Cyprus PIO: Turkish Press and Other Media, 05-10-19

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

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey informed the future EU President Finland about Turkey´s expectations. Statements by Gul after returning from Finland.

[02] The foreign trade deficit in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus increased by 47.13 %.

[03] KIBRISLI newspaper: Attack to the markets of Germany and Turkey.

[04] A delegation of Kyrgyzstan´s Parliament is visiting the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus.

[05] Foreigners who live in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus filed charges against Garry Robb and Aga Developments.

[06] Self-styled Minister of Interior will attend the general assembly of IRSA.

[07] A new newspaper in the occupied area has gone into publication on 15th October 2005.

[08] The Turkish occupation forces, which turned occupied Cyprus into a huge military camp, arrested three young Greek Cypriots and two Turks.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Commentary in RADIKAL assesses Mr Talat´s visit to the US and Mr Barroso´s meeting with President Bush.

[A] NEWS ITEMS

[01] Turkey informed the future EU President Finland about Turkey´s expectations. Statements by Gul after returning from Finland

Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul returned to Turkey after completing talks in Finland today.

Gul told the press at Ankara's Esenboga Airport that his trip to Finland had two goals: to develop bilateral relations with Finland and inform the next EU term president Finland about Turkey's opinions and expectations.

Asked what he thought about statements made by Turkish Parliamentary EU Adjustment Commission Chairman Yasar Yakis in regard to the opening of Turkish ports to Greek Cypriots, Abdullah Gul reiterated that the Customs Union works with 25 members of the EU and Turkey.

"There could be problems to be addressed in certain platforms. We are proposing to end all restrictions on the island of Cyprus," stated Gul.

When reminded about Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's comments on north of Iraq and the United States, Gul noted that some measures may be made public and some others kept confidential.

"This is essential in order to fight against terrorism. You can not make public every step you take against terrorists. As Erdogan indicated, we attach high priority to the fight against terrorists. No doubt, every coffin we see causes deep sorrow in our hearts," said Gul.

In regard to military exercises conducted by the Greek Cypriot administration, Gul stressed that the military exercise is the business of the Greek Cypriot administration. "The whole world will see what we can do," commented Gul.

[02] The foreign trade deficit in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus increased by 47.13 %

According to the reports of the self-styled Trade Department, exports were 52 million and nine thousand dollars, while the imports were 743 million and 921 thousand dollars.

Most of the money during the first eight months of 2005 was spent for the import of vehicles, as during the past few years. The imports of fuel, iron for the constructions, machines for the industry and cement had the highest percentage in the imports after the vehicles, for which the amount of 119 million 790 thousand and 274 dollars was spent. This amount was by 33 % higher than the amount spent during the same period last year, when 90 million 115 thousand and 525 dollars were spent for vehicles.

The highest increase was recorded in the imports of paints for houses. The percentage of this increase was 205 %. The imports of cement, furniture and spare parts increased by 125%, while the imports of cigarettes decreased by 9%.

Sales concern mostly citrus fruits, milk products, confectionery and raki (Translators note: Raki is Turkish traditional alcoholic drink). A boom happened in the exports of carobs which increased by 1429 %. The exports of citrus fruits increased by 5% during the first eight months of 2005, compared to the same period of 2004, and reached 19.5 million dollars.

Turkey is still the country from where the most of the imports to the occupied areas of Cyprus are made, as 63.9 % of the imports are from Turkey, 22.6 % from EU countries, 7.5 % from countries of the Far East, 2.4 % from other European countries and the rest from the Middle East and other countries.

50.4 % of the exports are directed to Turkey, 26.1 % to the EU countries, 13.3 % to other European countries and 8.9 % to countries of the Middle East.

(I.Ts)

[03] KIBRISLI newspaper: Attack to the markets of Germany and Turkey

Mr Deniz said that the aim of the incentives given to the Turkish Cypriot airlines was to develop the tourism of the occupied areas of the Republic of Cyprus and thanked the Turkish officials for their contribution.

Mr Cetin noted that their aim was to bring ten thousand tourists from Germany to the occupied areas of Cyprus next summer and to increase the number of the tourists from Turkey from twenty to thirty thousands.

Meanwhile, under the title The hope is on gambling! Turkish Cypriot daily OZGUR DUSUNCE newspaper (19.10.05) reports that the system in the occupied areas of Cyprus looks to casinos as the hope for the economy, instead of creating investments in the field of industry.

The self-styled minister of economy and tourism, Dervis Kemal Deniz has said that the importance of the casinos for the tourism of the occupied areas is very great during periods when they are trying to develop tourism. Mr Deniz noted that the contribution of the casinos to the state budget and the taxes they will pay would increase with the new adjustments made to the law.

(I.Ts)

[04] A delegation of Kyrgyzstan´s Parliament is visiting the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus

As the paper writes the delegation, which is visiting the OTRC today upon an invitation of the self-styled minister of foreign affairs, Mr Serdar Denktas, consists of 30 persons. Among these persons are members of the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan and some bureaucrats of Ministries of Kyrgyzstan. The delegations visit will last until October the 22nd.

Speaking to the Ankara Anatolia news agency Mr Erhan Arikli, TRNC representative in Azerbaijan, according to KIBRIS, stated that 15 members of Kyrgyzstan´s Parliament will be among the delegation that is visiting the OTRC and added that the delegation will discus issues of co-operation in the areas of economy, tourism, sports, education and culture. In addition a Friendship Parliamentary Group will be formed between the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan and the self-styled parliament in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus.

The paper also writes that the delegation will arrive in the occupied areas through Istanbul.

C/S

[05] Foreigners who live in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus filed charges against Garry Robb and Aga Developments

The paper writes that the foreigners gathered yesterday outside the companys offices which are located near St. Omer tomb and demanded to be informed about the developments. In the end a great panic was created, writes VOLKAN.

The paper also writes that millions of pounds sterling which were deposited in the account that Robbs lawyer Talat Kursat kept in the HSBC bank were transferred to the accounts of Aga Developments major partner Garry Robb instead of the companys account. The paper writes that Robbs personal accounts in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, are being carefully examined for suspicious money through money transfers.

C/S

[06] Self-styled Minister of Interior will attend the general assembly of IRSA

According to a statement of the self-styled Director of the Interior Ministry, Mr Ilhak Nurluoz, a meeting of the IRSAs general assembly, which will be held between 20-22 October, will also confirm the membership of Canada, Turkey, Spain and the TRNC (occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus).

(D/P)

[07] A new newspaper in the occupied area has gone into publication on 15th October 2005

The daily said on its first issue that its goal will be to contribute to the Turkish Cypriots´ struggle for a peaceful solution to the Cyprus problem and to help end the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots.

The daily´s Editor in Chief Necmettin Capa said that the newspaper´s priority issue will be the Cyprus problem, but that its readers will also be able to find news reports about important international developments from around the world.

He added that the paper will take its place along what it termed the pro-solution forces to help promote the peace efforts aimed at finding a solution to the Cyprus problem.

(M/Y)

[08] The Turkish occupation forces, which turned occupied Cyprus into a huge military camp, arrested three young Greek Cypriots and two Turks

Two young Greek Cypriots have been arrested for violating a highly restricted military area to cross into the TRNC [occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus] in the western sector of Akincilar [Louroujina] village. According to a police press office bulletin, Kyriacos Angelis (18) and Paul Sosou (20) violated the highly restricted military area and crossed into the `TRNC´ without being authorized to do so from the western sector of Akincilar at 2000 [ 1500 GMT] last night. They crossed into the north in a car that was registered as WM 230.

Turkish Cypriot CUMHURIYET newspaper (19.10.05) reports that Eleni Konstantinou and two Turks, who were in Mrs Konstantinou´s car, were arrested the night before in occupied Kyrenia.

According to the paper the arrested persons were carrying sharp instruments.

[B] COMMENTARIES, EDITORIALS AND ANALYSIS

[09] Commentary in RADIKAL assesses Mr Talat´s visit to the US and Mr Barroso´s meeting with President Bush

The US has used an interesting diplomatic technique to invite TRNC [occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus] President Mehmet Ali Talat to Washington for talks with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The invitation was expected for some time, and the Greek Cypriot side lobbied hard to prevent it from happening. Nevertheless the news of the invitation was leaked to the press in Washington last Thursday. At that time Douglas Silliman, Deputy Director of the South European Affairs Bureau in the US State Department, was in Ankara. The news of the invitation came in the form of a question to US State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli at his press conference last Friday, on 14 October. The question was whether the invitation was a step toward the recognition of two separate political entities on the island. Ereli said that the invitation should be seen not in that context but within the framework of helping to find a solution to the problem.

The invitation was officially announced yesterday by Silliman after his meeting with Talat, two days after [Ereli's press conference], that is after enough time was given to the Greek and Greek Cypriot lobbies in Washington to act (in other words after showing that this would not serve any purpose). Silliman said that Rice will receive Talat in Washington on 28 October. (During Ereli's press conference Greek reporters heatedly queried him about new Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and former US Ambassador in Athens Nicholas Burns' remarks criticizing Greece for its attempts to block Macedonia from entering European and transatlantic organizations.)

Ereli said that Rice has met with Talat in the past but he had to play with words to conceal the fact that Talat was not elected president at the time. The truth is that Talat is the first `TRNC´ (self-styled) president who has been invited to the United States with the specific purpose of holding talks with the US administration.

In our conversation with Talat yesterday he said that "the Cyprus problem will obviously not be solved with this visit." He continued: "However this visit is important from several standpoints. This is a step toward ending the `isolation´. It is a sign that the great change in the Turkish Cypriot society has begun to be seen and understood. It is a sign that the United States wants the Cyprus problem solved and that it wants it settled between Turkish and Greek Cypriots. It is an important development affirming that Turkish Cypriots are represented only by Turkish Cypriots. It has shown that persistent attempts by the Greek Cypriots to show that they are the only representatives of all the peoples on the island will produce no results. This was a very good development. We are pleased. It has given us an important opportunity. We have been given an opportunity to tell Ms Rice first hand in the US capital about the demands of the Turkish Cypriots. In the final analysis, and partly as a result of Turkey's EU membership process, a climate is developing to find a solution in Cyprus within the framework of the UN. Our hope is that a lasting solution that the Turkish Cypriots will accept within the UN framework will be achieved. This is what we will explain."

Obviously Talat's invitation to Washington to meet with the US Secretary of State does not mean the recognition of the TRNC. However US sources also describe the purpose of this invitation as "another step toward ending the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots." These sources also report that Rice's phone conversation with Greek Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos--in which she reportedly told him that he will have to "bear the consequences if any obstacles are raised before Turkey" [in the EU]--was one of the "tensest phone conversations of her life."

The timing of the invitation was also interesting.

Today, the day when reports that Talat, the elected leader of the Turkish Cypriots, has been invited to Washington will appear in the press, Washington is hosting an important visitor. EU Commission President Manuel Barroso will visit the White House for talks with President George Bush.

US presidents have had meetings with EU Commission presidents in the past. However, this is the first time that the format of a bilateral meeting with a head of state is being used. The official agenda of the meeting includes items of global significance, such as cooperation on the Greater Middle East and North Africa Project, world trade quotas (the daily volume of trade between the United States and the EU is $1 billion), and transatlantic cooperation.

Do you think that Barroso would mention in this important meeting the difficulty the Republic of Cyprus, a full member of the EU, has with Talat's invitation?

/SK

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