CYPIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-06-08

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ankara Anatolia on efforts to agree on the EU regulations for the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus.

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat stated that he will visit the USA by the end of the summer.

[03] Gul met Rice and explained Turkey's expectations about Cyprus and PKK.

[04] AFRIKA writes that the Protocol signed between Turkey and the pseudostate is a disaster package.

[05] Turkish Generals expect the U.S. to take steps.

[06] The Chairman of the North Cyprus Properties Association analyses its goals.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Ankara Anatolia on efforts to agree on the EU regulations for the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus

Sources told AA that, during the past two days, the Turkish delegation has been insisting on facilitating direct trade with the rest of the world and the opening of Gazimagusa (occupied Famagusta) sea port for international commerce.

The `TRNC´ delegation in Brussels includes Undersecretary Rasit Pertev of the `TRNC´ President's office, EU Coordination Center Chairman Erhan Elcin and Prime Ministry Advisor Yonca Senyigit.

[02] Mehmet Ali Talat stated that he will visit the USA by the end of the summer

The Turkish Prime Minister Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan will ask the United States to lift the isolation of TRNC and to start direct flights to TRNC during his meetings in that country. I believe direct flights from the United States to TRNC will certainly start and this development will force Greek Cypriots to take a step, Talat said.

He also stated that as the United States is a super power, its attitude is very important. A U.S. step to lift the isolation of TRNC will certainly be followed by other countries as well, and this will affect Greek Cypriots," and added that the Turkish side will more actively exert efforts regarding the lifting of the isolation and it will ask other countries to be more determined in this issue. He also said that the isolation is being lifted slowly and that the visit of U.S. Congressmen to TRNC is an example."

"The EU also tries to take steps for the lifting of the isolation. The EU insists on adoption the financial and free trade regulations together. EU representative attended a technical meeting in Brussels and the meeting has ended on Tuesday, but it can be held again," said Talat.

Talat also alleged that the resumption of Cyprus talks is related to the response of the Greek Cypriots to demands of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and stated that Mr Annan will not appoint a permanent representative to Cyprus since he believes that the necessary milieu does not exist for a new initiative.

[03] Gul met Rice and explained Turkey's expectations about Cyprus and PKK

Holding a news conference following the meeting, Gul said: "U.S. Secretary of State Rice told us that the United States would continue extending support to efforts to provide a lasting peace in Cyprus under the leadership of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. She also pledged to take more steps to this end.

"Meanwhile, we expressed our pleasure with the recent visit of U.S. congressmen to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Turkish Cypriots who supported UN Secretary-General Annan's plan in last year's referendum were punished while Greek Cypriots who rejected the plan were awarded with EU membership. It is unfair, he alleged.

Gul said that they told Rice that an increasing number of terrorists infiltrated Turkey from Iraq, and anti-personnel land-mines planted by the terrorist organization of PKK killed many Turkish soldiers. We stressed that those events could not be ignored, and that the United States should display a more resolute attitude against the terrorist organization.

Gul highlighted the importance of security meetings among Iraqi, American and Turkish officials. "Rice assured us that the United States will not allow any acts of terrorism from Iraqi territories against Turkey," he emphasized.

[04] AFRIKA writes that the Protocol signed between Turkey and the pseudostate is a disaster package

As the paper notes, those who in the past were against the packages that were imposed by Ankara, called them Disaster Packages and took to the squares, now they call them progress packages.

The New Cyprus Party stated that the salaries in the pseudostate are made equal with the salaries in Turkey and noted that with the new protocols pretty soon Ankara will decide even what kind of clothes the Turkish Cypriots will put on.

The Cyprus Socialist Party stated that the protocol is an example of colonialist and colony relation.

The Turk-Sen Trade Union stated that those who in the past were against the packages and the protocols imposed by Ankara now they sign them.

On his part, the so-called minister of finance Ahmet Uzun defended the protocol. Mr Uzun stated that the protocol signed between Turkey and the pseudostate in 2000 aimed to the integration of the pseudostate with Turkey while the protocol they signed recently aims to the EU.

[05] Turkish Generals expect the U.S. to take steps

Speaking at the annual meeting of the America-Turkish Council (ATC) in Washington, General Basbug said that there are two separate equal peoples on the island, which do not represent each other.

Noting that the realities of the island should be taken into consideration in a possible new order to be established in Cyprus, the General expressed the belief that Turkey must protect its rights stemming from the international treaty of Guarantee.

General Basbug also welcomed the United States efforts aimed at removing the Turkish Cypriots international isolation at a time when the international community has forgotten its promises.

[06] The Chairman of the North Cyprus Properties Association analyses its goals

The International Council of North Cyprus (ICNC) met at the Rocks Hotel on Thursday 2 June, to take the next step in their development plans, including election of a temporary board to set up next month´s elections and also to define their goals. The meeting was attended by 230 leading business people and concerned citizens, representing a cross-section of political parties and points-of-view. The meeting was filmed for broadcast on local and Turkish television, and will be aired in the UK and other countries in the form of a documentary.

After an introduction by Tamer Burhan Garip, local barrister Talat Kursat, acted as temporary chairman for the evening. He explained why a notice stating: No Greeks are allowed, was posted on the door. He said the notification was legally necessary to keep out destructive elements, referring to a recent public event where Greek Cypriot provocateurs heckled the speakers and disrupted the meeting.

The floor was opened to accept opinions about the goals of the organization, providing a broad spectrum of suggestions. The distinguished Ergun Olgun, former Undersecretary to President Denktas took the floor to make the following points. It is next to impossible to isolate all the issues from politics because politics is behind everything. We must uphold the legitimacy of the `TRNC´ on the subject of title deeds, because it means the legitimacy of `TRNC´. If we cannot uphold the legitimacy of `TRNC´ then the title deeds mean nothing. This must be a bold initiative with specific objectives. You (Greek Cypriots) have refused to support the government so long as it supports the Turkish Cypriot people. The only way is to change the game plan. We will not hold out our hand forever, he warned.

Shelley White, a EUPRO founder, told the audience: EUPRO will work in partnership with those who share our goals. We are fighting in three arenas legal, public relations and lobbying in the UK, to defeat legal challenges. She says EUPRO is working on a letter for the director of Interpol to remind them that they (Interpol) should not be used for political purposes. We must move very quickly when it comes to convincing the world, she declared.

The highlight of the meeting came when Tony Angastiniotis, a Greek Cypriot photo journalist was invited to introduce his short film entitled, Voice of Blood II, documenting Greek Cypriot atrocities against Turkish Cypriots. Afterwards, he told the group: In my eye there is no border. It´s not about labels; it is an island. How beautiful we are as Turks or Greeks. I am neither Greek nor Turk, I am a Cypriot.

A temporary committee met after the public meeting determined to work quickly to establish and implement their aims which are meant to protect the rights of Turkish Cypriots.

On June 8, 2005, illegal Bayrak television broadcast live an interview with Mr Tamer Garip, who was introduced as Director of the North Cyprus Properties Association.

Mr Garip said that their aim was to give a rapid response to the Greek Cypriot lawsuits on the property issues and to show to the Greek Cypriot leadership that the Turkish Cypriots exist in the occupied part of Cyprus as a people. They also aim at giving hope and security to the Turkish Cypriots, who are worried because of the lawsuits. He noted that they wanted to show that the aim of the Greek Cypriots was the economic collapse of the Turkish Cypriots.

Mr Garip said that they are in continuous consultation with the authorities of the occupation regime that they met with the advisor at the so-called presidency, Mr Rasit Pertev and that they want the policy they follow to be approved by the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Mehmet Ali Talat and be in harmony with the state policy. He also expressed the belief that their activity will be very supportive to the policy of the Turkish side for lifting the so-called isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

Mr Garip, who is a businessman, said that before the realization of their meeting at the Rocks Hotel they met with businessmen, academicians, lawyers, journalists, musicians, teachers, British and Americans living in the occupied areas of Cyprus etc, who share the same views with them. He noted that they elected a fifteen-member temporary committee that will be organizing a congress within the next month.

According to Mr Garip, the only activity of their council for the time being is conducted by lawyers, who for example have studied the situation of the land on which the Larnaca Airport is built. The council is also cooperating with lawyers from abroad.

/SK

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