Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-08-11

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] VOLKAN newspaper alleges that the occupation regime is planning to return occupied land to its legal Greek Cypriot owners.

[02] The so-called minister of interior of the occupation regime stated that the building on the Greek Cypriot properties cannot be stopped.

[03] Ankara and its puppet regime in occupied Cyprus continue to reap the fruits of their blackmail policy prior to the war in Iraq. Congressional aides in the occupied areas of Cyprus.

[04] The Turkish Cypriots have great expectations from UFA chief´s visit.

[05] Erdogan promises to solve the Kurdish problem democratically.

[06] Turkish Press claim Al´Qaida man arrested in Diyarbakir.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] VOLKAN newspaper alleges that the occupation regime is planning to return occupied land to its legal Greek Cypriot owners

Under the title They will return 500 thousand donums of land, VOLKAN writes the following:

Talat and the RTP DP government, who are afraid of the reaction of the people on the issue of the amendment of the proprietorship regime in the TRNC and the return of properties to the Greek Cypriots, have put forward the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation and YENI DUZEN and KIBRIS newspapers.

While advocate Emine Erk, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation, which has been established upon the encouragement of President Talat and with the financial aid of the RTP DP government, declares that they are working on legal amendments providing for returning properties to the Greek Cypriots and on the principles of the amendments, Hasan Ercakica, member of the central committee of RTP, wrote in his article published yesterday in YENI DUZEN that the proprietorship regime in the TRNC must change.

Necdet Ergun, writer in KIBRIS newspaper which is known for its proximity to the RTP, disclosed in his article yesterday the principles of the amendments on the proprietorship regime. Among the principles of the amendments is the return of 500 thousand donums of land to the Greek Cypriots.

Among the changes that are considered are the following:

1. There is a need for arrangements on the proprietorship regime of the TRNC. This must be done all at once and at the same time. Returning back title deeds (returning of Greek Cypriot properties) is needed, in order to prevent recourses to the ECHR. Therefore, the Compensations Committee must be given this authority.

2. The return of properties must take place according to the proprietorship regime of the Annan Plan. That is, the equivalents must not be included in this. The properties that will be subject to return must be properties which have no equivalent (Translators note: These are properties given to Turkish Cypriots for the property they abandoned in the free areas of the Republic). And their return must be according to the criteria determining the identity of the proprietorship in the Plan.

3. Properties which have no equivalent must be returned. Properties which are given to TRNC citizens who have no property in the south, properties which are given to those who came from Turkey, properties which are given to children of martyrs, properties by the sea which are given for tourism investments, properties which are given for investments in industrial areas, plots of vacant rural land must be returned.

4. These returns must be equivalent to the one third of the return in the Plan. In this way, about 500 thousand donums out of the 1.100.000 donums Greek Cypriot land nationalized in 1985 with the article 159 of the constitution will be returned to the Greek Cypriots.

5. The authority of nationalizing the properties to be returned. The authority of re-nationalizing on this issue must constitutionally be given to the state.

6. Turkey must meet the financing of the properties which will be returned. The TRNC has no ability to meet this. If the address of this issue is the budget of the TRNC there will be a rebellion. In addition to the return, Turkey must be responsible for the financing of all properties which have no equivalent.

7. The value of the properties which have no equivalent will be decreased with some speculations created about them and with some actions and after that these properties will be nationalized by paying small compensations.

[02] The so-called minister of interior of the occupation regime stated that the building on the Greek Cypriot properties cannot be stopped

The wishes of the Greek Cypriots cannot bind us, he said.

Mr Murat, who made these statements to Anatolia News Agency, said when he was reminded that there are demands on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus to stop of the constructions on the Greek Cypriot properties, he answered that the Greek Cypriots have a lot of demands.

One of their demands is that the whole of this island is ours and we will rule it. This is what they feel. Well, we cannot act according to their feelings and emotions. It is not possible to stop the constructions and the wishes of the Greek Cypriots are only binding on them, he said.

He also stated that the property issue will definitely come to the table of negotiations in an agreement. However, we will go on with our economy and our lives, he said.

Mr Murat also noted that during the year 2005, around 900 foreigners applied to the so-called authorities in order to buy immovable properties in occupied Cyprus and noted that until now permission was given to 330 persons. The foreigners buying of immovable properties in north Cyprus has greatly contributed to the general economy, and I dont think this may, in any way, have an adverse effect on the efforts aimed at resolving the Cyprus problem, he said.

Mr Murat also stated that until today the pseudogovernment has granted work permit to 30 thousand persons.

Pointing out that from time to time discussions are made regarding foreigners buying immovable property, Mr Murat said that while within 30 years 2.500 foreigners bought property in the occupied areas of Cyprus in the year 2004, the number of foreigners who demanded property was increased to 2,827.

[03] Ankara and its puppet regime in occupied Cyprus continue to reap the fruits of their blackmail policy prior to the war in Iraq. Congressional aides in the occupied areas of Cyprus

The seven-strong U.S. congressional delegation, which arrived in `TRNC´ (occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus) upon the invitation of Turkish Cypriot Industry Chamber (KTSO), continued its meetings on Wednesday.

The delegation composed of US congressional aides and advisors met `TRNC Parliament Speaker´ Fatma Ekenoglu, `Prime Minister´ Ferdi Sabit Soyer, National Unity Party (NUP) deputy and former `FM´ Tahsin Ertugruloglu and Peace and Democracy Movement (PDM) leader Mustafa Akinci.

Speaking after meeting the delegation, `TRNC´ `Premier´ Soyer said that "the visits of foreign diplomats, bureaucrats and representatives of NGOs to `TRNC´ contributed significantly to make globally known the position of the Turkish Cypriot people regarding Cyprus problem and draw attention of the world opinion to Turkish Cypriots' plea."

Soyer said that he gave detailed information to members of the US delegation about the recent developments in Cyprus, and added that he hoped such visits would become more frequent.

The US congressional delegation was also received by `TRNC President´ Mehmet Ali Talat, `TRNC FM´ Serdar Denktas and KTSO Chairman Salih Tunar on Tuesday.

On the same issue Ankara Anatolia (10.08.05) reported the following from occupied

Lefkosia: U.S. delegation comprised of seven congressional aides and advisors has visited the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce today.

The U.S. delegation met the chamber's chairman Ali Erel and members of the executive board of the chamber.

The U.S. delegation was given a briefing on EU-`TRNC´ relations by the Prime Ministry European Union Coordination Center and reminded about the importance of the end of international isolation of the `TRNC´.

The briefing was delivered by the EU Harmonization Coordinator Erhan Ercin and focused on the activities of EU delegations in the `TRNC´ and `TRNC's expectations from the EU.

[04] The Turkish Cypriots have great expectations from UFA chief´s visit

While efforts are continuing for openings regarding the sports embargo on our country, work is going on for the announced visit to our country next September by the President of UEFA Lennart Johansson. It was announced in the past days that UEFA President Johansson will hold talks with officials of the Cyprus Football Association (KOP) and `Turkish Cypriot Football Federation´.

The `Turkish Cypriot Football Federation´ has speeded up its work in order to finalize a road map. Since the agenda of Johansson´s visit was not announced it was not made clear whether he will put forward alternative proposals to the two football federations.

The President of the `Football Federation´ Niyazi Okutan stressed that in order to open the way for our youth we must move step by step, and it will be beneficial if certain meetings and preparations are conducted secretly. Okutan said that the permission recognizing the right to hold friendly matches, which existed before 1983, must be re-instated. In addition, they are getting ready for any proposal that might be put forward.

Okutan also said that he had a telephone conversation with the Vice-President of UEFA Senes Erzik during which they exchanged views. Okutan went on: `Senes Erzik conveyed to us that a mobility period is being experienced for the Cyprus football and that meetings with both sides will continue. He further informed us that a representative from FIFA´s Executive Committee could visit our country or the Presidents of both federations could be invited to Switzerland.

Senes Erzik further said that first our views will be taken since we are the affected party, however, he added, regarding the proposals he has not clear information. During these meetings we will convey the mistakes of the inhuman embargo imposed on our youth and we will mention how widespread football in our country is.

We are discussing with our foreign relations officer Cengiz Uzun what we could do in view of the possible proposals to be made.

In this process we will come together with the President of KOP Koutsokoumnis and his services and we will discuss the possibilities we could create

[05] Erdogan promises to solve the Kurdish problem democratically

''Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave us assurances that the Kurdish problem will be solved within democratic framework,'' Prof. Gencay Gursoy, the Spokesperson of a group of intellectuals said on Wednesday.

Gursoy said they emphasized that the problem need to be solved in a broad framework, noting: ''Erdogan has given assurances that the Kurdish problem will be solved on democratic platforms and without making concession from democracy. This is the evidence that our visit is a success.''

''We are calling on the PKK asking them that armed activities should be ended immediately and without any precondition. Signals of democratic opening have been given. This is a very valuable hint,'' Gursoy stressed.

''Apart from this, what can be made in the region in economic and social areas were discussed,'' Gursoy added.

Asked what 'democratic openings' mean, Gursoy said: ''It has been stressed that problems will be solved without making concession from democracy.''

[06] Turkish Press claim Al´Qaida man arrested in Diyarbakir

CUMHURIYET reports that Sakra was arrested in Diyarbakir while boarding on a Turkish Airlines plane to fly to Istanbul. At the time of the arrest Sakra was travelling with a forged identity card in the name of Erkan Ozer.

Sakra is suspected of being the man, who helped in the manufacture of the bombs used in the attacks carried out on 15-20 November 2003 in Istanbul.

CUMHURIYET reports that together with Sakra 8 Turks as well were apprehended.

Sakra´s arrest came after Turkish officials had questioned Sadettin Aktas, at the Ebu Gharip prison in Iraq. Aktas is the man behind the Istanbul attacks who was able to leave Turkey and go to Iraq where he was arrested.

In its turn MILLIYET reports that Sakra, is the man who provided the necessary financial aid to the Al´Qaida´s head in Turkey Habib Akdas to organize the November 2003 attacks and escape from Turkey.

HURRIYET reports that Turkish security officers have arrested Sakra and another Syrian national Hamed Obysi on 6 August at the Diyarbakir airport with a lot of money in their possession. HURRIYET further reports that Sakra is linked to Abu Mus´ab al Zarqawi, who is active in Iraq.

Sakra had underwent several plastic surgeries to change his appearance.

/SK

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