Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-05-26

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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 alleges that the views of the Greek Cypriot side conveyed to the United Nations by President Papadopoulos' envoy have not satisfied the UN; he describes Russia's stance in the Security Council as "black hole".

[02] Gambia Head of State Jammeh: "We are ready for diplomatic relations with the 'TRNC'".

[03] Building contractor who usurps Greek Cypriot property says that he is building on land given to him by the occupation regime and that he will not stop.

[04] Occupation regime drops the VAT to 5% for property sold to the foreigners.

[05] Turkish Minister is visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[06] Turkish Parliament Speaker has contacts in the U.S.A.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Columnist: United States seeks alternatives to Turkey.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Talat alleges that the views of the Greek Cypriot side conveyed to the United Nations by President Papadopoulos' envoy have not satisfied the UN; he describes Russia's stance in the Security Council as "black hole".

In statements to KIBRIS, Mr Talat said that the UN expected the Greek Cypriots to submit in writing the changes they want in the Annan Plan. "However, the proposals of the Greek Cypriot side were not in writing and accurate. There are only views such as 'we are worried about the army and the issue of the properties', without any proposals for the solution of the problem", he argued.

Mr Talat expressed the opinion that the UN Security Council should approve the report submitted by the UN Secretary-General for the lifting of the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. He pointed out that Russia must be convinced on this issue. He noted that while Russia gives the impression that it is convinced it suddenly changes its mind and this impression is gone. He also described Russia as "the black hole in the UN Security Council".

Noting that the declaration of the pseudostate has been officially "cursed" by the United Nations and that they are working to secure the repealing of the UN Security Council decision, he added: "And the UN said: 'Do not recognize this separatist entity, do not strengthen it'. Afterwards the ambassadors stopped their visits. Everything was blocked. I do not argue the declaration of the TRNC. The ground should have properly been prepared. I am experiencing this now. There are no developments to be announced, but if you cannot sit and reach an agreement you should take the necessary measures so that you are not described as intransigent".

Asked whether or not he had a Plan B in this direction, Mr Talat said: "Actually there are a lot of plans, not only a Plan B. The relevant factors are also important in politics. That is, let us say that we sit at the negotiating table with the Greek Cypriot side and that the process lasts six months. We proceed until a certain point with just arguments in this process and afterwards it is blocked. Who blocked this process? This will be evaluated and afterwards other things will be searched for. At this very stage new plans will come onto the agenda. We have planned some things, but they are not mature right now. Furthermore, the Plan B's are not announced".

Referring to the lawsuits by Greek Cypriots against foreigners and Turkish Cypriots who usurp and exploit Greek Cypriot property in the occupied area of Cyprus, Mr Talat expressed the opinion that the issue of the properties will be settled within the framework of an overall solution to the Cyprus problem. Furthermore, Mr Talat alleged that the boom in the building sector in the occupied areas does not render the solution of the issue of the properties more difficult. The latest buyer is the responsible, the issue is so simple, he claimed.

Meanwhile, in statements during one of his meetings yesterday, Mr Talat referred to the fact that the United States and Russia warned their citizens not to buy Greek Cypriot property which is in the occupied part of Cyprus and to enter into the island through the legal ports and airports. The Turkish Cypriot leader said that all countries could say anything they want to their citizens and that there is nothing to worry about. He said that this is something normal and called on everybody to behave in a responsible manner.

Mr Talat noted that they were ready to give enough guarantee to the Turkish Cypriots and foreigners who buy property in the occupied part of Cyprus and that they were taking the necessary measures in this direction.

Noting that the construction sector is very closely related to the Cyprus problem, Mr Talat argued that the issue of the properties cannot be solved through the legal means. He said that the Cyprus issue is a political problem, in spite of the fact that it might have some legal aspects. However, it is not a problem of the international law, he argued.

[02] Gambia Head of State Jammeh: "We are ready for diplomatic relations with the 'TRNC'"

Mr Jammeh allegedly noted yesterday that his country is ready to establish diplomatic relations with the "TRNC". "Muslim Turkish Cypriots can rely on Gambia," said Mr Jammeh.

According to the illegal TAK news agency, Mr Jammeh noted that the reality in Cyprus is clear. "The referendums held in Cyprus showed that the Turkish Cypriots want a solution. The Greek Cypriots do not want a solution. Despite such realities, the Greek Cypriots joined the European Union," Mr Jammeh said.

Mr Jammeh thanked Mr Serdar Denktas for making Gambia the first African state Denktas has ever visited and he assured him that Gambia is ready to establish solid relations with the "TRNC" in every field possible.

The Gambian President also said that Turkish Cypriot businessmen can come to Gambia to take advantage of opportunities especially in the construction field, tourism, fishing and oil production and added: "There are a lot of opportunities for the 'TRNC' business community in Gambia. The income tax in Gambia is zero. The Gambian government provides various incentives for foreign investors."

Mr Denktas, on his behalf, briefed Mr Jammeh that his "government" is pleased with Gambia's willingness to begin diplomatic relations and added: "To this day, there has not been a solution in Cyprus due to the Greek Cypriot attitude. We can not wait forever. We have an obligation to think about the future of the 'TRNC' people and want to open 'TRNC' to the world. Gambia is our first stop in a series of upcoming visits to Islamic countries".

Subtitle: "Denktas invited Jammeh to 'TRNC'"

Moreover, Turkish Cypriot daily HALKIN SESI newspaper (26/05/05) reports that Mr Denktas congratulated and invited to the occupied areas of Cyprus the National Youth Soccer Team of Gambia, which won the African National Youth Soccer Championship last weekend. He invited the team's players for holiday and friendly matches. Mr Denktas also invited Mr Jammeh as a "state guest" to the "TRNC". Mr Jammeh thanked Mr Serdar for his invitation and said that he will visit the "North Cyprus" shortly. He also thanked for the invitation extended to the Youth Soccer team.

Mr Denktas concluded that the pseudostate is ready to provide full scholarships to Gambian students in the six "universities" present in the occupied areas of Cyprus. Mr Jammeh said that Gambian students being educated in the occupied areas will help to the development of Gambia.

Finally, Mr Denktas met with the Gambian Foreign Minister Musa Balage and discussed bilateral ties, including tourism and education.

[03] Building contractor who usurps Greek Cypriot property says that he is building on land given to him by the occupation regime and that he will not stop

"I am building on land given to me by the state of the TRNC. In this case, I am expecting the state of the TRNC to support me", he noted and added he would not stop the construction because of the European arrest warrant against him.

Mr Tokatlioglu noted that the "police" called him and told him that a European arrest warrant has been issued against him and that he is wanted with a red bulletin by Interpol. He said that they advised him not to visit EU member countries, the free areas of Cyprus and even Turkey.

Mr Tokatlioglu said that he would not go to the court in the government controlled area of Cyprus or hire a lawyer in order to defend himself.

Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily VOLKAN newspaper (26.05.05) refers to the issue and writes that Mr Tokatlioglu, the owners of AGA Development Ltd, Garry Robb and Tahir Soycan and the lawyer Akan Talat Kursat are wanted in 118 countries with a European arrest warrant and a red bulletin by Interpol.

[04] Occupation regime drops the VAT to 5% for property sold to the foreigners

The decision of the so-called Council of Ministers was announced in public by the so-called Minister of Public Works and Transport and government spokesman Salih Usar.

[05] Turkish Minister is visiting the occupied areas of Cyprus

Mr Sener will meet today with the so-called President Mehmet Ali Talat, as well as with the so-called Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

He will also honour the graduation ceremony of the illegal American University of Kyrenia (GAU) before returning to Turkey on Friday.

[06] Turkish Parliament Speaker has contacts in the U.S.A.

Mr Arinc is scheduled to meet Mr Hastert on Thursday. He will also hold talks with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley the same day. He will also come together with members of the United States-Turkey Friendship Group.

Finally, he will proceed to Chicago on Friday to meet members of the Turkish community.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[07] Columnist: United States seeks alternatives to Turkey

"In an article, which appeared on 27 April [2005], I noted that the United States was looking for alternatives to the 'Silk Road' in Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania due to Turkey's attitudes indicating that its commitment to NATO was not as strong as it was in the past.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan subsequently made a statement containing friendly messages directed to the United States while angrily and strongly reacting to my article.

The events, which have taken place during the intervening period, have, however, vindicated my conclusions.

Ilter Turkmen, who wrote in one of this articles that he had attended some meetings in the United States and summarized the issues discussed, commented: '...It seems that the United States' approach to Turkey has changed from the strategic point of view. The United States has military bases in the Central Asia and some Arab countries in the Middle East. It is now weighing up options to establish new ones in Romania, Bulgaria, and Azerbaijan. The United States was planning to use Akrotiri military base in Cyprus if we had not agreed to allow it to provide logistical support for US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan from Incirlik air base...' (Hurriyet, 21.05.2005)

Meanwhile, Yasemin Congar wrote: '... US President George W. Bush welcomed Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis as a 'strategic partner' at the White House... This definition, which confirmed that Athens and Washington were getting closer, was made at a time when the United States was expecting Greece to assume a more active role in the democratization drive especially in the Balkans and the Middle East and the 'New Democracy' government in Athens was preparing to shoulder new responsibilities in Iraq and Afghanistan. US officials have started to use the term 'strategic partner' for Greece over the past couple of months... It was reported that Greece's plan to host an international conference intended to support reforms and peace in the Middle East was confirmed during the meeting... Handing over Kabil airport's control to Greece in December and training of Iraqi security forces by Greece were also taken up during the Bush-Karamanlis meeting...' (Milliyet, 22.05.2005).

The government made many zigzags in its relations with the United States after 17 December 2004 like it did with respect to many other issues and the United States eventually started to look for alternatives to Turkey.

As he did in many other instances, the Prime Minister realized the situation at the last minute and attempted to make amends to the United States. It, however, appears that he will visit the White House, which paved the way for his being named as prime minister, according to a program, which prompted him to accept a hardly satisfactory arrangement after being presented with a worse alternative.

Ahead of his meeting, which will take place on a date much later than the date he had proposed and was confirmed by a response received after a long delay, the Prime Minister is receiving messages that the United States is devising a plan B for the Silk Road comprising the Middle East, the Balkans, and Afghanistan. I hope that he will read those messages correctly.

After having alienated the business community, the media, and finally its own grass roots (on headscarf issue) and transferred and appointed many bureaucrats as it pleased in the past five months after 17 December 2004, the ruling party also aroused strong suspicions about its motives both in the United States and the EU. It pursued contradicting policies while creating question marks about its ability to interpret the international situation correctly.

It remains to be seen whether it will be able to find a way out."

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