Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-05-19

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Foreign Ministry on the Greek Cypriots who resort to legal means to protect their property rights.

[02] Mr Talat calls on the Greek Cypriot leaders to prevent the citizens from protecting their property rights.

[03] HURRIYET: Erdogan-Talat coolness.

[04] Serdar Denktas continues to brand isolation the occupation of territories of the Republic of Cyprus by 40,000 Turkish troops.

[05] Turkish Cypriot industrialists are participating in the Cyprus Fair.

[06] Greek Cypriot owner of property in occupied Kyrenia demands compensation from a British Bank which uses his property.

[07] Turkeys Minister of Transport will illegally visit the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[08] The so-called Turkish Cypriot airlines under privatisation.

[09] The produce in the cereals decreased by 40 %.

[10] The discussion as regards the Draft Law on the Fields of Sea Jurisdiction started in the pseudoparliament.

[11] The Turkish mass media report of clashes taking place between the Turkish army and PKK fighters.

[12] The PKK is reported to be planning to hit in major Turkish cities.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] Commentry in AFRIKA assesses Mr Talat´s stand on the Greek Cypriots´ efforts to protect their property rights.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] The Turkish Foreign Ministry on the Greek Cypriots who resort to legal means to protect their property rights

Mr Tan was referring to the Greek Cypriots who apply to courts to protect their property rights in occupied Cyprus. He added: ''The imposition of a blockade on Turkish Cypriots and at the same time resorting to such methods of pressure (by the Greek Cypriot side) on Turkish Cypriots can't be accepted.''

Tan also referred to the remarks of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn who described those law suits (by Greek Cypriots) as meaningless and stressed that nothing could be achieved by such methods.

Upon a question about the meeting of Mr Serdar Denktas with Mr Abdullah Gul, Tan said that they discussed the recent developments about Cyprus upon the demand of Denktas.

Tan also informed that Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari of Iraq would pay a visit to Turkey between May 20th-21st upon the invitation of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

When asked if Turkey's expectations about the PKK would be explained to Al-Jafari, Tan said all issues that concerned the two countries, including that of the terrorist organization PKK, would be taken up at the meetings.

On Turkey´s defense at the ECHR on the lawsuits regarding Abdullah Ocalan and Leyla Sahin, Mr Tan said: ''Turkey's defenses in the ECHR (European Court of Human Rights) are prepared by directives of the government. ''These defenses have been based on views and assessments of our concerned institutions, in summary they are the defenses of our government.''

Commenting on the European countries' ban on Onur Air planes, Tan said that Turkey pursued talks with concerned countries, but its efforts had not been fruitful yet.

On the other hand, Tan said that not only the Foreign Ministry but all other institutions were exerting efforts to assure security of the Champions League Final to be played between AC Milan and Liverpool teams in Istanbul.

Briefing reporters on the visits abroad by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul this month, Tan said that Gul would attend a NATO summit in Sweden and visit Bahrain before the end of this month.

The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Security Forum will be held in Oare, Sweden between May 24th and 25th to improve political dialogue in an informal atmosphere gathering foreign ministers of the allies and cooperating countries.

[02] Mr Talat calls on the Greek Cypriot leaders to prevent the citizens from protecting their property rights

In a statement made during a meeting with a delegation, Talat remarked that, although property cases seem to be made by ''individuals,'' the Greek Cypriot leadership is behind all the cases. ''Such cases cause difficulty in our ties,'' said Talat.

Talat said that his government's goal is to create a Cyprus in which every one is equal. ''Equality of individuals is not merely important for the Turkish Cypriots, but the whole island itself,'' commented Talat.

We wish to see a Cyprus in which the two societies live side by side in peace with each other, noted Talat. ''The Greek Cypriot leadership has an ethical obligation to stop individual cases. This is a true test of leadership. The leadership must motivate the citizenry so that a comprehensive solution is found in Cyprus,'' said Mr Talat.

Talat added that the Greek Cypriot side must start working so that bi-lateral talks do not get badly poisoned.

[03] HURRIYET: Erdogan-Talat coolness

Nur Batur reports that the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who never came to terms with Rauf Denktas, now his relations with the new so-called president of the TRNC Mehmet Ali Talat were severed as well.

Erdogan´s agreeing with Tassos Papadopoulos in Moscow, for the resumption of Cyprus negotiations, had a cold shower effect on Talat, who was trying to force Mr Tassos Papadopoulos to sit around the negotiation table.

Mrs Batur adds that Talat immediately contacted his Foreign Minister Serdar Denktas and asked him to convey his concern to Ankara. Serdar Denktas got in touch with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and complained that `Esteemed Prime Minister committed a major mistake, and that he fell into Papadopoulos trap´.

Denktas then rushed to Ankara and had a meeting with Gul. He proposed to Gul that prior to Erdogan´s visit to New York in early June there should be a Cyprus summit in Ankara where Turkish President Necdet Sezer, and Talat will attend the meeting.

Subtitle: You have taken the Greek Cypriot as your respondent

Nur Batur goes on and reports that she had a meeting with Serdar Denktas in Ankara prior to the latter´s departure to the occupied area who openly expressed his anger and said:

75-million strong Turkey, took, 750 thousand Greek Cypriots, as its proper respondent. Well, where is Talat? The tripartite summit in Moscow was a great mistake. It is very natural that Mr Erdogan and Mr Papadopoulos meet at international conferences, however, saluting each other is something and by holding a tripartite summit and announcing starting of a new initiative is another thing. It is wrong. This was what Mr Papadopoulos wanted to. His main objective is to prove to the world that the Cyprus problem is an `occupation problem´ and in order to realize that, he is trying to demonstrate that his only interlocutor is Turkey.

Mrs Batur goes on and reports that Serdar Denktas had said that, when President Papadopoulos returned to Cyprus, he made statements contrary to Erdogan´s statement: In fact Papadopoulos does not want UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to start a new initiative. He does not care being branded intransigent. He is planning to keep the problem within the EU until 3rd October, when Turkey-EU accession talks will start, and then to corner Turkey.

Denktas also criticized the Erdogan government for paying compensation to Titina Loizidou, Mrs Batur reports.

[04] Serdar Denktas continues to brand isolation the occupation of territories of the Republic of Cyprus by 40,000 Turkish troops

Underlining that he was against the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the island before the solution of the (Cyprus) problem, Serdar Denktas said: "If Turkey withdraws even one squad as a sign of goodwill before a settlement, this will mean acceptance of the Greek Cypriot claim (that Cyprus is under Turkey's occupation).

When asked what was their expectation from Turkey, Denktas stressed: "It should be clearly indicated that the counterpart of Papadopoulos is Talat. Denktas noted that he opposed to the idea of Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's having even a 'brief' meeting with President Papadopoulos.

Speaking about negative stance on the part of the Greek Cypriot side towards the resumption of Cyprus talks, Denktas stressed that Turkish Cypriots would not wait forever for the lifting of the embargo, adding that if there will be no solution at all, they may transform the TRNC into a "free trade zone" as an alternative.

Referring to the recent remarks of German, Russian and US leaders about Cyprus, Denktas said: "Words are not enough, we want to see concrete results."

Denktas added that the EU would only act fairly "if it urges the Greek Cypriot side to accept free trade as it urges Turkey to sign the Ankara protocol.

[05] Turkish Cypriot industrialists are participating in the Cyprus Fair

Turkish Cypriot firms will display products as outlined in the Green Line Regulations. All agricultural and animal products are exempted from the fair.

Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry Chairman Salih Tunar has indicated today (Wednesday) that, by participating in the fair Turkish Cypriots plan to introduce products to potential consumers and the Greek Cypriot community.

Tunar remarked that it is one of their goals to bring the two communities closer through their economic activities.

[06] Greek Cypriot owner of property in occupied Kyrenia demands compensation from a British Bank which uses his property

The paper writes that Mr Demetriades demands for his client the sum of 30.750 Cyprus pounds for the use of the above-mentioned property for the 15-month period 2002 March 2005. As far as the following moths are concerned, the Greek Cypriot legal owner of the property demands through his lawyer two thousand pounds monthly for rent.

VOLKAN reports that the Istanbul headquarters called last week the head of the Kyrenia branch for exchange of views on the issue. The so-called ministry of foreign affairs has been also informed about the notification, but until now no official answer was given to the Greek Cypriot lawyer.

According to investigation conducted by VOLKAN, after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus the building used by HSBC Bank in Kyrenia was given by the occupation regime to a Turkish Cypriot named Inci Tankut as equivalent for property in the free areas. Mr Tankut leased the building to the Bank.

[07] Turkeys Minister of Transport will illegally visit the occupied areas of Cyprus

According to a written statement issued by the so-called ministry of transport and public works, Mr Yildirim will participate with the so-called minister of transport, Mr Salih Usar, in a symposium at the Eastern Mediterranean University under the title The developments and the local practices in the TRNC and Turkey in the field of telecommunications.

Mr Yildirim, who will be staying in the occupied areas only for one day, will be also meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mehmet Ali Talat.

[08] The so-called Turkish Cypriot airlines under privatization

This agreement came during talks between the foreign minister Serdar Denktas and the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Abdullah Gul.

Turkeys privatization Administration published an advertisement in Turkish dailies yesterday announcing the decision to sell the 50% stake of the Turkish Cypriot airlines, in what is termed as a block sale.

In addition, as Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper wrote, the Turkish Privatization Office took an important step by transferring to the Turkish Cypriots all the shares of the Turkish Cypriot airlines, putting up for sale its 50% shares.

As the paper writes, the Turkish Republic will sell its 50% of the shares to the Turkish Cypriot ADA Aviation, which was established by the occupation regime for this reason, and therefore all the shares of the so-called Turkish Cypriot airlines will belong to the pseudostate.

Commenting on the development, the so-called prime minister of the pseudostate, Mr Ferdi Sabit Soyer, stated that the necessary work regarding the issue will be finished until the end of July. On his part, the so-called minister of finance Mr Ahmet Uzun, stated that after the Turkish Cypriot airlines come under the control of the pseudostate, they will be transformed into a company that will follow the European norms, it will be productive and profitable.

[09] The produce in the cereals decreased by 40 %

The crop during the above mentioned period is expected to reach 50 thousand tons, whereas the previous year it was 70 thousand tons. The paper writes that 100 thousand tons are necessary in order to meet the needs for fodder and seed.

The reason for the decrease is the low rainfall, writes KIBRIS, noting however, that even when the rainfall reached its highest level, the target crop has not been achieved. Experts say that a change of policy is needed in the field of agriculture, adds the paper.

[10] The discussion as regards the Draft Law on the Fields of Sea Jurisdiction started in the pseudoparliament

As the paper writes, the so-called draft law was prepared because of the laws that were put into effect on to the issue by the Republic of Cyprus and, in order to determine the law on the fields of sea jurisdiction by harmonizing the pseudo states law with the international law on the subject.

[11] The Turkish mass media report of clashes taking place between the Turkish army and PKK fighters

The commander of Turkeys First Army, General Hursit Tolon warned on Wednesday that terrorism was on the rise across the country.

A member of Turkeys paramilitary Gendarme was killed in an attack by separatist terrorists in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir Wednesday.

The non-commissioned officer was killed when his unit came under fire near the village of Bayrambasi, near the town of Silvan.

The attack is just the latest in an increasing wave or terrorist activity in the region. On Tuesday, four Turkish soldiers were killed when they detonated a land mine and earlier in the day, two members of the outlawed group the PKK were killed when they tried to attack the residence of the governor of the south eastern province of Siirt.

[12] The PKK is reported to be planning to hit in major Turkish cities

Finding themselves increasingly cornered in the wake of the operations launched again recently, PKK [Workers Party of Kurdistan] terrorists have started to target big cities. According to statements on the Website of a news organ close to the PKK attributed to Yusuf Turhalli, a member of the command council of the terrorist organization, the PKK is going to speed up efforts to establish a foothold in major cities, a plan that has been worked out for some time. Turhalli is threatening to stage acts in big cities if the ongoing operations are continued. He is also claiming that they are making very serious preparations against cities like Istanbul. The operations started by the Turkish Armed Forces are being conducted in a large area in Hakkari, Cukurca, and Sirnak Uludere. It is being claimed that the PKK is not as close to northern Iraqi peshmergas as it used to be and that it has been deprived of [Iraqi President] Jalal Talabani's support after the establishment of a new entity in Iraq.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[13] Commentry in AFRIKA assesses Mr Talat´s stand on the Greek Cypriots´ efforts to protect their property rights

We have got some bad news for our Greek Cypriot friends who frequent the casinos and night clubs in northern Cyprus. Bad news also for those getting ready to take to the beaches in Girne [occupied Kyrenia] this summer. The border could close at any moment. And the dream could end right there.The casino dream, the night club dream and the seaside holiday dream. Even having lunch in Girne Harbor may become a dream. Talat gave one warning: If the Greek Cypriots go ahead with their property lawsuits he will close the border.Then everyone shall see what he is made of. You know that the indisputable leader of the Turkish Cypriots is Talat now! The elected leader. Everything is in his hands. He can open and close the border as he pleases! Who can interfere? If he wants he can pile in more soldiers from Turkey or send them packing overnight.

Settlers, you say? Their fate too lies in Talat's hands. If he wanted he could hurt them badly right away. He could fill up the ferry boats and send them back!

Nikos Anastasiades knows better than I that Talat has the authority. Besides, would he have made that call had he not considered him so much in charge? What was it he said to Talat? "Unilaterally implement the Annan Plan!" At first I did not understand. I had thought that Anastassiades was confusing Talat with Tayyip Erdogan or Chief of Staff Gen Hilmi Ozkok. Apparently, he was not. The call was to Talat. Really, it is up to Talat whether or not to implement the Annan Plan. If he wants to he will. If he does not want to he will not. You did hear did you not my dear Greek Cypriot brothers? Talat has warned you. Do not say he did not. What does he care? Do not go ahead with those law suits. Stop sending Subpoenas. Do not harass anybody! Let your property here to be used by the plunderer as he wishes. Let them build villas or factories! Let them sell the land to the British or the Germans!

Just give your houses and land as a gift to everyone.

Do not deal a blow to peace by messing in this issue a dirty business such as the law!

Do not anger Talat or he will close the border and you will be left with nothing. Your membership of the night clubs and casinos will be rendered useless. See what a great favor we did them by opening the border. We got rid of the gambling deficit. Just as you sated our workers so we sated your gamblers. We saved them the bother of having to go to Las Vegas. Appreciate our value. But do not repay our kindness with ingratitude.

I have no doubt that the nation is going to support the new steps to be taken by Talat on the road to imprisoning ourselves once again in this farmyard, but there are a few questions that are bugging me. When the Greek Cypriot summons began coming in Talat had said he was very happy. In fact he had said: "The Greek Cypriots are going to set their own trap." Now what has happened? What has changed in the past few days that he is now saying the opposite of this? Seeing that the Greeks were going to fall into their own trap why is it that he now wants the suits to be stopped?

My kind advice to Talat is this: Before closing the border whatever you do take a few precautions against a backlash. Increase the number of your bodyguards. Our workers in the south could get very angry at this. Furthermore, it is uncertain what the casino and night club owners are going to do if the fountain of wealth that is flowing here from the south is cut off. Cyprus is not a predictable place.

Cyprus is not a deserted place. The opening is taking place with scissors, but the closing is followed by a knife on the back.

/SK

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