Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-09-07

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish and Estonian Presidents in Ankara.

[02] Turkish firms to build Tbilisi International Airport.

[03] The occupation regime is preparing investment programme for the area of Morphou.

[04] Spain is lobbying for the commencement of accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU on the 3rd of October.

[05] Imports and exports for the first half of 2005 in the occupied area of Cyprus.

[06] Reports that Turkish Embassies may host Israeli diplomatic missions in Islamic capitals.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Statements by the Turkish and Estonian Presidents in Ankara

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has indicated today that he expects Estonia's support for Turkey to increase as of October 3rd when entry talks will begin with the European Union (EU).

Sezer and Estonian President Arnold Ruutel held a joint press conference after their meeting at the Cankaya Palace in Ankara.

Sezer remarked that there is no political problem between Turkey and Estonia. "We are pleased with the progress made in economic and commercial areas with Estonia," said Sezer.

Sezer further stated that Turkey has assisted Estonia in getting a place in Euro-Atlantic institutions. "Estonia has become an EU member in May 2004. We are thankful to Estonia for the support it is providing to Turkey in its EU process," noted Sezer.

On his part, Estonian President Arnold Ruutel commented that his government is pleased with relations between Turkey and Estonia. "We thank Turkey once again for not recognizing the Baltic invasion of the former USSR," mentioned Ruutel.

"Turkey's support for Estonia in NATO is highly important. Estonia supports Turkey in its bid to join the EU. Estonia is ready to share its experiences with Turkey which rightfully deserves to begin accession talks," expressed Ruutel.

A cooperation agreement was signed between Turkey and Estonia in the areas of culture, education, youth and sports during Ruutel's visit at Cankaya Palace today.

[02] Turkish firms to build Tbilisi International Airport

The Georgian government signed a contract with Turkish joint venture of TAV and Urban companies today for the construction and management of the Tbilisi international airport.

The new Tbilisi international airport's construction will be completed in November 2006.

The Tbilisi international airport's construction was initially assigned to Turkish Celebi Holding which was unable to find financing for the project by the deadline, September 2nd.

According to TAV sources, the Tbilisi international airport project is worth 62 million USD. "The airport will be able to serve 2.5 million passengers annually," said a TAV representative.

The Turkish joint venture also will renovate the Batumi airport and construct an additional terminal.

According to Georgian sources, TAV and Urban Companies will manage the Tbilisi international airport for 15.5 years.

[03] The occupation regime is preparing investment programme for the area of Morphou

Addressing yesterday the 3rd Regular General Assembly of the Association for the Development of Morphou, Mr Soyer noted that in parallel to the investments to be made in the Morphou in the field of tourism, public housing for young people will be built and places for investment will be given to the tradesmen and industrialists who wish to invest in the area.

Mr Soyer announced that within the next few days the issue will be discussed with the participation of the ministries concerned and the civilian organizations. In parallel to the investments, the struggle of the Turkish Cypriots for peace will continue, he added.

Furthermore, addressing the assembly, Mr Huseyin Oztoprak, so-called Minister of Agriculture and Forests of the occupation regime, said that the problems of the Morphou area had not been developed in a positive way, as expected, after the referendum and argued that the government is working with all its power for the solution of these problems.

Mr Oztoprak noted that the investments will include a wide area extending from the campus of the Middle East Technical University (METU) until occupied Kazivera village.

Meanwhile, the so-called Ministers of Internal Affairs and Economy and Tourism of the occupation regime, Mr Ozkan Murat and Dervis Kemal Deniz visited yesterday the campus of METU which will be officially opened on 19 September and the area for investments in the field of tourism, which is around the small dam of Agia Irini village.

Mr Murat said that they prepared a plan for the development of Morphou and that they determined an area of 2000 2500 donums (Translators note: a land measure of 1000 square meters) in the west of Morphou near the sea, as an area for investments in the field of tourism.

(I/Ts.)

[04] Spain is lobbying for the commencement of accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU on the 3rd of October

As the paper writes the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Miguel Angel Moratinos called the ambassadors of the 25 European Union (EU) member- countries to Madrid, along with the ambassadors of the candidate countries (Turkey, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania) and asked them to support the commencement of negotiations between Turkey and the EU.

Mr Moratinos said that the Spanish Government has always supported Turkeys accession to the EU and noted that this is not a government but a state policy and that the previous Spanish governments followed the same policy on this issue. Turkey must definitely be an indivisible part of the EU, he said.

The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs also stated that at the meeting of the EU Ministers which was held last week in Wales, Newport, no Minister expressed any view against the launching of negotiations on the 3rd of October.

Mr Moratinos, who noted that Madrid supports Turkey on every opportunity, stated that Spain suggested mediation between the sides following the tension created between EU and Turkey because of the declaration made by Turkey after signing the Additional Protocol.

(C.S)

[05] Imports and exports for the first half of 2005 in the occupied area of Cyprus

In the first six months of 2005, there was a 48% increase of imports. Some 63% of imports came from Turkey. According to the report, imports amounted to 553 million dollars. The main imported goods for the first half of 2005 were vehicles and building materials. Exports marked a slight increase to 43 million dollars.

Imports for June reached 97 million dollars, an increase of 33% relative to June, 2004.

Meanwhile, imports in the first half of 2005 from EU and Middle Eastern countries decreased from 39% to 37%, amounting to 204 million dollars.

(DP)

[06] Reports that Turkish Embassies may host Israeli diplomatic missions in Islamic capitals

The Pakistani and Israeli foreign ministers' meeting Turkey hosted in Istanbul has added a new dimension to Ankara's contributions to the Middle East peace process.

The Israeli government, which is considering diplomatic relations with Pakistan as one of the leading countries of the Islamic world, is now preparing to propose a critical role to Turkey.

The Israeli government thinks that it would be difficult to open an embassy in Pakistan in the initial stage. Instead it plans to open a diplomatic mission within the structure of another country's embassy in Islamabad. The Turkish Embassy in Islamabad is at the top of the list of foreign missions Israel considers appropriate for this purpose.

The Israeli government also considers Indonesia, Malaysia, and Algeria among the top Islamic countries targeted for "contact." If an agreement is reached to open [Israeli] missions in these countries also, the Israeli government has signalled that Turkish embassies would be the preferred sites for them.

Subtitle: Turkey instead of European countries

Israeli sources point out: "The Middle East peace process is not confined to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict alone. Why should France or another European country rather than Turkey play the lead role in the establishment of bridges between Israel and Islamic countries?"

Ankara, for its part, is prepared to make every possible contribution to the Middle East peace process within the scope and framework of conditions the sides find appropriate. Foreign Ministry sources have hinted that they are not indisposed to the idea of opening Israeli diplomatic missions in Islamic countries under the aegis of Turkish embassies

On the same issue Turkish ZAMAN newspaper (06.09.05) reports that Israel´s new efforts to improve its relations with Arab and Islamic countries after withdrawing from Gaza were well received.

After the surprise meeting with the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, it was made known that Israel opened a secret mission in Dubai and it is exerting efforts to improve its relations with Tunisia, writes ZAMAN.

The paper further reports that the Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr Silvan Salom, said that after withdrawing from Gaza his country´s relations with 10 Arab and Islamic countries may be normalized.

Israel also expects that after withdrawing from Gaza its relations with Jordan and Egypt will improve further, writes ZAMAN.

/SK

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