reports that when Mr Sezer reminded Mr Putin that the so-called isolations against the Turkish Cypriots continue, Mr Putin answered: "I also am against applying isolation on a people". Upon this answer Mr Sezer said: "Then do what is necessary. The UN Security Council has not yet approved the text submitted by the UN Secretary - General, Annan. The isolation of the Turkish Cypriots will end only with the decision taken by the Security Council".

According to YENIDUZEN, Mr Sezer reminded Mr Putin of the support that Turkey had allegedly given to the Annan Plan and told him that the problem could be solved with the creation of the "United State" provided for in the above-mentioned plan. The Turkish President asked his Russian counterpart to undertake personal initiative on the Cyprus issue.

A diplomat who participated in the meeting noted that the Russian President "approached positively" the Cyprus problem.

Meanwhile, according to Turkish daily MILLIYET newspaper (07.12.04), while the Russian President promised the support of his country for the lifting of the so-called embargoes against the Turkish Cypriots, when referring to the international problems he did not mention the Cyprus problem.

[04] Critical meeting at the Presidential Palace in Ankara today about Cyprus and the EU following the visit of Atzo Nikolai, Minister for European Affairs of Holland

In the summit the latest developments as regards the EU and Cyprus will be evaluated. Mr Nikolai went to Ankara yesterday in the framework of the evaluation of the draft report of the EU Summit which refers to Turkey's getting a date for accession negotiations. Holland holds the Presidency of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2004.

The Summit will take place today in Ankara in order for the Turkish government to determine its attitude towards the EU and Cyprus. As the paper writes it is expected that in the summit Turkey's position as regards Cyprus will be emphasized again and the decisions that has been taken regarding Cyprus in the Summit held last Friday will be taken up again.

The Turkish President Ahmet Sezer, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs and competent bureaucrats will participate in the summit.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[05] Balanced Approach by Putin

Subtitle: He is cool to Cyprus'.

Fikret Bila goes on and says; "Within this general framework, we could say that the most important concrete demand that Ankara has conveyed to Russian leader Putin is on the Cyprus problem. The most important issue that made Ankara uneasy, is Russia´s blocking of Annan report to the UN Security Council, through Moscow´s veto at the Security Council."

Bila then refers to Putin´s meeting with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, during which Sezer, without specifically mentioning removal of the veto, with a fine diplomatic language, has asked his Russian guest to remove the barrier at the UN.

"It is possible to say", adds Bila, "that Putin´s answer to this demand which could be summarized as: "We do expect that you will remove the veto´, was not that warm, despite the fact that the Russian President has expressed his appreciations for the efforts, Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots spent on Cyprus. However by referring to their relations with Greece it can be said that the message was given that they have to be taken into consideration in maintaining the balance".

EG/

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