Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-03-04

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat comments on the proposal regarding the occupied part of Famagusta and the U.S. State Department report

[02] The occupation regime declares that it would put restrictions on the free trade in Cyprus until the direct trade with the occupied areas begins

[03] The Deputy President of Republic of South Africa supports a permanent solution in Cyprus within the scope of UN

[04] Turkey, EU try to hammer out Cyprus differences

[05] Olli Rehn: "Solution on the basis of the Annan plan"

[06] OSCE calls on Turkey to withdraw article 305 of the penal code

[07] Settlers from Turkey cause trouble in the occupied part of Cyprus

[08] Erdogan and Gul are reported to disagree regarding the Chief negotiator with the EU

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat comments on the proposal regarding the occupied part of Famagusta and the U.S. State Department report

Replying to a question, Mr Talat said this suggestion made by the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Tassos Papadopoulos is unacceptable.

Mr Talat also said the real purpose of Papadopoulos was to disrupt the economic development of the Turkish Cypriots, and expressed readiness for joint management of all ports of Cyprus.

Noting that it was impossible to accept authority of the Republic of Cyprus on north of Cyprus, Talat said: ''We are ready to set up a united Cyprus Republic. However, we cannot accept extending of 'Greek Cypriot authority' up to the north.''

Commenting on the part about the "North Cyprus" in the U.S. Human Rights Report, Mr Talat said: ''It is not bad.'' He went on: "When expressions in the report about northern Cyprus and southern Cyprus are compared, it is seen that the situation is not bad. The important point is that the 'North Cyprus' has started to be given place in world statistics.''

Upon questions of reporters about the report, Mr Talat said: ''A separate part was reserved for the 'North Cyprus' in U.S. Human Rights Report. It is known that there are several weaknesses in the country about human rights. The important point is that the 'North Cyprus' now takes place in world statistics. It has gained speed after the referendum.''

Mr Talat concluded: "Turkish Cypriots have been making radical changes. And this has positive global impacts. Now, the world does not exclude the 'TRNC'.''

[02] The occupation regime declares that it would put restrictions on the free trade in Cyprus until the direct trade with the occupied areas begins

In statements yesterday Mr Deniz said that the occupation regime would "give a serious response" to every step made by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus on the issue of the free trade.

Explaining the decision taken recently by the so-called government of the occupation regime, Mr Deniz noted that they would permit the transfer of those type of goods into the occupied areas of Cyprus that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus permits to be transferred into the free areas within the framework of the Green Line Regulation. The above-mentioned goods will be transferred to the occupied areas under the same conditions that the Government of the Republic of Cyprus applies for their transfer to the free areas, according to Mr Deniz.

He also said that the so-called ministry of economy is preparing written instructions on the issue of which goods will be allowed to enter the occupied areas. Mr Deniz noted that they will be asking for a certificate proving the origin of the goods and for some goods they will even be asking for a health certificate. Thus, reciprocity will be realized in some way, he added.

The paper writes also, inter alia, the following:

"Deniz, who reiterated that the direct trade is one of the most important elements for the TRNC, noted that the Green Line Regulation is a short term transition and that this measure they took aims at responding to the short term measures that the EU and the Greek Cypriot Administration have taken. Deniz said that before the direct trade begins and before the conditions for competitiveness are not created in a full sense for the TRNC, the import of all goods from the South will be restricted and there will be no big opening on this issue. .".

[03] The Deputy President of Republic of South Africa supports a permanent solution in Cyprus within the scope of UN

Prior to their meeting, agreements on economic and commercial cooperation and on customs were signed between two countries.

Mr Zuma said: ''We have discussed relations between our two countries as well as global issues.'' On his part, Mr Erdogan said: ''Africa is an important continent for Turkey in the aspect of foreign policy. Turkey declared 2005 as African Year.'' He also added: ''We have discussed how we can further develop political, economic and commercial relations both in bilateral meetings and in meetings between delegations. We can pursue joint activities in economic issues. Foreign trade volume in economic and commercial relations between our two countries is 1.2 billion U.S. dollars. This is not in favour of Turkey. We should increase the total trade volume."

Commenting on the Cyprus problem, Mr Erdogan noted: "Regarding developments about Cyprus, we discussed relations between northern and southern Cyprus. We have expressed that we support peace on the basis of the United Nations".

When asked whether the Republic of South Africa will take a concrete step about the Cyprus issue in the United Nations and the international area, Mr Zuma said: ''Mr Erdogan briefed me about the Cyprus issue. He explained what Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots fulfilled about this issue. We have received information from Greece about this issue as well. They are also in favour of peace and solution. We all know the results of the referenda (in Cyprus). We know embargoes and isolations (over northern Cyprus) continue. We support a permanent solution within the scope of the United Nations. We will try to provide every type of support to all solution proposals within the scope of United Nations."

Mr Erdogan also invited Mr Zuma to Turkey.

[04] Turkey, EU try to hammer out Cyprus differences

"A delegation of senior Turkish diplomats tried to work out a deal with Brussels over a protocol that Turkey pledged to sign before it starts long-delayed accession talks with the European Union later this year.

Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ertuğrul Apakan and Ambassador Deniz Bölükbaşı were meeting with EU Commission officials in Brussels yesterday to discuss the protocol that extends Turkey's 1963 Association Agreement with the EU to 10 new members, including 'Greek Cyprus', which is not recognized by Ankara.

The Turkish side insists on a reservation that its signing of the protocol would not mean Ankara's recognition of the 'Greek Cypriot government'. But there is no clarity yet on how to attach that reservation to the protocol. What is being discussed is whether this reservation will be included in the text of the protocol or whether it will be done in the form of a separate government declaration.

Another issue involves when the protocol will be signed and approved. The EU side is pressing Ankara to sign the protocol immediately so that it can be approved by the Turkish Parliament before Parliament's annual recess in the summer. The Turkish side, on the other hand, says the timing of the approval is up to Parliament and claims there can be no interference in the process.

The EU side says early approval is necessary because the protocol will then have to be voted in the national parliaments of the 25 member states as well as in the European Parliament.

The Head of the EU Commission Delegation in Ankara, Hansjoerg Kretschmer, signalled that the Brussels talks would be tough, saying in an interview earlier this week that the protocol was a simple text not open to much negotiation.

The signing of the protocol lies at the heart of recent tension between Turkey and the EU, sparked by EU criticism that Turkey has been too relaxed since it won a date last December to open accession talks and that the reform process has lost momentum since then.

Mr Kretschmer said on Tuesday that the EU has witnessed little action since the December 17 EU summit, which agreed to open accession talks. Yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Namık Tan responded by saying that Turkish efforts to meet requirements in its relations with the EU were continuing at a rapid pace.

"We do not agree with these comments," Tan said during a weekly briefing when asked about Kretschmer's remarks, adding that there were responsibilities that needed to be addressed by the EU as well. "We expect the EU to be more active in fulfilling these responsibilities," he said."

[05] Olli Rehn: "Solution on the basis of the Annan plan"

[06] OSCE calls on Turkey to withdraw article 305 of the penal code

References to Cyprus and Armenian issues are found in an explanatory document accompanying Article 305 of the Turkish Penal Code, which regulates "offences against national interests."

"Officially removing these subjects can help eliminate the impression that Article 305 allows for the punishment of free speech," the OSCE's representative on freedom of the media, Miklos Haraszti, said in a letter to Justice Minister Cemil Çiçek.

Haraszti also said that reforms in the penal code were generally welcomed but complained that there were still some worrying provisions in it, calling for the removal of two articles in order to further expand freedom of speech.

[07] Settlers from Turkey cause trouble in the occupied part of Cyprus

These persons were not citizens of the pseudostate and many of them did not even have "working permit", according to YENI DUZEN, which also notes that these persons have reportedly been working in Salamis Casino. One of the owners of the above-mentioned casino, Halil Falyali, is among the five persons arrested for the incidents and he is expected to be presented today before the so-called court in occupied Famagusta.

The five persons are under custody for beating Esref Vaiz, permanent undersecretary at the so-called prime minister's office, Huseyin Inan, chairman of the administrative council of the Efkaf administration, and Hurrem Tulga, on the night of 18th of February.

[08] Erdogan and Gul are reported to disagree regarding the Chief negotiator with the EU

The paper reports that the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's choice is Yasar Yakis, former diplomat and foreign minister, while Gul supports successful State Minister Responsible for Treasury Ali Babacan for the chief negotiator post.

HURRIYET goes on and reports that because of this difference, it is highly possible that, on Monday, at the Turkish government-EU Troika meeting, Turkey would not have a chief negotiator.

The paper speculates that it is highly possible that during Monday's meeting the EU Troika will ask Turkish officials why, since 17 December Turkey was unable to appoint a negotiator.

HURRIYET quotes without giving the name, the following evaluation of an Ambassador of an important EU country in Ankara: "The appointment of the chief negotiator is very important in the EU membership process. Turkey, for reasons which we do not understand, is not demonstrating, regarding the appointment of the chief negotiator, the same keenness it had showed prior to the 17 December. We are concerned that 17 December was a premature decision."

The paper further reports that because of this difference, now there are behind the stage rumours that search for a third name is being considered within the government circles.

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