Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-04-07

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Cyprus among the issues to be discussed by Turkish Foreign Ministry official in Washington in the bargaining for Incirlik.

[02] Serdar Denktas tries to blame the Greek Cypriots for the status quo imposed by his father and the Turkish militarist regime in occupied Cyprus.

[03] Talat alleges that the Greek Cypriot side delays the opening of the crossing point in Zodhia area, because it wants more crossing points to be opened and the area to be cleaned from minefields.

[04] VATAN newspaper speaks of secret military co-operation between Turkey and China since 1996.

[05] European Parliament Rapporteur on Turkey stated that Turkey is putting preconditions not to recognize Cyprus.

[06] The construction boom in occupied Cyprus started to destroy the beautiful beaches of the Karpass peninsula.

[07] Rauf Denktas wrote a new book under the title Five minutes to twelve.

[08] How the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish press report on the ECHR decision in the case of Xenides-Arestis v. Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Cyprus among the issues to be discussed by Turkish Foreign Ministry official in Washington in the bargaining for Incirlik

Strained Turkish-American relations will be discussed during Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ali Tuygan's visit to Washington. Tuygan will travel to Washington this month. The Foreign Ministry and the Turkish Embassy in Washington are waiting for appointments with their counterparts in the US State Department as well as Pentagon and White House officials.

The principal topics of discussion will be Iraq, Cyprus, American demands, Iran, Syria, the Middle East problem, developments in Central Asia, and the rising wave of anti-Americanism in Turkey.

Subtitle: Incirlik, US demands

The highest priority will be Incirlik and American demands. How does the United States view the accord that has been reached within the [Turkish] state about Incirlik? This is the most important question for which the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary will seek answers during his visit to Washington. Tuygan will state that Ankara's "political decision" with regard to the American demands "will be within the framework of the UN and NATO." He will explain to US officials that Turkey's decision "is for the moment limited to Afghanistan and Iraq." Ankara is waiting for positive US moves on the PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan], Cyprus, and the Armenian [genocide] resolution to be able to give a more comprehensive response to the US demands.

Subtitle: Mediation with Iran, Syria

Turkey is deeply concerned about the insistence of the second Bush administration to keep Iran and Syria under continual threat. The JDP [Justice and Development Party] government is prepared to support the United States but not all institutions of the state share this view. For this reason attention is being paid to sending more balanced messages.

On Iran, Washington will be advised "to wait for the results of the accord reached between the EU and Tehran." It will also be told that Turkey supports the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon. Depending on the outcome of [Tuygan's] visit, the JDP government may "propose to mediate with Iran and Syria on the issue of democratic initiatives in the region."

Subtitle: Dilemma over Iraq

Ankara particularly insists on the preservation of Kirkuk's status in Iraq's new constitutional process. Turkey wants Washington's support for the inclusion of all Iraqi groups in the constitutional process. Tuygan will send the message that the purge of the PKK from northern Iraq would make the steps Turkey can take easier. Among Ankara's priorities is the completion of the unfinished work on the secure repatriation of the approximately 9,000 Kurdish Turkish citizens currently in the Mahmur Camp [in northern Iraq]. Turkey wants Washington to shut down the camp.

Turkey no longer objects to a federation in Iraq. Tuygan will reiterate to the United States Turkey's request not to allow any activities that may spoil [Iraq's] territorial integrity.

Subtitle: Middle East, relations with Israel

Turkey wants to play a more active role in the Middle East problem. During Tuygan's visit to Washington this issue is expected to come up in the context of relations with Israel. Turkey plans to reiterate to US officials "in strong terms" that it "supports the right of the Israeli state to live in peace and security." It will also point out that the visit the Turkish prime minister plans to pay to Israel on 1 through 3 May "will create a foundation for new partnerships." Another message Ankara will send to Washington is that there is no anti-Semitism inside the Turkish state.

Subtitle: Central Asia, Afghanistan

Ankara supports the democratization of Central Asian countries. This message to be conveyed to Washington gains a special meaning in the context of developments in Kyrgyzstan over the past month. Turkey is committed to offering all forms of support to election processes in Central Asian countries. In addition the reassumption of the ISAF command in Afghanistan by the Turkish military will be used as a major factor in the improvement of relations with the United States.

Subtitle: Anti-Americanism

As for the rising wave of anti-Americanism in Turkey, the message being taken to Washington is that the steps the United States takes on issues such as the PKK and Cyprus would help prevent anti-Americanism. "Joint work to prevent anti-Americanism" will also be proposed to the United States.

[02] Serdar Denktas tries to blame the Greek Cypriots for the status quo imposed by his father and the Turkish militarist regime in occupied Cyprus

Mr Serdar Denktas said the solution of the Cyprus problem did not depend only on the Turkish and Greek Cypriots but also the countries that were side to the problem.

Denktas said the solution should be permanent and added: "We should recognize our deficiencies and determine policy accordingly."

Denktas said the change of the occupation regimeīs so-called President would not change the policy they have been pursuing on Cyprus, and stressed: "Nothing will change unless Greek Cypriots change. We should discuss what would be our way out if Greek Cypriots do not want a solution. A new process will bring a new referendum. We should get rid of a solution model which depends on Greek Cypriots."

Denktas stressed he was not hopeful that the European Union (EU) would remove the blockade on the occupied by 40,000 Turkish troops part of Cyprus noting that the EU defended the interests of its members.

[03] Talat alleges that the Greek Cypriot side delays the opening of the crossing point in Zodhia area, because it wants more crossing points to be opened and the area to be cleaned from minefields

In statements yesterday during his visit to occupied villages, Mr Talat accused President Papadopoulos of never wanting the contacts between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots.

Alleging that President Papadopoulos wanted the strengthening of the division and not the solution of the Cyprus problem, Mr Talat claimed that the delaying tactics allegedly used by the President of the Republic is his demand for opening more crossing points between the occupied and the free areas of Cyprus. He also accused the Greek Cypriot side of not accepting the international standards on the issue of cleaning the minefields.

Then Mr Talat explained why, in his opinion, the Zodhia crossing point did not open until now, without explaining though why the Turkish side refuses the opening of more crossing points, as the Greek Cypriot side proposes. Referring to how the Turkish side accepted the cleaning of the minefields in Zodhia area he admits: We have talked with the military authorities as well and they approved the cleaning of the mines without any condition.

This time they (the Greek Cypriots) opposed to the fact that the cleaning work conducted by the UN was in harmony with the international standards, alleged Mr Talat arguing that therefore the cleaning that should be finished within 15 days was extended for two more months.

[04] VATAN newspaper speaks of secret military co-operation between Turkey and China since 1996

"'Secret' cooperation with China":

With the visit to China of Air Force Commander General Ibrahim Firtina, the timing of which is also noteworthy, attention has been drawn to the ongoing military cooperation efforts between the two countries, which have been underway in secret since 1996. While Chinese-made surface-to-surface WS-1 systems are being further developed and made into J missiles at Roketsan [Rocket Industry and Trading Corporation], General Firtina this time put the joint production of mid-range surface-to-air missiles onto the agenda. Meanwhile, while General Firtina's visit was underway, the United States warned the EU countries not to lift the arms embargo that they have been applying on China.

The EU counties, led by France and Germany, have been planning to end, in June, the arms embargo that they have implemented against China since 1989. At the same time, the United States' strategic partner Israel engages in a great many joint projects with China. It is stated that Turkey, in intensifying its relations with China, aims at freeing itself from being dependent on one source in the defense industry.

New projects

New projects were taken up in the discussions that Firtina had with Chinese General Staff Chief General Liang Guanglie and Air Force Commander General Qiao Qingchen. Turkey wants to begin cooperation with China in the fields of establishing satellite ground stations, launching satellites, and reconnaissance. As for China, it wants to benefit from Turkey's experience in the technical, manoeuvre, and equipment areas. It is said that, among the topics discussed, the project that received the most attention was that of mid-range air defense systems.

[05] European Parliament Rapporteur on Turkey stated that Turkey is putting preconditions not to recognize Cyprus

In his statement to Dutch news agency ANP he noted that Turkey was going on a wrong course.

Noting that in recent months, cases against Human Rights defendants have increased, Eurlings pointed out that putting into force the new Turkish Panel Code has been postponed. Turkey is putting new conditions in order not to recognize Cyprus, Camiel Eurlings stressed and added: Unless Turkey takes successful steps in a short time, then there could be an important obstacle before the accession talks planned to start on 3rd October, 2005. The time has come for the EU Commission to send a strong warning to Turkey.

[06] The construction boom in occupied Cyprus started to destroy the beautiful beaches of the Karpass peninsula

As the paper writes, the countless constructions which are grown like mushrooms in occupied Cyprus by the construction firms which are in a state of competition between them, started to affect the beaches and the beauty of the nature in the area. This development has put in danger especially the Golden Beach in the Karpass peninsula, which is among the ten most beautiful beaches in the world. This beach is also the place that the green turtle caretta-caretta lays its eggs.

As if the ugly construction that started with the wooden shanties in the area under the name of the tourist activity was not enough; now concrete is poured out in the sand and the beauty of the nature is destroyed with the works going on, writes the paper.

[07] Rauf Denktas wrote a new book under the title Five minutes to twelve

In the new book Mr Denktas writes about his experiences regarding the Annan Plan and the negotiations for the solution of the Cyprus problem. This is the 27th book written by Mr Denktas in the Turkish language. He has also written 19 books in English.

[08] How the Turkish Cypriot and Turkish press report on the ECHR decision in the case of Xenides-Arestis v. Turkey

The Turkish Cypriot papers report the decision of the ECHR as follows:

HALKIN SESI: The ECHR gave the message that the Compensation Committee can be recognized. The paper reports that the ECHR gave the message that in case the Compensation Committee completes its shortfalls, it could be accepted to be in charge for the investigation of the Greek Cypriots allegations for the property and land. The Court, which noted that the Committee must be independent and impartial, commented that the members of the Committee must not have any connection with personal interest regarding the Greek Cypriot cases. In case the ECHR sends the Greek Cypriot cases to the Compensation Committee then the judicial opinion, which appeared in Loizidou case will change. The international law specialist Mert Guclu, in a statement to the paper, said that with the decision that the ECHR took will increase the strength of the national law procedure.

KIBRIS: From the ECHR yes to the Greek Cypriot, green light to the Compensation Committee. The paper reports that the ECHR declared the application of the Greek Cypriot Myra Xenides-Aresti against Turkey in order to take back her property in the area of Famagusta, as admissible.

YENIDUZEN: Agenda: Property.

GUNES: Its up one minute and down the next. The paper reports that the Compensation Committee, which was set up during the National Unity Party (NUP) period, entered at last the area of interest of the ECHR, but still they continue to protect the Greek Cypriots. The ECHR accepted to examine the application, which was described as a pilot case, in the complaints against Turkey.

KIBRISLI: A case similar to Loizidou case starts again!. The paper reports that the decision that the ECHR took yesterday gives the possibility to open again cases against Turkey similar to that of Loizidou. The Court decided that the Compensation Committee, which was set up in North Cyprus, is not adequate.

CUMHURIYET: The paper covers the issue from the agencies as follows: Agenda: TAK, the decision from the ECHR in the Cyprus case against Turkey; NTV: yes to the Greek Cypriots from the ECHR; MILLIYET: A decision blow from the ECHR to the Greek Cypriots; Greek Cypriot press: It shows that the decision of the ECHR means that Turkeys arguments are insufficient.

AFRIKA: One more decision at the ECHR for the Greek Cypriot properties.

VATAN: The Greek Cypriots left alone. The paper reports that the ECHR accepted to examine the Greek Cypriot application, which was described as a pilot case, but it gave also the message that the Compensation Committee, which was set up in the TRNC could be accepted.

VOLKAN: The decision of the ECHR on the Cyprus case against Turkey.

ORTAM: Similar case from the ECHR. The paper reports that the property issue in Cyprus took the course of solving the problem on the basis of the international law ground. The paper reports that the ECHR, in which one of the jurists is a Turk, decided unanimously to examine the decision of the Greek Cypriot Myra Xenides-Arestis and the applications that will come after the decision of this case to be considered similar.

CYPRUS TIMES: Property issue coming home?

The Turkish press covers the decision of the ECHR as follows:

RADIKAL: Good news to Cyprus

MILLIYET: Signal from the ECHR, it could consider the TRNC proper respondent

Turkish dailies RADIKAL (internet version) and MILLIYET newspapers (07/04/05) report that a Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has unanimously declared admissible the application lodged in the case of Myra Xenides- Arestis v. Turkey. In its same decision, report the papers, the ECHR gave the message that the Compensation Committee set up in the occupied area with a mandate to deal with compensation claims of the Greek Cypriots could be considered a national law authority to be referred to. The above mentioned case was opened by the applicant Xenides- Arestis saying that she is unable to use her house in Famagusta, thus her human rights are being violated Last September the 3rd Chamber of the ECHR heard the Cyprus and Turkish governments.

The Turkish side, recalled that the Greek Cypriots had rejected the Annan plan, and that a Compensation Committee had been established in the occupied area to look into the Greek Cypriot property demands. In its turn the Greek Cypriot side had maintained that the TRNC is not accepted by the international community, thus the Compensation Committee is not a legitimate institution.

Subtitle: Three main criteria

The court in its yesterday decision, reports the papers, has declared that the Compensation Committee in order to be national law authority it must comply with certain criteria. Following are the three main elements that the ECHR mentioned:

a. The Committee should be of an independent and impartial character.

b. The Committee should function in accordance with the ECHR judicial decision

c. The Committee should act within the framework of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Subtitle: What is important is the final decision

The papers report that if one considers the Loizidou case, there is high risk that the case will end against Turkey.

/SK

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